DA (Domain Authority), PA (Page Authority), and Spam Score are three important metrics used by SEO professionals to measure the quality and trustworthiness of a website. These metrics are especially useful when doing link building, guest posting, or competitor analysis.
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What DA, PA, and Spam Score are
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Why they matter in SEO
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How to check them
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Top tools to use
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Tips to improve your scores
What is Domain Authority (DA)?
Domain Authority is a score developed by Moz that predicts how likely a website is to rank in search engines. The score ranges from 1 to 100. A higher score means a better chance to rank on Google.
How is DA Calculated?
DA is calculated based on:
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Number and quality of backlinks
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Domain age and history
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Overall SEO performance
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Internal linking structure
It’s important to note that DA is not a Google ranking factor, but it’s helpful for comparing websites.
What is Page Authority (PA)?
Page Authority is also created by Moz. While DA evaluates an entire domain, PA measures the strength of a single page on the website. It uses similar factors like backlinks and content quality.
For example, a homepage may have a PA of 40, but an inner blog page might have a PA of 20.
What is Spam Score?
Spam Score indicates how many spam-like signals your website has. It is shown as a percentage between 0% and 100%. A higher score means there are more signs that the website might be untrustworthy.
Spam Score is calculated based on:
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Low-quality backlinks
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Overuse of keywords
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Thin or duplicate content
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Excessive external links
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Fast link growth from unrelated sources
Spam Score Ranges:
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1–30%: Low
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31–60%: Medium
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61–100%: High
Avoid backlinks from websites with a high spam score, as they can negatively affect your SEO.
Why are DA, PA, and Spam Score Important in SEO?
Metric | Why It Matters |
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DA | Measures overall website strength |
PA | Measures the power of individual pages |
Spam Score | Helps identify toxic or harmful websites |
These metrics are used for:
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Evaluating link-building opportunities
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Checking the quality of referral domains
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Analyzing competitor websites
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Protecting your site from SEO penalties
Top Tools to Check DA, PA, and Spam Score
1. Moz Link Explorer
Website: https://moz.com/link-explorer
Steps:
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Go to the website
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Enter your URL
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Click “Analyze”
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See DA, PA, Spam Score, and more
Moz is the official source for these metrics and provides reliable data.
2. Small SEO Tools – DA PA Checker
Website: https://smallseotools.com/domain-authority-checker/
Steps:
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Paste multiple URLs
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Click “Check Authority”
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View DA and PA results instantly
Useful for bulk checking.
3. Prepostseo – Domain Authority Checker
Website: https://www.prepostseo.com/domain-authority-checker
Steps:
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Enter your website URL
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Click “Check”
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Get DA, PA, and backlink overview
Easy-to-use and suitable for beginners.
4. Ahrefs
Website: https://ahrefs.com
Ahrefs does not show DA/PA but provides similar scores called:
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Domain Rating (DR)
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URL Rating (UR)
Ahrefs is widely used by SEO professionals and offers comprehensive backlink data.
5. SEMrush
Website: https://semrush.com
SEMrush gives an Authority Score, which is similar to DA. It includes backlink data, organic traffic, and domain health.
Best suited for full SEO audits and competitive analysis.
6. SEO Review Tools
Website: https://www.seoreviewtools.com/website-authority-checker/
This tool is free and displays DA, PA, and backlinks. Ideal for beginners and marketers who want fast results.
How to Use These Metrics Wisely
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Use DA and PA as comparison tools, not absolute indicators
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Avoid building links from websites with high Spam Scores
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Focus on high-authority, relevant backlinks
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Monitor your site’s scores regularly
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Disavow harmful links if needed
These best practices are often taught by experienced professionals like a digital marketing trainer in Calicut, where hands-on SEO strategies are practiced.
How to Improve Your DA and PA
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Publish high-quality, original content
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Get backlinks from trustworthy, high-authority websites
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Optimize your on-page and technical SEO
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Improve internal linking
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Stay active and consistent with your content updates
If you are a digital marketer in Calicut working with clients or businesses, improving domain authority can help your site stand out and attract more leads through organic traffic.
Practice Exercise
Check the DA, PA, and Spam Score of popular sites like:
Use tools like Moz or SEO Review Tools and note the differences between each site.
Conclusion
Understanding DA, PA, and Spam Score can help you make smarter SEO decisions. Whether you are building backlinks or checking the quality of a website, these metrics provide valuable insight. Always focus on high-quality links and avoid spammy practices to maintain a strong and healthy website profile.