By Bennett Heyn in Backlinks —

Low Domain Authority? Fix It With These Methods

Low Domain Authority? Fix It With These Methods
Photo by krakenimages / Unsplash

If your website struggles with low Domain Authority (DA), don’t worry - you can improve it. DA scores range from 1 to 100, and higher scores mean better chances of ranking on search engines. While DA is not a direct Google ranking factor, it helps evaluate your site’s strength compared to competitors. The good news? You can boost your DA by focusing on four key strategies:

  • Build high-quality backlinks: Secure links from trusted, relevant sites to improve your authority. Tools like Semrush and Ahrefs can help identify opportunities.
  • Leverage AI for outreach: Platforms like Backlinker.AI automate personalized pitches to secure valuable backlinks.
  • Fix technical SEO issues: Address site speed, mobile optimization, HTTPS, and broken links to ensure search engines can crawl your site effectively.
  • Create link-worthy content: Publish original research, comprehensive guides, infographics, and interactive tools that naturally attract backlinks.

How to Increase Domain Authority For Your Website (5 Ways)

High-quality backlinks play a key role in boosting your site's Domain Authority. These links act as endorsements from other websites, signaling trust and authority to Google. But here's the catch: quality outweighs quantity. A handful of well-placed, authoritative backlinks can do far more for your rankings than dozens of low-quality ones [4].

So, what makes a backlink "high-quality"? Several factors come into play. The best backlinks come from websites that are relevant to your niche, have strong domain authority, appear naturally within the content, use appropriate anchor text, and are placed contextually within the body of a page [2][5].

Earning backlinks from reputable websites requires a blend of research, analysis, and outreach. Tools like Semrush or Ahrefs can help you audit your backlinks and identify high-performing content [6]. Analyzing your competitors can also reveal which types of content are attracting links from authoritative sites [6].

Resource pages are another goldmine for backlinks. These are curated lists of helpful resources within a specific industry. Reach out to the site owners and suggest adding your website to their list [6]. Another tried-and-true method is broken link building - find broken links on authoritative sites and pitch your content as a replacement [6].

Here’s an example of how this can work in practice: UnderFit, a brand specializing in undershirts, collaborated with Black Lapel, a luxury suit company, to create a blog post about what to wear under a dress shirt. By featuring UnderFit’s products in a natural and relevant context, the post generated over 30 sales within six months while also improving search visibility for related keywords [3].

Use AI Tools for Automated Outreach

AI tools like Backlinker.AI can simplify the outreach process by automating personalized pitches to reporters and content creators. For instance, Backlinker.AI ensures you secure at least three DR30+ backlinks each month by generating over 150 tailored pitches to journalists looking for expert sources.

What makes this approach different is its emphasis on integrating your expertise into ongoing industry discussions, rather than just asking for links. Backlinker.AI's AI writer, trained on your biography and expertise, ensures every pitch is relevant and personalized. From identifying opportunities to crafting pitches and following up, the platform handles it all - freeing you up to focus on other priorities.

While building quality backlinks is important, cleaning up harmful ones is just as critical. Bad backlinks can hurt your Domain Authority, trigger Google penalties, and lower your site's visibility [8]. Start by using Google Search Console to audit your backlink profile. Look for links from irrelevant sites, spammy directories, blog comment spam, or domains with low authority [10].

Red flags include links from sites unrelated to your niche, spammy websites with weak domain authority, deindexed sites, or links with over-optimized anchor text [10]. Once you’ve identified the problem links, reach out to the webmasters and politely request their removal. Keep detailed records of your outreach efforts [10]. If some links can’t be removed, create a disavow file listing the URLs or domains you want Google to ignore.

"You should disavow backlinks only if: You have a considerable number of spammy, artificial, or low-quality links pointing to your site, AND The links have caused a manual action, or likely will cause a manual action, on your site." - Google [9]

After submitting your disavow file via Google Search Console, monitor your traffic closely to ensure no penalties are impacting your site. Remember, backlinks are vital - 58.1% of SEO professionals agree they play a major role in building a site’s authority and online presence [7].

Use AI-Powered Outreach Tools

Backlink outreach has always been a time-consuming process - hours spent on research, writing, and following up. But now, AI-powered tools are changing the game. These tools don’t just blast out generic emails to random websites. Instead, they analyze your expertise, identify the best opportunities, and create personalized pitches that resonate with journalists and content creators. The result? You get better response rates, higher-quality backlinks, and more time to focus on other parts of your business. Plus, this streamlined approach can help boost your domain authority by securing credible links.

