Understanding Domain Authority: Does It Really Matter for Your Website?

The answer is………Yes, it really matters.

If you are a Search engine optimization (SEO) enthusiast, website owner or a digital marketer, you often come across the term "Domain Authority" (DA).

Created by Moz, Domain Authority is a metric that aims to predict how well a website will rank on search engine result pages (SERPs).

However, the question that lingers for many is whether Domain Authority truly matters in the grand scheme of a website's success or SEO in general, is it a rank factor?

In this blog post, we'll answer that question comparing why two contents with arguably the same keyword, one has to be the first page and the other is pushed back to the hundredth page or so.

But first let’s explain the domain authority itself.

What is Domain Authority ? and Does the domain Authority matter?

Domain Authority is a numerical score ranging from 0 to 100 that reflects the perceived strength and authority of a domain in the eyes of search engines. Several factors contribute to this score, including the number and quality of backlinks, the relevance of content, and the overall trustworthiness of the domain.

So the key of getting DA is to get as many backlinks as possible and pair that with a quality content, though many times, quality content can be subjective.

Why Domain Authority Matters?

The following are why it matters.

Search Engine Rankings

Websites with higher Domain Authority scores often correlate with better search engine rankings. Search engines consider more credible and trustworthy if the website has quality backlinks and relevant content, these two can massively and positively influence its DA, provided that backlinks are quality, not quantity.

Competitive Edge

A higher Domain Authority, in a competitive industry, can give your website a competitive edge over the lower domain authority websites.

When search engines see your domain as an authority in your niche, they are more likely to prioritize your content over competitors with lower DA.

Trust and Credibility

Users are more likely to trust websites with higher Domain Authority, no matter the quality of the content. You are losing the fight before it’s begun.

That seems cruel. But that’s the reality you will face if you decide to compete the bigger websites in your niche with the same keywords.

You need to choose your fights wisely.

.In other words, a strong DA reflects the credibility of your content, products, or services, making visitors more inclined to engage and convert.

Link Building

Link building and DA are tightly related. More quality links means higher DA.

For that reason, websites with higher Domain Authority are attractive targets for link-building efforts.

 In other words, if your DA is lower, then it’s really hard to find someone who is willing to give you a backlinks, unless your content is new and interesting.

They say, to get a backlinks when your website is fledgling, be the source. And we all know that requires time, the right tools and efforts.

But if you come up with a new and interesting content, it is worth the effort.

When that’s done, other websites are more likely to link to your content, contributing to the overall strength and authority of your domain.

When Domain Authority Might Not Matter

Localized Searches

For businesses targeting a local audience, the emphasis may shift towards local SEO factors such as Google My Business optimization, local citations, and customer reviews. In such cases, Domain Authority may be less critical compared to location-specific relevance.

Micro-Niche Websites

Some websites cater to extremely specific niches with a focused audience. In these cases, relevance and content quality may outweigh the importance of Domain Authority.

New Websites

New websites, like in my case, may have a lower Domain Authority initially. It’s annoying. But you have to sail through.

 With time and consistent efforts in content creation and link-building, these new websites can gradually build authority.

Rome wasn’t build a day! That looks weird, but true. DA takes time and efforts for the new websites. Let’s embrace it.

So….. Does Domain authority matter?

To find the answer, Just compare these two posts.

Two seemingly identical posts discussing "Managed vs. Unmanaged Hosting" have surfaced in the search engine results but very different rankings.

One is from me, and the other is from Nexcess, a very famous hosting provider.

But why two posts with the same keyword can rank differenltly?

 The key factors resulting that ranking disparity are here.

Platform Credibility is key

Nexcess is a widely recognized and reputable platform for content creation. Search engines often favor well-established platforms, contributing to the post's visibility.

Apart from the last section where Nexcess are marketing their product, or their hosting services, the rest of the content looks quite close.

I have used tables to summarize the advantages and disadvantages of each type of hosting while they used visual photos.

 But still, we are not even close. 

The highest rank that my post got was the 23th position, not bad for a new website , but still I had the chance to go higher if my competitors’ DA was slightly lower than many of the websites my post is competing with the keyword.

Backlink Profile

Nexcess’ post has acquired a diverse and robust backlink profile, further boosting its page authority. Backlinks from reputable sources and pages can significantly impact search rankings.

Domain Authority and SEO Practices

My website is not as well-known as Nexcess, but I may have implemented effective SEO practices but still failed to propel my post to a higher search rankings.

Targeted Keywords

My post have optimized for specific keywords related to managed and unmanaged hosting, aligning with user search queries and increasing its visibility, Nexcess made the same targeted keyword but got the nod ahead of my post.

I have also seen bigger websites that ranked for that keyword not once, but twice.

Another reputable website, Medium, for instances, ranked twice for that long tailed keyword.

The reason why?

They have a higher DA. It is as simple as that.Top of Form

Wrapping Up

While Domain Authority is undoubtedly a valuable metric in the world of SEO, it is essential to consider it within the broader context of your website's goals and target audience. Striking a balance between content quality, relevance, and authority-building efforts can contribute to a holistic and effective SEO strategy.

At the end of the day, focusing solely on Domain Authority may not be the best approach; instead, it should be viewed as one of many indicators of a website's online strength.

But yes, domain authority matters a lot.

Top of Form