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Glossary · Search fundamentals

Domain Authority

The definition

Domain Authority (DA) is a third-party metric, developed by Moz, that predicts on a 1-to-100 scale how likely a website is to rank in search results, based largely on the size and quality of its backlink profile.

In short

  • It is a comparative, predictive score — not a metric Google uses or publishes.
  • It is most useful for comparing your site against competitors, not as a target in itself.
  • Other tools publish similar metrics under different names (such as Authority Score or Domain Rating).
  • A higher score generally correlates with a stronger backlink profile and better ranking potential.

How it applies to Calgary businesses

Domain Authority is a quick way for a Calgary business to gauge where it stands against local competitors. If competing agencies, contractors, or clinics show much higher scores, it usually signals they have earned more quality backlinks over time — a gap that content and link-building can close. It is best used as a directional benchmark, since chasing the score alone does not improve rankings; earning real links does.

Learn more: See how Big Fox Agency grows site authority through SEO.