There are hundreds of metrics to consider when looking to improve a website’s quality and search rankings. Of these, some are important while others have been superseded by other types of metrics. But one of the metrics that has been around for a while and is still relevant for websites is domain authority.
DA is still one of the more prevalent SEO performance indicators and forms the core of many campaigns. An interesting fact about DA is that it is not created by Google but rather by Moz, a powerful influence in the field of SEO.
Basically, domain authority is a holistic approach to website improvement that includes many aspects, like technical, content, and backlinks. Let’s go through a few important tips on how you can improve your DA scores for your website.
9 Tips to Increasing Your Website’s Domain Authority
Streamline Technical SEO Factors
The first thing you need to do is work on the website’s technical SEO aspects. Errors can keep the website from performing to its fullest potential. The first thing to look at is the XML sitemap, where mistakes do happen. Ensure that the sitemap is updated and verified through the Google Search Console.
Check the robots.txt file and verify that every page to be crawled is added to it. This file has all the pages that you want to be crawled through and indexed. Private pages should be taken off the file to make the crawling process leaner and more optimal.
Page errors are another area where you need to focus on for improving DA. Make sure that there are no 4xx or 3xx errors on the website. Take a look at the URL structure for different pages – it should be clear and simple enough to read. Duplicate content should be fixed with canonical tags for the pages.
Improve Website Loading Speed
When discussing critical factors for ranking, page loading speed always features right at the top. Even for DA metrics, loading speed is vital, and you need to ensure that you’ve trimmed it down as low as possible. High data usage assets like images and videos should be compressed to save bandwidth.
But during compression, ensure that the quality is not affected. Opt for alternative formats that have a lower footprint, like WebP for images. Check all the code for the website CSS, JavaScript, and HTML is minified (all spaces and indents removed as needed). It is a good idea to opt for browser cache for returning visitors, so all data doesn’t have to be sent every time.
If the website has a lot of data-heavy assets, it is a good idea to consider CDNs (Content Delivery Networks) that can cut down on latency. Work on improving above-the-fold loading times by leveraging the Lazy Loading methodology. Optimize your database connections and clean up outdated or unnecessary plugins.
Focus On Mobile Optimization
It comes as no surprise that mobile optimization is at the top of the list of things to do for anything related to SEO. With more powerful mobile devices, more people are using them to interact with websites rather than their computers. This has pushed mobile responsiveness to become a top signal for DA as well.
Google has also not been shy about talking about its mobile-first indexing strategy. This means dynamic websites are the order of the day.
Opting for a mobile-responsive framework is something that needs to be done. Mobile screens can come in a variety of sizes, so it’s important to have a “mechanism” that adapts to them.
Ensure that links and buttons are sized properly so people don’t misclick them. Avoid intrusive popups and other UI elements that can block content. While these might be acceptable on larger computer screens, they are an absolute no-no for mobile devices.
Build an Effective Keyword List
Keywords form the basis of any SEO campaign, and it is no different when trying to improve your DA. Build a powerful and competent list of keywords using detailed keyword research into your niche.
Using tools like Ahrefs, Semrush, and Google Keyword Planner can help. Analyzing competitor keywords can give you valuable insights into what is missing in your own campaign.
Take time to analyze long-tail and conversational keywords because they get a lot more traffic from voice assistants. It also helps to plan your content based on keyword topic clusters. Create a prioritized list of keywords based on difficulty and opportunity.
Expand your keyword list further with question-based keywords, as they can direct a lot of people to your website. For more ideas, check out Google’s autocomplete on searches and also “People also ask” suggestions at the bottom of search results. Keyword selection is an ongoing task, and it should be optimized consistently to get the most out of the process.
Create Engaging Content
High-quality content is an important factor when you’re trying to gain DA. When creating content, ensure that it adheres to Google’s EEAT principles. The content should be focused, comprehensive, and deal with the issue addressed in the topic. Ensure that content is always accompanied by compelling headlines and engaging subheadings.
Content should not be just text; instead, add creative visual assets like images and video to support it. Longer content pieces should be clearly scannable – people should get an idea of what the article is about without having to read it completely. It is also good to break up the content visually through the use of bullet points and white spaces.
Read: Is Ai Content Expected to Impact Website Rankings in 2024?
