How to Increase Site Authority Fast in 2025 [+ Should You?]

One of the most common goals I hear from clients is, “I want to increase my Domain Authority.” And I get it. A strong website authority score isn’t just for show—it opens the door to higher rankings, more organic traffic, and better opportunities all around. Keep reading for the proven methods I use every day to help sites climb the ladder.

Key Takeaways

• Distribute your content to the right audience with email, social, communities, or direct outreach
• Focus on growing backlinks using ABC exchanges, share-worthy content, and digital PR
• Strong keyword research is key—be better than the other guy

11 Pro Strategies to Increase Site Authority

These are the methods I rely on time and again (as a link building specialist) when I’m working to boost authority for my own projects or my clients. None of them are overnight fixes, but they work—because they’re based on real SEO fundamentals.

1. Create Linkable Assets

This is my #1 go-to. A linkable asset is a piece of content so valuable, unique, or helpful that other sites want to share it (giving you a backlink). Think industry research, in-depth guides, data visualizations, tools, templates—anything that offers real utility.

I often start by looking at what’s already earning links in a niche and then ask, “How can I do this better?” That approach has landed my clients links from major publishers without spending a cent on paid placements.

How to do it:

1. Research top-linked content in your niche using Ahrefs Content Explorer or BuzzSumo.
2. Identify the format (e.g. report, infographic, tool) and topics that attract links.
3. Create something 10x better—more useful, more visual, or more current.
4. Publish it on a clean, fast, well-structured landing page.
5. Promote it through email outreach and relevant online communities.

Pro tip: Add original data or quotes from experts—people love linking to fresh sources.

2. Sign Up for Authority Exchange

Authority Exchange is a platform I regularly use to trade high-quality backlinks with vetted site owners in adjacent or relevant niches. It’s not a link farm, it’s a controlled, value-for-value environment that matches sites based on metrics, content fit, and trust. It’s a form of link insertion, except without the manual research, outreach, and zero A-B direct trades.

I’ve used it to secure contextual links from sites I’d never have discovered on my own, all without paying for placements or risking shady tactics. It’s especially powerful for marketers who manage multiple sites or client portfolios and want consistent link velocity with zero fluff.

How to do it:

1. Sign up at AuthorityExchange.com
2. Go to the Give Links page and add your website(s)
3. Click Build Links to see what sites you can add to, or search manually 
4. Set the min/max requirements for DA and traffic 
5. Find a page and request a link from the target site owner!

Pro tip: You can also add a “Guest Post” into the database, and any links added to it from third-parties will earn you credits you can spend on your own backlinks later. 

3. Solid Content Marketing

If your content isn’t worth reading, nobody’s going to link to it. I focus on publishing content that’s original, well-researched, and solves real problems. Long-form guides, comparison posts, and expert interviews are gold when done right.

It’s not just about the content itself, either—how you distribute it matters. I make sure every piece gets in front of the right people, whether that’s through email, social, communities, or direct outreach. That’s just digital marketing 101. 

How to do it:

1. Identify pain points or questions your target audience searches for.
2. Create detailed, well-organized, and value-packed content around those.
3. Include visual elements—charts, infographics, videos—to boost engagement.
4. Share the content on social media, LinkedIn groups, and forums.
5. Send it to your email list and share with collaborators or experts you mentioned.

Pro tip: Embed internal links to your own resources to keep readers on-site and help other pages rank.

4. Good Keyword Research

Keyword research helps me create content that actually ranks, which is a good strategy to attract backlinks naturally. I’m not just chasing volume—I look for intent, competitiveness, and link potential. Low-competition keywords with high informational value are great for bringing in the kind of traffic that leads to natural backlinks. 

Tools like Ahrefs, Semrush, and Google Search Console are always running in the background when I plan content calendars.

How to do it:

1. Use tools like Ahrefs or Semrush to find long-tail keywords with low KD (keyword difficulty).
2. Focus on informational and comparison queries—they attract links.
3. Group keywords by intent (how-to, reviews, vs, best-of, etc.).
4. Build content clusters around related topics to strengthen authority.
5. Track rankings and refine based on what’s gaining traction. 

Pro tip: Look at the backlink profile of top-ranking pages—if they’ve earned links, it’s a keyword worth targeting.

