SEO

What is Domain Authority?

Domain Authority is a metric that predicts how well a website will rank in search results, based primarily on the quantity and quality of backlinks pointing to it.

Definition

Domain Authority (DA) is a score developed by Moz that predicts a website's ranking potential in search engine results pages (SERPs), on a scale of 1 to 100. It is calculated based on the number and quality of backlinks pointing to a domain, among other factors. While DA is not a direct Google ranking signal, it is a useful proxy for a site's overall authority and link profile strength. Similar metrics include Ahrefs' Domain Rating (DR) and Semrush's Authority Score.

Why It Matters for Small Businesses

A higher domain authority generally correlates with stronger ranking potential and greater trustworthiness in search systems. For small businesses, building domain authority means earning quality backlinks over time — from local directories, press coverage, industry associations, and partner websites. A stronger authority profile also benefits AI visibility, since AI systems favor sources that demonstrate credibility across the web.

Example

A local real estate agency with a DA of 35 ranks consistently for competitive local search terms, earns citations in AI-generated answers about local housing markets, and outperforms newer competitors with DA scores under 15. Their authority was built through consistent blogging, local press features, and citation building over three years.

Related Terms

BacklinksThe primary driver of domain authority

E-E-A-TGoogle's qualitative authority framework

Topical AuthorityContent-based authority that complements domain authority

Keyword ResearchHow to target terms your authority can rank for

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