Hey there, and welcome to SEO Simplified—the podcast where we break down search engine strategies into bite-sized, actionable tips.
Hey there, and welcome to SEO Simplified—the podcast where we break down search engine strategies into bite-sized, actionable tips. I'm Jenny, and today, we’re diving into a super important topic that every website owner, blogger, or digital marketer needs to understand—how to increase domain authority through competitive analysis.
Alright, let’s get into it.
You’ve probably heard of domain authority or “DA.” It’s a score developed by tools like Moz, and it helps estimate how likely your site is to rank on search engines. It runs on a scale from 1 to 100—the higher the number, the better your chances of landing on that coveted first page of Google.
Now, while Google doesn’t officially use domain authority in its algorithm, it’s still a solid benchmark to measure your site’s credibility and SEO strength. And guess what? Competitive analysis is one of the smartest ways to grow your domain authority strategically.
Identify Your Real Competitors
Here’s the first thing: Your real competitors aren’t always the ones selling the same products or services—they’re the sites ranking higher than you for your target keywords.
Tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, or Ubersuggest can help you find these competitors. Look at who’s showing up in the top 10 search results for your main keywords. Those are your SEO rivals.
Make a list—start with five. Focus on ones just a step ahead of you in domain authority. You’re not trying to outrank Amazon… at least not today. 😄
Analyze Their Backlink Profile
Backlinks are the heavyweights when it comes to boosting domain authority. And your competitors’ backlink strategies? Pure gold for learning.
Use tools to check:
If you see they’re getting links from guest blogs or industry directories, take notes—and then go get listed there too.
Study Their Top-Performing Pages
Next up—content. What are your competitors' best-performing pages? Are they guides, how-tos, listicles?
Check out their use of visuals, word count, and on-page SEO like headers and keywords. Then, do it better. Add value. Cover what they missed. Update the info. When you consistently create better content, backlinks will follow—and so will your DA.
Monitor Keyword Rankings
What keywords are your competitors ranking for that you’ve missed? This is a great way to spot low-hanging fruit.
Target keywords that aren’t too competitive but still get good search volume. Build content around those, and over time, you’ll see a lift in both traffic and domain strength.
Evaluate Their Site Structure and Technical SEO
Let’s talk tech. A clean, fast, mobile-friendly website not only helps users—but search engines love it too.
Analyze:
Use what you learn to clean up your own site and create a smooth experience from homepage to blog post.
Step 6: Compare Content Publishing Frequency
How often are your competitors publishing content? Weekly? Bi-weekly?
Consistency counts. If you're only posting once a month and they’re dropping value every week, they’re going to win more eyeballs—and links.
Set a schedule that works for you, and stick to it. Even twice a month is powerful if the content is solid and solves real problems.
Step 7: Track Social Signals and Brand Mentions
Social signals may not directly boost domain authority—but they help amplify your content’s reach. And the more eyeballs, the more link potential.
Check which social platforms your competitors use. What gets shared? What creates buzz? Also, look at where their brand is mentioned—blogs, forums, even podcasts.
You can mirror those efforts through guest posts, collaborations, or community engagement.
Alright, let’s wrap it up.
Improving your domain authority takes time, but competitive analysis gives you the map. You don’t need to guess—you just need to look, learn, and build. From backlinks to keywords to content strategy—your competitors are leaving a trail. Follow it.
Thanks for tuning in to SEO Simplified! If you found this episode helpful, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, or share it with a friend who's building their digital presence.
Until next time, stay curious, stay consistent—and keep climbing the ranks!