5. Digital PR Works!

Digital PR is one of the most powerful backlink strategies I use. Pitching stories, news angles, or expert commentary to journalists can land high-authority links from media outlets, blogs, and niche publishers.

It’s not easy—you’ve got to know how to position the pitch, find the right contacts, and follow up without being annoying. But the ROI? Massive. Just one successful campaign can move the needle on your domain authority big time.

How to do it:

1. Craft a newsworthy angle or data-driven story around your niche.
2. Build a media list using tools like Muck Rack or just manual research.
3. Write a concise, personalized pitch that highlights the value to their audience.
4. Follow up once, a few days later.
5. Track responses, links, and refine your angle for future campaigns.

Pro tip: Include a quote from a credible expert or founder—it boosts journalist trust and placement odds.

6. Respond to Media Requests (Qwoted)

If you don’t have time for full-blown PR, Qwoted (and similar platforms like Help a B2B Writer) are great ways to get featured in the press. I use Qwoted weekly to reply to journalist requests, and I’ve secured backlinks from outlets like Forbes, Inc., and TechCrunch just by answering a few questions. 

The key? Be fast, clear, and actually helpful. Most people reply with fluff. If you offer a real insight, you stand out.

How to do it:

1. Sign up for Qwoted, Help a B2B Writer, and HARO.
2. Set alerts for topics in your niche.
3. Respond quickly—within the first hour if possible.
4. Be concise, quote-worthy, and skip the fluff.
5. Include your name, title, company, and link.

Pro tip: Build a swipe file of past answers you can tweak and reuse to save time.

7. Keep Your Backlink Profile Healthy

Not all links are good links. I regularly audit my website link profiles to remove spammy or toxic links that can drag down a site’s credibility. Tools like Semrush and Ahrefs help me find red flags fast. I also make sure my anchor text profile is natural—too many exact-match anchors can look manipulative. Diversity is the name of the game.

How to do it:

1. Run a full backlink audit monthly using Ahrefs or Semrush.
2. Identify toxic or irrelevant links from spammy sources.
3. Disavow harmful links using Google Search Console (if needed).
4. Monitor anchor text distribution—aim for branded and generic anchors.
5. Replace lost backlinks by reaching out to referring domains.

Pro tip: Keep a clean spreadsheet of backlinks by date, page, and source—it’ll make future audits a breeze. Just starting out with backlinking? Try making a few profile links to get you started.

8. Improve UX on Your Site

Google cares about user experience, and so do the people who might link to you. I always make sure the sites I work on are fast, mobile-friendly, easy to navigate, and visually appealing. Good UX leads to longer time on site and more engagement—both of which indirectly support higher DA. Plus, a clean, professional design makes people more likely to trust and link to you. 

How to do it:

1. Test your site speed using PageSpeed Insights and fix slow-loading elements.
2. Ensure your site is responsive and mobile-first.
   Simplify your site navigation and menu structure.
3. Use legible fonts, clear calls-to-action, and plenty of white space.
4. Audit broken links, 404s, and usability issues quarterly. 

Pro tip: Use session recording tools like Hotjar to see where users get stuck—and fix those spots fast.

9. Build Backlinks with Outreach

Manual outreach is still one of the most effective ways to get high-quality links (and the benefits that come with it). I build lists of relevant sites, personalize my emails, and pitch something that benefits them—whether that’s a guest post, a link to a helpful resource, or a content collaboration. It’s time-consuming, but it works. I’ve built thousands of links this way over the years, and it’s always part of my core strategy.

How to do it:

1. Build a list of relevant blogs, directories, or niche sites in your space.
2. Find the right contact person using Hunter.io or LinkedIn.
3. Personalize every email—mention their content or recent work.
4. Offer value first: a guest post idea, a useful stat, or a mutual benefit.
5. Follow up once or twice, politely.

Pro tip: Follow my link building checklist to see the exact step-by-step approach I take to backlink outreach and more.

10. Repurpose High-Performing Content

One trick I’ve leaned on over the years is taking a single strong piece of content and turning it into multiple formats. If I’ve got a blog post that’s earning links, I’ll repurpose it into a SlideShare, YouTube video, infographic, podcast episode, or even a downloadable PDF. 

Each version opens up new backlink opportunities on different platforms—video directories, design blogs, presentation-sharing sites, and more. It also gives me fresh excuses to reach out to people and say, “Hey, here’s a new spin on something I know your audience cares about.”

