What Is Domain Authority And How To Improve It

Domain Authority is a term that might sound a bit techy but is super important if you want your blog to grow. 

Think of it as your blog’s reputation score in the eyes of search engines. 

The higher it is, the more likely your site will rank higher on search engines. 

And as a blogger, who wouldn’t want more visibility, right?

This is why I’m going to break down what Domain Authority is, how it works, and—most importantly—how you can boost yours. 

It’s easier than you think, and I’ll walk you through it step by step. 

Let’s get started.

What Is Domain Authority?

Imagine your blog is a restaurant. DA is like your online reputation score. 

In other words, it reflects how much people trust you and recommend you to others.

Moz, the company behind this metric, created it to give website owners a way to measure their site’s trustworthiness on a scale of 1 to 100.

Please reread the previous sentence because I didn’t mention Google. In fact, DA isn’t a ranking factor for Google.

Instead, it’s a tool to help you understand where your blog stands compared to others. 

It’s based on factors like the quality and quantity of backlinks, the relevance of those links, and your overall SEO efforts.

So, what’s a “good” DA score?

Well, that depends on your niche. Let me explain… 

A local food blog might do great with a DA of 30, while a global tech site might aim for 70+.

This is because the competition is completely different in those two niches.

But what you should really keep in mind is that it’s less about hitting 100 and more about consistently improving.

The best part? 

Even new blogs with low scores can boost their DA by following the right strategies. And that’s exactly what I’ll share with you next. 

How Is Domain Authority Scored?

Domain Authority is scored on a scale from 1 to 100. 

The closer your blog is to 100, the stronger its online “authority.” 

But don’t sweat it if your score is low right now because every website starts at 1. 

It’s like a video game: you level up by gaining points over time through consistent effort.

Here’s how it works:

• 1-30: newbie zone. Most blogs start here, especially if they’re just launched.
• 31-50: getting there. You’ve built some backlinks and traffic, and search engines are starting to trust you.
• 51-70: suthority in the making. Your blog likely has solid backlinks, great content, and steady growth.
• 71+: rockstar status. Blogs with this score are major players in their niche, often with thousands of high-quality backlinks.

In other words, your DA score is a reflection of your blog’s reputation. And just like trust, it’s built steadily over time. 

Up next, I’ll explain the factors that affect your domain authority and how you can improve it. 

Factors That Affect Domain Authority

Learning the main factors that impact DA will guide you to focus on what truly makes a difference. 

So, let’s have a look at them.

Backlink quality and quantity: backlinks are like votes of confidence from other websites. But not all votes are equal! A link from a high-authority site (like Forbes or CNN) carries much more weight than a dozen links from random, low-quality blogs.

What I strongly recommend is:

• Focus on earning backlinks from reputable, relevant websites.
• Avoid spammy or low-quality backlinks because they can hurt your DA.

Relevance of linking websites: Google loves connections that make sense. If your blog is about fitness, getting backlinks from a health or wellness site is much more valuable than from a blog about gaming.

Internal linking: internal links help search engines crawl and understand your site structure.

Plus, they keep readers exploring your content longer, which is always a win.

Site performance: A fast, mobile-friendly site is essential. No one enjoys waiting for a page to load, and search engines don’t either.

Start by doing these things:

• Use tools like GTmetrix or PageSpeed Insights to check your speed.
• Optimize images and eliminate unnecessary plugins to improve performance.

Content Quality: search engines reward blogs that consistently publish valuable, well-written content. 

I suggest writing posts that tackle your audience’s pain points and offer helpful answers.

Domain Age: older domains often have an edge, but that doesn’t mean new blogs can’t compete. 

With the right strategies, you can build authority faster than you think.

Focus on these factors, and you’ll improve your Domain Authority and create a better experience for your readers. 

That’s a double win!

How To Improve Your Domain Authority

Let’s focus on the practical stuff: how to improve it. 

But before we move on, please keep in mind that boosting your DA is a long-term game, not a quick fix, so patience and consistency are key to seeing real results.

With that said, let’s break it down step by step.

1. Build High-Quality Backlinks

Backlinks are one of the biggest contributors to a higher DA score, and the key is to focus on quality over quantity.

• Guest posting: reach out to high-authority blogs in your niche and offer to write guest posts. This gives you exposure and a backlink to your site.
• Create link-worthy content: publish posts like ultimate guides, infographics, and research-based articles. These types of content naturally attract links.
• Outreach: use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to find sites that link to your competitors. Reach out to them with your own valuable content.
• Fix broken links: find and replace broken links pointing to your site with updated ones.

2. Optimize Your Internal Linking Structure

Internal links help with navigation and distribute link equity across your site, making your entire blog stronger.

• Connect relevant posts: link older, related posts in your new content.
• Use descriptive anchor text: avoid “click here” and use specific keywords that describe the content you’re linking to.
• Audit your links: regularly check for broken or outdated internal links and update them.

3. Focus On Content Quality

High-quality content is the backbone of a strong DA score. 

If your blog consistently provides value, it will naturally attract readers and backlinks.

• Write for your audience: understand their pain points/questions and address them in your content.
• Use keywords wisely: do proper keyword research and include them naturally in your posts. Tools like Google Keyword Planner can help.
• Update old posts: refresh outdated posts with current data, better formatting, and additional insights.

4. Improve Site Performance

A slow-loading site or one that’s not mobile-friendly can negatively affect your DA. 

Search engines prioritize user experience, so your blog needs to perform well.

• Speed up your site: compress images, minimize CSS and JavaScript, and use a fast hosting provider. There are many online tools that can help you identify areas for improvement.
• Mobile optimization: make sure your blog looks and works great on mobile devices. Google prioritizes mobile-friendly sites in its rankings, so this step is crucial for improving your visibility.
• Secure your site: switch to HTTPS if you haven’t already done so. A secure site is a ranking factor and builds trust with your audience.

5. Build A Consistent Publishing Schedule

Consistency is key when building authority. A blog that’s updated regularly signals to search engines that it’s active and full of fresh content.

• Stick to a schedule: decide how often you’ll post—whether it’s once a week or bi-weekly—and stay consistent.
• Batch create content: plan and write multiple posts in advance to avoid burnout or gaps in publishing.
• Use a content calendar: tools like Trello or Notion can help you organize ideas and deadlines.

Boosting Your Domain Authority One Step At A Time

Improving your Domain Authority might seem overwhelming at first, but trust me, it’s completely doable with consistent effort. 

It takes time to grow, but with the right care, it will bring in the rewards.

The key takeaway? 

Focus on creating high-quality content, building meaningful backlinks, and ensuring your site offers a great experience for your audience. 

Small steps, like improving your site’s speed or updating old posts, can make a big difference over time.

And never forget: Domain Authority isn’t a competition to hit 100. 

Instead, it’s about improving your score over time and watching your blog climb the search engine rankings. 

If you’re just starting out, don’t worry about where you are now. Focus on where you’re going, and stay consistent. 

With these tips, your DA will grow stronger and bring traffic (aka success) to your blog.