Domain Authority
A search engine ranking score that predicts how well a website will rank on search engines.
Definition
Domain Authority (DA) is a metric developed by Moz that predicts how likely a website is to rank in search engine results. Scores range from 1 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater ranking potential. DA is calculated based on multiple factors including linking root domains, total number of links, and other metrics. While not used by Google directly, it's a useful comparative metric.
Why It Matters
Domain Authority (DA) is a predictive metric that helps you understand your website's competitive position in search results. While not a direct Google ranking factor, it correlates strongly with actual search performance and helps benchmark progress.
Understanding DA helps businesses set realistic expectations, identify link-building opportunities, and track the long-term impact of their SEO efforts. A higher DA typically means easier ranking for competitive keywords.
Examples in Practice
A startup with DA 15 targets long-tail keywords while building authority, then successfully competes for head terms once DA reaches 40+.
A marketing team uses DA analysis to identify potential link partners, focusing outreach on sites with DA 50+ for maximum impact.
A company acquires a competitor's domain with DA 60 and redirects it to their main site, boosting their own authority significantly.