Use internal linking to ensure visitors also visit other related pages. Any content you create for your website should be original without any plagiarism.
When you link numbers or research, always remember to cite sources. The goal of your content should be to offer a unique perspective and not to say the same thing as other players in the market.
Work On UI/UX
UI/UX issues are a big part of why some websites are held back in the DA race. Like Google, DA also considers these high priorities, and so you must work on them as much as possible for the best results. Aim to have UI be the least intrusive part of your website experience. It should exist in the background unless called upon by users.
In this regard, keep the navigation as simple as possible. To the people visiting your website, the navigation should be intuitive.
Another thing to take note of is the typography. It should be easy to read and have the right contrast to the background to ensure visibility. Minimize clutter and other distractions on the page by removing unnecessary widgets or graphics.
On the top band of your website, ensure there is a space for search. The search function should be simple with site-wide reach so users can find what they want quickly. Test your UI/UX further through advanced analysis, like heat map analysis, to discover more optimal data.
Build a Powerful Backlink Profile
Another vital platform for building high DA scores is through powerful, organic backlinks for your website. High authority backlinks from other relevant websites can give you a powerful boost to your SEO and DA scores. When cultivating backlinks, remember that it is almost always about quality rather than just quantity.
When trying to gain backlinks, you should focus on leveraging the “assets” you have. These include high-traffic articles, tools, and other collateral. Pursue guest posting to get links from established brands in the industry. Another idea is to build your reputation on HARO (Help A Reporter Out) for valuable links from journalists and news websites.
Audit your backlink profile regularly to ensure there are no broken backlinks. It is important that there are only white hat strategies used for obtaining backlinks. Black or even grey hat techniques might give temporary results, but will get weeded out in the long run.
Get Listed on Local Directories
Local directories are a great way for websites to get improved DA scores. Google My Business is probably the first and most commonly viewed directory that comes to mind.
Ensure that your GMB profile is up to date with all required information added. Add images and other content that can increase the value of your profile.
It is important that you add your websites to industry-specific directories and other associations. They can help you gain more traction when it comes to SEO and DA. Don’t neglect general directories like Yelp and Yellow Pages; they are important as well. Ensure that your NAP details are accurate and consistent across all your different directory listings.
Ensure that you respond to comments and reviews on various directory listings to increase goodwill. Manage your local citations and update as required so it is accurate and you don’t lose leads.
Implement Compelling Promotions
Social media is a powerful ally when you want to improve SEO, and the same applies to DA as well. Strategically share high-quality content and updates through all social media handles. Create engaging newsletters and other brand-related collateral and send them to your email list. Take the time to engage with your social media communities to build rapport.
Large online communities like Reddit and Quora can boost your website traffic and help you gain better metrics. Social media platforms also have comprehensive and sophisticated advertising tools that you can leverage to improve brand reach. Also consider adapting existing content into different formats that are more suited to social media platforms.
Ensure that you run promotions and events that help increase user engagement. Hosting webinars and online events is a great way to get the word out about your product. The key to building a solid promotion strategy is to promote your brand through as many channels as you can!
Domain Authority – FAQs
What Is Domain Authority and How Is It Calculated?
Domain Authority or DA is calculated based on a machine learning algorithm developed by Moz that predicts what the likely SERP ranking of the page would be. The calculation considers over 40 unique link-related factors, including backlinks, link quality, quantity, and relevance.
What Is a Good DA Score?
The best answer for an optimal DA score is that it depends. Good websites can have DAs between 20 and 80; it just depends on their scope. For a smaller website with a more local following, a 20 – 30 DA would be enough to outperform its competitor. Similarly, anything below 80 for a news website might be terrible.
How Are Domain Authority and Page Authority Different?
Domain Authority reflects the strength of the entire website/domain. Page Authority only considers a single page on a specific website. PA can help identify weak pages on high DA websites that need more work.
Key Takeaways
● Audit and monitor your website for technical SEO factors to prevent a drop in DA.
● Ensure that your website’s loading speed is high by compressing images and videos.
● Prioritize mobile-first design so it is responsive and adaptive to mobile users.
● Build a powerful backlink profile from high-authority websites that are related to your industry.
● Run promotions and other contests through social media to get more brand reach and recall.
● Work on improving your UI/UX so navigation is simpler and more intuitive.
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