Authority
Also known as: site authority, domain authority, topical authority
The accumulated trust, relevance, and recognition that makes a digital property more likely to earn visibility, links, rankings, and conversions.
Definition
Authority is a leverage source for digital assets because trust and topical recognition can make each new page, link, mention, or partnership more valuable than it would be on an unknown property.
Example
A website with years of strong editorial history can publish a new guide and rank faster than a new domain covering the same topic.
Important Context
Authority is not a single metric. Domain strength, topical depth, editorial reputation, audience trust, citation history, and brand recognition all contribute to the practical effect.