What is a Domain Authority?
Domain Authority (DA) is a metric developed by Moz that scores a website from 0 to 100 based on the strength of its backlink profile, predicting its ability to rank in search engine results.
Why it matters
Domain Authority provides a comparative benchmark for evaluating websites. While Google does not use DA as a direct ranking factor, the metric correlates strongly with ranking performance because it measures the same underlying signal - backlink quality and quantity. A site with DA 60 will typically outrank a site with DA 25 for the same keyword, all else being equal. For link building, DA serves as a shorthand for evaluating publisher value. A backlink from a DA 70 site transfers more authority than one from a DA 20 site. In competitive niches like iGaming and crypto, where ranking requires significant authority, understanding DA helps prioritise acquisition targets and allocate budget toward placements that deliver measurable impact rather than vanity metrics.
What makes a good domain authority
A good Domain Authority score is relative to your competitive landscape - not an absolute number. For most niches, DA 40-60 represents a solid foundation for ranking on moderate-difficulty keywords. DA 60+ positions a site competitively for high-value terms. Four factors influence DA directly. Linking root domains - the number of unique websites linking to you matters more than total link count. Link quality - backlinks from high-DA sites contribute more than links from low-DA sites. Content relevance - topical authority within a specific niche strengthens DA signals. Site age and history - established domains with clean link histories build DA faster than new sites. Importantly, DA is logarithmic: moving from 20 to 30 is significantly easier than moving from 60 to 70. Each point becomes harder to earn as you climb.
Types of domain authoritys
Moz Domain Authority (DA)
The original authority metric, scored 0-100 based on Moz's link index. DA evaluates linking root domains, total backlink count, and MozRank. It is the most widely referenced authority metric and serves as the industry baseline for publisher evaluation in link building campaigns.
Ahrefs Domain Rating (DR)
Ahrefs' equivalent metric, also scored 0-100 but calculated differently. DR focuses exclusively on the strength of the backlink profile - specifically the number and quality of unique referring domains. DR tends to weight raw link power more heavily than Moz DA, making it preferred by link builders evaluating placement value.
Semrush Authority Score (AS)
Semrush's composite metric combining organic traffic, backlink data, and content quality signals. AS is broader than DA or DR because it factors in real traffic performance, not just link metrics. It provides a more holistic view of site strength but can fluctuate more with traffic changes.
Example
A crypto news site with DA 55 acquires 15 quality backlinks from sites averaging DA 65 over three months. Its DA increases from 55 to 61 - a meaningful jump that correlates with improved rankings for mid-difficulty keywords like "best crypto exchanges" and "blockchain investment guide." The same 15 links from DA 25 sites would have produced negligible DA movement.
Domain Authoritys and Orbink
Every publisher on Orbink displays verified Domain Rating alongside organic traffic, niche acceptance, and pricing. Filter by DR threshold to ensure every placement meets your authority standards. Escrow protects payment until the link is live - no risk of paying for placements that underdeliver on metrics.
Check Domain Authority FreeFrequently Asked Questions
No. Domain Authority is a third-party metric created by Moz - Google does not use it in their ranking algorithm. However, DA correlates with ranking performance because it measures backlink quality, which Google does use as a ranking signal. Think of DA as a proxy indicator, not a direct input. A high DA does not guarantee rankings, but sites with high DA consistently outperform those with low DA on competitive keywords.
Domain Authority (Moz) and Domain Rating (Ahrefs) both score websites 0-100 but use different calculation methods. DA incorporates linking root domains, MozRank, and MozTrust. DR focuses purely on the backlink profile - specifically the quantity and quality of unique referring domains. A site can have DA 50 and DR 65 or vice versa. Neither is objectively better - they measure slightly different dimensions of the same underlying signal. Most link builders reference DR because Ahrefs has a larger link index.
DA increases when you acquire quality backlinks from sites with higher DA than yours. The most effective approach is systematic link building from thematically relevant, high-authority publishers. Focus on earning links from diverse referring domains rather than multiple links from the same site. Remove or disavow toxic backlinks that drag your score down. Improve on-site technical health - broken links, thin content, and poor user signals indirectly affect DA by reducing the value of incoming links.
Target publishers with DR/DA equal to or higher than your own site. For most campaigns, a minimum threshold of DR 40 ensures meaningful authority transfer. In competitive verticals like iGaming, crypto, and finance, aim for DR 50+ as a baseline. The incremental value of each DA point increases at higher levels - a DR 70 placement is not just "slightly better" than DR 50, it transfers significantly more equity due to the logarithmic scale.