How AI Creates Better Outreach Emails

AI takes outreach to the next level by analyzing websites and content to craft emails that are not only engaging but also feel personal and relevant [11]. Forget the repetitive manual process - AI scans target websites, pulls out key details, and incorporates them into your outreach, referencing specific advice or content they’ve shared [12]. This level of detail makes your emails stand out in a sea of generic pitches.

Another advantage? AI can generate multiple email variations for A/B testing, so you can figure out what works best for your audience [11]. These systems learn from your feedback and campaign results, constantly improving the way they craft emails over time [11]. For example, Backlinker.AI fine-tunes every outreach detail, helping you secure high-quality backlinks more efficiently.

What Makes Backlinker.AI Different

Backlinker.AI

Backlinker.AI offers a focused approach to AI-powered outreach by targeting reporter queries and expert source opportunities. Instead of cold-pitching random websites, it connects you with journalists actively seeking expert input for their articles.

Here’s what makes it stand out: the platform generates over 150 customized pitches each month, tailored to your expertise and biography. Every email positions you as an authority in your field, rather than just someone requesting a backlink.

Manual Outreach

Backlinker.AI Approach

Hours of research per prospect

AI automatically identifies relevant opportunities

Generic email templates

Personalized pitches crafted to match your expertise

Manual follow-ups

Automated follow-up sequences

Uncertain results

Guaranteed 3+ DR 30+ backlinks monthly

Time-intensive process

150+ pitches sent automatically

What’s more, Backlinker.AI guarantees results. They promise at least three DR 30+ backlinks each month, with the potential for even more high-quality links. The platform automates everything - from finding opportunities to creating pitches and managing follow-ups. It even uses time-delayed email sending to maintain an authentic, human-like touch that journalists appreciate.

"The way that you can use AI to create outreach mails is just awesome!" – Jason Morris, CEO / Profit Engine [13]

Monitor Results with Monthly Reports

Keeping track of your outreach success is essential to understanding what’s working and where you can improve. Tools like Backlinker.AI provide detailed monthly reports that show which campaigns generated backlinks and how your domain authority is evolving.

But these reports go beyond just counting links. They evaluate the quality and relevance of your backlinks by analyzing metrics like trust flow, citation flow, and toxic scores, ensuring your link-building efforts are on the right track [14]. The system also keeps an eye on your backlink profile, flagging issues like broken links or harmful external links that could hurt your rankings [14].

Real-time tracking lets you see new, lost, or modified backlinks as they happen [15]. Plus, the reporting includes competitor analysis, so you can compare your backlink profile with others in your industry and find areas to improve [15]. You can even monitor how your keyword rankings shift as you gain new backlinks, giving you a clear picture of how your efforts are impacting search visibility [15].

AI tools also provide 24/7 monitoring of your backlink profile, identifying any harmful or low-quality links that could damage your site’s reputation [15]. This proactive approach helps protect your domain authority and keeps your rankings moving in the right direction.

Fix On-Page and Technical SEO Problems

Building quality backlinks is essential for boosting domain authority, but they won't do much good if your website's foundation is shaky. If search engines struggle to crawl your site or users encounter slow load times and broken pages, your content won't rank well, even with a solid backlink profile. Backlinks might bring visitors to your site, but if the experience is poor, both users and search engines will lose confidence. Pairing quality backlinks with a well-optimized website ensures a strong base for improving domain authority.

Fix Your On-Page SEO Elements

Even with advanced AI-driven outreach efforts, your on-page SEO plays a vital role in attracting and maximizing the value of high-quality backlinks. These elements help search engines understand your content and decide if it deserves to rank. Tweaks here can significantly improve your visibility and domain authority.

  • Title tags: Keep them short (under 60 characters), include your main keyword early, and use modifiers like "guide", "tips", or the current year to make them more appealing. For instance, optimizing title tags led to a 92% increase in clicks and an 18% rise in impressions [16].
  • Meta descriptions: Incorporate your primary keyword and clearly explain how your content meets user needs. While meta descriptions don't directly influence rankings, a compelling one can boost click-through rates.
  • Headings: Use a single H1 to define your main topic, and structure your content with H2 and H3 subheadings for clarity. Including relevant keywords naturally in these headings helps both users and search engines navigate your page.
  • Internal and external links: Use descriptive, keyword-rich anchor text to connect your pages. Linking to reputable sources also strengthens your content's credibility.
  • Image optimization: Add descriptive alt text with keywords to make your images more accessible and improve your site's overall searchability.

Fix Technical SEO Issues

Once your on-page elements are in order, focus on resolving technical SEO issues that can hinder your site's performance. These problems often prevent search engines from properly crawling and indexing your site, no matter how strong your content is.

