What is Domain Authority and How to Improve it

What is Domain Authority?

Domain Authority (DA) is a metric used to assess the overall strength and credibility of a website on a scale from 1 to 100. Developed by Moz, a leading SEO software company, DA reflects how well a website is likely to perform in search engine rankings.

The score is calculated based on various factors such as the quality and quantity of inbound links pointing to the site, the site's overall content quality, its age, and its general popularity on the web. Websites with higher DA scores are generally considered more authoritative and trustworthy in their respective fields, making them more likely to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs).

It's important to note that while Domain Authority is a useful metric for understanding a site's potential SEO performance, it's just one of many factors search engines use to determine rankings. Websites can improve their DA over time by focusing on creating high-quality content, acquiring relevant backlinks from reputable sources, and maintaining a strong online presence that aligns with best SEO practices.

How do I check my sites Domain Authority?

As Moz is the original creator of the Domain Authority metric, its probably the best way to check your websites domain authority. Moz is a paid services but it does offer a free DA checker: https://moz.com/domain-analysis

Simply enter your website’s URL into Link Explorer, and it will display the DA score along with other useful link metrics like inbound links, linking domains, and spam score.

How can I improve my websites Domain Authority score?

Improving your website’s Domain Authority (DA) takes time and a strategic approach focused on building a strong, trustworthy online presence. Here are the most effective ways to increase your DA score:

Earn high-quality backlinks

Backlinks from reputable, high-authority websites are the most influential factor in boosting DA.

• Create valuable content like guides, original research, or infographics that others want to reference.
• Guest post on relevant, authoritative websites in your industry.
• Use tools like Ahrefs, Moz, Mangools or SEMrush to find broken link opportunities or unlinked mentions of your brand.

Improve internal linking structure

A clean, logical internal linking system helps search engines crawl your site more effectively and distributes link equity across your pages.

• Link related blog posts or cornerstone content.
• Use descriptive anchor text that helps clarify the context.

Optimise on-page SEO

Ensure each page on your site is fully optimised:

• Use proper title tags, meta descriptions, headers (H1, H2, etc.).
• Focus on keyword relevance and user intent.
• Improve site speed, mobile-friendliness, and overall user experience. You can use free tools like https://pagespeed.web.dev/ to scan your website and identify problems.

Create high-quality, relevant content regularly

Consistently publishing fresh, in-depth content builds topical authority and increases the chance of earning backlinks naturally.

Fix technical SEO issues

Search engines favor technically sound websites.

• Use tools like Google Search Console to identify and fix crawl errors, broken links, and duplicate content.
• Ensure a secure HTTPS connection and a mobile-optimised design.

Build your brand and online presence

The more your brand is mentioned or linked to across the web, the more trust and authority it gains.

• Stay active on social media.
• Get listed in relevant directories and review platforms.
• Engage in PR activities or online communities related to your niche.

Be patient

Domain Authority is a relative, logarithmic score - so moving from 20 to 30 is easier than from 60 to 70. Steady growth and consistent effort are key.

Partner with Phuse

Partner with Phuse Web Design to boost your Domain Authority and search visibility. We specialise in fast, SEO-friendly websites and smart strategies that help you rank higher, attract more traffic, and build lasting online credibility.

To find out more call us on 01702 482011 or click here to send us an email enquiry.