SEO

What is Domain Authority?

Domain Authority is a score that predicts how likely a website is to rank in search engine results, based primarily on the strength and quality of its backlink profile.

Definition

Domain Authority or DA is a score developed by Moz ranging from 1 to 100 that predicts how likely a website is to rank in search engine results, based primarily on the strength and quality of its backlink profile. Similar metrics exist from other tools: Ahrefs calls it Domain Rating, Semrush uses Authority Score. While Domain Authority is not a metric used directly by Google, it is a useful proxy for understanding your site's relative competitive strength.

Why It Matters for Small Businesses

Domain Authority gives small businesses a benchmark for understanding where they stand against competitors and how much work it may take to outrank them for competitive keywords. A new site with a low DA competing against established sites with high DA faces a steep climb for competitive terms, which is valuable strategic information that informs which keywords to target first.

Example

A new financial planning firm checks their Domain Authority against the top-ranking competitors for financial planner in their city. Rather than competing head-on for those terms immediately, they target lower-competition long-tail keywords, build their backlink profile through community involvement and press mentions, and gradually close the authority gap over 12 to 18 months.

Related Terms

BacklinksThe primary driver of Domain Authority

SEODomain Authority is a useful SEO benchmarking tool

E-E-A-TGenuine authority and trustworthiness underpin sustainable DA growth

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