What is the Domain Authority Score? How is the DA Calculated?
Complete beginner-friendly guide What is the Domain Authority Score by 9Nex Tools.
What is the Domain Authority Score? How is the DA Calculated?
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Search engine optimization (SEO) today is not just about keywords—it is about trust, credibility, and long-term authority. One of the most popular metrics used to measure website strength is Domain Authority (DA).
What is the Domain Authority Score?
Domain Authority (DA) is a search engine ranking score that predicts how likely a website is to rank on search engine results pages (SERPs). The score ranges from 1 to 100, where a higher score indicates a stronger ability to rank.
It is important to understand that Domain Authority is not a Google ranking factor. Instead, it is a comparative metric used by SEO professionals to analyze website strength, track progress, and compare competitors.
- DA ranges from 1 to 100
- Higher DA means stronger ranking potential
- It grows gradually over time
- Best used for comparison with competitors
Why Domain Authority Matters for SEO
Domain Authority helps website owners understand how competitive their website is within their niche. A website with a higher DA usually finds it easier to rank for competitive keywords compared to a website with a lower DA.
By tracking DA, you can evaluate your SEO strategy, backlink profile, and overall website credibility over time.
How is the DA Calculated?
Domain Authority is calculated using multiple SEO signals, mainly focused on a website’s backlink profile and trust level. The calculation is based on a machine-learning model that continuously updates as the web changes.
1. Backlink Quality
Backlinks from authoritative and relevant websites significantly increase Domain Authority. Low-quality or spammy links can negatively impact your score.
2. Referring Domains
The number of unique websites linking to your domain plays a major role. Ten links from ten different domains are more valuable than one hundred links from a single domain.
3. Link Relevance
Links from websites within the same or related niche are more powerful than unrelated links.
4. Domain History & Trust
Older domains with clean histories and consistent publishing patterns generally perform better in terms of authority.
5. Internal Linking Structure
A strong internal linking structure helps distribute authority across pages and improves crawlability.
6. Spam Signals
Websites associated with spammy SEO practices may see a drop in Domain Authority.
Domain Authority uses a logarithmic scale, which means improving from DA 20 to DA 30 is much easier than moving from DA 70 to DA 80.
How Do We Increase Domain Authority Score?
Increasing Domain Authority requires consistency, patience, and ethical SEO practices. There are no shortcuts, but the following strategies work effectively.
1. Build High-Quality Backlinks
Focus on earning backlinks from authoritative, relevant websites through guest posting, partnerships, and valuable content creation.
2. Publish High-Quality Content
Long-form, helpful, and original content naturally attracts backlinks and increases trust among users and search engines.
3. Improve Internal Linking
Linking related content internally helps spread authority and improves user experience.
4. Remove Toxic Backlinks
Regular backlink audits help identify and remove harmful links that can negatively affect your authority.
You can use professional website tracking and SEO analysis tools available at: Website Tracking Tools
5. Optimize Technical SEO
Fast loading speed, mobile optimization, HTTPS security, and clean URLs help build trust and authority.
6. Strengthen Brand Signals
Consistent branding, online mentions, and branded searches increase credibility and long-term authority.
Common Myths About Domain Authority
- Domain Authority is not a direct Google ranking factor
- More backlinks do not always mean higher DA
- DA growth takes time and consistency
- Low DA does not mean poor SEO for new websites
