You can't fake real authority
Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2025 8:20 am
3. Get more traffic driving links.
Our new DA score also factors in whether links come from legitimate sites with real traffic, as this is a strong indicator of usefulness. Whether you use DA regularly or not, you know that attracting links that drive traffic is a good thing, indicating relevance to searches and pushing down results. It’s also a good reason to stop chasing every link at all costs. What’s the point of a link that no one will see, that doesn’t drive traffic, and that has been discounted by both our authority metrics and Google.
Like any metric based on signals outside of our control, it is theoretically possible to manipulate domain authority. The question is: why? If you are using DA to sell 10 links for $1, DA 20 links for $2, and DA 30 belize number data for $3, please, for the love of all that is holy, stop (and yes, I have seen that almost verbatim in multiple email pitches). If you are buying those links, please spend that money on something more useful, like a sandwich.
Work on building the kind of real authority that moves the needle for both Moz metrics and Google. It’s hard in the short term, but the rewards will pay off for years to come. Use domain authority to understand where you can compete today, cost-effectively, and maximize your investment. Don’t let it become just another vanity metric.
Let’s be real for a moment: As much as we hear about positive team cultures and healthy work environments in the digital marketing space, many of us face workplace situations that are far from ideal. Some of us may even be part of a team where we feel discouraged from sharing new ideas or alternative solutions because we know it will be dismissed without discussion. Even worse, there are some who are afraid to ask questions or seek help because their workplace culture doesn’t provide a safe space to learn.
Our new DA score also factors in whether links come from legitimate sites with real traffic, as this is a strong indicator of usefulness. Whether you use DA regularly or not, you know that attracting links that drive traffic is a good thing, indicating relevance to searches and pushing down results. It’s also a good reason to stop chasing every link at all costs. What’s the point of a link that no one will see, that doesn’t drive traffic, and that has been discounted by both our authority metrics and Google.
Like any metric based on signals outside of our control, it is theoretically possible to manipulate domain authority. The question is: why? If you are using DA to sell 10 links for $1, DA 20 links for $2, and DA 30 belize number data for $3, please, for the love of all that is holy, stop (and yes, I have seen that almost verbatim in multiple email pitches). If you are buying those links, please spend that money on something more useful, like a sandwich.
Work on building the kind of real authority that moves the needle for both Moz metrics and Google. It’s hard in the short term, but the rewards will pay off for years to come. Use domain authority to understand where you can compete today, cost-effectively, and maximize your investment. Don’t let it become just another vanity metric.
Let’s be real for a moment: As much as we hear about positive team cultures and healthy work environments in the digital marketing space, many of us face workplace situations that are far from ideal. Some of us may even be part of a team where we feel discouraged from sharing new ideas or alternative solutions because we know it will be dismissed without discussion. Even worse, there are some who are afraid to ask questions or seek help because their workplace culture doesn’t provide a safe space to learn.