Domain Rating (DR) is a metric developed by Ahrefs to measure the strength of a website’s backlink profile on a scale of 0–100. A higher DR indicates a more authoritative site, which often translates into better chances of ranking high on search engines. While DR is not a direct Google ranking factor, it reflects the quality of your backlink profile—and backlinks are one of the most influential SEO signals.
So, how do you actually increase your DR? Let’s break it down step by step.
1. Build High-Quality Backlinks
Backlinks remain the backbone of DR website growth. Focus on earning links from websites with high authority and relevance to your niche.
Guest Posting: Contribute valuable content to respected sites in your industry.
Resource Links: Create ultimate guides, research reports, or free tools that others naturally want to link to.
Broken Link Building: Find broken links on relevant websites and offer your content as a replacement.
2. Create Link-Worthy Content
No one will link to weak or generic content. You need to publish material that others consider valuable enough to reference.
Long-form guides with actionable steps.
Case studies with unique data.
Infographics, videos, or interactive tools.
The more unique your content, the higher your chances of naturally attracting backlinks.
3. Improve Internal Linking
Domain authority doesn’t just depend on external links—your internal linking structure also matters.
Link from high-performing pages to newer ones.
Use keyword-rich but natural anchor text.
Ensure that every important page is only a few clicks away from your homepage.
This helps distribute authority across your site and boosts the visibility of underperforming content.
4. Disavow Toxic Links
Not all backlinks are beneficial. Low-quality, spammy, or irrelevant links can harm your site’s profile.
Regularly audit your backlinks using tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz.
Disavow harmful links that you can’t remove manually.
Cleaning up your link profile keeps your DR growth sustainable.
5. Build Relationships in Your Niche
Networking plays a big role in earning backlinks and authority.
Collaborate with influencers, bloggers, or brands.
Participate in podcasts, webinars, or online events.
Share insights on LinkedIn, Twitter, and industry forums.
Strong relationships often lead to natural backlinks over time.
6. Maintain Consistency and Patience
Domain Rating doesn’t jump overnight. It’s the result of steady link-building, content creation, and promotion.
Set realistic goals (e.g., from DR 20 to 40 in a year).
Focus on long-term quality rather than quick wins.
Remember: DR is a reflection of your efforts, not the goal itself.
Final Thoughts
Increasing your Domain Rating is about building a strong, trustworthy, and relevant backlink profile. High-quality content, smart outreach, and good technical practices will naturally push your DR upward. While chasing the number can be motivating, never forget the real objective: creating a website that people trust, engage with, and recommend.