Short answer: you increase Domain Rating by earning followed links from more unique, authoritative websites. The fastest safe way is to create something people want to reference – data, tools, in-depth guides – and then actively promote it to relevant sites. Shortcuts such as link farms and spammy networks can raise the number briefly but often damage rankings.
First, understand what moves DR
Ahrefs calculates DR from the number of unique domains linking to you with followed links, the authority of those domains, and how many sites each of them links out to. That leads to three practical rules:
- New referring domains matter more than more links from the same site. Ten links from one website add far less than one link each from ten websites.
- Stronger linking sites move DR more. One link from a respected publication can outweigh dozens from tiny blogs.
- Selective linkers pass more value. A site that links to only a few domains passes more authority per link than a site that links to everyone.
Before you start, record your current DR and your competitors’ with the bulk DR checker so you can measure progress.
1. Create linkable assets
People link to things that make their own content better. Original statistics, free tools, calculators, templates, checklists and definitive guides attract links far more easily than product pages. Look at the pages that earn the most links for your competitors and ask how you can create something clearly better or more current.
2. Publish original data
Journalists and bloggers constantly need numbers to support their points. A small survey, an analysis of public data or a summary of your own anonymised usage statistics can earn links for years. Present the key findings in short, quotable sentences and simple charts so they are easy to cite.
3. Digital PR and expert quotes
Platforms that connect journalists with sources let you answer media requests with a short expert comment. Answer quickly, be specific and stay within your expertise. A few published quotes on news sites can move a young domain’s DR noticeably.
4. Guest posts on relevant sites
Writing genuinely useful articles for other sites in your niche remains one of the most reliable ways to earn links. Quality matters more than quantity: choose sites that are relevant, get organic traffic and have a healthy DR. Our guide on how to check the DR of guest post sites shows how to vet them.
5. Broken link building
Find pages in your niche that link to articles or tools that no longer exist. If you have (or create) a good replacement, email the site owner, point out the broken link and suggest your page. You are helping them fix a problem, which makes this one of the friendliest outreach tactics.
6. Unlinked brand mentions
Search for your brand or product name. When a site mentions you without linking, a short, polite email asking them to add a link converts surprisingly well, because the writer already likes you enough to mention you.
7. Get listed where your audience looks
Relevant directories, tool lists, “best of” roundups, industry associations and partner pages are easy wins. Focus on listings that real people use; avoid mass-submission directories that exist only for links.
8. Reclaim lost links
Links disappear when pages are redesigned or URLs change. Check your own site for old URLs that now return errors and redirect them to the best current page. Run a backlink audit every few months – the backlink DR checker helps you see which strong links you still have.
9. Strengthen internal linking
Internal links do not change DR directly, but they spread the authority you earn to the pages that need to rank. Link from your most-linked pages to your most important commercial pages using descriptive anchor text.
What to avoid
- Link farms and low-quality networks. Sites that exist only to sell links can be ignored or penalised by Google, and the DR gain often disappears when those sites are de-indexed.
- Sitewide footer and comment links. They add little and can look manipulative.
- Exact-match anchor text everywhere. Natural link profiles use brand names, URLs and varied phrases.
- Sudden spikes with no explanation. Hundreds of new linking domains in a week, with no news or launch behind them, is a classic spam pattern.
How long does it take?
Expect gradual change. A new site can often reach DR 20–30 within a few months of steady link earning. Above DR 50, each point takes considerably more work because the scale is logarithmic. Track your DR monthly alongside organic traffic; traffic is the number that pays the bills.
A realistic monthly plan
- Publish one linkable asset or major guide.
- Pitch it to 30–50 relevant sites.
- Write two guest posts for relevant, vetted sites.
- Answer journalist requests twice a week.
- Fix broken internal and external links.
- Re-check your DR and your competitors’ at the end of the month.
Measuring progress the right way
Because DR is relative and logarithmic, raw point changes can be misleading. A move from DR 12 to DR 22 in three months is excellent progress, while a move from DR 62 to DR 64 may represent just as much work. Track three numbers each month: your DR, the number of unique referring domains, and organic traffic to the pages you want to rank. If referring domains and traffic grow, your strategy is working, even when DR moves slowly.
It also helps to keep a simple log of every link you build or earn: the date, the linking domain, its DR and the target page. When DR or rankings change, you can see which activities caused it and do more of what works.
Frequently asked questions
Can I increase DR quickly?
You can raise it quickly with low-quality links, but that is risky and rarely lasts. Sustainable growth comes from steadily earning links from relevant, established sites.
Does buying links increase DR?
Paid links can increase DR, but Google’s guidelines treat links bought to manipulate rankings as spam. If you work with paid placements, focus on real, relevant sites with genuine audiences and follow the disclosure rules that apply to you.
Why did my DR not change after I got new links?
The links may not be discovered yet, may be nofollow, or may come from sites with little authority. Give it a few weeks and check whether the linking pages are indexed and linked from their own sites.
Final thoughts
Domain Rating rises when real websites decide your content is worth linking to. Focus on being reference-worthy, promote it consistently, and the number will follow. Want to know where you stand right now? Check your site and your top competitors in the free bulk DR checker.