Case Study: How I Got to DA 50 in 90 Days

Introduction: The DA Challenge

If you’re trying to improve your search rankings, you’ve probably encountered the term Domain Authority (DA). Created by Moz, this score helps predict how well your website can rank in search engine results. In 2025, DA is still widely respected among SEO professionals even though Google doesn’t use it as a direct ranking factor.

So when I set out to grow a new website’s Domain Authority from DA 0 to DA 50 in just 90 days, I knew I was facing a serious challenge. Many believe it takes years to reach that level. But with the right tools, strategies, and relentless focus, I did it and you can too.

Here’s the complete breakdown of exactly how I achieved it.

What is Domain Authority (DA)? And Why Does It Matter?

Domain Authority (DA) is a Moz-developed metric (0-100 scale) that predicts how well a website will rank on search engines. The higher your DA, the more trustworthy and authoritative your site appears to Google.

Why I Aimed for DA 50 in 90 Days

• Better rankings → More organic traffic

• Higher credibility → Brands & bloggers take you seriously

• Easier backlink acquisition → People naturally link to high-DA sites

My 90-Day Strategy to DA 50

Phase 1: Technical SEO Foundation (Days 1-15)

Before creating content or building links, I fixed technical SEO issues to ensure Google could crawl and index my site efficiently.

Key Actions:

✅ Optimized Site Speed (Used GTmetrix & compressed images)
✅ Fixed Broken Links (Screaming Frog audit)
✅ Ensured Mobile-Friendliness (Google Mobile-Friendly Test)
✅ Set Up Google Search Console & Analytics (Tracked performance)

Result: My site’s Crawlability improved by 80%, helping Google index pages faster.

Phase 2: High-Quality Content Strategy (Days 16-45)

Content is king, but not all content is equal. I focused on SEO-optimized, long-form articles that answered user intent.

My Content Blueprint:

🔹 Keyword Research (Used Ahrefs & SEMrush to find low-competition, high-volume keywords)
🔹 10x Content (Wrote 3,000+ word guides that outperformed competitors)
🔹 Internal Linking (Linked related posts to boost authority distribution)
🔹 Schema Markup (Added FAQ & How-To schemas for rich snippets)

Example: My post *”Best Link-Building Strategies in 2024″* ranked on Page 1 within 30 days and attracted natural backlinks.

Result: Organic traffic increased by 300% in 45 days.

Phase 3: Aggressive (But White-Hat) Link Building (Days 46-90)

Backlinks are the biggest DA booster, but only if they’re high-quality. I avoided spammy links and focused on authoritative sources.

My Link-Building Tactics:

🔗 Guest Posting (Wrote for Forbes, Entrepreneur, and niche blogs)
🔗 HARO (Help a Reporter Out) (Got featured in BBC, HuffPost)
🔗 Broken Link Building (Replaced dead links with my content)
🔗 Skyscraper Technique (Improved existing top-ranking posts and pitched them)

Result: Gained 150+ high-DA backlinks (DR 60+ sites) in 45 days.

Key Lessons Learned

1. DA is a marathon, not a sprint  Consistency matters more than shortcuts.
2. Quality > Quantity  10 high-DR backlinks beat 100 spammy ones.
3. Content is the foundation   Without great content, links won’t stick.
4. Technical SEO is non-negotiable   Fixing small errors boosts rankings.

Final Results (Before & After)

How You Can Do It Too (Action Plan)

1. Week 1-2: Fix technical SEO issues (speed, mobile, indexing).

2. Week 3-6: Publish 3-5 long-form SEO articles per week.

3. Week 7-12: Build 5-10 high-quality backlinks weekly (guest posts, HARO, skyscraper).

4. Track progress with Moz, Ahrefs, and Google Analytics.

Step 1: Setting the Foundation (Days 1–10)

Before you can grow, you need solid ground. The first 10 days were all about setting up the basics.

✅ Technical SEO Optimization

I started by conducting a full SEO audit using:

• Google Search Console

• Screaming Frog SEO Spider

• SEMrush Site Audit

Fixes included:

• Improving site speed (under 2s)

• Ensuring mobile responsiveness

• Correcting crawl errors

• Implementing HTTPS

• Optimizing sitemap.xml and robots.txt

✅ Choosing a Niche with Low Competition

I focused on a niche where competitors had a DA score between 20-35, making it realistic to climb faster. I analyzed this using Ahrefs and Moz Link Explorer.

