Boosting organic traffic to your website and enhancing your position in Google’s search results can be achieved by focusing on elevating your Domain Authority (DA). Although DA itself doesn’t have a direct impact on your Google ranking, it serves as a valuable indicator of your website’s relevance, authority, and credibility – attributes that Google takes into account when determining your site’s ranking.

In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into:

• Understanding the Significance of Domain Authority:
  • What Domain Authority represents and its importance in the digital landscape.
• The Benefits of Elevating Your Domain Authority:
  • Exploring the compelling reasons why you should invest in improving your website’s DA.
• Demystifying Domain Authority:
  • A closer look at the mechanics behind DA, including its calculation methodology.
• Proven Strategies for Enhancing Domain Authority:
  • A detailed breakdown of effective tactics and techniques to bolster your website’s DA.
• Achieving Higher Google Rankings:
  • Practical steps to translate your improved DA into better rankings on Google, ultimately driving more organic traffic to your site.

What Is Domain Authority (DA)?

Domain authority (DA) serves as a crucial metric in the realm of Search Engine Optimization (SEO), originating from Moz, a renowned SEO tool. This metric serves to gauge the level of authority a website holds within the digital landscape, assigning it a score on a scale of 1 to 100.

At its core, a website’s backlink profile is the cornerstone of DA assessment. This profile comprises an assemblage of links pointing towards the website from various other domains. Backlinks are revered as a reliable measure of a website’s authority since they reflect endorsements from other online entities. Essentially, when one website links to another, it implies that the content being linked to possesses a certain degree of value or quality.

In essence, the quantity and quality of backlinks associated with a website can be seen as a collective vote of confidence in its content, signaling to search engines like Google that it merits a higher rank in search results.

It’s worth noting that Moz is not the sole purveyor of such authority metrics. Ahrefs, a prominent player in the SEO realm, offers its own variant known as Domain Rating (DR). Similar to DA, DR leverages a website’s backlink profile to generate a score, reflecting the site’s authority on a scale of 1 to 100.

Although both DA and DR consider a website’s backlink portfolio in their calculations, there exist nuances in their respective algorithms, which we’ll delve into further in this article.

Why is it Important to Increase Domain Authority?

In the fiercely competitive world of online industries, Google often showcases results from websites with exceptional authority. This can pose a significant challenge if your website lacks a commanding domain authority.

Nevertheless, it’s crucial to keep in mind that Google’s search algorithm doesn’t directly factor in domain authority when determining website rankings. This is because domain authority is essentially a subjective metric assigned by an external entity.

🤔 Why Is DA Important, Then?

The elements that contribute to boosting domain authority align closely with the criteria Google employs to evaluate and rank websites, signifying a substantial influence.

These key factors encompass:

• The quantity of domains linking to your website.
• The subsequent number of websites that these domains are linked to.
• The authoritative standing of the domains that direct traffic to your site.

Within this article, we will embark on a comprehensive exploration of domain authority (DA) and analogous metrics. Furthermore, we will shed light on the tactics implemented by LinkCrafters to enhance the domain authority of our clients’ websites.

How to Check Your Domain Authority?

Numerous free SEO tools are available to help you assess the domain authority of your website. By simply inputting your website’s URL, these tools provide valuable insights, including domain authority scores, top linked pages, and the number of ranking keywords.

One effective option for checking domain authority, especially for multiple websites, is the Moz Bar Google Chrome plugin. It offers real-time domain metrics as you browse the web. To use it, you’ll need to sign up for a Moz account, but the tool itself is free.

With the Moz Bar, you can:

• Instantly view the domain authority score of websites you visit while ensuring that the plugin is active and you’re logged into your Moz account.
• Access domain authority, Page Authority (PA), and the number of links for each page directly from Google search results. This helps you assess the competitiveness of your chosen keywords.

Another useful tool for checking domain authority is Ubersuggest. Simply visit their homepage and search for the website you want to analyze. Ubersuggest will display the Moz domain authority score along with other valuable information like site traffic and top-ranking keywords.

If you’re interested in the Ahrefs domain ranking of a website, you can easily find this information even without a subscription. Visit the authority checker on the Ahrefs website and enter the URL of the site you wish to analyze. The best part is that there’s no limit to the number of searches you can perform.

Why You Should Consider Your Domain Authority

Many individuals commonly turn to domain authority for a couple of primary purposes.

