Why Domain Authority Now Deserves More Strategic Focus

There are two major reasons that Domain Authority matters more than ever in 2025 and beyond.

1. Search engines are prioritizing authority

Google has always emphasized authority, but their recent updates to their algorithms have made it even more central. The introduction of the EEAT framework (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) places new weight on the credibility of your website and your content.

Sites with higher Domain Authority are:

• More likely to rank for competitive terms
• More likely to appear in featured snippets in search results
• More likely to get indexed and crawled regularly

If you’ve noticed your site slipping in search rankings, a weak Domain Authority might be one of the causes.

2. AI research tools are favoring high-authority sites

Large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini and Copilot often cite high-Domain Authority websites when generating responses. This means, even if your SEO is solid, your company might still be missing out on visibility in AI tools unless your Domain Authority is competitive.

And your prospects are increasingly turning to these AI tools for research. According to Gartner, by 2026, 30% of B2B buyers will use AI to help make purchasing decisions. Translation: If you’re not being referenced in AI results, you’re not being considered.

How to Improve Your Domain Authority

Building Domain Authority takes time, but it’s one of the most valuable digital investments you can make. Here’s how to get started:

1. Build high-quality backlinks
   1. One of the most effective ways to increase your Domain Authority is by building high-quality backlinks from trusted industry sources. Start by reaching out to industry publications and offering expert commentary or thought leadership articles. These outlets are always looking for authoritative voices and can be a great source of referral traffic.
   2. You should also list your business in reputable manufacturing directories, which not only improve your online presence but also provide valuable inbound links.
   3. Consider forming partnerships with universities or research organizations to collaborate on whitepapers or case studies. These partnerships often result in backlinks from highly credible domains.
   4. Actively promote your content on LinkedIn and in relevant industry forums where your target audience is engaged. The more your content is seen and shared, the more likely it is to earn organic links.
2. Publish better content
   Improving your Domain Authority also requires publishing content that is informative, relevant, and trustworthy.
   1. Focus on creating materials that demonstrate depth, subject-matter expertise, and clear insights. High-quality content not only helps with SEO but also builds your credibility with prospects. Incorporate original research, case studies, or firsthand observations to provide unique value that can’t be found elsewhere.
   2. Align your content topics and formats with the questions and challenges your target buyers face during their decision-making process.
   3. Revisit and update older posts to keep them relevant. Refreshing content with new data, updated strategies or improved formatting can boost its performance and keep it visible in search results.
3. Strengthen your technical SEO
   Technical SEO plays a foundational role in how search engines access, understand, and rank your website.
   1. Begin by using tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to evaluate and improve your site’s loading speed, which affects both user experience and search rankings.
   2. Ensure your site is fully mobile-responsive, as a growing share of B2B searches now happen on smartphones and tablets.
   3. Fix any broken links, duplicate content, or crawl errors that could prevent search engines from properly indexing your pages.
   4. Create a clean site structure with clear internal linking to help both users and bots navigate your content easily. A well-optimized site not only supports higher rankings but also signals professionalism and credibility to your visitors.
4. Promote Your Content
   Remember, great content doesn’t earn links unless people see it. Use your email list, social channels, industry groups and partnerships to promote each piece.
5. Track Progress and Benchmark Competitors
   To make meaningful progress in improving your Domain Authority, it’s essential to consistently monitor your performance and benchmark it against competitors.
   1. Start by using trusted SEO tools like Moz, Ahrefs or Semrush, which offer detailed insights into your Domain Authority score, backlink profile, referring domains, and keyword visibility. These platforms also allow you to track how your authority stacks up against your direct and indirect competitors, helping you understand where you stand in the digital landscape of your industry.
   2. Once you’ve established a baseline, set realistic, measurable goals for improvement. A good practice is to review your progress on a quarterly basis. For example, you might aim to earn a certain number of high-quality backlinks, increase the number of referring domains, or improve rankings for a set of priority keywords each quarter. Regular tracking allows you to identify what’s working, make data-driven decisions, and adjust your strategy in response to changes in the market or Google’s algorithms.
   3. In addition to tracking Domain Authority itself, monitor related metrics, like organic traffic, bounce rate, and average session duration, to get a fuller picture of how your content is performing. Remember that increasing Domain Authority is a long-term effort. Progress may be gradual, but consistent effort and regular analysis will help you build a stronger, more competitive online presence over time.