Domain Authority
Moz's scoring system predicting how well a website will rank in search engine results, scaled from 1 to 100.
Definition
Domain Authority (DA) is a search engine ranking score developed by Moz that predicts how well a website will rank on search engine result pages (SERPs). Scored on a scale from 1 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater ability to rank, Domain Authority is calculated using multiple factors including linking root domains, number of total links, MozRank, MozTrust, and other proprietary metrics. While not an official Google ranking factor, Domain Authority correlates strongly with search performance and is widely used by SEO professionals as a comparative metric for website authority. In the context of AI-powered search and GEO, domain authority becomes even more significant because AI systems often consider source credibility when deciding which content to cite, reference, or use in generated responses. Websites with higher domain authority are more likely to be viewed as trustworthy sources by AI models, increasing their chances of being cited in AI-generated content. Building domain authority requires comprehensive SEO strategies including high-quality content creation, earning authoritative backlinks, technical SEO optimization, user experience improvements, and consistent publishing of valuable, expert-level content. Domain Authority should be considered alongside other authority metrics like Ahrefs' Domain Rating, topical authority within specific niches, and E-A-T signals to get a complete picture of a website's overall authority and credibility in both traditional search and AI-powered systems.
Examples of Domain Authority
- 1
A major news website like CNN or BBC having a Domain Authority of 90+ due to thousands of high-quality backlinks and established credibility
- 2
A new startup blog beginning with a DA of 1 and gradually building authority through consistent content creation and link building
- 3
An industry publication growing its Domain Authority from 30 to 60 over two years through expert content and strategic partnerships
- 4
A local business improving its DA from 15 to 35 by earning local citations, partnerships, and industry-relevant backlinks
Frequently Asked Questions about Domain Authority
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