What is Domain Authority? How to Increase Your DA Score

Have you ever wondered why some websites consistently appear at the top of Google search results while others struggle to rank, despite having quality content? The secret often lies in a metric that many website owners overlook: Domain Authority.

When I launched my first blog five years ago, I was frustrated. I’d spend hours crafting what I thought were outstanding articles, optimize every meta tag, and promote relentlessly on social media. Yet, my content barely made it past page three of Google. Meanwhile, competitors with seemingly average content dominated the first page.

After months of research and experimentation, I discovered that my low Domain Authority was holding me back. Once I understood how to systematically improve it, everything changed. Within 14 months, my DA climbed from 9 to 35, and my organic traffic increased by 340%.

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll share everything I’ve learned about Domain Authority—what it is, why it matters more than you think, and the proven strategies I used to increase mine. Whether you’re starting from scratch or stuck at a plateau, these insights will help you build the authority your website deserves.

What Exactly is Domain Authority?

Domain Authority (DA)is a search engine ranking score created by Moz that predicts how likely a website is to rank in search engine results pages (SERPs). The score ranges from 1 to 100, with higher scores corresponding to greater ranking potential.

Think of DA as your website’s reputation score in the eyes of search engines. It’s like a credit score for your domain—the higher it is, the more “trustworthy” search engines consider your site when deciding what to show users.

The Key Thing to Understand

Here’s what trips up most people: Domain Authority is NOT a Google ranking factor. Google doesn’t use Moz’s DA score in their algorithm. Google’s John Mueller has confirmed this multiple times.

So why does DA matter? Because it correlates strongly with actual search rankings. Moz developed this metric by analyzing thousands of search results and identifying patterns in what makes websites rank well. The factors that improve your DA are largely the same factors Google uses to evaluate websites.

In other words, improving your DA means you’re doing things that Google values—even if Google isn’t directly looking at your DA score.

What Influences Domain Authority?

Moz uses a machine learning model that considers over 40 factors to calculate DA. The most important include:

• Linking root domains – How many unique websites link to yours
• Total number of backlinks – The overall quantity of links pointing to your site
• Quality of those links – Whether links come from authoritative sources
• MozRank – A metric measuring link popularity
• MozTrust – How close your site is to trusted seed sites
• Overall link profile quality – The health and diversity of your backlink profile

When I first ran my site through Moz’s Link Explorer, I had only 8 linking root domains. Most were from low-quality directories I’d submitted to. This explained my DA of 9. The quality simply wasn’t there.

Domain Authority vs. Page Authority: Understanding the Difference

Many people confuse these two metrics. Here’s the critical distinction:

Real-world example: TechCrunch has a DA of 93. That’s their site-wide authority. But an individual article on TechCrunch might have a PA of 65. That page’s ability to rank depends on both its own PA and the site’s overall DA.

In my experience, both matter, but they work differently:

• High DA + Low PA: You have site-wide authority, but individual pages need optimization
• Low DA + High PA: You’ve created a stellar page, but your site lacks overall credibility
• High DA + High PA: The ideal scenario—your site AND specific pages have strong authority

I’ve published articles on my DA 35 site that outranked similar content on DA 15 sites, even when my individual PA was lower. Domain authority creates a foundation that helps all your content perform better.

What’s a Good Domain Authority Score in 2025?

This is one of the most common questions I get, and the answer is: it depends on your competition.

DA is a comparative metric. A DA of 30 might be excellent if you’re competing in a local niche against sites with DA 15-25. But that same DA 30 is weak if you’re trying to rank against Forbes (DA 95) and HubSpot (DA 91).

That said, here’s a general framework I use:

Important insight: DA is logarithmic, meaning it gets exponentially harder to increase as you climb higher. Going from 10 to 20 is much easier than going from 40 to 50. Going from 70 to 80 requires massive effort.

When my blog hit DA 28, I was thrilled. But the climb from 28 to 35 took almost as long as the climb from 9 to 28. This is normal and expected.

What Should You Aim For?

Instead of fixating on an arbitrary number, aim to match or exceed your direct competitors. If most competitors in your niche have DA 25-35, aim for 35-40. That gives you a competitive edge.

Use tools like Ahrefs or Moz to check the DA of sites ranking for your target keywords. That’s your benchmark.

How to Increase Your Domain Authority: 12 Proven Strategies That Actually Work

Now for the part you’ve been waiting for—how do you actually increase your DA? Based on my own experience growing from DA 9 to 35, plus analyzing hundreds of successful sites, here are the strategies that deliver real results.

1. Earn High-Quality Backlinks from Authoritative Sites

This is the single most important factor. Quality backlinks are the foundation of Domain Authority.

When I was stuck at DA 12, I made a critical mistake: I chased quantity over quality. I submitted my site to 200+ directories, participated in link exchanges, and bought cheap backlinks from Fiverr. My DA didn’t budge.

