Domain Authority (DA) is a much-talked-about metric among SEO professionals. Although Google does not utilize DA as a direct ranking signal, it remains a good measure of the strength and credibility of a website. A greater DA tends to imply greater opportunities for ranking well in search engine results pages (SERPs). 

In this article, the importance of Domain Authority will be discussed, and ten tried strategies for improving DA will be introduced, all while keeping high-quality, user-friendly content. 

What is Domain Authority and Why Should You Care? 

Domain Authority is a measure created by Moz that predicts the ranking possibility of a website on search engines. It is calculated on different factors, such as the number and quality of backlinks, site structure, and overall SEO performance. 

Even though Domain Authority (DA) does not influence rankings directly, a high DA indicates a healthy backlink profile and authoritative content, which could lead to increased search visibility. 

A DA of 50+ in a website will be proved to be authoritative. But even less-than-perfect DA websites can get high rankings in case they provide quality content along with the right SEO practices. Increasing DA means hard work done consistently, and the following is an actionable process that can enhance your domain authority and Google ranks. 

How to Increase Domain Authority and Google Rankings? 

Emphasis on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) 

Google prioritizes high-quality content that shows expertise and trustworthiness. To maximize your E-E-A-T: 

• Offer well-researched and fact-checked information. 
• Display your credentials and experience in your industry. 
• Gain trust through open and ethical practices. 
• Use author bios and citations to authoritative sources. 

Develop High-Quality, User-Friendly Content 

Quality content is king in SEO, but only if it's useful and user-friendly. Adhere to these content best practices: 

• Write engaging, informative, and original content. 
• Utilize clear headings, bullet points, and brief paragraphs for easier reading. 
• Integrate multimedia contents such as images, infographics, and videos. 
• Answer questions concisely and efficiently. 
• Update content on a regular basis to keep it relevant. 

Optimize On-Page SEO 

Search engine optimization of on-page factors makes it easier for search engines to comprehend your content. Some of the important optimizations are: 

• Applying relevant keywords organically in titles, headings, and content. 
• Optimizing meta titles and descriptions to gain clicks. 
• Organizing URLs for clarity (e.g., use 'best-seo-tips' rather than 'bestseotips'). 
• Internal linking to share link equity and enhance navigation. 
• Utilizing schema markup to make search results look better. 

Create High-Quality Backlinks 

Backlinks from high-authority sites increase your DA and rankings. Good link-building techniques are: 

• Guest blogging on high-authority sites. 
• Getting mentions and links from influencers. 
• Employing broken link-building tactics. 
• Producing link-worthy, data-rich content. 
• Not using spammy backlinks and focusing on natural link-building. 

Enhance Website Speed and Performance 

Slow performance can damage user experience and rankings. Optimize performance by: 

• Compressing images without compromising quality. 
• Using a Content Delivery Network (CDN) for quicker global loading. 
• Reducing unnecessary scripts and plugins. 
• Utilizing browser caching. 
• Applying lazy loading to images and videos. 

Be Mobile-Friendly 

Google prefers mobile-first indexing, which means your site needs to be optimized for mobile. Best practices are: 

• Utilizing responsive design. 
• Ensuring quick mobile loading. 
• Streamlining navigation and readability on small screens. 
• Testing using Google's Mobile-Friendly Test tool. 

Fortify Internal Linking Strategy 

Internal links assist search engines in finding content and enhancing user experience. 

• Link natural, relevant blog posts and pages. 
• Utilize descriptive anchor texts. 
• Don't do too much internal linking, which will put down your link value. 
• Make sure that all internal links point to valuable and relevant pages. 

Protect Your Site with HTTPS 

Security is a ranking signal. An SSL certificate (HTTPS) ensures: 

• Protection of user data. 
• Enhanced trust and credibility. 
• Positive effect on search rankings. 
• Lessened chances of cyber-attacks and hacking attempts. 

Boost Social Media Engagement 

Though social signals are not explicit ranking signals, they contribute to brand visibility and traffic generation. 

• Regularly post content on social media. 
• Interact with audiences via comments and discussions. 
• Use social media for link-building opportunities. 
• Work with influencers to increase reach. 
• Prompt social sharing with embedded share buttons. 

Keep an Eye on and Enhance Technical SEO 

A properly optimized site will ensure better crawlability and indexing. Focus on the following: 

• Fixing broken links and redirects. 
• Adding structured data for increased SERP visibility. 
• Submitting sitemaps in XML format to search engines. 
• Making navigation easy for users as well as search engines. 
• Regularly performing audits on your site for technical problems. 

More Important Strategies for Increasing Domain Authority: 

Apart from the ten major tips listed above, the following are some more strategies that can help with an increase in domain authority and ranks better: 

Regularly Refresh Content: Google prefers fresh, updated content. 

Get Involved in Community Building: Be an active participant on forums, Q&A websites, and industry talks. 

Use Local SEO: Use local search optimization if your site has a brick-and-mortar location. 

Produce User Involvement: Increased time on your site informs search engines about quality. 

Write Long-Form Content: Informative and properly researched articles do better in search engines. 

Track Competitor Strategies: There is a need to track the strategies used by successful competitors and learn from their approaches. 

Optimize Voice Search: With the growing use of AI and smart devices, voice search optimization can help in reaching an even larger audience. 

Make Use of AI and Automation in SEO: Artificial intelligence-powered tools can help in the analysis of search patterns, content optimization, and automation of routine activities like technical SEO audits and tracking keywords. 

Formulate a Content Repurposing Strategy: Convert existing content into various formats, including infographics, videos, and social media posts, to enhance reach. 

Utilize Podcasting for Brand Awareness: Podcasts have the capacity to foster engagement, establish you as an industry authority, and increase additional website traffic. 

Conclusion

Domain Authority is an important measure of assessing the credibility of a website and its SEO power. However, it should not be the sole focus. Instead, one must focus on E-E-A-T, quality content, strong backlinking approaches, and technical SEO optimization to achieve long-term success in Google rankings. 

By applying these 10 actionable tips and other strategies, you can increase your DA, improve your search rankings, and develop a user-friendly experience that serves your audience as well as your company. Adherence and consistency with SEO best practices will establish you with a solid and authoritative site in due course. 

SEO is a marathon and not a sprint, so consistent efforts in content development, link-building, and optimization will bring the greatest rewards.