Ahrefs is a renowned SEO tool for checking backlinks. Its dependence on big data and focus on data quality sets it apart from the competition. It finds its use in keyword research and competitor analysis by content professionals and SEO experts. Ahrefs, no doubts, remain one of the most effective ranking tools by companies from all over the world. For starters, it is a great tool -one of the best- for obtaining higher Google rankings.
Ahrefs uses metrics to rate a website’s backlink profile. These include the UR and DR metrics. A high UR and DR value have shown to improve SEO rankings, which is great in reaching the right audience. Before learning how to increase Ahrefs UR and DR metrics, we must first know what they are.
What are Ahrefs UR and DR metrics?
URL Ratings (UR)
URL Rating shows the level of strength of a page’s backlink profile. It does this on a scale of 0 to 100. This suggests that the larger the number, the stronger the page’s backlink profile. The UR scale is logarithmic. This also means that moving from UR 20-30 is easier than moving from UR 70-80 according to Ahrefs.
UR has a clear statistical relationship with Google rankings. This is seen as a high UR page ranks very high in the organic search results of Google.
The URL Rating calculation is like Google's PageRank. And this is because you need the same PageRank rules to calculate UR. These includes:
Counting links between pages
Respecting the 'nofollow' attribute.
Having a ‘damping factor’.
Crawling the internet to the farthest extent possible.
However, this does not mean that the UR is a complete replacement for the PageRank. This is because Google's PageRank formula has highly developed since its conception. And Ahrefs UR formula remains simple.
Domain Ratings (DR)
DR or Domain Rating is one of the popular SEO metrics across several platforms and not just Ahrefs. This metric aims at determining a website’s quality. While UR is a page-level metric, DR is a domain-level metric. Domain Rating (DR) shows the level of strength of a website’s backlink profile. It does this on a logarithmic scale of 0 - 100. The objective of the DR is to assess the link popularity of a website. To calculate the DR of a certain website, the following rules apply:
The observation of the outstanding domains with a minimum of 1 ‘dofollow’ link to the website.
The consideration of the linking domain’s DR.
The number of outstanding domains each of the website links to.
Assigning math and coding skills to calculate the raw Domain Rating scores.
Plotting the scores on a scale of 0 - 100. This will extend over time because it is naturally dynamic.
How to increase Ahrefs' DR and UR Metrics
Increasing Ahrefs' DR Metric
To increase the DR metric of your website, all you must do is create more followed links. If the site that a link is gotten from is low in Domain Rating, the DR’s increase will be insignificant.
Note that creating more links to random pages will not always help in increasing the rankings. Hence, you should create the link directly to the page you want to increase its rank. This will help in increasing the rank and organic traffic.
But it is not easy to create links to the desired page on Google.
Increasing UR metrics
Pages with a high UR metric tends to feature higher on the organic section of search engine result pages (SERPs). Apart from this, the ability to measure UR metrics makes it appealing when compared to Google's PageRank- which can only be calculated by Google. The good thing is that Ahrefs has never made the URL Rating calculation a secret.
As earlier mentioned, this SEO metric works on a page-level. This means that checking a website’s UR on the site explorer of Ahrefs will reveal only the UR of the site’s homepage. However, several factors determine the UR metric including both the external and internal links. The correlation between the organic rank of a website and its UR can be hardly disputed. Still, aiming at increasing one's UR all begins at getting internal and external links of the top pages of your website. Also, before requesting to link to other sites, review the UR of the page you want to link, and not only the website’s DR. Doing so will increase your chances to qualify for link opportunities.
Here are quick tips on how to increase your UR and DR metrics
Improving your website's Ahrefs URL Rating (UR) and Domain Rating (DR) involves a combination of SEO strategies focused on enhancing the quality and quantity of backlinks. Here are some key strategies:
1. Building content
Such content must be non-commercial, helpful, and must have a record of getting links. Here is what this means:
Non-Commercial - This is because some persons would prefer to link to content that is not always about money-making.
Helpful - You can create helpful content in several ways. The first way is by building a utility tool. A free tool such as Ahrefs' backlink checker is a good example. And the second way is by building something that can be cited. Such as ideas, studies, and stats.
Possess a history of getting links - To look for content with such history, install Ahrefs SEO toolbar. With the Ahrefs toolbar installed, search Google for topics with a decent amount of links. This will show that it is a link-worthy subject. And that it has the potential to attract links.
