TL;DR - Snabb sammanfattning
- What is domain authority? A metric that measures a website's strength based on the quantity and quality of incoming links.
- Common mistake: Focusing exclusively on high authority links creates an unnatural and ineffective link profile.
- Variance is key: A healthy link profile requires variation in link sources, anchor texts, and strengths to maximize SEO impact.
- Natural links: Popular websites get links from all types of sources - both strong and weaker domains.
- Food pyramid metaphor: Your link profile should be varied, like a healthy diet, to ensure optimal results.
What is "Domain Authority"?
Domain authority has become the new PageRank - everyone talks about it and everyone wants more of it. There seems to have formed some kind of collective consensus around the importance that all incoming links should have high authority, but this is a decidedly incorrect view that can prevent your website from reaching its full potential in search results.
Domain authority is a quantitative assessment of a website's strength measured in link value. It's calculated based on the number and quality of incoming links to the domain, and represents an attempt to replicate Google's internal PageRank algorithm.
Popular Domain Authority Metrics
Moz Domain Authority (DA):
0-100 scale predicting ranking ability
Ahrefs Domain Rating (DR):
0-100 scale measuring backlink profile strength
Majestic Trust Flow (TF):
0-100 score indicating link quality
SEMrush Authority Score:
Compound metric of domain strength
High Authority Links Are Important, That's True...
There's no doubt that links from websites with high domain authority are valuable. They pass more link equity, carry more weight in Google's algorithm, and can have a significant impact on your rankings.
Benefits of High Authority Links
Stronger ranking boost
More link equity passed
Faster indexing
Google crawls high DA sites more
Trust signals
Association with authoritative sites
Referral traffic
High-traffic sites send visitors
Brand visibility
Exposure to larger audiences
Competitive advantage
Harder for competitors to replicate
The Value Difference
A link from a DA 80 website can be worth 10-100x more than a link from a DA 20 website, depending on relevance and other factors. However, this doesn't mean you should ignore lower authority links entirely.
No Successful Website Has Only High Authority Links
If you analyze any successful website's link profile, you'll discover something interesting: they have links from sources with vastly different authority levels. From DA 90+ publications to DA 10 niche blogs - and everything in between.
This happens naturally because popular websites attract links from all types of sources. When you create great content, you get linked to by:
High Authority Sources
- • Major news publications
- • Industry-leading websites
- • Educational institutions (.edu)
- • Government websites (.gov)
- • Well-established blogs
- • Popular forums and communities
Lower Authority Sources
- • Niche blogs and personal websites
- • New websites in your industry
- • Local business directories
- • Social media profiles
- • Forum signatures and comments
- • Small industry directories
The Unnatural Link Profile Red Flag
If your link profile consists ONLY of high authority links, it can actually raise red flags with Google. Why? Because it's not how natural link building works. It suggests manipulation rather than organic growth.
Think about it: If you launched a website yesterday, would the New York Times, Forbes, and TechCrunch immediately link to you? Probably not. A natural link profile grows gradually and includes links from various authority levels.
Real-World Example: Popular Blog Analysis
Analysis of top-ranking blogs in competitive niches shows a typical distribution:
It's All About Variance
The key to a successful link building strategy is variance. Just like a healthy diet requires different types of nutrients, a healthy link profile requires different types of links.
The Link Profile Food Pyramid
Think of your link profile like a food pyramid. You need variety to be healthy:
Like vitamins - essential but you don't need tons
Like proteins - the bulk of your diet
Like carbohydrates - important for energy and volume
Like fiber - helps everything work naturally
Source Variance
- • Different domain authorities
- • Various industries and niches
- • Multiple link types (editorial, directory, etc.)
- • Geographic diversity
Anchor Text Variance
- • Branded anchor text
- • Generic anchors (click here)
- • Partial match keywords
- • URL anchors
Temporal Variance
- • Gradual link acquisition
- • Natural velocity fluctuations
- • Aged links + new links
- • Consistent growth pattern
What Happens Without Variance?
Algorithmic Penalties:
Google may detect unnatural patterns and devalue your links
Missed Opportunities:
Lower DA sites can still send quality traffic and rankings
Higher Costs:
Only pursuing high DA links is expensive and time-consuming
Fragile Profile:
Losing a few high DA links can devastate your rankings
High Domain Authority Links in High Demand
The obsession with domain authority has created a market dynamic where high DA links are in extremely high demand. This has several consequences:
Market Consequences
Increased prices
Guest posts on high DA sites cost 5-10x more
Quality degradation
Many high DA sites now exist solely to sell links
More competition
Everyone chasing the same opportunities
The Smart Alternative
Better ROI
Medium DA links offer great value for money
Less competition
Easier to secure quality placements
More natural
Creates a sustainable link profile
The Value-to-Cost Sweet Spot
Research shows that links from DA 40-60 websites often provide the best return on investment. They're affordable, pass significant link equity, and help create a natural-looking profile.
Building a Natural Link Profile
The path to successful link building isn't about obsessing over domain authority numbers. It's about creating a diverse, natural-looking link profile that mirrors how real websites acquire links organically.
Yes, pursue high authority links when the opportunity arises. But don't ignore the valuable opportunities in the middle and lower tiers. They're more accessible, more affordable, and collectively they can have a massive impact on your SEO.
Your Link Building Action Plan
Audit your current profile
Check distribution across DA ranges
Set variance targets
Aim for the natural distribution shown above
Diversify your strategy
Mix different link building tactics
Focus on relevance
Topical relevance matters more than DA alone
Build relationships
Genuine connections lead to better links
Monitor and adjust
Track results and refine your approach
Final Thoughts
Domain authority is a useful metric, but it's not the be-all and end-all of link building. Think of it as one ingredient in a recipe - important, but not sufficient on its own. Build a link profile that looks natural, focuses on relevance, and includes links from various authority levels. That's the strategy that will stand the test of time and algorithm updates.
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