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 to Increase Domain Authority Step-by-Step
Follow this 6-step process to improve DA sustainably:
Audit your backlink profile
Use backlink analysis tools to identify toxic links and gaps vs. competitors.
Create 2-3 flagship linkable assets
Develop research reports, tools, or other link-worthy content tailored to your niche.
Execute targeted outreach
Pitch relevant sites using structured link-building campaigns.
Optimize internal linking
Link strategically between pages to distribute authority.
Monitor referring domains
Track new linking root domains (not total links) in your SEO tools.
Disavow toxic backlinks
Remove harmful links via Google’s disavow tool when necessary.
Domain Authority Improvement Checklist
Prioritize these actions (✔) and avoid pitfalls (✖):
- Publish at least one link-worthy asset quarterly
- Acquire links from .edu/.gov sites when relevant
- Diversify anchor text naturally
- Build links to deep pages (not just homepage)
- Update old content to regain lost links
- Buy links or use PBNs
- Submit to low-quality directories
- Ignore link velocity (sudden spikes are risky)
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
- Spam signals
Unlike Google’s algorithms, DA doesn’t evaluate content quality or user signals. Compare with DA vs. Ahrefs DR for alternative metrics.
Proven Tactics to Increase DA
Prioritize these evidence-backed methods:
- Create linkable assets like original research (digital PR), tools, or definitive guides
- Outreach to relevant sites using link prospecting for guest posts or mentions
- Fix broken links with broken link building replacements
- Optimize internal links to distribute link equity
- Remove toxic backlinks via disavow tool when necessary
Tools to Track Progress
Use these to monitor DA and backlinks:
- Moz Pro (for DA tracking)
- Ahrefs (for competitor backlink analysis)
- Google Search Console (free link data)
- Semrush (Authority Score alternative)
For deeper analysis, see backlink audit tools.
What Doesn’t Work
Avoid these ineffective or risky tactics:
- Link schemes (violate Google guidelines)
- Low-quality directories (minimal DA impact)
- DA ‘boosters’ (often spammy PBNs)
- Over-optimized anchor text (risks penalties)
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
DA is useful for benchmarking, but obsessing over the score misses the point. Build real authority through remarkable content and relationships.
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.
Sources
Every factual claim on this page is drawn from the following independent sources. Links open in a new tab.
- WordStreamCommon DA-building tactics including directories, content, guest posting, PR, and broken-link building.
- MonsterInsightsDA basics, backlink quality emphasis, technical SEO, and the point that DA does not improve overnight.
- SemrushUsing backlinks and indexed pages to identify strong pages and build authority through internal linking and content strategy.
- Name.comDA checking tools, backlink-profile basis for DA, and technical/on-page practices that support authority building.
- BacklinkoLinkable content, competitor analysis, and promotion tactics for earning backlinks.
- AhrefsCreating link-worthy content, pitching relevant sites, and using internal links to improve important pages.
- ShopifyHigh-quality content, backlinks, on-page and technical SEO, promotion, freshness, and user experience.