Everyone obsesses over getting backlinks from sites with sky-high Domain Authority. But here’s the kicker – most marketers don’t actually understand what those DA metrics for backlinks mean or how they should shape your link building strategy. They chase DA 90+ sites like they’re collecting Pokemon cards and wonder why their rankings barely budge.
What Is Domain Authority? Why Does It Matter?
Domain Authority isn’t some mystical force that Google uses to rank websites. It’s actually a third-party metric created by Moz that predicts how likely a site is to rank in search results. Think of it like a credit score for websites – useful for comparison but not the whole story.
The score runs from 1 to 100, with higher numbers indicating stronger ranking potential. But here’s what drives me crazy: people treat DA like it’s the only metric that matters. You’ll see link builders turning down perfectly good opportunities from DA 35 sites while chasing impossible links from DA 85 publications that couldn’t care less about their content.
It matters because it gives you a quick snapshot of a site’s authority. Just don’t worship it.
How Is Domain Authority Calculated?
Moz looks at over 40 different factors to calculate DA, but the heavy hitters are the quantity and quality of linking domains pointing to a site. They feed all this data into their machine learning algorithm and out pops a score. The calculation considers total links and linking root domains and the quality of those linking sites and how diverse the link profile is.
Here’s the catch though. DA uses a logarithmic scale. Moving from DA 20 to 30? Not too hard. Climbing from DA 70 to 80? That’s like trying to squeeze water from a stone.
Key DA Metrics That Directly Impact Your Backlink Strategy
You need to understand how different DA ranges affect your backlink strategy if you want to build links that actually move the needle. Most people just aim high and hope for the best. Smart link builders know better.
DA Score Ranges and Their Backlink Value
Let’s break down what different DA ranges really mean for your link building:
| DA Range | Backlink Value | Acquisition Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| 0-20 | Low (but not worthless) | Easy |
| 21-40 | Moderate | Manageable |
| 41-60 | Strong | Challenging |
| 61-80 | Very Strong | Difficult |
| 81-100 | Elite | Nearly Impossible |
Don’t ignore those DA 25-40 sites. They’re often niche-relevant publications with engaged audiences that actually convert. I’ve seen DA 32 industry blogs drive more qualified traffic than links from DA 75 news sites.
Correlation Between DA and Link Quality
Higher DA generally correlates with better link quality, but correlation isn’t causation. A DA 85 site linking to you from a buried author bio provides less value than a contextual link from a DA 45 site in your exact niche.
What really determines link quality? Relevance beats DA every single time. Then comes traffic, editorial standards and link placement. DA is just one signal among many.
DA Thresholds for Effective Link Building
Set minimum DA thresholds based on your site’s current authority. If your site sits at DA 25, links from DA 15 sites won’t hurt you but they won’t help much either. Aim for sites within 10-20 points of your own DA or higher.
Here’s my rule of thumb:
- New sites (DA 0-20): Accept anything DA 10+
- Growing sites (DA 21-40): Target DA 25+
- Established sites (DA 41-60): Focus on DA 40+
- Authority sites (DA 61+): Prioritize DA 50+
But remember – these are guidelines, not gospel.
How Domain Authority Shapes Your SEO Performance
Understanding how DA impacts your backlinks goes beyond just picking link targets. It shapes your entire SEO trajectory.
DA’s Role in Search Engine Rankings
Google doesn’t use Moz’s DA in their algorithm. Period. But DA correlates strongly with the factors Google does care about – like quality backlinks and brand authority and user signals.
Think of it this way: DA is like checking someone’s Instagram follower count. The platform doesn’t determine their influence, but it’s a decent proxy for it. Sites with higher DA tend to rank better because they’ve earned the signals that both Google and Moz value.
Impact of High DA Backlinks on Your Site Authority
Landing a link from a DA 80+ site feels like winning the lottery. And yes, these links pass serious authority. But here’s what nobody talks about – you need a balanced portfolio.
One DA 92 link won’t transform your site overnight. I learned this the hard way after landing a link from a major publication and watching my rankings barely twitch. You know what did work? Building 30 links from DA 35-55 sites in my industry over six months. My organic traffic doubled.
High DA backlinks work best when they’re part of a natural link profile that includes:
- A mix of DA ranges (not just the highest)
- Various link types (editorial, resource, guest posts)
- Different anchor text variations
- Links from topically relevant sites
Building a Balanced Backlink Profile Using DA Metrics
A healthy backlink profile looks like a pyramid. You’ll have lots of lower DA links at the base, a solid middle tier of moderate DA links, and a few high DA gems at the top. Sounds natural, right?
Aim for this distribution:
40% of links from DA 20-40 sites
35% from DA 41-60 sites
20% from DA 0-20 sites
5% from DA 61+ sites
This mirrors how links naturally accumulate. Chase only high DA links and Google will smell something fishy.
Leveraging DA Metrics for Stronger Backlink Strategies
Stop treating DA like it’s the holy grail of link building metrics. It’s a tool. A useful one, sure, but just one tool in your arsenal. The importance of DA in link building lies in using it alongside other metrics to make smarter decisions.
Focus on relevance first, then look at DA. Build relationships with sites in your DA range while occasionally shooting for those dream links. Track not just the DA of your backlinks but also referring domains and organic traffic and actual ranking improvements.
Most importantly? Don’t let DA paralysis stop you from building links. That perfectly relevant DA 28 site in your niche will probably do more for your rankings than a random DA 75 site that mentions you once in passing.
FAQs
What DA score should I target for quality backlinks?
Target sites with a DA score at least equal to or higher than your own site’s DA. If you’re starting out (DA under 30), focus on sites in the 25-45 range. They’re achievable and still pass meaningful authority.
How often does Domain Authority update?
Moz updates Domain Authority scores roughly once per month. Don’t panic if you see fluctuations – they’re adjusting their index and calculations constantly.
Can low DA sites provide valuable backlinks?
Absolutely. A relevant DA 15 site in your exact niche often provides more value than an irrelevant DA 60 site. Traffic, relevance and engagement matter more than raw DA scores.
What’s the difference between DA and DR?
DA (Domain Authority) is Moz’s metric while DR (Domain Rating) comes from Ahrefs. Both measure site authority but use different calculations. DR tends to focus more heavily on backlink quantity while DA considers more factors.
How quickly can Domain Authority increase with quality backlinks?
Expect to wait 2-3 months to see DA improvements after building quality backlinks. Remember, it gets exponentially harder to increase DA as you climb higher. Moving from DA 20 to 30 might take a few dozen good links. Going from 50 to 60? That could take hundreds.
Ridam Khare is an SEO strategist with 7+ years of experience specializing in AI-driven content creation. He helps businesses scale high-quality blogs that rank, engage, and convert.
