Domain Authority (or website authority) is a search engine metric that estimates how well a website will rank on search engine result pages (SERPs). It is computed by considering several vital signals, such as the quality of domains referring to the website, the number of incoming links, ranking keywords, and other proprietary criteria. The domain authority score then ranks a website from one to 100, with 100 being the highest-rated website.
How is Domain Authority Determined?
Domain Authority is determined by combining several characteristics, such as connecting root domains and the total number of links, into a single DA score. Domain authority is calculated using more than 40 factors, but the following are the most influential:
1. Connecting root domains: This is the total amount of backlinks a website has received from different domains. Having more linked domains is an essential aspect of your website’s ranking since it shows that it is recognised as authoritative by multiple sources.
2. The total number of inbound links: The Domain Authority score considers the total number of links that point back to your website from all domains.
3. MozRank: MozRank is a proprietary algorithm developed by Moz that ranks the strength of external backlinks pointing to your website based on quality. MozRank is assigned a value between 0 and 10.
4. MozTrust: MozTrust assesses how closely your website is linked to trusted websites, such as those ending in.edu or.gov. MozTrust, like MozRank, is assigned a score between 0 and 10.
5. Social signals: Moz and Google utilise social media signals to determine whether a site has high-quality content. The Domain Authority score of a website is determined by social media behaviours such as Facebook likes, LinkedIn shares, and retweets.
What is a Recommended Domain Authority Score?
Domain authority is measured on a 100-point scale, where a higher score indicates a higher likelihood of ranking well in search engine results. An average domain authority score falls within the range of 40-50, while a score between 50-60 is considered quite good. An excellent domain authority score is typically above 60. However, it’s important to note that domain authority is a relative metric.
Tips to Enhance Your Domain Authority
When improving your domain authority (DA), it’s important to remember that the Moz score operates on a logarithmic scale. Below are nine methods to elevate your domain authority score.
1. Choose a strong domain name: Boosting your website’s domain authority begins before you build backlinks or optimise your pages. Selecting a good domain name sets a solid foundation for improving your authority.
2. Optimise on-page content: On-page SEO in Adelaide plays a significant role in domain authority. It encompasses actions performed on your web pages to enhance your rankings. Focus on internal linking, content marketing, site structure, and other factors to optimise your on-page content effectively.
3. Create link-worthy content: Authoritative websites tend to receive backlinks from other reputable sites. Increasing the number of high-quality links pointing to your website is one of the most effective ways to bolster your domain authority score.
4. Improve internal linking structure: Internal links serve multiple purposes on your website. They assist users in navigating through your content, spread link equity across your pages, and contribute to your overall domain authority.
5. Remove harmful and toxic links: Not all backlinks are beneficial. Some can be spammy, low-quality, or even detrimental to your domain authority. Regularly conduct link audits using tools like SEMrush’s Backlink Audit or Ahrefs’ Site Explorer to identify and eliminate harmful and toxic backlinks.
6. Ensure mobile-friendly design: With approximately half of the website traffic originating from mobile devices, optimising your website for mobile screens is crucial for boosting your domain authority score.
7. Establish industry authority: Google prioritises content with high expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness (E-A-T). Publish relevant content, contribute guest blogs, and actively engage in industry discussions on platforms like LinkedIn or Twitter.
8. Enhance page loading speed: Page load times significantly impact your website’s domain authority, especially since Google introduced Core Web Vitals as a ranking signal. Faster loading leads to better user experiences and lower bounce rates, indicating higher relevance and improved domain authority.
9. Promote content on social media: Social media promotion is vital in building a solid backlink profile, contributing to your domain authority. Sharing your content across your owned social media channels, encouraging engagement, and inviting comments can enhance visibility and authority.
These strategies can enhance your domain authority, improve rankings, and establish a more substantial online presence.
Conclusion
Gradually improve your domain authority score over time by implementing effective on-page optimisations, ensuring a high-performing website, and implementing a robust link-building strategy.