Blog Posts:
Research and Relevance: Ensure your topics are relevant to your audience. Use tools like Google Trends or Ahrefs Keyword Explorer to find what's currently in demand.
Depth and Detail: Go in-depth with your topics. Longer, comprehensive posts are often more valuable and shareable.
Unique Perspective: Add your unique insights or experiences. This can make your content stand out.
Remember, the goal is to create content that provides value, solves problems, or answers questions for your audience. When your content is useful and engaging, other websites are more likely to link to it, thereby improving your UR and DR in Ahrefs. Additionally, promoting your content through various channels increases its visibility, which is essential for attracting backlinks.
2. Guest Blogging
Guest blogging is a powerful strategy for building backlinks and expanding your audience. Here's how to effectively use guest blogging to enhance your website's profile:
Identify Target Websites: Look for reputable websites in your industry that accept guest posts. Focus on sites that have a high Domain Rating (DR) and a relevant audience. Use tools like Ahrefs to assess the website's profile.
Understand Their Content Style and Audience: Before pitching, familiarize yourself with the content style, tone, and audience of the target website. This will help you tailor your pitch and content to their preferences.
Create a Strong Pitch: Your pitch should be concise, personalized, and demonstrate the value you can bring to their audience. Include a brief overview of your proposed topic, why it's relevant to their audience, and your expertise in the subject matter.
Quality Content is Key: Once your pitch is accepted, produce high-quality, original content. It should be informative, engaging, and aligned with the host site’s standards. Remember, the better the content, the more likely it is to be shared and linked to.
Include a Backlink: Incorporate a backlink to your website in a natural, relevant way. This could be in your author bio or within the content (if allowed by the host site).
Follow the Guidelines: Adhere to any content guidelines provided by the host site. This includes word count, formatting, and any specific dos and don'ts.
Promote the Guest Post: Once published, promote the guest post through your social media channels and other platforms. This not only drives traffic to the post but also demonstrates your commitment to the partnership.
Build Relationships: Guest blogging is also about building relationships with other industry players. Engage with comments on your post and stay in contact with the host site for potential future collaborations.
Track Your Results: Use tools like Ahrefs to monitor the backlinks you gain from guest blogging and observe the impact on your website’s UR and DR.
Diversify Your Portfolio: Don’t limit yourself to just one website. Write for various websites in your industry to diversify your backlink profile and reach a broader audience.
Remember, guest blogging is not just about getting backlinks; it's an opportunity to establish yourself as an authority in your field, reach a new audience, and build valuable industry relationships.
3. Broken Link building
Broken link building is an effective SEO strategy that involves finding broken links on other websites and offering your content as a replacement. This method not only helps improve your backlink profile but also aids website owners in maintaining the quality of their site. Here's a step-by-step approach:
Find Target Websites: Choose relevant, authoritative websites in your niche.
Identify Broken Links: Use tools like Ahrefs or Screaming Frog to find broken links (404 errors) on these sites.
Prepare or Identify Replacement Content: Ensure you have relevant, high-quality content that can serve as a suitable replacement for the broken link.
Contact Website Owners: Reach out to the site owners with a friendly email, informing them of the broken link and suggesting your content as a replacement.
Follow Up if Necessary: Send a polite follow-up if you don’t hear back initially.
Track Your Backlinks: Use SEO tools to monitor new backlinks and their impact on your site’s metrics.
4. Competitor backlink
Competitor backlink analysis is a strategic approach in SEO to enhance your website's link profile. Here's a concise guide on how to do it using Ahrefs:
Identify Competitors: Determine who your main online competitors are. These could be websites ranking well for your target keywords.
Use Ahrefs for Analysis: Input your competitors' URLs into Ahrefs to analyze their backlink profiles. Focus on their Domain Rating (DR), types of backlinks, and the sources of these backlinks.
Examine Backlinks: Look for patterns in their backlinks. Identify high-quality and relevant sites that are linking to them.
Evaluate Link Quality: Assess the quality of these backlink sources. Prioritize high authority sites that are relevant to your niche.
Identify Opportunities: Look for backlink opportunities you can replicate. This includes guest post spots, forums, directories, or other websites where you can also potentially get a link.
Outreach Strategy: Develop a plan to reach out to these sources. Tailor your pitch to each site, offering them valuable content or partnership opportunities.
