What is Domain Authority?
TL;DR
Domain Authority is a search engine ranking metric (developed by Moz) that predicts how well a website will rank. It also influences how likely AI models are to cite your content.
Last updated: 2026-03-09
Definition#
Domain Authority (DA) is a metric developed by Moz that predicts how likely a website is to rank in search engine results. It is scored on a scale from 1 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater ranking potential. Similar metrics include Ahrefs Domain Rating (DR) and Semrush Authority Score.
Domain Authority is calculated based on factors like the number and quality of inbound links (backlinks), the age and history of the domain, and the overall trust signals associated with the site. It is a relative metric — your DA is meaningful mainly in comparison to competitors.
Domain Authority is not a metric used by Google or any AI platform directly. But the underlying signals it measures (backlink quality, site reputation, trustworthiness) are the same signals that AI models use when deciding which sources to cite.
Why It Matters for AI Readiness#
Sites with strong domain authority tend to get more AI citations because AI models favor authoritative sources. The Authority & Trust factor in your AgentReady™ score evaluates similar signals.
Building domain authority takes time and consistent effort. See How to Build Authority Signals for practical strategies.
Related Concepts#
Domain Authority is related to E-E-A-T (the trust framework), the Authority & Trust factor, and AI Citations (which authority helps you earn).
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