Does Domain Authority Really Matter in 2026?

Domain Authority affects your backlinking ability and your ability to rank at the top of the search

Will Schmidt - May 20, 2022

If you’ve ever checked your website with tools like Moz, SEMrush, or Ahrefs, you’ve probably seen a score called Domain Authority (DA). Some agencies hype it up like it’s the holy grail of SEO. But here’s the truth: Google doesn’t actually use Domain Authority as a ranking factor.

So should you care? Yes — but only if you understand what it really means and how it fits into your overall SEO strategy. Let’s break it down in plain English.

What is a domain authority?

Domain Authority (or DA) is a third-party metric developed by Moz (and copied by tools like Ahrefs with “Domain Rating”). It predicts how likely your site is to rank compared to other sites. The score runs from 1–100 — the higher, the better.

• A brand-new contractor site might start with a DA of 5–10.
• A big national brand like Home Depot is closer to 90+.

Important note: Google has said many times it doesn’t use DA scores in its algorithm (Search Engine Journal). Instead, DA is just a “best guess” based on backlinks, site age, and popularity.

Will a higher domain authority help my website rank faster?

Yes — but only indirectly. Domain Authority (DA) is a third-party metric, not something Google uses. That said, websites with higher DA usually have stronger backlink profiles, more content, and higher trust signals. This foundation can help your new pages or blog posts rank faster compared to a site with little authority. For example, if a roofing company with DA 40 publishes a “roof replacement cost” guide, it’s far more likely to rank quickly than a competitor’s brand-new site with DA 5.

TIP Case Studies



At TIP we've ranked websites with 5-10 DA to 25-30 top 1-3 rankings with 90 days because we wrote and designed website pages and associated blogs, help them with reviews, all that led to search engines and other websites seeing them as an authority figure in their local community on the topic.

Will a higher domain authority help my website remain top ranked longer?

Absolutely. Once you’ve worked your way to the top of Google, higher DA helps you hold onto that position. Why? Because authority reflects trust. Google is less likely to bump a site with strong links, consistent content, and credibility just because a new competitor enters the market. For contractors, this means if you’ve invested in building DA, your rankings for keywords like “gutter installation near me” or “emergency plumber in Reno” are more durable over time.

Does a higher domain authority help me rank higher in local maps?

Not directly. Google Maps rankings depend more on your reviews, proximity, and business listing consistency. However, improving DA through local backlinks — say from your Chamber of Commerce, local news outlets, or supplier websites — can indirectly strengthen your map results. Think of DA as your website’s “street cred” online. While it won’t replace getting 5-star reviews, it does give your overall presence more authority, which supports your visibility everywhere.

How do I improve my domain authority faster?

There’s no shortcut, but there are proven steps: publish helpful content that earns links, build local backlinks from partners and associations, ensure your website is fast and mobile-friendly, and fix any technical SEO issues like broken links. For contractors, practical moves include getting listed in trade directories, asking suppliers for backlinks, and writing blogs that answer homeowner questions. Over time, these actions build authority naturally — and your DA will rise as a byproduct of doing SEO the right way.

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