Monitor Progress: Track your new backlinks and observe how they impact your website’s Ahrefs UR and DR.
By methodically analyzing and replicating your competitors' backlink strategies, you can uncover valuable linking opportunities and strengthen your website's SEO performance.
5. Social media engagement
Social media engagement is crucial for amplifying your content's reach and enhancing the potential for backlinks. Here's a brief guide on how to effectively use social media for this purpose:
Choose the Right Platforms: Focus on social media platforms where your target audience is most active. This could be LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or others depending on your niche.
Share Your Content: Regularly post your blog articles, videos, infographics, and other relevant content. Ensure the posts are visually appealing and have compelling captions.
Engage with Your Audience: Respond to comments, engage in conversations, and encourage discussions related to your content. This builds community and encourages shares.
Use Hashtags Strategically: Include relevant hashtags to increase the visibility of your posts to a broader audience.
Collaborate and Tag: Collaborate with influencers or industry leaders and tag them in your posts. This can lead to them sharing your content, increasing its reach.
Promote Discussion and Sharing: Encourage your followers to share their thoughts and share your content within their networks.
Analyze Performance: Use social media analytics tools to track which types of content perform best, and refine your strategy accordingly.
Regular Updates: Keep your social media profiles active with regular updates and by sharing relevant industry news or insights.
Paid Promotions: Consider using paid social media advertising to boost the visibility of your top-performing content to a targeted audience.
Cross-Promotion: Cross-promote your content across different social media platforms to maximize its reach.
By actively engaging on social media, you not only increase your content's visibility but also enhance the likelihood of earning backlinks as your content reaches a wider, relevant audience.
6. Collaborations and partnerships
Collaborations and partnerships are effective ways to gain backlinks and increase your website's visibility. Here's a brief guide on how to approach this:
Identify Potential Partners: Look for websites, influencers, or brands that align with your niche and have a strong presence or authority.
Offer Value: Propose a collaboration that is mutually beneficial. This could be in the form of guest posts, joint webinars, co-authored research, or shared promotions.
Build Relationships: Engage with potential partners on social media, comment on their content, and build a rapport before pitching your collaboration idea.
Create Quality Content: When collaborating, ensure that the content you contribute is of high quality, relevant, and adds value to the partner's audience.
Promote Jointly: Leverage both your and your partner's social media channels and other platforms to promote the collaborative content.
Utilize Influencers: Partner with influencers to tap into their audience. They can share your content or feature your products or services, linking back to your site.
Track Your Backlinks: Monitor the backlinks and traffic generated from these collaborations to gauge their effectiveness.
Maintain Relationships: Keep a good relationship with your partners for future collaborations.
By collaborating with the right partners, you can not only gain valuable backlinks but also expose your brand to a wider audience, enhancing your online presence.
7. Influencer Outreach
Influencer outreach is a strategic way to gain backlinks and increase your content's reach. Here's a concise guide to doing it effectively:
Identify Relevant Influencers: Choose influencers who are well-respected in your niche and whose followers align with your target audience.
Build a Relationship: Engage with their content on social media or their blogs. Genuine interaction can build rapport before you make a direct outreach.
Craft a Personalized Proposal: When reaching out, personalize your message. Show that you're familiar with their work and explain how a collaboration could benefit them and their audience.
Offer Value: Propose specific collaboration ideas like guest interviews, product reviews, or co-created content that will be of interest to their followers.
Be Clear About Expectations: Clearly communicate what you are seeking, such as a backlink to your site, but also focus on how the collaboration is mutually beneficial.
Provide High-Quality Content: If the collaboration involves content creation, ensure it's high-quality, informative, and aligns with the influencer's style and audience preferences.
Follow Up Politely: If you don't hear back initially, a polite follow-up can be effective. However, respect their decision if they are not interested.
Promote Collaborative Content: Once published, promote the content on your channels as well to maximize its reach and impact.
Maintain the Relationship: Keep in touch with the influencer after the collaboration for potential future opportunities.
Remember, successful influencer outreach is about building genuine relationships and creating win-win situations for both you and the influencer.
8. Internal linking
Internal linking is a crucial aspect of SEO that helps distribute page authority and improve user navigation on your site. Here's a concise guide to optimizing your internal linking structure:
Use Relevant Anchor Text: Choose anchor texts that are relevant to the target page. This helps both users and search engines understand the context of the link.