Firstly, it serves as a gauge for evaluating the effectiveness of their off-page SEO strategies and link-building endeavors. People often assume that if their website’s Domain Authority (DA) and Domain Rating (DR) are on the rise, their SEO strategy must be yielding positive results.

In many instances, this assumption holds true. Especially for websites that are new or possess a low domain authority, the impact of building backlinks can be seen relatively quickly.

However, as your domain authority score climbs, the challenge escalates, as you not only need to acquire a greater quantity of links but also enhance the quality of those links to witness substantial improvements. This means that despite your diligent link-building efforts, you may not experience a significant increase in DA.

Another noteworthy concern arises from the fact that these scores are comparative in nature, dependent on the performance of other websites in the same space. Consequently, it’s entirely possible for your DA or DR to decrease even if you are actively engaged in link-building. This unfortunate situation can occur when other websites in your niche are acquiring links at a faster rate than you are.

Therefore, it’s prudent not to rely solely on DA as the sole yardstick for measuring the efficacy of your SEO endeavors. Instead, it’s essential to maintain a comprehensive view by monitoring multiple metrics.

👀 Other Metrics to Keep an Eye On

• Your website’s backlink count, representing the network of sites connecting to yours.
• The quantity of unique referring domains linking to your website, indicating the diversity of sources.
• The volume of inbound traffic directed to your site, reflecting its popularity and reach.
• The Moz Spam Score for your site, a metric assessing its potential spammy nature.
• Your position in search engine results for specific target keywords.
• The average rank your website holds across various search engine queries.

Website owners often consider domain authority when determining which relevant keywords to target. When websites with high domain authority rank for a specific keyword, it can be challenging to compete with them in the search engine results pages (SERPs). However, if your website boasts a domain authority similar to or higher than those already ranking on the SERPs, there’s a favorable chance that your well-optimized content can secure a competitive position.

Nevertheless, it’s important to remember that domain authority serves as a helpful guide, but numerous other factors play pivotal roles in determining a piece of content’s ranking on Google. Here are some additional questions to consider:

• Does your content align with the intent of the searchers?
• Have you optimized it effectively for its target keywords?
• Are there internal links directing users to the content?
• Have you established external backlinks pointing to the page?
• Is the length and depth of your content on par with or surpassing that of other pages in the SERPs?

How is Domain Authority Calculated?

Understanding how domain authority is calculated can be invaluable when you’re aiming to boost your score. While Moz and Ahrefs don’t divulge the complete intricacies of their scoring methodologies, we’ve gathered some valuable insights right here at LinkCrafters.

Moz Domain Authority

Moz employs a multifaceted approach to determine domain authority, consolidating various domain-related data points into a singular logarithmic score, graded on a scale of 1 to 100.

This composite evaluation encompasses:

• Total Backlinks: The overall quantity of inbound links directed towards a domain.
• Linking Root Domains Metrics: Assessments related to the source domains of these incoming links.

Moz’s domain authority rating system thus distills the complexity of a domain’s online influence into a single, informative score.

Ahrefs Domain Rating

Ahrefs’ Domain Rating (DR) score bears resemblance to Moz’s Domain Authority (DA) score, both being logarithmic metrics scaled from 1 to 100, offering insight into a domain’s relative authority within their respective databases. However, Ahrefs stands out by offering a more transparent breakdown of the factors shaping its calculations.

Here are the primary three factors that significantly influence Ahrefs’ Domain Rating:

1. Backlink Quantity: The number of websites linking to your domain plays a crucial role. It’s important to note that nofollow links, which don’t directly impact search rankings, are excluded from this count.
2. Domain Rating of Referring Sites: The quality of the websites linking to your site matters. A backlink from a high DR website typically carries more weight than one from a lower DR site.
3. Outbound Links: The number of external sites a domain links to also affects its DR. A link from a website that seldom links to other domains holds greater value compared to one from a site with numerous outbound links.

In addition to these core factors, Ahrefs provides some noteworthy insights:

• Single-Source Boost: A domain will receive a DR boost the first time a site links to it. Subsequent links from the same source domain will have the same impact as the initial link.
• Dynamic DR Updates: If a linking site’s DR increases after it has linked to your domain, this improvement will be reflected in your domain’s score as well.

What Is a Good Domain Authority Score?

Domain authority (DA) is a metric used to evaluate the strength and authority of a website’s presence on the internet. It’s measured on a scale of 1 to 100, with 100 being the highest possible score. The more authoritative and trustworthy a website is perceived to be, the higher its DA score.

