How to Increase Domain Rating for a New Website (An Honest Guide)

Every new website starts with a Domain Rating of 0. That can feel discouraging when competitors show DR 50 or 70 — but DR is a lagging signal of links you've earned, and there are honest ways to grow it from day one.

What Domain Rating is (and isn't)

Domain Rating is a metric from Ahrefs that estimates the strength of a website's backlink profile on a scale from 0 to 100. It's logarithmic: going from 10 to 20 is much easier than going from 60 to 70.

Important points:

• DR is not a Google ranking factor. Google uses its own signals; DR is a third-party estimate.
• It's still a useful proxy: sites with strong, relevant backlinks tend to find it easier to rank.
• DR depends on the number of unique linking domains and their own strength — one link from a strong site can be worth more than dozens from weak ones.

Why new sites sit at 0

No other sites link to you yet, so there's nothing to measure. The fix isn't a trick; it's getting real websites to link to yours.

1. Launch on platforms that link to your site

Launch platforms and product directories are the easiest early links for a new product, because linking to new products is their whole purpose.

• LaunchStall gives every live launch a permanent product page with a followed backlink — on free launches while our badge stays on your site, and always on Premium.
• Pick a few relevant launch platforms and niche directories rather than hundreds of random ones. Our directory guide explains how to choose.

2. Publish content people want to cite

Links follow usefulness. Content that tends to earn links:

• Original data — even a small survey or an analysis of your own (anonymised) usage.
• Free tools and templates — calculators, checklists, generators.
• Definitive guides to a narrow problem in your niche.

3. Get mentioned where your audience reads

• Offer expert quotes to journalists and newsletter writers in your space.
• Write guest posts for blogs your customers read (for the audience, not just the link).
• Appear on podcasts; show notes usually link to your site.

4. Turn existing mentions into links

Search for your brand name. When someone mentions you without linking, a polite note asking them to add a link often works.

5. Build relationships with the tools you integrate with

Integration directories, partner pages and "built with" showcases from tools you integrate with are relevant, trusted links.

What to avoid

• Buying links in bulk or joining link networks — risky, and the value rarely lasts.
• Spammy directory blasts — hundreds of low-quality links add little and can look unnatural.
• Obsessing over the number. DR follows good marketing; it isn't the goal itself.

Dofollow vs nofollow

A followed (dofollow) link passes ranking signals; a nofollow link tells search engines not to treat it as an endorsement. Since 2019, Google treats nofollow as a "hint", and nofollow links still send visitors and brand awareness. A natural profile has both.

How long does it take?

With consistent effort — a few launches, a dozen relevant directories and one link-worthy piece of content a month — many new sites reach a DR in the teens or twenties within a few months. Strong content and PR take you further.

You can watch our own progress on the LaunchStall Domain Rating page — we started at 0 too. And when you're ready, launch your product to earn your first followed link.