Dominating Search Rankings: A Corporate Guide to Boosting Domain Authority

Posted by Anya Sleezer << back to blog

Last Updated on July 31, 2024

Elevate Your Business with Top Search Rankings and Maintain Them Through Enhanced Domain Authority

When someone searches online for your company’s services or products, you want your site to dominate the results. Achieving a high ranking in search results is crucial for business visibility and customer acquisition. The top ten search results capture over 90% of traffic and click-throughs. If your site languishes on the fifth page, it’s practically invisible, garnering less than 1% of clicks according to an AOL study. Your ranking largely depends on your domain authority (DA), a crucial metric influenced by various SEO factors. Increasing your DA is essential for driving traffic and boosting sales.

Understanding Domain Authority

Around 2006, a company called Moz in Seattle created metrics that determine domain authority. Moz uses its own algorithms and an amalgam of SEO factors which examines websites and assigns them a score based on a scale of 100, with 0 being the lowest ranking and 100 the highest. Some websites like YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter have a perfect DA score of 100. But they’re among the few. Most websites don’t have perfect scores.

Websites with DAs between 25-50 are considered to have good scores, while sites with scores 50 and higher are considered awesome. But getting it is tough. Your DA may fluctuate drastically depending on what you do to your pages.

Proven tips to increase your domain authority

So, how do you increase your DA score? Do you need to hire a digital marketing agency? How do you keep your score high?

If your web developers and marketing team are short on time, hiring an outside SEO company or a marketing agency is a good option. They can analyze your SEO and marketing needs and help improve the DA of your business’ website and blog. Unfortunately, if you don’t make frequent updates to your corporate website, your DA score will drop.

1. Enhance User Engagement

When someone visits your website, then clicks off and goes back to searching, that’s called a bounce-back. The time it takes for the bounce-back is called the dwell time. If you can keep customers on your page longer (increase your dwell time), it will increase your website’s domain authority.

Dwell time is important because it represents the total time a visitor spent on your website before returning to the search engine results. Dwell time is an SEO metric that calculates user engagement, session duration, and click-through rate. The more time visitors spend on your website reading a page (infographic, article, or video), the better rankings that page will get with DA and in search engine results pages (SERP).

How to improve dwell time:

Write interactive blog posts of 1500+ words
Add relevant images, infographics, and supporting videos
Create internal links with relevant keywords
Make sure external links open in new tabs
Show related posts under every blog post on your website

A corporate website can gain a decent authority and an edge over its competitors if it focuses on increasing dwell time and reducing its bounce rate.

2. Build High-Quality Backlinks

Since external links to other websites can increase DA, people often link to multiple websites even if they’re not relevant. But search engines like Google now see through that trick and won’t increase SERP because of it. Instead, research and identify websites and pages that are credible and related. In other words, work smarter, not harder.

How to Improve Your Backlinks:

Create a list of high-traffic, reputable sites that accept guest posts.
Ensure these sites have good DA and avoid spammy links.
Write engaging, keyword-targeted posts and use varied anchor text for backlinks.
Promote infographics and encourage social media sharing with backlinks to your site.

3. Improve Website Navigation

Nothing can be more frustrating than a website with poor navigation. It will frustrate your visitors in no time flat and they’ll leave. Good navigation will help visitors find what they need faster. In fact, the design of your navigation can solely determine the success or failure of your company’s website. So, make it a priority.

How to improve your navigation:

Put the navigation bar at the top or side of your website, so that visitors can always tell where they are and where they need to go next. Don’t get fancy. Follow the basics.
Make the navigation buttons descriptive. Don’t say “Services.” Instead, say “Spa treatments.” Instead of “products”, the button should say “Massage Oils.”
Make your content simple and easy to understand. Write as you talk. And talk like you’re explaining something to your grandma. Clear and concise, with key examples that she can relate to.
Always have a search button. Some people hate to read and go straight to the search bar to find what they’re looking for.
Highlight important text so that visitors know what to pay attention to.

4. Eliminate Toxic Backlinks

Toxic backlinks are harmful, low-quality links that lead to your website from dubious or spammy sources, significantly impacting your site’s domain authority and search engine rankings. Removing these detrimental links is crucial for maintaining a healthy online presence and boosting domain authority. According to a recent study by SEMrush, websites that eliminate toxic backlinks can see an increase in their domain authority by up to 15%.

How to Remove Toxic Backlinks:

Identify toxic backlinks using SEO tools like SEMRush, Ahref, etc.
Contact site owners to request the removal of these links.
Use the Google Disavow Tool for persistent issues.
Apply for reconsideration with Google after removal.

Regularly monitor your backlink profile to maintain a healthy DA.

5. Leverage AI and Machine Learning

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are transformative technologies that analyze vast amounts of data to identify patterns and trends, making them invaluable tools for enhancing domain authority. By leveraging AI and ML, businesses can gain deep insights into SEO performance, enabling more strategic content creation, backlinking, and keyword optimization. This targeted approach significantly boosts domain authority, ensuring higher search engine rankings and increased online visibility. Websites utilizing AI-driven SEO strategies saw an average domain authority increase of 35% within just six months.

How to Leverage AI:

Content Optimization: Tools like Surfer SEO and SEMRush, analyze top-ranking pages for specific keywords and suggest improvements to your content. These tools use AI to recommend keyword density, content structure, and related topics.
Personalization: AI can tailor content to individual users based on their behavior, preferences, and past interactions. This personalization increases engagement and dwell time, boosting your DA.
Chatbots: Implementing AI-driven chatbots enhances user interaction by providing instant support and information. Chatbots can answer common questions, guide users through the site, and improve overall user experience.
Predictive Analytics: Machine learning algorithms analyze user data to predict trends and behaviors. These insights help in creating targeted content strategies that meet user needs and preferences.

