How to Increase Domain Authority: 8 Proven Methods

Increasing domain authority is not about chasing a number. It is about building the underlying signals — quality backlinks, strong content, and solid technical foundations — that cause the score to rise as a side effect.

If you are not sure where you stand right now, start by checking your domain authority. If you want to understand what the scores actually mean, see our DA vs DR comparison.

Why domain authority matters (and why it doesn't)#

Domain authority correlates with rankings because it summarizes backlink quality — a signal Google does care about. Sites with higher DA tend to rank for more keywords and attract more organic traffic.

But DA is not a Google ranking factor. Google does not use Moz's, Ahrefs', or Semrush's scores. Chasing the number itself is pointless. Instead, focus on the activities that improve DA as a byproduct.

When DA matters:

• Comparing your competitive position against sites ranking for your keywords
• Evaluating whether a link prospect is worth pursuing
• Tracking long-term progress of your link building efforts

When DA doesn't matter:

• A DA 25 page with perfect content relevance can outrank a DA 70 page
• Topical authority often matters more than raw domain scores
• A 2-3 point DA fluctuation between months means nothing

Sources:

• Search Engine Land: Google does not use SEO tool scores
• SearchAtlas: topical authority vs domain authority in 2026

8 proven methods to increase domain authority#

1. Earn backlinks from unique referring domains#

This is the single most impactful factor. Getting links from 10 different websites matters more than getting 100 links from one website.

How to do it:

• Directory listings: Submit to quality, relevant directories. Each one is a new referring domain. This is the fastest method because there are hundreds of legitimate directories that accept submissions. RankInPublic's directory submission service handles 100-140+ curated directories for you, producing measurable DR and DA improvements within days.
• Guest posts: Write for industry blogs your audience reads. For journalist-sourced opportunities beyond traditional guest posts, check out HARO alternatives.
• Resource page outreach: Find pages that curate tools or guides in your niche and pitch yours.
• Podcast appearances: Most shows link to guests in show notes.

For a comprehensive list of directories that provide quality backlinks, see our startup directories guide and our full startup directories list.

2. Build content clusters for topical authority#

Structure:

• One pillar page covering the broad topic comprehensively
• 5-10 supporting articles covering specific subtopics in depth
• Internal links connecting every article in the cluster

Source: SearchAtlas 2026 DA vs Topical Authority study

3. Create link-worthy content#

Certain content types attract backlinks naturally:

• Original research and data studies: If you publish unique data, other sites will cite you.
• Free tools and calculators: Useful tools earn links without outreach.
• Definitive guides: Comprehensive resources become reference points in your niche.
• Infographics with data: Visual content gets shared and embedded.

4. Fix and strengthen internal linking#

Internal links distribute authority across your site. Most websites underutilize them.

Actions:

• Ensure every important page receives at least 3-5 internal links from other pages
• Use descriptive anchor text (not "click here")
• Link from high-authority pages to pages you want to rank
• Fix orphan pages — pages with zero internal links pointing to them

5. Remove or disavow toxic backlinks#

Spammy backlinks can drag your score down. Audit your backlink profile quarterly.

Signs of toxic links:

• Links from sites in unrelated languages or niches
• Links from known link farms or PBN networks
• Sudden spikes of hundreds of links from low-quality sources

How to clean up:

1. Export your backlink profile from Ahrefs or Semrush
2. Identify clearly spammy domains
3. Contact webmasters to request removal
4. Use Google's disavow tool for links you cannot get removed

6. Improve technical SEO fundamentals#

While DR focuses on backlinks, Moz DA also factors in technical health. Either way, fixing technical issues helps Google crawl and rank your pages.

• Page speed: Pages loading under 2 seconds have a 9% bounce rate vs 38% at 5 seconds
• Mobile-friendliness: Over 60% of searches happen on mobile
• Crawlability: Fix broken links, redirect chains, and orphan pages
• HTTPS: Non-HTTPS sites face ranking penalties

For a full technical audit checklist, see our SEO testing guide.

