How to Increase Your Startup's Domain Rating
If you've ever checked your domain rating and seen a 0 or single-digit number, you're not alone. Every new website starts at zero. The good news is that moving from DR 0 to DR 20–30 is achievable within a few months with the right backlink strategy. This guide explains what domain rating is, what moves it, and how to prioritise your efforts.
In this guide
- 1.What Is Domain Rating?
- 2.What Moves Domain Rating?
- 3.The Fastest Way to Build DR from Zero
- 4.Other Ways to Build Backlinks
- 5.What Not to Do
What Is Domain Rating?
Domain Rating (DR) is a metric created by Ahrefs that measures the strength of a website's backlink profile on a scale of 0 to 100. A higher DR generally means your site has more high-quality links pointing to it, which translates to better rankings in Google.
DR is logarithmic — moving from 0 to 20 is much easier than moving from 60 to 70. For most early-stage startups, getting to DR 20–40 is the realistic first goal, and that's achievable within 3–6 months with a focused approach.
What Moves Domain Rating?
DR increases when other websites with real domain authority link to your site. Specifically:
Number of referring domains — How many unique websites link to you (not total links). Ten links from ten different DR 50 sites beats 100 links from one site.
DR of referring domains — A link from a DR 80 directory contributes more than a link from a DR 20 directory.
Link quality — Links from legitimate, indexed websites with real traffic are what count. Links from link farms or PBNs can hurt your DR.
Dofollow vs nofollow — Dofollow links pass authority. Many startup directories use dofollow links, which is one reason directory submissions are effective.
The Fastest Way to Build DR from Zero
For a brand new domain, startup directory submissions are the fastest legitimate way to build initial DR. Here's why:
- Each directory submission creates a backlink from a high-DR platform
- 50 directory submissions can create 30–40 live backlinks from domains with DR 40–90
- This can move a domain from DR 0 to DR 10–20 within 4–8 weeks
- The cost ($35 with SubmitWell) is far lower than any other backlink-building strategy
After the foundation is built with directories, you can layer in other strategies: guest posting, getting featured in roundup articles, and building linkable content assets.
Other Ways to Build Backlinks
Guest posting — Writing articles for other blogs in your niche in exchange for a backlink. High effort but high quality when done on relevant, high-DR sites.
HARO / media mentions — Responding to journalist requests on platforms like Help A Reporter Out. When you get featured, you typically get a high-DR backlink from a news site.
Build linkable content — Data studies, tools, calculators, and comprehensive guides attract natural backlinks. A free tool related to your product (like a calculator or checker) can accumulate dozens of backlinks over time.
Partnerships and integrations — Being listed on a partner's "integrations" page creates a high-quality, relevant backlink.
Testimonials — Leaving testimonials for tools you use sometimes earns a backlink from their testimonials page.
What Not to Do
Some backlink tactics can hurt your DR or result in a Google penalty:
Private blog networks (PBNs) — Paying for links on networks of fake websites. Google detects and discounts these.
Mass link schemes — Exchanging links with irrelevant sites at scale. Unnatural link patterns trigger algorithmic penalties.
Low-quality directory spam — Submitting to hundreds of low-DR, spam-heavy directories. These provide no benefit and can signal spammy behaviour.
Stick to legitimate directories, earned media, and content-driven link acquisition.
Start building your backlink profile today
We manually submit your startup to 50–200+ high-DR directories. The fastest way to build domain authority from zero. Starting at $35.
See Plans — Starting at $35Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to increase domain rating?
With a focused directory submission campaign, you can typically see DR improvements within 4–8 weeks. Google needs time to crawl and index new backlinks. Significant movement (DR 0 to DR 15–25) is realistic within 3 months.
What DR should I aim for as an early-stage startup?
DR 20–30 is a meaningful milestone for a new startup. It means you have a healthy backlink profile that supports ranking for long-tail keywords. DR 40+ starts to give you a competitive edge in more crowded niches.
Does domain rating directly affect Google rankings?
DR is an Ahrefs metric, not a Google metric. But it's closely correlated with Google's assessment of domain authority. A higher DR generally means better keyword rankings — the underlying backlink profile that drives DR also drives Google's trust in your site.
Related Resources
Start building your backlink profile today
We manually submit your startup to 50–200+ high-DR directories. The fastest way to build domain authority from zero. Starting at $35.
See Plans & PricingOne-time payment. No subscription.