For instance, well-established and widely recognized websites like the BBC often boast impressive DA scores, typically above 90, while reputable publications tend to have scores in the range of 70 to 80. The specific threshold for what constitutes a high DA score can vary depending on your niche and the websites currently dominating the search results for your target keywords.

In competitive industries such as SEO software, a high DA score might be considered anything above 80. This is because the top-ranking pages in such competitive spaces tend to be from websites with DA scores exceeding 70. Achieving a top position in search engine results for keywords in these niches can be challenging if your site’s DA isn’t at a similar level.

Conversely, in less competitive niches like local businesses, a high DA score might be relatively lower. For example, a website could rank well for the keyword “dentist in Edinburgh” with a DA as low as 20 or even lower, given the local context. In such cases, a DA score of 20+ would be regarded as very high within that particular local industry.

Ultimately, determining what constitutes a high DA score depends on the competitive landscape of your specific niche. It’s essential to analyze the top-ranking websites for your target keywords and gauge what level of domain authority you need to compete effectively in your chosen field.

Is a Low Domain Authority Score Bad?

Having a low domain authority (DA) doesn’t necessarily equate to poor performance in search engine rankings, and it certainly doesn’t imply that you won’t appear on Google’s radar.

In the digital realm, virtually all websites commence their journey with a modest DA score. The only exception occurs when a site is established on a pre-existing domain that has already garnered a network of backlinks.

It’s noteworthy that numerous websites with relatively low domain authority manage to secure favorable positions in search results by targeting keywords with limited competition, thereby attracting organic traffic. Consequently, enhancing your website’s domain authority may not always be your top priority, especially if you are primarily aiming to rank for low-competition keywords.

Consider the following example: Take a look at a website with a Domain Rating (DR) as low as 1.9. Despite this humble score, it consistently attracts thousands of visitors each month, as evidenced by data from Ahrefs.

Conversely, there exists a multitude of high domain authority sites that fall short in terms of quality or are afflicted with spam-related issues. Some of these sites may have artificially inflated DA scores, often due to their association with expired domains or previous instances of Google penalties. In reality, these sites may lack genuine organic traffic and fail to deliver meaningful content to their audience.

⚠️ What Is a Google Penalty?

A Google penalty, also referred to as a manual action, occurs when a human reviewer from Google assesses your website and identifies violations of their guidelines.

Such penalties can lead to the complete removal of your website from the Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs), causing a substantial decline in your web traffic.

The process of recovering from a Google penalty can be extremely challenging. Therefore, it is highly advisable to take proactive measures to prevent any potential penalties.

For a comprehensive understanding of Google penalties and effective strategies to avoid manual actions against your website, we invite you to peruse our in-depth guide on the subject.

Evaluating the overall quality of a website involves a multifaceted analysis that extends beyond just domain authority. Several crucial factors should be taken into account:

• Search Engine Performance: One vital aspect is how well the website performs in search engine rankings, particularly on Google. Examining its visibility and position for relevant keywords can provide insights into its reach and relevance.
• Organic SEO Traffic: Another critical indicator is the amount of organic traffic the site attracts. This metric showcases the effectiveness of its search engine optimization efforts and its ability to draw in a relevant audience.
• Design and User Experience: Assessing the website’s design is imperative. A unique and user-friendly design can enhance the overall user experience, making navigation intuitive and visually appealing. Differentiating from generic templates often results in a more engaging interface.
• Content Quality: The quality of the content published on the site is pivotal. High-quality, informative, and relevant content not only attracts and retains visitors but also establishes authority and credibility within its niche.
• Mobile Responsiveness: With the increasing use of mobile devices, ensuring that the website is responsive and accessible on various screen sizes is essential for a positive user experience.
• Loading Speed: Slow-loading websites can deter users. Assessing the website’s loading speed is crucial, as it directly impacts user satisfaction and search

Domain Authority vs. Page Authority

Page Authority (PA) stands as a distinct metric from Domain Authority, focusing on the individual page’s performance rather than the entire website.

Enhancing the Page Authority of a specific article can be a game-changer for lesser-known websites, allowing them to outperform their rivals. Remarkably, Ahrefs’ research indicates that the quantity of links directing traffic to a particular page is often a superior predictor of Google ranking compared to Domain Rating (DR), a metric used by Moz. It’s worth noting that Moz incorporates the number of inbound links when calculating Page Authority (PA).

