When it comes to SEO, not all backlinks are created equal. While some links can boost your authority, others can harm your rankings if they come from spammy or low-quality websites. Trust Flow (TF), a metric developed by Majestic SEO, measures the quality and trustworthiness of your website’s backlink profile.
But what is a good Trust Flow score, and how does it impact your SEO strategy? In this guide, we’ll break down what Trust Flow is, why it matters, and how to improve it.
What Is Trust Flow?
Definition of Trust Flow (TF)
Trust Flow (TF) is a score from 0 to 100 that measures the quality of backlinks pointing to a website. The higher the Trust Flow, the more credible and authoritative the site is.
How Trust Flow Is Calculated
Majestic SEO evaluates a website’s backlink profile based on links from trusted seed sites. If a site receives backlinks from highly trusted websites, its TF score will be higher.
Difference Between Trust Flow (TF) and Citation Flow (CF)
- Trust Flow (TF): Measures the quality and trustworthiness of a site’s backlinks.
- Citation Flow (CF): Measures the quantity of backlinks, regardless of quality.
- TF/CF Ratio: Ideally, a website should maintain a balanced Trust Flow to Citation Flow ratio (around 0.5-1.0) to avoid being seen as spammy.
Why Trust Flow Matters for SEO
1. Google Prioritizes Trustworthy Websites
Google’s algorithm values authoritative backlinks from trusted sources. Websites with a higher Trust Flow are more likely to rank higher because they have a strong link profile.
2. High Trust Flow Improves Organic Rankings
A website with high-quality backlinks from trusted sources tends to perform better in search results than one with many low-quality links.
3. Low Trust Flow Can Signal a Spammy Website
If a website has a high number of backlinks (high CF) but a low TF score, it may be associated with spam or black-hat SEO tactics, which can negatively impact rankings.
What Is a Good Trust Flow Score?
There’s no universal benchmark for a good Trust Flow score, but here are general guidelines:
Trust Flow Score Benchmarks
- TF 10-20: Low trust, weak backlink profile.
- TF 20-40: Moderate trust, good for small businesses and local websites.
- TF 40-60: Strong authority, well-established websites.
- TF 60+: High trust, excellent authority (think large news sites, government sites, or major brands).
Ideal TF/CF Ratio
To avoid looking spammy, your Trust Flow to Citation Flow ratio (TF/CF) should be at least 0.5 or higher. If your CF is much higher than your TF, it could indicate low-quality or excessive backlinks.
How to Improve Trust Flow
1. Earn High-Quality Backlinks
- Focus on natural, editorial backlinks from trusted, authoritative sources.
- Avoid spammy link-building tactics or buying links.
2. Remove Toxic Backlinks
- Use Majestic SEO, Ahrefs, or Google Search Console to audit your backlinks.
- Disavow harmful backlinks that could be dragging down your TF score.
3. Strengthen Internal Linking
- Link high-authority pages to lower-authority pages to spread link equity.
- Optimize anchor text for better relevance.
4. Improve Content Quality
- Publish valuable, shareable content that naturally attracts high-quality backlinks.
- Engage in guest posting and PR outreach to earn mentions from high-trust websites.
Common Misconceptions About Trust Flow
1. Trust Flow Is a Google Ranking Factor (False)
Trust Flow is a third-party metric by Majestic SEO. Google does not use TF directly but values high-quality backlinks.
2. A High Trust Flow Guarantees High Rankings (False)
While strong Trust Flow helps rankings, content quality, keyword relevance, and on-page SEO are equally important.
3. Citation Flow Is More Important Than Trust Flow (Not Always True)
A site with high Citation Flow but low Trust Flow may have a large number of low-quality backlinks, which can hurt rankings instead of helping.
How often does Trust Flow update?
Is Trust Flow more important than Domain Authority?
Can I have a high Citation Flow but low Trust Flow?
What tools can I use to check Trust Flow?
Trust Flow is a critical SEO metric that helps determine a website’s backlink quality and authority. While it’s not a direct ranking factor, websites with higher Trust Flow tend to perform better in search rankings due to strong, authoritative backlinks.
By earning high-quality links, removing spammy backlinks, and optimizing internal linking, you can boost your Trust Flow and improve your SEO performance.