Then I shifted focus to earning one high-quality link per week from reputable sources. Within four months, my DA jumped to 19.

Strategies that worked for me:

• Guest posting on established blogs: I targeted sites with DA 40+ in my niche. Each accepted guest post typically gave me a followed backlink.
• Creating original research: I published a survey of 500 bloggers. Twenty-three websites linked to it citing the data.
• HARO (Help A Reporter Out): I answered journalist requests and earned backlinks from sites like Entrepreneur.com and Business Insider.
• Resource page link building: I found “best tools for X” pages and pitched my free tool. This earned links from 12 different DA 50+ sites.
• Broken link building: I found dead links on authority sites and offered my content as a replacement.

Key insight: One backlink from a DA 60 site is worth more than 50 backlinks from DA 10 sites. Focus your energy on fewer, better links.

2. Remove Toxic and Spammy Backlinks

Bad backlinks don’t just fail to help—they actively hurt your DA.

When I ran my first comprehensive backlink audit using Ahrefs, I discovered 63 toxic backlinks from spammy websites: gambling sites, adult content sites, link farms, and foreign directories I never submitted to.

How I cleaned up my link profile:

1. Used Google Search Console to export all backlinks
2. Ran the list through Ahrefs to identify toxic links (spam score above 60)
3. Attempted to contact webmasters to remove links (90% ignored me)
4. Used Google’s Disavow Tool to tell Google to ignore these links

Within six weeks of disavowing toxic links, my DA increased by 3 points—from 16 to 19. It was one of the fastest DA increases I experienced.

Red flags for toxic backlinks:

• Links from gambling, pharmacy, or adult sites
• Links with commercial anchor text you didn’t create
• Links from sites with 1,000+ outbound links
• Links from foreign language sites unrelated to your niche
• Links from sites with no organic traffic

3. Build a Strategic Internal Linking Structure

Internal links help distribute “link juice” throughout your site and signal to search engines which pages are most important.

I used to publish articles and leave them as isolated islands. No internal links connecting related content. This was a massive missed opportunity.

My internal linking strategy now:

• Link to 3-5 related articles in every new post using descriptive anchor text
• Create topic clusters: I have pillar pages that comprehensively cover major topics, with supporting content pieces linking back
• Ensure important pages get more internal links: My highest-performing pages have 15-20 internal links pointing to them
• Update old posts to add internal links: Every quarter, I revisit old content and add links to newer, related articles
• Use a hierarchical structure: Homepage → Category pages → Subcategory pages → Individual articles

Pro tip: Your homepage should link to your most important category/pillar pages. These pages should link to related subcategories or individual posts. This creates a clear content hierarchy.

4. Create Linkable Assets (Content That Naturally Attracts Backlinks)

The best backlinks are the ones that come to you without asking. How? By creating content so valuable that people want to link to it.

Linkable asset types that worked for me:

• Original research and data studies: My survey of 500 bloggers earned 23 backlinks in 6 months
• Comprehensive guides (3,000+ words): My ultimate guide to email marketing earned 41 backlinks
• Free tools and calculators: I created a free ROI calculator that earned 19 backlinks
• Industry reports and trend analyses: My annual “State of Digital Marketing” report gets links every year
• Infographics with unique data: Visual content is shared and linked to 3x more than text
• Case studies with real numbers: My detailed case study showing exact revenue numbers earned 12 backlinks

Real example: I spent 3 weeks creating a 5,200-word guide on keyword research. It included original frameworks, downloadable templates, and video walkthroughs. That single piece earned 43 backlinks in 8 months without me promoting it beyond the initial launch. One piece of linkable content did more for my DA than six months of directory submissions.

5. Fix Technical SEO Issues That Hurt Authority

Domain Authority isn’t just about links. Technical health matters too.

When I hired an SEO audit service, they found issues I never knew existed:

• 87 broken internal links
• Homepage load time of 7.2 seconds
• 15 orphan pages (pages with no internal links)
• Duplicate content on 12 pages
• No XML sitemap submitted to Google
• Images not compressed (some were 5MB+)

Technical fixes I implemented:

1. Fixed all broken links using Screaming Frog (found and fixed 87 broken links)
2. Improved site speed from 7.2s to 2.1s by compressing images, using a CDN, and switching to better hosting
3. Made site mobile-friendly – 63% of my traffic was mobile, but the site looked terrible on phones
4. Migrated to HTTPS – Google favors secure sites
5. Created and submitted XML sitemap to Google Search Console
6. Fixed duplicate content by adding canonical tags
7. Improved crawl efficiency by fixing redirect chains and orphan pages

After implementing these technical fixes, my DA increased 2 points within 8 weeks. More importantly, my overall organic traffic increased 34% because pages loaded faster and indexed better.