  • Page speed matters: Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to identify performance bottlenecks. Address these by compressing images, enabling browser caching, and minifying HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
  • Mobile optimization: With mobile-first indexing in place since 2018, and Google relying on its mobile Googlebot as of June 5, 2024, ensuring a seamless mobile experience is non-negotiable. With 95.8% of internet users accessing the web via mobile devices [19], your site must function perfectly on all screens.
  • HTTPS security: Switching to HTTPS improves trust and rankings.
  • Broken links: Use tools like Screaming Frog or Ahrefs to identify and fix broken links.
  • Site architecture: Clear navigation, optimized URLs, and submitting a sitemap to Google Search Console all enhance crawlability and SEO performance.

Run Regular SEO Audits

Routine audits are essential for maintaining your site's health and catching problems before they hurt your domain authority.

"An SEO audit uncovers the technical, content and performance issues that may quietly hold your site back in search rankings."Ronnel Villoria, Lead SEO Strategist, Thrive Internet Marketing Agency [17]

Start by creating a thorough audit checklist that covers technical SEO, on-page factors, content quality, backlinks, and user experience. Focus on critical issues like broken links, slow load times, mobile usability, and HTTPS compliance. Tools like Google's Mobile-Friendly Test can help ensure your site performs well across devices.

Content audits can highlight outdated or underperforming pages, while analytics tools can identify pages with high bounce rates or declining traffic. Reviewing your backlink profile regularly is also crucial for spotting harmful links and discovering opportunities to build stronger connections.

For example, in 2022, CNN Brasil partnered with NP Digital for a comprehensive SEO audit and optimization strategy. This collaboration resulted in a 91% jump in total pageviews - exceeding 1 billion - and a 19% increase in top 10 Google keyword rankings. They also saw noticeable improvements in Core Web Vitals and page speed.

Use tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console to track your progress, and schedule audits regularly. Quarterly audits work for most sites, but in competitive industries, monthly reviews may be necessary. Regular audits not only support technical health but also ensure your outreach efforts are as effective as possible.

"Conducting a technical SEO audit can help increase organic traffic by making pages more discoverable and improving crawl budget."Neil Patel [18]

Create Content That Earns Natural Backlinks

Once you've addressed your site's technical issues and fine-tuned your outreach efforts, it's time to focus on creating content that naturally attracts backlinks. While technical SEO and outreach are essential, nothing compares to the power of content that earns links organically. This type of content not only strengthens your backlink profile but also positions your site as a trusted resource that others frequently reference.

Research shows that top-ranking pages earn about 3.8 times more backlinks, while a staggering 95% of pages have none at all [20].

Content Types That Get the Most Backlinks

Certain types of content are more likely to attract backlinks than others.

Original research and data-driven content is a standout performer. For example, LinkedIn Learning's annual Workplace Learning Report has garnered 13.5k backlinks from 1.2k domains [21]. By conducting industry-specific surveys, publishing case studies, or providing proprietary insights, you offer something unique that content creators can't easily replicate.

Comprehensive guides and long-form resources also draw significant attention. Brian Dean from Backlinko proved this with his blog post on the skyscraper technique, earning over 14,000 backlinks [21]. These in-depth guides establish your authority on a topic and encourage others to link back to your content as a valuable reference.

Visual content, especially infographics, can be highly effective for link building. According to HubSpot, infographics are shared and linked to three times more than any other type of content on social media [22]. Their ability to present complex information in a visually appealing way makes them a favorite among bloggers and social media users.

Interactive tools and calculators provide immediate value and naturally attract links. For instance, interactive calculators often become go-to resources for other sites [20]. Similarly, Thomas Frank's Notion productivity tools page has earned over 1.6k backlinks by offering free project management templates [21].

List posts and resource compilations are another reliable format for gaining backlinks. BuzzSumo analyzed over one million articles and found that list posts tend to earn more backlinks than other types of content [22]. Their straightforward, scannable structure makes them ideal for sharing and referencing.

Video content is a growing force in link building. Neil Patel's video offering three tips to rank number one on Google has attracted 6.7k backlinks [21]. To maximize backlinks from video content, focus on engaging storytelling and proper optimization.

Once you've identified the best formats, the next step is to choose topics that resonate with your audience and encourage links. Start by researching keywords and trends using tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, or SEMrush [24]. These tools can help you uncover what your audience is searching for and where opportunities lie.