Interestingly, as you invest efforts into augmenting your Page Authority, you’ll often notice a corresponding improvement in your Domain Authority. This synergy can lead to enhanced overall website visibility and competitiveness.

How Many Links Do I Need to Increase Domain Authority?

Determining website authority rankings involves a multifaceted approach, with both Ahrefs and Moz considering various factors beyond just the quantity of linking domains.

Ahrefs, in one of their informative blog posts, offers a valuable table illustrating the average number of linking domains associated with different Domain Rating (DR) levels. This data serves as a useful reference point for those looking to enhance their domain authority and improve their Google search rankings.

This table underscores the complexity of elevating your domain rating, particularly when you approach higher DR levels. It’s a reminder that building authority in the digital realm demands a nuanced strategy encompassing more than just acquiring additional linking domains.

🔗 Calculating How Many Links You Need

Certainly, here’s a unique rewrite of the information you provided:

In the realm of website domain authority (DR), the number of referring domains plays a pivotal role. Let’s delve into this fascinating correlation:

• DR 6-10: On average, websites in this range tend to possess approximately 30 referring domains. To move up the ladder, you’d need to secure links from about 14 more unique domains.
• DR 11-15: Stepping up to the next level, where domain authority falls between 11 and 15, you’ll find an average of 44 referring domains. At this stage, building connections with additional domains is essential for growth.
• DR 41-45: As we ascend to more authoritative websites, those with DRs ranging from 41 to 45 typically boast a robust network of 263 linking domains. This stands in stark contrast to sites in the 46-50 DR bracket, which showcase an impressive 89-domain increase, totaling 352 linking domains.
• Top-tier Domains: At the pinnacle of the DR spectrum, the difference in referring domains between a site with a DR of 91-95 and one with a DR of 96-100 is astonishing—measuring over eight million. This staggering contrast underscores the significance of building an extensive network of high-quality backlinks for those aiming to achieve the highest domain authority.

Why Is It Worthwhile to Increase Your Domain Authority?

In the opening remarks, we touched upon the fact that domain authority doesn’t factor directly into Google’s ranking algorithms. So, why should you invest your efforts in boosting your domain authority score?

The answer lies in the underlying principle that increasing domain metrics often signifies that you are nurturing your website correctly.

Domain authority primarily hinges on the web of links that lead to your site. When other websites link to your content, it’s typically an endorsement of your quality and usefulness.

Moreover, an interesting discovery made by Ahrefs is the correlation between a high Domain Rating (DR) and superior search engine rankings. Websites boasting strong domain metrics often dominate competitive and lucrative search terms.

While elevating your site’s DR to match that of your top competitors doesn’t guarantee instant ranking success for your desired keywords, it is a strategy that, when executed in accordance with Google’s guidelines, can certainly work in your favor.

This brings us to the focal point of our discussion: How can you go about increasing your domain authority?

In simple terms, the most effective approach to enhancing your DA involves securing backlinks from authoritative websites. If you’re not actively pursuing link-building efforts, now might be the perfect time to develop a robust link-building strategy.

💡 The Importance of Earning High Quality Backlinks

To enhance your inbound link strategy, it’s crucial to target high-quality backlinks. Quality links are characterized by the following factors:

• Originating from websites with high domain authority.
• Earning placement naturally within the content of root domains.
• Maintaining relevance to the content and purpose of your own website.

The acquisition of high-quality backlinks serves as a strong indicator to search engines like Google, signifying the trustworthiness and credibility of your website. This, in turn, has the potential to enhance your position in search engine result pages (SERPs).

If you find that your website’s domain metrics are currently on the lower side, your primary objective should be to actively seek and acquire a substantial number of dofollow links.

Dofollow links possess the remarkable ability to serve as pathways that guide Google’s attention towards your website, thereby contributing to the enhancement of your website’s overall authority and credibility.

⭐️ How to Avoid Attracting Bad Links

While backlinks play a vital role in enhancing domain authority, optimizing your Google ranking necessitates steering clear of subpar link-building practices.

To safeguard your website from poor-quality backlinks, it’s crucial to regularly monitor your backlink portfolio. If you happen upon a low-quality link, you have the option to reach out to the website owner and request its removal. If that proves unsuccessful, you can resort to disavowing the link.

Explore our comprehensive manual on the art of disavowing backlinks without causing harm to your website’s SEO performance.

Here are the top strategies we use here at LinkCrafters to earn our clients high quality links and increase domain authority scores.