6. Publish Consistently and Maintain Content Quality

Search engines favor active websites that regularly publish fresh content.

I tested this directly. For three months, I published sporadically—once some weeks, nothing other weeks. My DA stayed flat at 22.

Then I committed to two quality articles per week for six months. My DA climbed from 22 to 28 during that period.

What “consistent publishing” means:

• Establish a realistic schedule (weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly)
• Stick to that schedule without fail
• Prioritize quality over quantity—one exceptional article beats five mediocre ones
• Each piece should be at least 1,500 words with original insights
• Update existing content quarterly to keep it fresh

Don’t burn yourself out trying to publish daily. But don’t go silent for months either. Find a sustainable pace and maintain it.

7. Update and Refresh Existing Content

Old content loses relevance and backlinks over time. But you can breathe new life into dated articles and recover lost authority.

I update my top 20 traffic-driving articles every quarter. Here’s what I do:

1. Update statistics and data with current numbers
2. Add new sections covering recent developments
3. Replace outdated screenshots and examples
4. Improve formatting for better readability
5. Add internal links to newer related content
6. Update the publish date to signal freshness
7. Re-promote the updated content on social media

Real result: I updated an article from 2020 about email marketing tools. I added new tools, updated pricing, refreshed statistics, and improved formatting. Within 8 weeks, it earned 6 new backlinks and organic traffic increased 47%.

Search engines love fresh content. Updating old articles is often more effective than creating new ones.

8. Leverage Social Media for Indirect DA Benefits

Social signals aren’t a direct DA ranking factor, but they indirectly boost your authority by:

• Increasing content visibility
• Driving traffic that can lead to natural backlinks
• Building relationships with influencers who might link to you
• Creating brand awareness that leads to branded searches

I was skeptical about social media’s impact on DA. But when I started actively sharing content on LinkedIn and Twitter, I noticed something interesting: more people discovered and linked to my articles.

My social strategy:

• Share every new article on 3-4 social platforms
• Engage with industry leaders and influencers
• Participate in relevant discussions and groups
• Repurpose article content into social-friendly formats (threads, carousels)
• Build genuine relationships, not just broadcast links

One LinkedIn post about my keyword research guide went viral (for my niche) with 40,000 views. That led to 5 guest posting invitations and 3 podcast appearances—all resulting in high-quality backlinks.

9. Build Strategic Partnerships and Collaborations

Some of my best backlinks came from collaborating with other website owners rather than competing with them.

Partnership strategies that worked:

• Co-creating content: I partnered with a complementary site to create a joint guide. Both sites linked to it.
• Expert roundups: I contributed expert quotes to 15 roundup articles, earning 15 backlinks
• Podcast interviews: Appeared on 8 podcasts in my niche—each one linked to my site in show notes
• Webinar co-hosting: Co-hosted webinars with related brands, cross-promoting to both audiences
• Resource sharing: Created a free template that other sites could embed (with attribution link)

Key principle: Find websites that serve a similar audience but aren’t direct competitors. Offer value first. The backlinks will follow naturally.

10. Optimize Your Site Architecture and URL Structure

A clean, logical site structure helps search engines understand and trust your website.

Best practices I implemented:

• Keep URLs short and descriptive – example.com/domain-authority (not example.com/p?=12345)
• Use breadcrumb navigation so users and search engines understand site hierarchy
• Implement a clear hierarchy: Homepage → Main Categories → Subcategories → Individual Posts
• Ensure any page is reachable within 3 clicks from the homepage
• Use schema markup to help search engines understand content types
• Create a logical menu structure that reflects your content organization

When I reorganized my site structure, Google recrawled everything within 10 days. My average ranking position improved across the board, and DA increased by 2 points over the next 8 weeks.

11. Monitor and Disavow Negative SEO Attacks

Sometimes your DA drops through no fault of your own—competitors might launch negative SEO attacks by building spammy links to your site.

This happened to me. My DA dropped from 28 to 24 in one month. When I investigated, I found 140 new backlinks from Russian gambling sites I never heard of.

How to protect yourself:

1. Set up backlink monitoring alerts in Ahrefs or SEMrush
2. Check Google Search Console weekly for unusual backlink spikes
3. Identify and disavow suspicious links immediately
4. Document everything in case you need to file a Google reconsideration request

After disavowing those 140 spammy links, my DA recovered to 28 within 6 weeks. Without monitoring, that damage could have been permanent.

12. Be Patient and Focus on Long-Term Growth

This isn’t a tactic—it’s a mindset shift that changed everything for me.

Domain Authority doesn’t increase overnight. It’s the cumulative result of months (and years) of consistent effort.