 How to do it:

1. Identify top-performing content in your analytics or backlink reports.
2. Choose 2–3 new formats based on your audience (video, audio, visuals).
3. Adapt and repackage the original content—don’t just copy-paste.
4. Publish on platforms like YouTube, Medium, SlideShare, or Substack.
5. Link back to the original piece and promote the repurposed version. 

Pro tip: Use each repurposed format to reach a new community—and include a CTA to build links or shares.

11. Partner with Niche Influencers or Creators

Sometimes the easiest way to build backlinks is to tap into someone else’s audience. I’ve collaborated with micro-influencers, niche YouTubers, and respected bloggers in B2B spaces to co-create content—things like expert roundups, interviews, joint webinars, and even simple quote contributions. They’re often happy to link back to the content they helped with, and they’ll usually share it with their followers too. It’s a win-win, and it builds authority faster than going it alone.

How to do it:

1. Identify creators in your space with strong engagement, not just followers.
2. Reach out with a personalized collaboration idea.
3. Make it easy for them—handle production, design, or structure.
4. Publish the content and send them a live link with share assets.
5. Ask them to link to it from their site or video description.

Pro tip: Keep the relationship going. A one-time collab can turn into an ongoing link partner.

What’s a Good Authority Score?

This really depends on your niche. In ultra-competitive spaces like finance or health, a good score might be 60+. In a smaller niche, 30 could be enough to dominate. I always benchmark against the top-ranking sites for my target keywords—if they’re all in the 40–50 range, I know what I need to beat.

It’s not about chasing a number for the sake of it—it’s about building enough authority to outperform your competitors.

How Your Domain’s Website Authority is Calculated:

Each tool uses its own algorithm, but they all look at similar factors: the quantity and quality of backlinks, the trustworthiness of linking domains, and the overall SEO health of your site.

Here’s how the big three do it:

Semrush: Authority Score (AS)

Semrush’s AS combines link power, organic search performance, and spam factors. I like that it considers both backlinks and how well your site is performing in the SERPs. It’s a more well-rounded view of authority.

Moz: Domain Authority (DA)

Moz pioneered the DA score concept. Their score is based primarily on link quantity and quality, which can be determined by surveying your site’s link metrics. It’s updated regularly and gives a good general sense of your backlink strength compared to others.

One thing to remember: DA is logarithmic. That means going from 20 to 30 is a lot easier than going from 60 to 70.

Ahrefs: Domain Rating (DR)

Ahrefs calculates DR based on the number and strength of unique domains linking to you. It’s one of the strictest metrics, but also one of the most respected. I use DR as a litmus test when prospecting for link-building—if a site has a DR of 40+, it’s usually worth targeting.

How Fast is Too Fast? Growth Velocity & Google Penalties 

Whether it’s DR (Domain Rating), DA (Domain Authority), or just plain old link equity, the higher your authority, the more weight your content carries. In 2025, that hasn’t changed, and I don’t expect it to any time soon. You should also understand that things like link building take time to start working. However…

The Risk of Growing Authority Too Fast

Now, here’s where people get tripped up. Everyone wants to grow fast, but growing unnaturally fast raises red flags, and Google’s good at spotting patterns that don’t make sense. I’ve seen sites jump from DR10 to DR50 in a month with a flood of low-quality backlinks, and then get smacked with a manual action or lose their Google ranking in the next update. 

Fast growth isn’t the problem, it’s how you do it. If it looks like manipulation, it probably is. You want momentum, but you also want sustainability.

What Google Looks For (From My Experience)

Google doesn’t just count links, it evaluates context, relevance, trust, and consistency. Over the years, I’ve learned to prioritize links from real, trusted sources. Think profile links on solid resource pages, niche-relevant blogs, actual news sites, and authority domains with traffic. 

Google’s not impressed by spammy blog networks or pages buried in footer links. And with AI tools crawling and evaluating content quality better than ever, the quality of the referring page matters more now than it did five years ago. 

That’s where E-E-A-T comes in: expertise, experience, authority, and trustworthiness. if a site links to you and has those qualities, you benefit by association.