✅ Create link-worthy content

Crafting link-worthy content serves as the foundational pillar for an effective link-building strategy. In the realm of link acquisition, the spotlight often shines on exceptional content types, including:

• In-Depth Research and Reports: Producing comprehensive studies and reports that delve deep into a subject matter can pique the interest of link creators.
• Timely News Coverage with Credibility: When you become a recognized and reliable source in your niche, links may naturally flow to your content, especially in the case of breaking news or industry insights.
• Engaging Opinions and Unique Perspectives: Expressing thought-provoking viewpoints and opinions can spark discussions, attracting links from those who resonate with your stance.
• Utility-Driven Tools: Offering valuable tools or resources that solve real-world problems can draw organic backlinks from grateful users.
• Compelling Long-Form Content: Crafting captivating and extensive content that thoroughly explores a topic can establish your authority and entice link creators seeking authoritative references.
• Data-Backed Roundups: Curating statistics and data into informative roundups can become authoritative go-to sources for industry-related information.

To excel in the art of link-building, your content must rise above the competition. It should not only meet but exceed the standards set by existing resources on the same subject. Failure to do so may result in competing websites gaining more backlinks.

Ideally, your content would naturally attract links as people discover its value. However, this organic process doesn’t always occur, particularly if your website lacks substantial traffic. In such cases, proactive outreach efforts may be necessary to promote your content and encourage link creation.

👉 Tips for Creating World-Class Content

Employing the SkyScraper technique involves a comprehensive analysis of your competitors’ content and subsequently crafting an improved piece that outshines theirs in various aspects. To embark on this journey, it’s crucial to substantiate all claims with credible statistics derived from reputable studies and reports. Moreover, injecting a touch of uniqueness through exclusive insights from experts within your organization can greatly enhance the value of your content, setting it apart from generic online information.

Incorporating compelling calls to action (CTAs) is another pivotal element in this endeavor. Your content should not only inform and engage but also compel readers to take action. Whether it’s subscribing to your newsletter, making a purchase, or simply sharing your content, CTAs serve as powerful catalysts for audience interaction.

Furthermore, it is paramount to invest in meticulous proofreading and editing services. Any spelling or grammatical errors within your content can swiftly erode its credibility, undermining the trustworthiness of your message. A polished and error-free piece not only reinforces your professionalism but also ensures a seamless reading experience for your audience.

In summary, the SkyScraper technique involves:

• Thorough Competitor Analysis: Scrutinize your competitors’ content to identify areas where you can excel.
• Data-Backed Claims: Support your statements with concrete statistics sourced from reputable studies and reports.
• Exclusive Insights: Infuse your content with unique insights from in-house experts to provide valuable information not found elsewhere online.
• Compelling CTAs: Craft persuasive calls to action that encourage readers to take specific actions.
• Meticulous Proofreading: Invest in professional editing services to eliminate spelling and grammatical errors, ensuring the highest level of credibility in your content.

✅ Outreach to other websites

Certainly, here are some effective strategies employed by our team at LinkCrafters to help clients secure high-quality backlinks and enhance their domain authority scores:

1. Strategic Research with Ahrefs: We begin by utilizing Ahrefs, a powerful SEO tool. To discover ideal websites for outreach, we enter our own or a competitor’s website into the “site explorer” and select “competing domains.” This process generates a list of websites within our niche that we can target.
2. Identify Website Owners: After identifying target sites, the next step is to ascertain who manages these websites. This often involves researching the website’s “About” or “Contact” page to find relevant contact information.
3. Personalized Outreach: We understand that webmasters receive numerous outreach requests. To stand out, we craft personalized messages or emails introducing ourselves and explaining why a link to our content would benefit their audience. It’s crucial to be genuine and highlight the value our content provides.
4. Reciprocal Value: To further incentivize webmasters to link to our content, we offer something of value in return. This could include sharing one of their blog posts with our email subscribers or on our social media channels. Building mutually beneficial relationships is key.
5. No Paid Links: We want to emphasize that our approach is entirely ethical. We do not resort to paid link building. Instead, we focus on creating genuine connections and providing value to both our clients and the websites we target.

If you’d like to see a real-world example of our blogger outreach strategy in action, feel free to watch the video below. In it, we showcase how we secured over 30 high-quality backlinks in just one month for one of our clients, all without paying for a single link.

