How to Increase Domain Authority
Domain Authority (DA) is Moz’s predictive score for a site’s ranking potential, based on backlinks and other signals. While not a Google ranking factor, improving DA often aligns with stronger organic performance through better link equity and content.
This guide covers actionable tactics to increase DA, tools to track progress, and common pitfalls like treating it as a vanity metric. For foundational concepts, see importance of backlinks.
At a glance
- Typical DA increase timeframe
- 3-12 months (depends on link velocity)
- Critical factor
- Linking root domains (not total links)
- Highest-impact tactic
- Earning editorial backlinks from .edu/.gov sites
How Domain Authority Works
Moz calculates DA (1-100) using machine learning, weighing factors like linking root domains (most important), total backlinks, link authority and relevance, and spam signals. Unlike Google’s algorithms, DA doesn’t evaluate content quality or user signals. Compare with dofollow vs nofollow for understanding link equity distribution.
John Mueller (Search Advocate, Google) has repeatedly stated that DA is not a metric Google uses. Treat it as a benchmark, not a ranking factor.
Proven Tactics to Increase DA
Prioritize these evidence-backed methods:
- Create linkable assets like original research, tools, or definitive guides. This is digital PR — get mentioned in the press.
- Outreach to relevant sites using outreach & PR for guest posts or mentions. Focus on niche relevant backlinks.
- Fix broken links with broken link building replacements — offer your content as a replacement.
- Optimize internal links to distribute link equity. See link equity for details.
- Remove toxic backlinks via the disavow tool when necessary. Check risk & hats for guidelines.
Tools to Track Progress
Use these to monitor DA and backlinks:
- Moz Pro for DA tracking
- Ahrefs for competitor backlink analysis — see tools I rely on
- Google Search Console for free link data
- Semrush for Authority Score alternative
For deeper analysis, see how I judge links.
Internal Linking and Technical SEO Support
Internal linking doesn’t create new authority, but it distributes the link equity you already have. Use a logical hierarchy and link from pages that already have backlinks to pages you want to rank. Technical SEO — speed, mobile usability, clean indexation — ensures crawlers can access your content. See organic SEO for a full checklist.
If you have types of backlinks that are low-quality, consolidate equity by nofollow-ing or removing them.
What Doesn’t Work
Avoid these ineffective or risky tactics:
- Link schemes — violate Google’s guidelines. Sponsored links need proper tagging.
- Low-quality directories — minimal DA impact and often spammy.
- DA ‘boosters’ — often spammy PBNs that can get you penalized.
- Over-optimized anchor text — risks penalties. Use natural anchor text.
See is link building still effective for more context.
Authority metrics and checkers
Different tools measure domain authority differently. Here’s how major metrics compare:
| Metric / tool | What it measures | Best use | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moz Domain Authority / Moz DA CheckerThe original DA metric most users mean when they say 'domain authority.' | Predictive Moz score for ranking potential | Benchmarking DA and comparing domains | Not a Google metric; model changes over time |
| Ahrefs Domain Rating / Ahrefs Backlink CheckerAhrefs uses DR, not DA; their backlink data is widely used for link analysis. | Backlink-profile strength and referring-domain authority | Competitor link research and backlink audits | DR is not DA; its crawl and index differ from Moz |
| Semrush Authority ScoreSemrush’s composite authority metric combines backlink and traffic-related signals. | Authority estimate based on link and quality signals | Agency reporting and competitive comparison | Not directly comparable to DA or DR |
| Free Domain Authority CheckersUsually lightweight tools that expose one proprietary score and basic backlink data. | Quick spot checks | Single-domain lookups | Often limited depth, caching, or exports |
Arguments for
- Stronger backlinks improve ranking potential across multiple pages.
- Authority-building compounds over time, unlike paid ads.
- High-quality links can drive referral traffic and brand visibility.
- Internal linking is cost-effective and underutilized.
Arguments against
- DA is slow to build and easy to overvalue as a vanity metric.
- Cheap link-building shortcuts often produce low-quality links.
- DA scores can change due to model updates, not site improvements.
- Competitive niches require significant effort to move DA.
What the experts say
Domain Authority is not a metric that Google uses. It's a third-party tool that can be useful for benchmarking, but it doesn't directly influence search rankings.
What it costs (and why prices are unreliable)
Most authority checkers offer limited free lookups; deeper backlink analysis and competitive research usually require paid plans. Public pricing changes often, but in practice SEO tools range from free/basic tiers to roughly $100+ per month for individual plans and much higher for agency tiers, with cost driven by query limits, crawl depth, historic data, and number of projects.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to increase DA?
Typically 3-12 months, depending on your link acquisition rate. DA updates monthly in Moz’s index.
Can I increase DA without backlinks?
No. DA is fundamentally a link metric. Internal linking helps distribute equity but won’t raise DA alone.
Why did my DA drop suddenly?
Likely due to Moz’s algorithm update (not your links). Check referring domains in backlink monitoring tools to confirm.
Is DA 40+ good enough?
Context matters. Compare to competitors using backlink profiles. Most commercial sites target DA 50+.
Do nofollow links help DA?
Marginally. Moz counts them but weights dofollow links much higher. Focus on editorial links.
How to check domain authority score?
Use Moz’s DA checker for Moz DA, Ahrefs for DR, or Semrush for Authority Score. Check the exact metric you want, because the tools measure different things.
Sources
Every factual claim on this page is drawn from the following independent sources. Links open in a new tab.
- WordStream — Common DA-building tactics including directories, content, guest posting, PR, and broken-link building.
- MonsterInsights — DA basics, backlink quality emphasis, technical SEO, and the point that DA does not improve overnight.
- Semrush — Using backlinks and indexed pages to identify strong pages and build authority through internal linking and content strategy.
- Name.com — DA checking tools, backlink-profile basis for DA, and technical/on-page practices that support authority building.
- Backlinko — Linkable content, competitor analysis, and promotion tactics for earning backlinks.
- Ahrefs — Creating link-worthy content, pitching relevant sites, and using internal links to improve important pages.
- Shopify — High-quality content, backlinks, on-page and technical SEO, promotion, freshness, and user experience.