Analyzing your competitors can also reveal content gaps. A link intersect analysis, for example, shows which websites link to your competitors but not to you, highlighting areas where your content could fill the void [24]. Additionally, engaging with your audience through surveys, social media, and forums can uncover less obvious but highly relevant topics.

Timely subjects and trending news can also be excellent for earning links. For instance, the Accounting Institute for Success created a timeline of tax evasion claims involving Donald Trump, which earned backlinks from high-profile sites like Slashdot and Mashable [24]. Similarly, Identity Guard capitalized on cybersecurity concerns by researching dark web monitoring, a topic that resonated with its audience [24].

"The main aim when you create linkable content should never just be about building links... The best way to create linkable content isn't to think about what will draw links but to think about what your target audience needs." - LinkBuilder.io [21]

Keep Your Content Current and Useful

Creating exceptional content is just the beginning; keeping it updated ensures it continues to attract backlinks. Regular updates with new data, visuals, or insights help maintain your content's relevance and authority [3].

Focus on refreshing articles that feature outdated tools, screenshots, or comparisons. Even if these pages still rank well or earn links, adding up-to-date information can reinvigorate their link-building potential.

The Moving Man Method offers a strategic way to update content. This involves identifying outdated resources - such as companies that have rebranded, moved URLs, or discontinued services - and suggesting your updated content as a replacement [3]. For instance, when SEOMoz rebranded to Moz and changed its URL, it created opportunities to replace links pointing to the old domain [3].

Keeping your content fresh signals both search engines and potential linkers that your resource remains relevant. Regular updates not only expand your coverage of a topic but also align your content with the latest industry developments.

As Mailchimp emphasizes:

"Quality backlinks from trusted websites carry more weight than numerous low-quality links, with one good industry link worth more than dozens of random directory listings." [23]

Conclusion

Improving your domain authority takes a well-rounded approach that strengthens credibility and boosts search rankings. The four key strategies we’ve discussed - earning high-quality backlinks, using AI-driven outreach tools, resolving technical SEO issues, and crafting content that naturally attracts links - are the cornerstones of a successful plan.

Let’s start with backlinks. They’re a critical part of the equation. Research shows that top-ranking websites have, on average, 3.8 times more backlinks, with off-page factors accounting for 75% of SEO performance [26]. A great example of this is Exploding Topics, which increased its Authority Score from 53 to 60 in just a year by producing valuable content that earned significant backlinks [1].

Then there’s AI-powered automation, which has transformed link-building efforts. Traditional, manual link-building methods can rack up costs of nearly $100,000 annually [27]. Automated tools like Backlinker.AI make scaling these efforts more efficient and cost-effective, freeing up resources for other SEO priorities.

Of course, technical SEO and content quality are just as important. When paired with a strong backlink profile, these elements can increase domain authority by as much as 45% [26]. Together, they create a solid framework that supports long-term authority and trustworthiness.

If you’re looking to get started, consider using Backlinker.AI for automated outreach to secure consistent, high-quality backlinks. At the same time, refine your technical SEO and focus on creating content that earns links naturally. As Vanessa Bellanti, SEO Lead at Shopify, explains:

"SEOs should still care about domain authority because it is a good indicator of a website's overall authority and trustworthiness in relation to providing information on a particular topic" [25].

FAQs

AI tools like Backlinker.AI are transforming how backlink strategies are executed by streamlining tedious tasks and offering sharper insights. These tools can pinpoint high-value backlink opportunities, create tailored outreach messages, and simplify the process of connecting with reputable websites.

By analyzing data and trends, AI ensures you're focusing on the most relevant sites and producing content that naturally draws backlinks. This approach not only saves you hours of manual effort but also strengthens your website's credibility and improves search engine rankings, setting the stage for sustainable growth.

A high-quality backlink depends on several important elements. Relevance stands out as a key factor - links from websites that align with your niche or industry tend to carry more influence. The domain authority of the site providing the link is also critical; links from well-established, credible domains hold greater value. On top of that, the anchor text (the clickable part of the link) should feel natural and directly relate to the content it points to.

Other considerations include link placement - links found within the main body of a page are typically more impactful than those buried in footers or sidebars. Finally, the trustworthiness of the linking site is essential. Links from spammy or poor-quality sources can hurt your reputation instead of helping it.

How often should I run an SEO audit to boost my site's domain authority?

To maintain a well-functioning website and boost your domain authority, scheduling an SEO audit every 3 to 6 months is a smart move. These regular assessments help uncover and resolve issues such as broken links, sluggish page speeds, or outdated content that might be dragging down your search rankings.

If your website is expanding quickly or operates in a highly competitive niche, conducting audits more often can help you catch problems early and keep your site performing at its best.