Your website’s Domain Authority (DA) plays a significant role in how well it ranks on search engines. While DA isn’t a direct Google ranking factor, it’s a strong indicator of your website’s ability to compete in search results. Higher DA means greater credibility, stronger backlinks, and better visibility in search.
Many Pittsburgh businesses and website owners struggle with low DA, often because they don’t understand what influences it or how to improve it. In this guide, we’ll explain how to check your Domain Authority, what impacts it, and proven ways to increase it for long-term SEO success.
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What Is Domain Authority?
Definition and Importance
Domain Authority (DA) is a score ranging from 0 to 100 developed by Moz that predicts how well a website will rank on search engines. The higher the DA, the more likely a site is to rank competitively in search results.
How DA Differs from Google’s PageRank
While DA is a helpful SEO metric, it is not an official ranking factor used by Google. However, sites with high DA tend to perform better in search due to stronger backlink profiles and content relevance.
Why DA Matters for Local SEO
For Pittsburgh businesses, a higher DA means better visibility in local search results. Websites with strong authority are more likely to appear in Google’s Local Pack, rank for competitive keywords, and drive organic traffic.
Want to improve your local search rankings? Check out our Local SEO Services to get started!
How to Check Domain Authority
Best Tools for Checking DA
Several SEO tools can help you check your DA score:
- Moz Domain Authority Checker – The original DA metric.
- Ahrefs Domain Rating (DR) – Measures backlink strength.
- SEMrush Authority Score – Analyzes site health and link profile.
- Ubersuggest and Small SEO Tools – Free alternatives for quick DA checks.
Step-by-Step Guide to Checking DA
- Visit Moz’s Domain Authority Checker or use Ahrefs/SEMrush.
- Enter your website URL.
- Review your DA score and backlink profile.
- Compare your DA to local competitors to assess your SEO position.
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Factors That Influence Domain Authority
1. High-Quality Backlinks
Backlinks from reputable, high-DA websites significantly boost your own authority. Quality matters more than quantity.
2. Content Quality & Relevance
Google favors well-structured, informative, and engaging content that provides value to users.
3. Technical SEO & Website Structure
- Mobile-friendliness
- Fast page loading speed
- Properly optimized title tags and meta descriptions
4. Social Signals & Engagement
While not a direct ranking factor, social engagement can increase visibility and traffic, leading to more backlinks and improved DA.
Need help fixing technical SEO issues? Check out our Local SEO Services for expert solutions!
How to Improve Domain Authority
1. Earn High-Quality Backlinks
- Get featured on local Pittsburgh news websites.
- Write guest blog posts for high-authority industry sites.
- Use HARO (Help a Reporter Out) to get quoted in publications.
2. Fix Broken Links & Remove Toxic Backlinks
- Use Ahrefs, Moz, or SEMrush to identify broken or spammy links.
- Disavow harmful backlinks to avoid penalties.
3. Improve On-Page SEO
- Use descriptive, keyword-rich title tags and headers.
- Optimize internal linking to distribute SEO value across pages.
4. Enhance Website Performance & Mobile Optimization
- Compress images and enable browser caching.
- Use CDNs (Content Delivery Networks) for faster load times.
5. Create Shareable, High-Value Content
- Publish in-depth guides, case studies, and local business spotlights.
- Answer common customer questions with SEO-focused blog posts.
Want to increase your DA? Our SEO experts can help!