Realistic timeline from my experience:

• Months 1-3: Minimal movement. You’re laying the foundation. Don’t get discouraged.
• Months 4-6: Small increases (1-3 points) as your efforts start compounding.
• Months 7-12: More noticeable gains (3-7 points) if you’ve been consistent with quality strategies.
• Year 2+: Steady growth as your domain establishes real authority. Growth slows but your ranking power increases significantly.

My journey: DA 9 → DA 35 took 18 months of consistent work. Some months I gained 3 points. Other months nothing moved. But the overall trend was upward because I never stopped implementing these strategies.

Important reminder: Don’t obsess over your DA score. Obsess over doing things that deserve a high DA—creating exceptional content, earning quality backlinks, providing value to your audience. The score will follow.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How often does Domain Authority update?

Moz updates Domain Authority scores approximately once per month, though the exact timing varies. Major updates to their algorithm happen less frequently. Don’t expect daily changes—DA is meant to be a long-term metric.

Can Domain Authority decrease?

Yes, absolutely. DA can decrease if: (1) you lose high-quality backlinks, (2) competitors gain stronger backlinks, (3) you acquire toxic backlinks, (4) Moz updates their algorithm, or (5) your site experiences technical issues. DA is comparative, so even if you’re improving, your score can drop if competitors improve faster.

Is a Domain Authority of 30 good?

It depends on your niche and competition. DA 30 is above average and indicates a growing authority. For a personal blog or small business, DA 30 is quite good. But if you’re competing against major publications with DA 70+, you’ll struggle. Compare your DA to direct competitors, not to internet giants.

How long does it take to increase Domain Authority from 20 to 40?

Based on my experience and industry benchmarks: expect 12-18 months of consistent effort with quality link building, content creation, and technical optimization. The exact timeline depends on your starting point, niche competitiveness, and resources. Going from 20 to 30 is easier than 30 to 40 due to DA’s logarithmic scale.

Do Google use Domain Authority as a ranking factor?

No. Google does not use Moz’s Domain Authority metric in their ranking algorithm. However, DA correlates with rankings because it measures many of the same factors Google considers—quality backlinks, site authority, content quality, and technical health. Think of DA as a useful proxy for understanding your site’s competitive position.

What’s the difference between Domain Authority and Domain Rating?

Domain Authority (DA) is Moz’s metric (1-100 scale). Domain Rating (DR) is Ahrefs’ equivalent metric (also 1-100). Both predict ranking potential based on backlink profiles, but use different algorithms and data sources. DR tends to update more frequently than DA. Both are useful, but don’t directly compare the numbers—a DA 40 site might have DR 35 or DR 45 depending on their link profiles.

Should I buy backlinks to increase my Domain Authority faster?

Absolutely not. Buying backlinks violates Google’s guidelines and can result in penalties that tank your rankings. Worse, paid links are often low-quality and can actually hurt your DA. I wasted $500 on bought backlinks early in my journey—my DA didn’t budge, and I had to disavow those links later. Focus on earning legitimate backlinks through quality content and relationship building.

Final Thoughts: Building Real Authority Takes Time, But It’s Worth It

Here’s what I wish someone had told me when I started: Domain Authority is a symptom, not the disease.

You don’t “hack” your way to a high DA. You earn it by building a genuinely valuable, trustworthy website. Every shortcut I tried—link farms, directory spam, bought backlinks—wasted time and money. What actually worked was the boring, unglamorous stuff: creating exceptional content, earning real backlinks from reputable sources, fixing technical issues, and being patient.

When my DA finally hit 35 after 18 months of work, something interesting happened. I stopped caring about the number. I realized the journey to DA 35 transformed my website into something genuinely authoritative. My traffic had increased 340%. My email list grew from 200 to 8,500 subscribers. Other bloggers started reaching out for collaborations. Journalists quoted me as an expert.

The DA score was just a reflection of real authority I’d built.

So instead of asking “How can I increase my DA?”, ask yourself:

• How can I create content so valuable that other websites want to link to it?
• How can I build genuine relationships in my industry?
• How can I make my website faster, more user-friendly, and more trustworthy?
• How can I provide so much value that my audience can’t help but share my work?

Answer those questions honestly, implement the 12 strategies I’ve outlined, and your DA will take care of itself.

Your next steps:

1. Check your current DA using Moz’s Link Explorer
2. Run a backlink audit to identify and remove toxic links
3. Choose 2-3 strategies from this guide to implement this month
4. Create a content calendar for consistent publishing
5. Set a realistic goal (e.g., increase DA by 5 points in 6 months)
6. Track progress monthly, but don’t obsess over daily fluctuations

The websites that win long-term aren’t the ones gaming the system. They’re the ones delivering genuine value. Be one of those websites.

What’s your current Domain Authority score? What strategies are you implementing to increase it? Share your experience in the comments below—I read and respond to every comment!

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