DA and DR are third-party domain metrics used in publisher research. Domain Authority is associated with Moz; Domain Rating is associated with Ahrefs. They are not Google scores, and their numerical values should not be treated as interchangeable measurements.
Start with what the tool actually measures
Ahrefs: what Domain Rating measures explains Domain Rating as a relative measure of a website's backlink profile on a 100-point scale. Its meaning depends on the tool's methodology and comparison set. It does not directly report the number of readers who will see a proposed guest article.
When evaluating DA, consult the current Moz methodology rather than assuming it follows the same formula as DR. This guide does not reproduce a proprietary calculation or claim that either score can forecast a placement's results. For comparison work, record the tool, metric and date alongside the number.
Build a comparison that keeps different evidence separate
Use separate columns for metric, subject relevance, recent editorial activity, audience evidence and commercial terms. A publisher-provided traffic report and a third-party estimate are different sources; label them accordingly. A score should not fill a missing audience-evidence column.
A useful research note can say that a publication covers the relevant subject but has unverified audience data. That is more accurate than declaring it high quality based on a number. Review a sample of current articles to see whether the specific section has useful, coherent content.
A worked example with hypothetical scores
Imagine Site A has a reported DR of 70 and Site B a reported DA of 55. It is invalid to subtract the numbers and conclude that A is 15 points better. The scores come from different systems. Even two scores from the same tool would not settle the editorial decision.
Suppose Site A focuses on general entertainment while Site B publishes detailed accounting-software tutorials. For a contribution about migrating bookkeeping records, B may be more relevant. You would still check its audience, editorial standards and terms before choosing it. The example illustrates a research process, not an endorsement of a real site.
Avoid metric-only buying rules
A minimum score filter may make a long list easier to review, but it can exclude smaller specialist publications and retain irrelevant ones. If you use a threshold, document why it helps the campaign and review exceptions based on evidence.
Do not assume a score proves an article will be indexed, that links will remain unchanged or that a publisher follows every search policy. Google: search spam policies addresses link practices directly; a third-party metric does not create an exception. Paid links need appropriate qualification under Google: qualifying outbound links.
Report the decision, not just the number
A useful shortlist explains why each publication was considered, what remains unknown and which article angle fits. At delivery, record the live article and agreed details. Later measurement can examine referral behaviour and search trends separately.
Use DA or DR as one organising signal. The editorial question is still whether this publication and contribution serve the intended reader. Keeping those two kinds of evidence separate makes the decision easier to defend and less dependent on a seller's headline metric.
Practical guidance on publisher research, content and outreach. Read how these guides are prepared. For a correction, send the page URL to info@highdaguestpost.com.