At LinkCrafters, we believe in the power of authentic connections and valuable content to boost domain authority and improve SEO rankings. Our goal is to provide clients with long-lasting, sustainable results in the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing.

✅ Persue unlinked mentions

Unlinked mentions represent a savvy approach to enhancing your website’s link-building strategy. This tactic involves proactively identifying instances where other websites mention your business without including a hyperlink to your site. By reaching out to the individuals responsible for these publications and kindly requesting them to add a link, you can often secure valuable backlinks.

While this may appear to be a time-intensive endeavor, there are efficient ways to automate parts of this process. Begin by setting up Google Alerts for your brand’s name. When you receive an email or notification, take a moment to visit the corresponding webpage and check if they have included a link to your website. If not, consider sending them a friendly email to politely request the inclusion of a link.

It’s important to note that this strategy is particularly effective for well-established websites. Websites that are already aware of your online presence are more likely to mention your business, making unlinked mentions a valuable opportunity to expand your link profile.

✅ Consider niche edits and paid links

Niche edits involve reaching out to website owners to incorporate your article into their existing content, creating a seamless way to secure backlinks to your relevant content.

However, there is a caveat – in many cases, website owners may request compensation in exchange for adding your link. While this practice contradicts Google’s Search Essentials (formerly Google Webmaster Guidelines), it remains prevalent in numerous niches. In fact, obtaining valuable links can often feel like a challenging endeavor without considering paid options.

For a comprehensive understanding of how to employ niche edits effectively, we encourage you to explore our detailed guide on this strategy.

✅ Create an internal link structure

While backlinks certainly play a crucial role in enhancing domain authority and bolstering search rankings, the strategic placement of internal links within your website’s content is equally vital.

An internal linking strategy encompasses the incorporation of links to various sections of your website within your content, with the primary goal of optimizing conversions and boosting sales. This integral component falls under the umbrella of on-page SEO. The advantages associated with integrating internal links into your web content are manifold:

• Linking Power Transfer: Internal links facilitate the flow of link authority from one page to another within your website, contributing to the overall strength of your digital presence.
• Reader Engagement: By offering readers additional resources and related content through internal links, you can maintain their interest and encourage them to explore more of your website.
• Guided User Journey: Internal links craft a seamless user experience, guiding visitors from their initial landing point to other relevant areas of your website. This helps ensure that users find the information or products they seek more easily.
• Enhanced Search Engine Visibility: Search engines, like Google, rely on internal links to navigate and index your website’s pages efficiently. A well-structured internal linking system aids in better visibility and discoverability of your content.

✅ Pay attention to your technical SEO

It’s important to highlight that domain authority takes into account a range of technical and on-page SEO elements. One key factor is site speed, which measures the time it takes for your website to load and can significantly influence your domain authority score.

Addressing technical SEO aspects, such as enhancing your site’s speed and overall performance, has the potential to positively impact your domain authority. Furthermore, these improvements can also enhance the user experience, leading to longer visitor engagement on your website.

Remarkably, even a mere one-second delay in loading speed can result in the loss of up to 11% of website views. Additionally, slow-loading websites can lead to a 16% decrease in customer satisfaction. Therefore, optimizing site speed is not only essential for SEO but also for retaining and satisfying your audience.

✅ Try HARO

HARO (Help a Reporter Out) stands as a treasure trove for link-building enthusiasts. It’s not just a highly effective method for acquiring backlinks from authoritative websites; it’s a potent way to secure valuable links overall.

Here’s a breakdown of how it operates:

• Sign Up: Start by visiting the HARO website and registering for their newsletter. You can opt for the general newsletter or choose one aligned with your specific niche.
• Newsletter Delivery: HARO dispatches its general newsletter three times a day. Within these newsletters, you’ll discover requests from journalists seeking expert insights for their stories.
• Select Relevant Requests: Scan through the requests and identify those where your expertise can shine. Choosing wisely is key to increasing your chances of success.
• Craft Your Response: When responding to a journalist’s request, it’s essential to follow their instructions carefully. Include a link to your website in your response. To streamline the process, consider setting up a bio and profile picture beforehand, making it easier to share this information.
• Journalist Selection: Journalists will assess the responses they receive and pick the ones that resonate most with their story.
• Link Acquisition: Once the journalist’s story goes live, your website will receive a valuable backlink.

