Domain Authority
Traditional SEO
Domain authority is a score developed by Moz (and similar scores exist from other tools) that estimates how competitive a website is in search rankings based on the quality and quantity of its backlinks, with scores ranging from 1 to 100.
Definition
Domain authority is a score developed by Moz (and similar scores exist from other tools) that estimates how competitive a website is in search rankings based on the quality and quantity of its backlinks, with scores ranging from 1 to 100. Higher scores indicate stronger competitive positioning. It is a third-party metric, not a direct Google ranking factor, but it correlates closely with how well a site performs in organic search. Understanding domain authority helps you assess how difficult it would be to outrank a competitor for a specific keyword.
How It Works
Domain authority is calculated primarily from the site's backlink profile: how many other sites link to it, how authoritative those sites are, and how relevant the links are. A brand-new site starts with a low domain authority. As it earns more high-quality links over time, the score grows. The score is logarithmic, meaning it gets progressively harder to move from 60 to 70 than from 20 to 30.
Ahrefs and Semrush have equivalent metrics (Domain Rating and Authority Score, respectively) that work similarly. The specific numbers vary between tools, so comparing domain authority scores only makes sense within the same tool.
Why It Matters
Domain authority gives you a quick benchmark for how competitive your site is and how difficult it will be to rank in a given market. If the top competitors for your key phrases all have domain authority scores in the 50s and 60s and your site is at 15, ranking purely on content is an uphill task. This context helps you focus on long-tail keywords where lower-authority sites have a real chance, while you build authority over time through content and link-earning strategies.
Example
A new marketing agency wants to rank for "digital marketing agency Boston." The top ten results have domain authority scores between 45 and 70. The agency's new site is at DA 12. Rather than competing directly, they target "email marketing for restaurants Boston" (DA of competitors: 18 to 30) while building authority through local directory listings, guest posts, and client case studies that earn links. Within 18 months, their DA reaches 28 and they can compete for more valuable terms.
Related Terms
Backlink, Off-Page SEO, Keyword Difficulty, Anchor Text, E-E-A-TIf you are working on your business's search visibility and want a practical starting point, the AI Workflow Audit includes a review of your current content and search presence. Calculate how much slow follow-up costs your business while you are at it.
Related terms
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