The Connection Between Domain Authority and Suppression Difficulty

It all starts with a number—one that can either open doors for your site or make you invisible in search results.

That number is your Domain Authority (DA) score.

If you’ve ever wondered why your site isn’t ranking higher in Google search results despite publishing great content, your website’s Domain Authority score might be part of the answer. This scoring system helps predict how well a site will perform on search engine results pages, and it quietly influences how people discover (or miss) your content.

What Is Domain Authority?

Domain Authority (often abbreviated as DA) is a search engine ranking score developed by Moz to estimate a website’s ability to rank in Google search results. It’s a numerical score between 1 and 100, with higher scores indicating a greater likelihood of ranking well on search engine results pages.

The score isn’t a Google ranking factor itself, but it is a relative metric that helps you compare your site to similar sites in your industry. Think of it as a health check on your website’s reputation in the eyes of search engines.

How Is Domain Authority Calculated?

Domain Authority is based on several factors, including:

• The number of linking root domains (unique websites linking back to you)
• The total volume of inbound links pointing to your site
• The quality of those backlinks (are they from reputable sites?)
• The site’s overall backlink profile

Moz’s proprietary algorithm utilizes machine learning to predict the frequency at which Google includes your site in its index, drawing from data in tools like Moz’s Link Explorer. It updates as your site earns more high-quality backlinks or loses links from authoritative domains.

In contrast, Ahrefs has its version: Ahrefs Domain Rating, which also evaluates link strength but doesn’t consider spam factors. Both metrics offer valuable insights, but they are not direct ranking factors used by Google.

Why Domain Authority Isn’t an Absolute Indicator

It’s easy to obsess over your DA score, but it’s important to remember this is a relative metric, not an absolute one. A DA score of 30 might be great in one niche and too low in another. What matters more is how your DA compares to competing sites.

Your website authority should be evaluated in context. If you’re trying to outrank high-authority news articles or major platforms, having a lower DA can make suppression more difficult. But if you’re targeting a niche with low competition, even a modest domain’s DA score can go a long way.

Suppression Difficulty and DA

Here’s where things get strategic. If a negative article about you appears on a site with a high authority score, pushing that link down in Google search results takes a lot more effort. Why? Because search engines prioritize high-quality content from trusted sources with more authority.

This is where the difficulty of suppression enters the picture. The higher the DA of the negative content, the harder it is to outrank. You’ll need:

• Better technical SEO
• Smarter SEO strategy
• And more high-quality backlinks

You can assess suppression difficulty by comparing your site’s domain authority (DA) to the domains you’re trying to outrank. Tools like Moz’s Authority Checker, Ahrefs, or SEMrush give you the data you need.

What Is a Good Domain Authority Score?

A “good” DA score is entirely dependent on your niche. Most small-to-medium businesses fall in the 20-40 range. A higher DA score (50+) usually belongs to well-established organizations with a long history of publishing valuable content and earning backlinks from high-quality domains.

Instead of chasing an arbitrary number, focus on building a site that:

• Acquires more high-quality backlinks over time
• Has strong engagement metrics
• Publishes consistently relevant, valuable insights
• Earns links from unique domains, not just the same few referring sites

Can You Have Too Many Referring Domains?

More isn’t always better. Too many referring domains from low-quality or irrelevant websites can negatively affect your site’s authority. Focus instead on high quality links from reputable sites that are contextually relevant.

Remember: Linking domains are more valuable when they come from trustworthy sources in your industry.

How to Improve Your Website’s Domain Authority

Improving your domain authority (DA) takes time, but it’s possible with a solid foundation and consistent effort. Here are proven ways to grow your score:

1. Earn High Quality Backlinks

• Create high-quality content that others want to reference
• Engage in guest posting on high authority sites
• Use data, case studies, or original research to attract links
• Offer tools or templates that others find useful

2. Fix Technical SEO Issues

• Improve site speed, mobile usability, and security
• Eliminate duplicate content and broken links
• Strengthen internal linking structures

3. Use Authority Checker Tools

• Regularly review your DA score using free tools like Moz’s Authority Checker Enter
• Analyze your competitors’ backlink profiles to find gaps
• Prioritize opportunities from domains that link to similar sites in your space

4. Build Relationships

• Connect with industry influencers or webmasters
• Collaborate on content or joint ventures to attract inbound links

5. Avoid Link Schemes

• Don’t fall for offers promising “a billion new links.”
• Google penalizes low-quality link-building tactics.

Why DA Matters for SEO and Online Reputation

Your website’s domain authority significantly impacts your SEO efforts, your site’s reputation, and its likelihood of attracting more organic traffic. A higher DA can:

• Improve your search engine ranking score
• Increase trust among users and journalists
• Help suppress negative links in search results

On the other hand, a low DA makes it harder to gain traction and rank, and easier for damaging content to take hold.

Final Thoughts: Your DA Is a Marathon, Not a Sprint

Improving your website’s SEO performance takes time, strategy, and consistency. Your DA score doesn’t define you, but it does reflect the effort you put into building website authority over time.

Whether you’re trying to suppress unwanted content or increase visibility on your site, understanding how Domain Authority is calculated, how it relates to suppression difficulty, and how to earn high-quality backlinks is essential for long-term success.

Start with valuable content, build relationships, focus on linking root domains, and measure everything with a free tool. If you’re consistent, your domain authority (DA) will grow—and so will your visibility.