Domain authority is an important metric that measures the strength and influence of a website’s domain name. It is a score developed by Moz that predicts how well a website will rank on search engine result pages (SERPs). As an online business, knowing your domain authority can provide useful insights that allow you to improve your SEO and content strategy. This score ranges from 1 to 100, with higher scores indicating a stronger, more reputable site. There are a few easy ways to check your domain authority, whether you want to track it over time or get a general sense of how your domain compares to competitors. Free online tools can look up and display your domain authority in seconds, making it simple to monitor as you work to grow your website.
What is Domain Authority (DA)?
Domain authority (DA) is a score that predicts the potential of a website to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). It’s like a measure of your website’s trustworthiness, credibility, and relevance to search engines. A higher DA score indicates a stronger “voice” in the online world, leading to potentially better visibility and organic traffic.
Differentiating from Page Authority (PA)
While both DA and PA measure SEO strength, they do so at different levels:
- Domain Authority: Represents the overall authority of your entire website, encompassing all pages and subdomains.
- Page Authority: Measures the SEO potential of a specific page within your website.
How to Check Domain Authority
Ways to check your domain authority (DA) using these popular tools:
1. Moz:
- Free Tool: Moz offers a free domain authority checker at https://moz.com/products/pro/link-research. Enter your domain and you’ll see your DA score along with Page Authority (PA), top linking domains, and estimated organic keywords.
- Moz Pro: For more in-depth analysis, Moz Pro provides detailed backlink profiles, historical DA trends, competitor comparisons, and custom reporting. This requires a paid subscription.
Steps:
- Visit Moz’s Link Explorer: https://moz.com/domain-analysis
- Enter your website’s URL in the search bar.
- Click on “Domain Analysis” in the left sidebar.
- Your DA score will be displayed prominently alongside other metrics like backlinks and root domains.
In Above Image the DA of geeksforgeeks.org is 78
2. Ahrefs:
- Free Trial: Ahrefs offers a free 7-day trial where you can check your DA and access limited data like top pages, backlinks, and organic keywords.
- Ahrefs Site Explorer: The paid version offers comprehensive backlinks analysis, keyword research tools, competitor analysis, and more
Steps:
- Visit Ahrefs’ Website Authority Checker: https://ahrefs.com/site-explorer
- Enter your website’s URL and click “Explore.”
- Your DR score will be displayed on the Overview page, along with other valuable data like organic traffic and referring domains.
3. Majestic:
- Free Basic Account: Majestic’s free basic account allows you to check your DA, top backlinks, and referring domains. However, data is limited and refreshes slowly.
- Majestic Backlink History: Paid plans offer access to extensive historical backlink data, flow metrics, and competitor comparisons.
Steps:
- Visit Majestic’s website: https://majestic.com/
Majestics
- Enter your website’s URL in the search bar.
- Your TF and CF scores will be displayed on the Overview page. Aim for a high TF and moderate CF for a healthy link profile.
Geeksforgeeks | Domain Authority
Here’s a quick comparison table to help you choose the right tool:
| Feature | Moz | Ahrefs | Majestic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free DA check | Yes | Yes (trial) | Yes |
| Backlink profile | Limited (free) | Extensive (paid) | Limited (free) |
| Historical data | No (free) | Limited (free) | Extensive (paid) |
| Competitor analysis | Limited (free) | In-depth (paid) | Limited (free) |
| Keyword research | Limited (free) | In-depth (paid) | No |
| Pricing | Free and paid plans | Free trial and paid plans | Free and paid plans |
Interpreting the Scores
So, you’ve checked your domain authority on Moz, Ahrefs, and Majestic. But what do those numbers actually mean? How do they compare to your niche and how can you improve them? Let’s delve into interpreting your scores and empowering your website to climb the ranking ladder.
Understanding Different DA Levels
1. Moz DA:
- 1-30: Emerging Website: Focus on high-quality content, internal linking, and acquiring backlinks from relevant sources.
- 30-50: Average Website: Build a consistent content strategy, target low-competition keywords, and prioritize quality over quantity in link building.
- 50-70: Good Website: Optimize existing content, target medium-competition keywords, and diversify your link profile with guest blogging and industry collaborations.
- 70-100: Excellent Website: Focus on high-value content, target high-competition keywords, and build authoritative backlinks through partnerships and outreach campaigns.
2. Ahrefs DR:
- 1-20: New Website: Similar to Moz’s 1-30 range, prioritize foundational SEO like content creation, site structure, and internal linking.
- 20-50: Growing Website: Focus on acquiring backlinks from relevant websites, optimizing content for target keywords, and building brand awareness.
- 50-70: Established Website: Target competitive keywords, diversify link profile with authoritative sources, and experiment with advanced SEO strategies like content pillars and topical clusters.
- 70-100: Highly Authoritative Website: Focus on maintaining top-quality content, nurturing partnerships with high-authority domains, and implementing advanced SEO strategies like technical optimization and user experience enhancements.
3. Majestic TF and CF:
- TF 0-20: Low Trust: Prioritize acquiring backlinks from relevant and trusted websites.
- TF 20-50: Moderate Trust: Maintain a balanced link profile with diverse sources.
- TF 50-80: High Trust: Focus on building partnerships with high-authority websites and creating linkable content.
- CF 0-20: Low Citations: Focus on organic link building through guest blogging, forum participation, and content promotion.
- CF 20-50: Moderate Citations: Maintain a diverse backlink profile, avoiding unnatural link patterns.
- CF 50-80: High Citations: Analyze backlink profile for potential spam, diversify link sources, and focus on high-quality content creation.
Benchmarks by Website Type and Industry
Keep in mind, DA benchmarks vary across industries. A young e-commerce website may have a lower DA than a well-established news website. Here’s a rough guideline:
- Blogging: DA 40-50 is considered good, 60+ excellent.
- E-commerce: DA 30-40 is average, 50+ strong.
- News websites: DA 50-60 is average, 70+ impressive.
- Local businesses: DA 20-30 is decent, 40+ excellent.
Strategies to Boost Your Domain Authority
- Content is King: Regularly create high-quality, informative, and engaging content that resonates with your audience.
- Link Building Prowess: Focus on acquiring backlinks from relevant, high-authority websites through guest blogging, outreach campaigns, and broken link building.
- Technical Tune-Up: Ensure your website has a clean and efficient code structure, fast loading speed, and mobile-friendliness.
- User Experience Matters: Design an intuitive and user-friendly website that prioritizes a seamless visitor experience.
- Patience is Key: Building DA takes time and consistent effort. Focus on long-term strategies and track your progress over time.
Conclusion
Remember, DA is just one piece of the SEO puzzle. By focusing on user experience, content quality, and technical best practices, you’ll not only improve your DA but also achieve sustainable SEO success.