Good Domain Authority: A Straightforward Guide for Real People

By Lily James

So, What Does Good Domain Authority Really Mean?

When people ask me what a good domain authority is, I tell them it’s not about chasing the biggest number — it’s about being better than your competition. Domain authority (DA) is a number between 0 and 100 that shows how trusted your site looks to search engines. But a good DA depends on what niche you’re in. If you’re blogging about something very specific, even a score of 25–30 can be great. If you’re competing with big brands, you may need 50 or more. The key is to aim for progress, not perfection.

Here’s how I usually explain it to clients:

  • 70–100: Reserved for global brands and big names.
  • 50–69: Strong, trusted sites in their field.
  • 30–49: Growing businesses and blogs.
  • Below 30: New sites finding their footing.

Focus on steady improvement rather than getting discouraged by the big players.

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Why Historical Domain Authority Helps You Understand Progress

A lot of people forget about historical domain authority. This simply means keeping track of how your score changes over time. Years ago, Google showed something called PageRank. When they stopped showing it publicly, Moz and other companies created DA to help site owners measure progress. Keeping a log of your DA every month helps you see if your efforts are working.

Why bother with history?

  • It keeps you motivated when the number slowly improves.
  • It shows what worked and what didn’t.
  • It reminds you that SEO is about long-term gains.

Don’t expect huge jumps overnight — even small increases are worth celebrating.

How to Check Website Domain Authority Without Stress

If you’re wondering how to check website domain authority, don’t worry — it’s very easy. I always recommend Moz’s Link Explorer for beginners because it’s simple and free. Other tools like Ahrefs (which calls it DR) and SEMrush (which uses Authority Score) also work.

Here’s what I usually do:

  • Type your site URL into Moz Link Explorer to see your DA.
  • Use Ahrefs or SEMrush if you want more backlink details.
  • Look at your competitors’ scores to see where you stand.

I like to check DA about once a month — checking more often usually just causes anxiety.

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How to Increase Domain Authority in a Healthy Way

If you’re asking how to increase domain authority, here’s my honest answer: keep creating value. You don’t need tricks. You need a steady plan. Here are some things that work well:

  • Write content people actually want to share and link to.
  • Reach out to other bloggers in your field for guest posts.
  • Make sure your site loads fast and looks good on phones.
  • Remove bad links pointing to your site.
  • Share your posts on social media to get noticed.

I’ve seen small blogs grow from DA 15 to 35 just by doing the basics well for a year.

How to Increase Domain Authority Fast (and Why You Should Be Careful)

People often want to know how to increase domain authority fast. The truth is, you can speed things up a little, but shortcuts usually hurt more than help. Buying hundreds of backlinks or stuffing keywords won’t work in the long run.

Here’s what you can try safely:

  • Focus your guest posts on high-DA blogs.
  • Update old articles to keep them fresh.
  • List your site in reputable directories.
  • Be active in online communities and forums where your audience hangs out.

Even these won’t change your DA overnight — but they’re faster than waiting for someone to discover you out of the blue.

Why a Good Domain Authority Should Be Your Benchmark, Not Your Obsession

At the end of the day, good domain authority is simply what helps you compete in your own niche. You don’t need to hit 90 if your competitors are all at 35. Here are my final thoughts:

  • Compare your site to your closest competitors, not to giants.
  • Track your progress every month.
  • Don’t obsess — focus on helping readers, and your DA will follow.

If you ever feel stuck, take a deep breath and remember: even small improvements add up. Every site has room to grow.

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