7. Reclaim lost and unlinked mentions#

Your brand may already be mentioned on other websites without a link back to you. These are free link opportunities.

How to find them:

• Search Google for your brand name minus your own domain: "Your Brand" -site:yourdomain.com
• Use Ahrefs Content Explorer to find unlinked mentions
• Reach out politely and ask the author to add a link

8. Be consistent over months, not days#

Domain authority does not change overnight. Moz updates DA periodically, and the logarithmic scale means each point gets harder to earn at higher levels.

The sites that see consistent DA growth are the ones publishing content, earning links, and fixing technical issues every month — not the ones doing a burst of activity and then stopping. The same principles apply to DR — see our guide on how to increase Domain Rating for Ahrefs-specific tactics.

Realistic timeline for DA improvement#

Key insight: The 0-30 range is where effort translates to results fastest. A startup can realistically go from DA 0 to DA 20-30 within 6 months with consistent effort.

Source: Sure Oak case study: 87.5% DA increase to DA 30 in 6 months

Mistakes that hurt your domain authority#

Buying links#

Paid link schemes can result in a Google penalty that tanks your organic traffic entirely. Even if your DA goes up temporarily, the ranking damage is not worth it.

Ignoring link quality#

100 links from DA 5 spam blogs are worth less than 1 link from a DA 60 industry publication. Quality always beats quantity.

Neglecting existing content#

Many sites focus on creating new content while their existing pages decay. Update and improve your top-performing pages — they already have authority and are easier to rank higher.

Not building internal links#

Publishing content without linking it to the rest of your site wastes the authority that content earns. Every new page should link to and from at least 3-5 related pages.

Chasing the number instead of the strategy#

How to track progress#

Monthly checklist#

1. Check DA/DR: Use Ahrefs or Moz and record the score. You can also check your current DR for free using our Domain Rating checker.
2. Count referring domains: This is more actionable than the score itself — track net new referring domains per month
3. Check organic traffic: Use Google Search Console to see if impressions and clicks are growing
4. Review top pages: Identify which content earned the most new backlinks

What to track in a spreadsheet#

Pick one tool as your primary and track it consistently. Adding a second tool gives you a cross-reference but is not essential.

Real results from directory submissions#

While this article focuses on domain authority broadly, directory submissions are one of the fastest methods to see measurable improvement. Here are actual DR results from products that used RankInPublic's directory submission service:

Directory submissions work because each quality directory listing creates a new referring domain — the single most important factor for both DA and DR improvement. RankInPublic's service submits to 100-140+ curated directories, producing measurable results within days.

FAQs#

How long does it take to increase domain authority?#

Expect 2-6 months for noticeable improvements with consistent effort. The 0-30 range moves fastest. Above 50, progress slows significantly. Moz states improvements can take up to 9 months to fully reflect.

Can I increase domain authority without backlinks?#

Backlinks are the primary input for both DA and DR. You can improve technical SEO and content quality, but without new referring domains, the score will not move significantly. Focus on earning links from unique, quality sources.

Does social media activity increase domain authority?#

Not directly. Social shares do not count as backlinks in DA or DR calculations. However, social media can amplify content reach, which can lead to others linking to your content — increasing DA indirectly.

Is it possible to increase DA from 0 to 50 in a month?#

No. This would require an unrealistic number of high-quality backlinks in a short time. Legitimate DA growth takes months. Anyone promising instant DA increases is likely selling spammy link schemes.

Should I focus on DA, DR, or Authority Score?#

Pick one as your primary benchmark and track it consistently. If you use Ahrefs for SEO, track DR. If Moz, track DA. If Semrush, track Authority Score. The important thing is consistency, not which specific metric you choose.

Does publishing more content increase domain authority?#

Content alone does not increase DA. But content that earns backlinks does. Publishing data-driven research, comprehensive guides, and useful tools creates opportunities for other sites to link to you, which increases DA over time.