How to Improve Domain Authority
Understanding What Domain Authority Is
Domain Authority (DA) is a metric developed to predict how well a website is likely to rank in search engine results. It is calculated using multiple factors, including backlink quality, linking root domains, and overall site trust. While Domain Authority is not a direct Google ranking factor, it closely correlates with search performance. Businesses that consistently rank well—such as those competing alongside the best seo company los angeles providers—tend to have strong domain authority supported by solid SEO foundations.
Why Domain Authority Matters for SEO
A higher domain authority generally means greater credibility and visibility in search results. Websites with strong DA are more likely to rank for competitive keywords and attract organic traffic. Improving domain authority also helps new content rank faster and perform more consistently. For brands in competitive industries, building DA is a long-term investment that supports sustained growth rather than short-lived ranking spikes.
How Domain Authority Is Calculated
Domain Authority is calculated on a logarithmic scale from 1 to 100, meaning growth becomes progressively harder as scores increase. The calculation considers factors such as the number of unique referring domains, link quality, link relevance, and overall backlink profile strength. Understanding how DA works helps set realistic expectations and guides strategic decision-making. This knowledge is often applied by the best seo company los angeles teams when planning authority-building campaigns.
Conducting a Domain Authority Benchmark
Before attempting to improve domain authority, it’s important to establish a baseline. Measure your current DA and compare it to direct competitors. This benchmark reveals how much authority you need to compete effectively. Tracking changes over time also helps determine whether your SEO efforts are producing measurable results. Benchmarking ensures goals are aligned with market realities.
Strengthening Technical SEO Foundations
Technical SEO plays a vital role in supporting domain authority growth. Search engines favor websites that are fast, secure, and easy to crawl. Improving site speed, fixing crawl errors, ensuring mobile responsiveness, and implementing HTTPS all contribute to better trust signals. Although technical fixes don’t directly increase DA, they amplify the impact of backlinks and content—an approach emphasized by the best seo company los angeles professionals.
Creating High-Quality, Link-Worthy Content
Content is one of the most effective drivers of domain authority growth. Publishing in-depth, original, and valuable content increases the likelihood of earning natural backlinks. Evergreen guides, data-driven studies, and thought leadership pieces tend to attract authoritative links over time. Consistent content creation establishes topical authority and positions your site as a trusted resource within your industry.
Building High-Quality Backlinks
Backlinks are the most influential factor in improving domain authority. Focus on acquiring links from reputable, relevant websites rather than chasing volume. Editorial links, guest posts on authoritative blogs, digital PR mentions, and industry partnerships are particularly valuable. This quality-first approach mirrors the link-building strategies used by the best seo company los angeles agencies to build sustainable authority.
Diversifying Referring Domains
Domain authority improves more from gaining links from new referring domains than from multiple links on the same site. Diversifying your backlink profile signals broader recognition and trust. Target links from different industries, media outlets, and niche-relevant websites. A diverse backlink profile appears more natural and resilient to algorithm changes.
Optimizing Internal Linking Structure
Internal linking helps distribute authority across your website and improves crawlability. Linking related pages together strengthens topical relevance and ensures important pages receive sufficient link equity. Strategic internal linking supports both user experience and SEO performance. It also maximizes the value of external backlinks by spreading their impact throughout the site.
Improving On-Page SEO Signals
On-page SEO improvements help search engines better understand and evaluate your content. Optimizing title tags, meta descriptions, headers, and keyword usage enhances relevance and click-through rates. While on-page SEO alone won’t significantly increase DA, it supports higher rankings, which can indirectly lead to more backlinks and authority growth.
Removing or Disavowing Toxic Backlinks
Low-quality or spammy backlinks can suppress domain authority growth. Conduct regular backlink audits to identify harmful links from irrelevant or suspicious sources. When necessary, remove or disavow these links to protect your site’s credibility. This cleanup process is a standard practice for maintaining healthy authority levels among the best seo company los angeles providers.
Leveraging Brand Mentions and Digital PR
Unlinked brand mentions can often be converted into valuable backlinks. Monitoring brand mentions and reaching out to publishers for link attribution helps strengthen your backlink profile. Digital PR campaigns, such as press releases and expert commentary, also attract high-authority links. These efforts improve both brand visibility and domain authority.
Focusing on Local Authority Signals
For businesses targeting specific regions, local SEO plays a role in domain authority growth. Consistent NAP information, quality local citations, and positive reviews strengthen trust signals. Creating localized content and earning links from local organizations can enhance authority within a geographic market. This is particularly important for companies competing as the best seo company los angeles in local search results.
Tracking Progress and Adjusting Strategy
Improving domain authority is a gradual process that requires ongoing measurement. Track DA trends, backlink growth, organic traffic, and keyword rankings to evaluate progress. If growth stalls, reassess link quality, content strategy, and technical performance. Continuous optimization ensures long-term success in competitive search landscapes.
Conclusion
Improving domain authority requires a strategic, long-term approach focused on quality, relevance, and consistency. By strengthening technical SEO, creating valuable content, earning high-quality backlinks, and maintaining a healthy link profile, businesses can steadily build authority and trust. Domain authority growth supports stronger rankings, increased visibility, and sustainable organic traffic. Organizations that apply the proven methods used by the best seo company los angeles providers are better positioned to compete, scale, and succeed in today’s competitive digital environment.
Read: How to Create an SEO Roadmap
Read: How to Improve Website Authority
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long does it take to improve domain authority?
A: Domain authority improvement can take several months, depending on competition, link-building efforts, and content quality.
Q: Does domain authority directly affect Google rankings?
A: Domain authority itself is not a Google ranking factor, but it strongly correlates with higher rankings due to link quality and trust signals.
Q: What is a good domain authority score?
A: A good score depends on your industry. Comparing your DA to competitors provides a more meaningful benchmark than aiming for a specific number.
Q: Can new websites improve domain authority quickly?
A: New websites can improve DA faster initially, but growth slows over time as scores increase and competition becomes stronger.
Q: Is link quantity or link quality more important for domain authority?
A: Link quality is far more important. A few high-quality, relevant backlinks can outperform hundreds of low-quality links.
