Last Updated on February 6, 2025 by Becky Halls
If you’re diving into SEO, you’ve likely come across the concept of domain authority (DA). But what is a good domain authority score? A domain authority score is a metric developed by Moz to predict how likely a website is to rank on search engines. It ranges from 1 to 100, with higher scores indicating stronger ranking potential. Understanding what constitutes a “good” DA score and how it impacts your search performance is key to building a successful SEO strategy.
What Is a Good Domain Authority Score?
Domain authority is calculated by evaluating multiple factors, primarily focusing on quality backlinks. Moz uses machine learning predictions and data from its own index to provide a score between 1 and 100. The calculation involves more than 40 signals, including linking root domains and the number of total links. Importantly, DA adapts to the competitiveness of specific industries, making it a comparative rather than absolute measure of site strength.
To answer what is a good domain authority score, it’s important to understand that DA is a relative metric. There isn’t a single “good” score—it depends on your industry, competition, and the size of your site. However, here’s a rough breakdown:
- 1-30: Typically new or smaller sites with room for improvement.
- 30-50: A moderate DA, often for websites building their backlink profile.
- 50-60: A strong score indicating a reputable site with solid authority.
- 60-100: Excellent authority, usually for top-tier, well-established sites in competitive industries.
Tip: Compare your DA to your competitors’ scores rather than aiming for a specific number. If your competitors have a DA in the 40s, a similar or higher score could be considered “good” for your niche.
Why Is Domain Authority Important?
A good domain authority score signals that your website has quality backlinks, relevance, and trustworthiness—all essential for ranking well in search engines. Higher DA scores often correlate with higher rankings, leading to better organic traffic and increased visibility.
Common Misconceptions about Domain Authority
Some believe domain authority is a direct factor in Google’s ranking algorithm, but it is not officially used by search engines. Instead, DA is a third-party metric created to give webmasters an idea of their site’s potential performance in search results. It’s also common to think of DA as a quick fix; however, increasing it requires consistent SEO efforts, quality content, and strategic link-building over time.
How It Impacts SEO:
- Increased Ranking Potential: Websites with higher DA are more likely to rank for competitive keywords.
- Better Credibility: A higher DA establishes trust with both search engines and users, making your site appear more credible.
- SEO Benchmarking: DA serves as a benchmark for monitoring the success of your SEO efforts over time.
Tools for Measuring Domain Authority
While Moz provides a clear DA measurement, several other tools also offer authority metrics. Ahrefs ranks domains by its Domain Rating (DR), and SEMrush uses Authority Score (AS). These tools incorporate similar metrics, such as the quality and quantity of backlinks, to help users gauge their website’s strength. Comparing results across different platforms can provide a more comprehensive understanding of your site’s position.
How to Improve Your Domain Authority Score
Now that you know what is a good domain authority score, let’s look at how you can improve your DA and climb the rankings.
1. Focus on Quality Backlinks
One of the best ways to increase your domain authority is by earning backlinks from high-authority sites. The more quality backlinks you have, the more search engines trust your website.
Tip: Focus on guest blogging, outreach campaigns, and creating shareable content to earn backlinks naturally.
2. Create High-Value Content
Great content attracts backlinks. The more valuable and unique your content is, the more likely other sites will link to it, improving your DA.
Tip: Consider writing comprehensive guides, conducting original research, or publishing infographics that others in your industry will want to reference.
3. Optimize On-Page SEO
While backlinks are crucial, don’t neglect on-page SEO. Optimize your website’s content, meta tags, and internal linking structure to enhance its visibility and user experience.
Tip: Regularly audit your site for broken links, outdated content, and slow page load times, all of which can affect your DA.
4. Improve Site Usability and Technical SEO
Search engines favor websites with fast load times, mobile responsiveness, and good user experience. Improving your technical SEO can positively impact your domain authority score.
Tip: Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights and Lighthouse to monitor and improve your website’s performance.
5. Diversify Your Backlink Profile
Don’t rely on backlinks from just one or two sources. A varied link profile with links from different websites, including guest posts, directories, and social media, appears more natural and can help improve your DA.
Tip: Aim to build a mix of follow and nofollow backlinks to maintain a balanced profile.
Conclusion
So, what is a good domain authority score? It depends on your niche, competitors, and the size of your website. While aiming for a higher score is beneficial, it’s crucial to focus on relative growth in your industry. Improving your domain authority takes time, but by focusing on quality backlinks, strong content, and technical SEO, you’ll see steady progress. Keep optimizing, track your DA score, and compare it with competitors to measure your SEO success.