While HARO is a straightforward platform to use, it’s also fiercely competitive. Many individuals vie for attention with each request. To bolster your chances of being selected:

• Swift Responses: Act promptly and respond quickly to journalist requests. Being one of the first to provide input can be an advantage.
• Concise and Helpful: Keep your responses concise, unless the journalist specifically requests more in-depth information. Your answers should be informative and easy for the journalist to incorporate into their article.

HARO presents an excellent opportunity to boost your online presence through backlinks. To delve deeper into this strategy, explore our comprehensive guide on leveraging HARO for link-building.

✅ Guest posting on high authority sites

Guest posting remains a well-established link-building strategy, proven effective over the years. However, its success hinges on adhering to best practices.

To begin, it’s crucial to steer clear of spammy websites that indiscriminately accept guest blog posts for a fee. Instead, prioritize quality sites boasting a high Domain Authority (DA), an engaged audience, and genuine traffic.

While some reputable sites may have a designated “Write for Us” or “Contribute” section, many won’t overtly advertise this opportunity. In such cases, proactive outreach becomes essential.

The key to successful guest posting lies in pitching high-quality articles that genuinely enhance the value of the host website for its readers. Rather than viewing it solely as a means of link building, approach the process as a writer seeking to contribute valuable content.

Let’s delve into two exemplary high-DA sites that welcome quality articles.

➡️ HubSpot

HubSpot, a website boasting an impressive domain authority score of 92, actively seeks out guest contributions for its blogs covering marketing, sales, service, and website-related topics. The company recognizes the immense value of tapping into the expertise of industry professionals to deliver compelling content to its audience.

Nonetheless, it’s important to note that HubSpot maintains stringent criteria for the types of articles it publishes on its blog. For instance, their marketing blog primarily entertains submissions that fall into one of the following categories:

• Original Experiment or Analysis Posts: Content that presents unique experiments or in-depth analysis within the realm of marketing.
• Canonical Posts with In-Depth Insights: Articles that delve profoundly into specific subjects, offering a comprehensive understanding of the topic.
• Graphic-Enhanced Posts: Content enriched with visuals and graphics to enhance the reader’s understanding and engagement.

Producing content that aligns with these editorial standards can be quite challenging. However, the effort is well worth it, as successfully meeting these requirements will grant you a coveted and authoritative backlink from a website boasting a remarkable Domain Authority of 92. We’ve achieved this feat in the past and can attest to its value.

➡️ Entrepreneur

Entrepreneur, boasting a robust DA 92 authority, warmly welcomes guest contributions within its esteemed Entrepreneur Leadership Network section. Just like HubSpot, the platform adheres to rigorous editorial criteria, ensuring that only top-notch articles make the cut.

For detailed insights into their submission guidelines, it’s recommended to visit their official website. When crafting your submissions for this platform, bear in mind the following key points:

• Unearth New Perspectives: Infuse your content with fresh angles and innovative insights to breathe life into the subject you wish to explore.
• Specialized Focus: Concentrate on a specific niche or a tightly defined area, delivering content that delves deep into the subject matter.
• Practical Wisdom: Your articles should not only inform but also instruct. Share practical tips, actionable advice, and valuable takeaways for the audience.
• Subtle Promotion: Avoid an overtly promotional tone for your business or products. Instead, aim to provide value first and foremost.

➡️ Finding guest posting opportunities

The aforementioned illustrations are well-suited for websites within the realms of business or marketing. It’s important to note that attempting to submit a similar article to a publication in a different niche may not yield favorable results, unless a creative and relevant angle can be identified.

When actively seeking guest posting opportunities, it is prudent to contemplate the foremost publications that cater to your industry. Additionally, conducting thorough research to ascertain whether these publications are open to guest submissions is essential.

Furthermore, brainstorming captivating story ideas that align with the publication’s target audience is a crucial step. Once these ideas are formed, proactively pitching them to the publication can significantly enhance your chances of acceptance. In cases where there are no explicit guest post guidelines available, initiating contact with the website’s editor or proprietor may be a productive approach to explore.

✍️ Tips for Crafting an Epic Guest Post

Certainly, here’s a unique version of your instructions for writing a guest post:

As you craft your guest post, remember these key pointers:

• Prioritize Informative and Educational Content: Dive deep into your research to provide readers with valuable insights. Your goal is to educate and inform, so make sure your content is well-researched and offers substantial knowledge.
• Embrace Data-Driven Content: Data-driven content is a proven crowd-pleaser. Incorporate compelling statistics or even conduct your own research to pique the reader’s interest. Solid data can significantly enhance the impact of your post.
• Tailor to the Website’s Audience: Always keep the website’s audience in mind. Your content should align closely with the interests and preferences of the site’s readers. This alignment will increase the chances of them engaging with your content and exploring your backlink.
• Mirror the Website’s Post Format: Pay attention to the format of the website’s existing posts. If the site owner provides specific guidelines for guest posts, adhere to them. If not, take time to examine their published guest posts and ensure that your submission follows the same formatting conventions.