Link High-Value Pages: Prioritize linking from your high-traffic or high-authority pages to pages that need a boost in visibility.
Create Content Hubs: Organize related content into clusters and link them together. This not only improves user experience but also helps search engines understand the relationship between pages.
Avoid Excessive Links: Keep the number of links on a page reasonable. Too many links can dilute the value passed to each link and overwhelm users.
Update Old Content: Add links to your newer pages from relevant older content. This keeps your older content fresh and relevant.
Ensure Natural Flow: Links should fit naturally into the content and add value to the user’s experience. Avoid forcing links where they don’t logically belong.
Use a Logical Structure: Your website should have a clear, logical structure, with main categories and subcategories. Internal linking should reflect this structure.
Audit and Remove Broken Links: Regularly check for and fix or remove any broken internal links.
Utilize Footer and Sidebar Links Wisely: Use these areas for linking to important pages like your contact page, top products, or services.
Monitor Internal Linking: Use tools like Google Analytics and Ahrefs to analyze the impact of your internal linking strategy and make adjustments as needed.
Effective internal linking not only helps with SEO but also enhances the overall user experience, leading to better engagement and potentially higher conversions.
9. Regularly updating content
Regularly updating content is key to maintaining its relevance and attractiveness for backlinks. Here's a brief guide on how to do it effectively:
Audit Your Content: Periodically review your existing content to identify pieces that need updates, especially those on topics that are ever-evolving.
Update Facts and Statistics: Refresh outdated statistics and facts with the most recent data to maintain accuracy and credibility.
Incorporate Current Trends: Modify content to reflect current trends, developments, or changes in your industry.
Improve SEO: Update keywords, meta tags, and descriptions to improve the content’s search engine visibility.
Enhance Readability: Revise content to improve clarity, readability, and engagement. This can include adding images, videos, or infographics.
Promote Updated Content: Share the updated content on social media and other platforms to inform your audience about the fresh, revised material.
Link to Newer Content: Add links within the updated content to newer, relevant pages on your site to strengthen internal linking.
Monitor Performance: Track the performance of updated content to understand its impact on traffic, engagement, and backlink acquisition.
Regular Schedule: Establish a regular schedule for content reviews and updates to ensure consistency.
Respond to User Feedback: Incorporate user feedback or comments into your updates to make the content more user-centric and valuable.
Regular content updates not only help in attracting new backlinks but also improve user experience and engagement on your website.
10. Participating in forums and online communities
Participating in forums and online communities can be an effective way to gain natural backlinks and establish authority in your niche. Here's a concise guide on how to do this effectively:
Identify Relevant Communities: Find forums and online communities where your target audience and industry peers are active. These could include platforms like Reddit, Quora, industry-specific forums, and LinkedIn groups.
Create a Genuine Profile: Set up your profile with relevant details about your expertise and interests. Avoid making it overly promotional.
Provide Value: Engage in conversations by providing insightful, helpful answers and advice. Your contributions should add value to the discussions.
Share Your Content Thoughtfully: If a discussion naturally allows for it, share your content as a resource. Ensure it’s directly relevant and useful to the topic at hand.
Be Consistent: Regular participation is key. Being consistently helpful builds your reputation over time.
Avoid Spamming: Don't over-promote your content or website. Excessive self-promotion can lead to negative reactions and even bans from communities.
Build Relationships: Interact with other users, reply to comments on your posts, and become an active member of the community.
Stay Up-to-Date: Keep abreast of trending topics in these forums to provide timely and relevant contributions.
Engage in Q&A: Actively participate in Q&A sessions if available. Answering questions related to your niche can establish you as an authority.
Respect Community Rules: Adhere to the guidelines and etiquette of each community.
By being an active and valuable community member, you can naturally encourage others to explore your content and link back to it when they find it relevant and authoritative.
Wrapping Up
Ahrefs remains one of the widely used tools in achieving optimal SEO results. Its dependence on big data sets it apart from the competition and this will likely not end soon. Here, we have discussed what the URL Rating (UR) and Domain Rating (DR) are. Also, practical ways on how to increase Ahrefs UR and DR metrics have been discussed. These are only some of Ahrefs’ metrics used by SEO professionals and creatives in taking their rank to the next level. This great SEO resource will keep meeting the demands of internet users for the foreseeable future.