What is Page Authority?
Page Authority (PA) is a score developed by Moz that predicts how well a specific page will rank on search engine result pages. Scores range from one to 100, with higher scores indicating a greater ability to rank.
Page Authority is based on web index data and considers multiple factors. It uses a machine learning model to determine the best correlation between link data and search rankings.
How is Page Authority scored?
Page Authority is measured on a 100-point logarithmic scale. This means it is easier to grow from 20 to 30 than from 70 to 80. Scores may fluctuate as the algorithm is regularly updated.
PA considers multiple factors, including:
◾ Linking URLs
◾ Linking root domains
◾ Linking subdomains
◾ MozTrust and MozRank
◾ Followed links
◾ No followed links
◾ Link anchor text distribution
◾ Redirect status such as 301 and 302
◾ New and old links
◾ Top level domains
◾ Domain names
◾ Branded mentions
◾ Spam Score
◾ Many other factors
Page Authority is primarily a link-based metric.
Why is Page Authority important?
Page Authority helps identify opportunities, analyze competitors, measure growth, and compare pages. It allows businesses to track performance and evaluate the effectiveness of SEO efforts over time.
What is the technical definition of Page Authority, and how does it work?
Page Authority is calculated similarly to Domain Authority but focuses on individual pages. It uses link data and multiple factors from a web index to determine ranking potential.
It does not consider on-page elements such as keyword usage or content optimization.
Since it is based on machine learning, scores may change as new data is introduced. It is best used as a comparative metric rather than an absolute value.
What is a good Page Authority?
There is no fixed good or bad Page Authority score. It should be used comparatively within your competitive landscape rather than as an isolated number.
What are the top uses of Page Authority?
◾Competitive research: Compare your page with competitors to understand how much authority is needed to rank higher.
◾Link research: Identify high-value pages for backlink opportunities and prioritize link-building efforts.
◾Internal linking: Determine which pages on your site can pass the most authority to new or important content.
◾Reporting: Track progress over time and demonstrate SEO performance improvements.
Is Page Authority a ranking factor?
No, Page Authority is not a Google ranking factor. It is a metric developed by Moz to estimate ranking potential.
While it is not used by Google, many of the link-based factors behind PA are known to influence search rankings.
Page Authority vs Domain Authority
Page Authority measures the ranking strength of a single page, while Domain Authority measures the strength of an entire domain. Both metrics are calculated using similar methods.
How can I increase Page Authority?
Page Authority is influenced by multiple factors, making it difficult to improve directly.
◾ Build high-quality backlinks from authoritative websites.
◾ Improve your link profile by earning links from strong and relevant pages.
◾ Analyze competitor backlinks to identify new opportunities.
◾ Strengthen internal linking to distribute authority effectively.
By improving your overall link profile, you can gradually increase Page Authority and improve ranking potential.