By adhering to these guidelines, you’ll be well-equipped to create a guest post that not only informs and engages but also resonates with the site’s audience, increasing the likelihood of driving traffic to your linked content.

✅ Target sites with decent traffic

Moz’s Domain Authority (DA) score takes into account the legitimacy of backlinks, giving preference to links from reputable sites with genuine traffic. If a link originates from an untrustworthy source, the algorithm is likely to devalue it.

To assess a site’s legitimacy, there are several straightforward methods you can employ.

Firstly, leverage SEO tools such as Ahrefs, Moz, or Ubersuggest to gauge the site’s search engine traffic. These tools provide insights into a website’s monthly organic traffic. At LinkCrafters, we aim for sites that draw at least 1,000 organic visitors each month.

Keep an eye on the overall trend of traffic as well. Even a declining site may retain some traffic, but if it recently experienced a sharp drop, it could signify a Google penalty and, consequently, a low-value site.

Additionally, scrutinize the keywords a site ranks for. Spammy sites might still attract traffic from low-quality keywords.

Another indicator is the site’s social media presence. Look for active accounts with engaging posts that receive comments, likes, and shares. This can give you an estimate of the traffic originating from social channels.

Lastly, perform a visual evaluation of the website itself. Low-quality, spammy sites often exhibit certain telltale signs, including:

• A wide range of seemingly unrelated topics, including posts related to casinos or gambling.
• Short or poorly written articles.
• A high proportion of articles attributed to “Guest Authors” or similar generic titles, with minimal original content from the site itself.
• Articles containing unnaturally placed backlinks.

✅ Consider growing websites

Acquiring links from websites in their nascent stages but exhibiting growth potential can be a strategic move. When presented with an opportunity to secure a link from an emerging site, it may prove advantageous to actively pursue it.

Leveraging tools such as Ahrefs can offer valuable insights into a website’s evolving backlink portfolio. Observing a positive upward trajectory in a site’s backlinks may serve as an indicator of its future potential for further expansion.

✅ Prioritize backlinks from sites that don’t link out much

Ahrefs incorporates the quantity of websites a domain connects to as a crucial factor in determining its Domain Rating (DR). Consequently, backlinks from publications that maintain a minimal number of outgoing links hold more significant value compared to those from websites of equivalent authority that link to numerous other domains.

To ascertain the number of domains a specific website is linked to, you can utilize Ahrefs. Simply navigate to the “Outgoing Links” section and then click on “Linked Domains.” This feature provides insight into the diversity of domains that a given website is connected to.

Don’t Get Too Caught up with Domain Authority

As previously mentioned, it’s important to understand that domain authority (DA) is a relative metric. This means that your DA score may not necessarily increase, even if you’ve made significant improvements to your backlink profile. Sometimes, your score might decrease because other websites are building links at a faster rate.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that DA takes into account all websites, not just those in your specific niche. Therefore, if you’ve managed to enhance your backlink profile more rapidly than your direct competitors, you might still maintain a DA advantage, even if your overall DA score drops.

In reality, running a highly effective link-building campaign doesn’t always guarantee substantial improvements in these metrics, largely due to external factors that can influence them.

Rather than fixating solely on boosting your DA score, focus on the broader picture of your site’s progress in other aspects. Sometimes, your website may be moving in the right direction in terms of traffic, engagement, or conversions, even if your DA remains relatively stable or decreases. Ultimately, the success of your website is determined by various factors, and DA is just one of many indicators to consider.

Wrapping up on How to Increase Domain Authority

Elevating your website’s Domain Authority (DA) is crucial for boosting its online presence, and one effective strategy to achieve this is through the practice of link-building. However, this process can often pose challenges when attempted independently.

Should you find yourself lacking the necessary time or expertise to execute your own link-building campaigns, you may want to contemplate enlisting the services of professionals such as LinkCrafters. Our area of expertise lies in crafting a multitude of top-tier backlinks that cater to diverse businesses and niches, providing a scalable solution for enhancing your website’s DA.