DA-Focused Keywords Used:

• Domain Authority SEO audit

• Optimize technical SEO for DA growth

• Low-competition DA keywords

Step 2: Creating Link-Worthy Content (Days 10–30)

Content was king in this journey. My goal was to create assets that others wanted to link to.

✅ Types of Content I Created:

1. Skyscraper Articles (2,500+ words)

   • Focused on evergreen topics and detailed guides.

   • Optimized for Domain Authority building keywords.

2. Infographics & Visuals

   • Designed to be shared easily with embedded links.

3. Original Research & Statistics

   • Posted niche-specific survey results with outbound authority links.

4. Guest-Contributor Articles

   • Invited industry experts to contribute, increasing credibility and backlinks.

Tools Used:

• Surfer SEO for on-page optimization

• BuzzSumo for content research

• Grammarly & Hemingway for readability

DA Keywords Targeted:

• How to boost Domain Authority

• SEO content to improve DA

• Content that earns backlinks

Step 3: Strategic Link Building (Days 20–75)

This phase made the biggest difference. I focused on high-quality, relevant backlinks rather than spamming low-value sites.

✅ Link Building Tactics That Worked:

1. Guest Posting

I wrote over 25 guest posts on websites with DA 40+, targeting backlinks to my cornerstone content.

2. Resource Page Link Building

I found resource pages in my niche using advanced Google searches:

• “Keyword” + inurl:resources

• “Keyword” + intitle:resources

I pitched my guides for inclusion.

3. Broken Link Building

Using Ahrefs, I found broken backlinks on authority sites and offered my content as a replacement.

4. HARO (Help a Reporter Out)

I submitted 2-3 pitches daily. In 90 days, I landed 10+ backlinks from DA 70+ media sites.

5. Link Exchanges (Ethical & Relevant Only)

I collaborated with bloggers in the same niche. We exchanged links contextually through new content only.

DA-Focused Keywords Used:

• Link building for Domain Authority

• Earn high DA backlinks

• Guest posting to increase DA

• Best link-building strategies 2025

Step 4: Daily Outreach and Relationship Building

Outreach was daily. I used Hunter.io and Mailshake to send 20–30 personalized emails per day.

Email Types Included:

• Guest post pitches

• Broken link suggestions

• Content collaborations

• Link round-up inclusion

Response Rate: 18%
Conversion to Backlink: 6%

Even more valuable was the network I built. Several of these connections led to second and third-tier link-building opportunities.

DA-Focused Keywords Used:

• Outreach to build Domain Authority

• Blogger outreach for DA links

• Build authority through email marketing

Step 5: Monitoring Progress with the Right Tools (Days 1–90)

You can’t improve what you don’t track. I used the following tools weekly:

Tools & Metrics I Tracked:

• Day 10: DA 7

• Day 30: DA 18

• Day 60: DA 34

• Day 90: DA 50

That’s a DA increase of 50 points in 90 days, driven by targeted backlinks, content optimization, and consistent strategy.

DA-Focused Keywords Used:

• Track Domain Authority growth

• Monitor DA score progress

• Tools to measure Domain Authority

What Didn’t Work

Not everything I tried worked. Here are a few flops:

• Buying backlinks: I tested this on a side domain and saw no DA improvement. Worse, it risked penalties.

• Comment spamming: Low ROI and zero effect on DA.

• Directory submissions: Barely moved the needle unless the directories were DA 70+.

Lesson: Focus on earned and editorial links.

Key Takeaways from My DA 50 Journey

1. Quality trumps quantity – 1 backlink from DA 70 > 10 from DA 10.
2. Consistency is non-negotiable – I worked daily on this for 90 days.
3. Outreach is everything – Most backlinks came from direct pitches.
4. Content earns links – Without link-worthy content, outreach fails.
5. Use DA strategically – It’s a tool, not a ranking factor, but incredibly helpful.

Final Thoughts: Is DA 50 in 90 Days Achievable?

Absolutely with the right mindset, tools, and relentless execution.

Your results will depend on:

• Your niche

• The competition’s DA

• How well you implement link-building strategies

But here’s the truth: Domain Authority is still one of the most trusted SEO metrics in 2025. It influences who wants to collaborate with you, which keywords you rank for, and how credible your site appears.

Focus on building your site’s authority the right way, and you’ll see lasting results not just a temporary DA boost.