Domain authority
DA / DRDomain authority is an estimate, calculated by SEO tools, of how strong a site’s link profile is on a 0–100 scale. The best-known versions are Moz’s DA and Ahrefs’ DR. The score roughly predicts how easily a site can rank.
Good to know
The authority score is not a Google metric but the tool companies’ own model imitating how Google values links. Google has stated it uses no single site-level authority score. The number is still useful for comparison: it shows at a glance whether a competitor’s link profile is stronger than yours.
Direction and sources matter more than the number: a steadily growing profile from topical sites predicts visibility better than a high score resting on a few old links. A sudden jump without a known cause can signal spam links.
IN PRACTICE
How to use the authority score correctly
Compare to competitors, not the absolute
A DR of 45 is neither good nor bad until you know your top competitors sit at 30–40. The competitive picture gives the number meaning.
Estimate keyword difficulty
If a query’s top results carry clearly higher authority, pick a long-tail query where the gap is smaller.
Watch the trend quarterly
Monthly movement is noise. The quarterly trend tells you whether link earning is working.
PITFALLS
Two ways to misuse the score
The score is optimised for its own sake
DR rises on junk links too, visibility does not. The goal is traffic and sales; the score is just a thermometer.
Scores from different tools get mixed
A Moz DA of 30 and an Ahrefs DR of 30 are not the same thing. Always compare within one tool.
FREQUENTLY ASKED
Frequently asked questions
Does Google use domain authority?+
Not as such: DA and DR are tool companies’ own models. Google evaluates links page by page with its own signals.
What is a good DA or DR score?+
One that beats your top competitors. Finnish SME sites commonly sit at 20–40 and national media at 70+.
How do I grow authority?+
By earning links from trusted, topical sites. There is no shortcut: the score follows the link profile.
Why did the score drop although nothing changed?+
Tools update their models and indexes continuously. A small drop without a visibility change is the model moving, not a crisis.
Does authority transfer in a domain change?+
Largely yes, when the move is done right: complete page-by-page redirects and a change-of-address notice in Search Console. A careless move resets years of work.
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Maintained by the VSCY editorial team · Updated 6 Aug 2026 · Part of the marketing glossary (99 terms)