How I Approach Building Authority the Smart Way

When I’m trying to increase a site’s authority, I don’t look for shortcuts. I use a mix of strategies that are tried and tested, high-quality guest posting, Qwoted-style digital PR, niche edits on relevant articles, and unlinked brand mentions. I always check the site’s history, backlink profile, and traffic before pursuing a link. I also make sure my site is ready for me to start building backlinks before I get ahead of myself prioritizing the wrong things.

I also pay attention to anchor text diversity and link velocity. I want growth to look natural because that’s what lasts. I don’t just chase metrics, I chase real relevance. That’s what gets results that stick.

My Advice: Play the Long Game

Can you increase your authority fast in 2025? Sure. But should you? Only if you’re doing it right. 

If you try to force it with spammy tactics, you’ll probably regret it later. If you take a strategic, high-quality approach, you can grow quickly and safely. I’ve helped sites climb from DR20 to DR70 in under a year using white-hat techniques. It’s not magic—it’s consistency, relevance, and trust. 

That’s the game in 2025. Play it smart, and you’ll win.

Website Authority/Domain Authority FAQ

Here are some questions people also ask me about WA/DA, content and optimization, and SEO more generally. 

How does SEO strategy impact your website’s domain authority?

Your SEO strategy plays a major role in building your website’s domain authority. Focusing on technical SEO and on-page SEO helps optimize your web pages so they’re easily crawlable and user-friendly. 

Meanwhile, off-page SEO (using link-building tools and citations) boosts your credibility across the web. Adhering to SEO best practices also improves your position in search engine results pages, helping Google recognize your site as authoritative. This all contributes to better SEO performance, which in turn, strengthens your domain authority score.

What factors influence your domain authority score?

Your domain authority score is determined by a combination of signals, including page authority, the number of linking root domains, and the relevance of external links. Tools like Moz domain authority and PageRank help evaluate these metrics. 

Having a good domain authority score is easier when your site is linked to by high DA or higher domain authority sites. Monitoring with an authority checker or reviewing your authority metric over time can guide improvements. Ultimately, high domain authority comes from consistently earning quality backlinks from trusted sources.

Check out: How many backlinks should you aim for per month?

Why is link building important for domain authority?

Link-building strategies directly impact your domain authority score by increasing both the quantity and quality of inbound links. Earning links from authoritative websites or securing mentions through guest blogging strengthens your link profile. 

Even external links and linking root domains from niche-relevant sites can boost your trustworthiness. Tactics like broken link building and targeting link-worthy content help diversify your backlink sources. Using a link explorer can uncover new opportunities and help you track improvements in a website’s domain authority.

How does content quality affect domain authority?

Publishing high-quality content and ensuring it is relevant content is key to earning backlinks and improving your domain authority score. When your site offers genuinely helpful information, other website owners are more likely to link to it, signaling value to search engines. 

Content optimization, or optimizing for clarity, keywords, and user intent, makes your content link-worthy—a crucial element in growing your authority organically.

What tools help track and measure domain authority?

To evaluate your domain authority score, several tools offer insights based on ranking factors and backlink quality. Platforms like Moz provide authority checker features and break down your authority metric into actionable components. 

A link explorer reveals your link profile, showing which domains link back and how strong those connections are. These metrics help guide your SEO strategy and ensure that efforts to build a website’s domain authority are paying off.

How can different types of websites improve domain authority?

Whether you run a new website or manage content for mobile devices, focusing on growing your domain authority score is essential for visibility. New sites especially need to build trust through high-quality content, solid on-page SEO, and strategic inbound links. 

Understanding your target website owners and creating relevant content that resonates with them increases your chances of earning backlinks, which is the foundation of strong domain authority.

What is the difference between tier 1, tier 2, and tier 3 backlinks?

Tiered backlinks work like a pyramid.

• Tier 1 links go directly to your website. These are your best links: guest posts, authority sites, HARO, etc. I keep these clean and high quality.

• Tier 2 links point to your Tier 1s. Their job is to boost and index your Tier 1 backlinks. They’re medium quality: Web 2.0s, niche edits, bookmarks.

• Tier 3 links point to Tier 2s. These are bulk, low-quality links: blog comments, spammy profiles — used to push juice up the chain. Risky, so I rarely use them.

The higher the tier, the more care I take in securing and maintaining them.

Increase Website Authority with High-Quality Backlinks 

Build authority the smart way. No spam, no stress—just safe, effective backlinks that work. Give Authority Exchange a try now.