Domain Authority vs Page Authority
People working with content are familiar with SEO and associated numbers. These numbers based on metrics are determined using various factors including linking pages. You need to play your cards right to be on top of the number game and ensure your content grabs the attention of maximum web searchers via Search Engine Result Pages(SERP). SEO metrics are popular with marketers and strategists as they help in understanding how your SEO strategies are working and how they can be improved.
Some companies use authority to study and evaluate how well they’re performing in their digital strategies. It’s also a qualitative measure of your web properties and affects search engines’ overall rankings and visibility. That’s why most search engine optimization (SEO) experts focus on producing quality and valuable content just to increase authority.
Domain Authority (DA) and Page Authority (PA) were created by Moz — a SaaS company — and are used for different purposes. DA and PA are nearly identical metrics. However, a DA score predicts how well a domain as a whole will rank in the SERPs, while a PA score predicts how well a specific webpage will rank in the SERPs. When used hand-in-hand, these two rankings can provide a lot of useful information about your domain’s and page’s SEO.
Domain Authority (DA)
Domain authority is a useful metric used to predict the likelihood that your website will rank in the search engine results pages (SERPs). Moz rates the score on a scale of 1–100, where 0 is the lowest, and higher scores correspond to a higher probability that your site will rank well in the SERPs. It’s a search engine ranking score, but it isn’t among the ranking factors on Google’s list.
DA Calculation
Moz bases DA on data from its Link Explorer web index tool. The actual calculation applies a machine learning model, which helps you find the best-fit algorithm with the strongest correlation to Moz’s link data. The algorithm evaluates the number of links and linking root domains into a single score. They then use this score to track the ranking strength of a website or to compare websites over time.
DA score tends to fluctuate as different data points become available and are added to the calculation. If your site is more likely to appear in the SERPs than your competitor’s site, your site is likely to have a higher DA than the competitor’s site. A brand-new website will always start with a Domain Authority score of one, and that score will increase as the site earns more and more authoritative backlinks over time. It is easier to grow your score at lower DA levels (20–30) than at higher DA levels (70–90). However, the Domain Authority is not a Google ranking factor and does not affect the SERPs.
Building Your DA
You can try to increase your domain authority manipulatively or wait for it to grow over time. But here are some steps to build your Domain Authority.
· Generate quality content to engage with the audience.
· Prioritize relevant significant backlinks after detailed analysis.
· Optimize on-page content.
· Improve off-page SEO.
· Analyze your competitors to improve your content.
· Update older content and remove outdated information or links.
· Maximize web responsiveness.
· Distribute your web content through various channels.
Page Authority (PA)
Page authority or PA is another popular metric by Moz that predicts how a particular page will rank on the SERPs. This metric is based on Moz’s web index data and considers several factors when calculating the final score. PA scores also range from 1–100 — the higher the score, the greater the probability of ranking.
PA Calculation
PA score is derived from a machine learning model that identifies the best algorithm that matches the rankings across the SERPs that Moz predicts against. The data used to calculate the score considers over 40 factors, including link counts. Moz constantly updates the PA algorithm so that it may fluctuate over time. Like DA, it’s easier to grow your score at lower PA levels than at higher ones of 70–80 points.
Building Your PA
You can take some steps to increase the likelihood of a higher PA and ranking on the SERPs. Here are some of the most important steps:
- Ensure the site is optimized and has a proper URL and site structure.
- Create a page on a high authority domain.
- Analyze the DA and develop the content accordingly for a better PA.
- Build direct links to the page you want to optimize.
- Remove outdated/harmful links to your page.
- Optimize your page for SEO and make sure it’s fully functional.
Differences between Domain Authority and Page Authority
At first glance, Domain Authority and Page Authority metrics may seem similar. However, there are several differences, which set them apart.
Some ways to leverage DA and PA:
• Focus on your pages with a high Page Authority and promote your best-performing pages.
• Use data to improve your strategies. You can study your pages with the highest PA, find patterns, and make them work in your favor.
· Analyze your historic Domain Authority to evaluate your year-over-year results.
· Give it time for visibility and reach strategists and marketers.
PageRank
Page Rank is used to determine the importance and value of a website through inbound links. Domain and page authority were created by Moz, while, Google created PageRank. It focuses on link-building properties to determine your website’s performance and worth in the SERPs. Google’s Page Rank value for a website is used often for the calculation of Domain Authority.
Getting quality links involves relationship building, reaching out to relevant websites in your industry, and earning it through genuinely great content which takes time. Working with industry experts speeds up this process and gives you the extra hands needed to put in the consistent effort this strategy calls for.
Conclusion
Domain Authority and Page Authority scores are useful indicators of how well your site will rank in the SERPs, but they need to be viewed in the context of your particular business and industry. Like most other analyses, PA and DA work better together. The more you understand how your pages rank individually, the more insight you get about how your domain ranks. Businesses should strive to create unique, original, and compelling content that naturally attracts readers. DA and PA can provide insight into how well you are reaching this goal.