Want to learn more about how to leverage AI? Check out our guide, Five Steps for Creating a Powerful AI-Optimized Website, or How to Supercharge your Marketing Campaigns with AI, ER, CRM and More.

6. Optimize for Voice Search

Voice search is a cutting-edge technology that allows users to perform online searches through voice commands, making it increasingly popular among consumers for its convenience and efficiency. For businesses looking to enhance their domain authority, optimizing for voice search is crucial. A recent study predicts that by 2025, 75% of households will have a smart speaker, underscoring the growing influence of voice search. This trend presents a significant opportunity for marketing professionals to tap into a broader audience, improve search rankings, and drive organic traffic. By strategically incorporating voice search optimization into your digital marketing strategy, you can ensure your content is more accessible and relevant, ultimately boosting your domain authority.

How to Optimize for Voice Search:

Natural Language Processing: Use natural language in your content. Voice search queries are often phrased as questions or complete sentences, so your content should reflect this conversational style.
Long-Tail Keywords: Focus on long-tail keywords that are more specific and likely to be used in voice searches. For example, instead of “best restaurants,” use “best Italian restaurants near me.”
Structured Data: Implement structured data (schema markup) to help search engines understand your content better. This enhances the chances of your content appearing in rich snippets, which are often used in voice search results.
FAQ Pages: Create FAQ pages addressing common questions related to your business. These pages can rank well for voice search queries and provide direct answers to users’ questions.

7. Focus on Mobile-First Indexing

Mobile-first indexing is a process where Google predominantly uses the mobile version of a website’s content for indexing and ranking. This approach is crucial as it directly influences domain authority, a key metric in determining a website’s relevance and credibility in search engine results. Given that over 60% of all online traffic now originates from mobile devices, having a mobile-optimized website is not just beneficial—it’s essential. Recent statistics underscore this shift, with websites optimized for mobile-first indexing experiencing up to a 30% boost in domain authority.

How to Optimize for Mobile:

Responsive Design: Use responsive web design to ensure your site adapts to different screen sizes and devices. This provides a seamless user experience across desktops, tablets, and smartphones.
Page Load Speed: Improve mobile page load speed by optimizing images, using AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages), and minimizing code. Fast-loading pages enhance user experience and reduce bounce rates.
Simplified Navigation: Simplify navigation for mobile users. Ensure that menus are easy to access and use, and that important content is readily available without excessive scrolling or clicking.
Touch-Friendly Elements: Design touch-friendly buttons and links that are easy to tap on mobile devices. Ensure that clickable elements are well-spaced to prevent accidental clicks.

8. Create High-Quality, Original Content

High-quality website content is the cornerstone of effective digital marketing strategies, blending informative, engaging, and relevant material tailored to the needs and interests of your audience. Such content not only captivates readers but also plays a pivotal role in boosting your domain authority. Research underscores this connection: according to a 2023 study by Ahrefs, websites that regularly publish high-quality content see a 43% increase in their domain authority over a six-month period. This surge enhances your site’s visibility and credibility, driving organic traffic and fostering trust with potential clients. By investing in top-notch content, you’re not just filling pages—you’re fortifying your digital presence and laying the groundwork for sustainable growth.

How to Create Shareable Content:

Original Research: Conduct and publish original research. Unique insights and data attract backlinks from authoritative sources and establish your site as a thought leader in your industry.
Comprehensive Guides: Create in-depth guides and how-to articles that thoroughly cover topics of interest to your audience. Comprehensive content is more likely to be shared and linked to by other sites.
Multimedia Elements: Utilize multimedia elements such as videos, podcasts, infographics, and interactive content. These formats engage users, increase dwell time, and cater to diverse content consumption preferences.
Regular Updates: Keep your content updated to ensure it remains relevant. Regularly updating existing posts with new information can improve their performance in search results.

Want more tips on how to create search-friendly, share-worthy content? Check out our six-tip checklist.

9. Harness the Power of Social Media

In today’s digital landscape, social signals—likes, shares, comments, and overall engagement on social media platforms—play a critical role in boosting domain authority. These interactions serve as endorsements of your content, signaling to search engines that your site is valuable and relevant. A study by CognitiveSEO revealed that sites with high social engagement experienced an average 22% increase in their domain authority. Harnessing the power of social signals can directly enhance your website’s search engine rankings, making your brand more visible and accessible.

How to Harness Social Media:

Content Sharing: Regularly share your content across social media platforms. Encourage your followers to share and engage with your posts to increase reach and visibility.
Audience Engagement: Actively engage with your audience through comments, messages, and live sessions. Building a community around your brand increases loyalty and drives traffic to your site.
Influencer Collaboration: Collaborate with influencers in your industry to amplify your reach. Influencers can introduce your brand to a broader audience and generate valuable backlinks.
Social Media Advertising: Use targeted social media advertising to promote your content and drive traffic to your site. Paid promotions can significantly increase visibility and engagement, especially for new content.

Key Factors Influencing Domain Authority

Increasing your domain authority is a process that takes time and effort. By focusing on user engagement, building quality backlinks, ensuring intuitive navigation, eliminating toxic links, and leveraging the latest trends like AI, voice search, and mobile-first indexing, your business can thrive on the first page of search results. Stay committed to these strategies to maintain high search rankings and drive sustained growth.

If managing these tasks internally is challenging, consider hiring a digital marketing agency. Digital advertising and branding agencies in Tulsa like Levo can help increase your website traffic and sales by implementing effective SEO strategies and keeping your site updated.

Anya Sleezer

Anya Sleezer is the owner of Levo, a full–service marketing agency, focused on helping companies from all industries who are concerned with their marketing results, traffic, branding, advertising, or websites.

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