If you’ve worked in SEO, you’ve likely come across the term Domain Authority (DA). It’s a popular metric, widely used for evaluating a website’s potential to rank. But with popularity comes confusion.
In this FAQ-style guide, we’ll answer the most common questions about Domain Authority—how it works, how it's calculated, what it means for your website, and how to actually improve it.
Domain Authority is a scoring system developed by Moz to predict how likely a domain is to rank in search engine results. It ranges from 1 to 100—the higher the number, the stronger the website is perceived to be.
DA is calculated using various factors like the number of linking domains, link quality, and other off-page SEO signals.
No, it isn’t. Domain Authority is not used by Google as part of its ranking algorithm.
It’s a third-party metric created by Moz. While it correlates with ranking potential, it’s not something Google uses directly. For more clarity on this, read Is E-E-A-T Important for Google Rankings?.
DA measures the overall authority of a domain, while PA measures the ranking strength of a single page.
You can have a homepage with PA 45 and a blog post with PA 65, even if your overall DA is 50. Both metrics are useful, but for different levels of analysis.
Moz updates its Domain Authority scores approximately once every 3 to 4 weeks. This means you may see changes even if you haven’t made visible changes to your website.
Fluctuations often happen when new backlinks are discovered or lost, or when competing domains improve their backlink profiles.
Common reasons include:
Track these changes carefully. For managing toxic links, use our Google Disavow Tool: 2025 Guide.
The truth: Smaller or newer websites can build DA over time.
With the right strategy—consistent content creation, technical SEO hygiene, strategic partnerships, and natural link building—any brand can grow DA.
Even niche blogs and local businesses have achieved DA above 50 using consistent effort and creativity. Reference What Is a Purple Cow in SEO to see how standing out in your niche can attract quality backlinks.
You can check your DA using:
Stick to one tool for consistency and use it to monitor trend lines, not isolated scores.
There’s no universal “good” score. It depends on your industry and competitors. For example:
The key is relative authority. See where your direct competitors stand and aim to outperform them.
There’s no fixed timeline. DA growth depends on your ability to:
Some websites can move from DA 15 to 35 in 6–12 months, while others may take longer depending on effort and competition.
Learn how to approach this sustainably by reviewing SEO Services and How Often Should You Update Your Website.
It’s difficult but not impossible.
You can improve internal linking, technical SEO, and content quality—but most DA tools rely heavily on external link signals. For long-term growth, backlinks are essential.
Check out the Internal Linking Guide to strengthen authority distribution across your pages.
Not directly.
DA is mostly influenced by backlink profiles. However, social sharing can amplify your content visibility, increasing the chance of earning backlinks organically.
Social visibility acts as a catalyst—but not a scoring factor in DA itself.
Moz, Ahrefs, and SEMrush use different algorithms and databases. That’s why:
Don’t compare across tools. Pick one and use it consistently to track progress.
DA is a useful benchmarking metric, but it should never replace core SEO efforts.
Your focus should be:
DA will improve as a result of good SEO—not the other way around. For broader strategy alignment, view our SEO Services.
Need Help Understanding or Improving Your DA?
Still have questions about your Domain Authority? Whether you're just starting out or looking to outpace competitors, we can help you translate DA insights into real growth.
Reach out through our Contact page, explore Digital Marketing Services, or get inspired by our Domain Authority Guide and Blog - tailored for marketers who want clarity, not confusion.
