Authority Score

Domain Rating (Ahrefs), Domain Authority (Moz), and Authority Score (Semrush) are comparative metrics that measure website authority. While each uses different signals, they all reflect how authoritative a domain is based on backlink data and other authority metrics. Authority Score, for example, factors in dofollow domains, organic traffic trends, and spam factors using machine learning to assess overall quality and SEO performance. No single score is absolute—but all serve as benchmarks to track authority over time.

Authority Score is driven by the quality, quantity, and diversity of referring domains. It evaluates link power, the natural link profile, presence of authoritative domains, and any signs of link manipulation like too many referring domains from the same IP network. Factors like backlink strength and the presence of spam factors are also weighted. Machine learning then analyzes these to generate a final score reflecting the domain’s trustworthiness and influence.

Authority Score serves as a quick way to prove trustworthiness to clients and improve rankings through smarter link strategies.

1. Benchmark a domain’s authority against similar websites.

2. Prioritize link building from authoritative domains.

3. Track progress from ongoing backlink audit efforts.

4. Identify domains with unnaturally high authority metrics or spam factors.

5. Monitor improvements in Authority Score to evaluate SEO performance over time.

Authority Score uses a logarithmic scale, so each increase reflects significantly more link power and organic traffic. Scores may appear unnaturally high due to spam factors like many backlinks from the same IP address or an imbalance between links and content. A brand new website may have a low score simply because it hasn’t built a natural profile or gained authority measures yet. Comparing to similar websites helps provide context. For the highest Authority Scores, focus on quality—not quantity—of referring domains.

Metrics that reflect overall quality and SEO performance include the total number of dofollow domains (those without a nofollow attribute), the ratio of unique root domains, balance of outgoing links, and the presence of niche-relevant backlinks. A great backlink profile combines natural link profiles with link power and organic traffic growth. Authority Score surfaces these metrics, helping agencies assess whether a domain’s strength comes from real value or artificial signals.

Authority Score updates continuously as new backlink data becomes available, but meaningful changes take time. For established domains, it may take several weeks or months of consistent link building to see measurable gains. For brand new websites, early improvements can happen faster—but only with a natural link profile from authoritative domains. Factors like spam signals, the presence of another domain on the same IP network, or heavy signs of manipulation can delay progress or cause score drops.

Tracking the Semrush Authority Score helps agencies pinpoint whether link building efforts are improving a client's website authority and boosting organic rankings on SERPs. Higher scores indicate improved trust with search engines, making it easier for pages to rank. Comparing authority scores across domains also reveals gaps in link profile quality and opportunities to build stronger authority with fewer, more valuable links.

Authority Score is part of Semrush’s backlink analytics toolset, which includes limited access via a free tool. While a free account gives a snapshot, full access to backlink data and SEO features requires a paid plan. For client reporting, professional tools like AgencyAnalytics let you monitor Authority Scores at scale and share insights clearly with your team and clients.