What is authority link?

5 replies
  • SEO
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I head that most of the guys are talking the word " get a backlink from authority site". What is "authority" site? How do we measure a "authority" site? Is it something based on PR or something else.....:confused:
How to identify a authority link? :confused:
#authority #link
  • Profile picture of the author mistermint
    Hi, IMO an authority site is one thats highly rated and ranked by the search engines as having authentic content and longevity. Not a kiss me quick site
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  • Profile picture of the author webmatic
    Authority link is more likely taken a solid site in the relevant niche. Having high PR probably Pr 5,6+ getting 1000's of unique visitors daily, 1000's of pages indexed by google, having original and unique content and getting high PR backlinks as well. Sometimes one of the above mentioned things are taken as authority link as well but these are the most important things people see in a good website and if the site got all of them then that's probably a great authority link
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  • Profile picture of the author Dano77
    Authority link is a general term I believe that Matt Cutts himself started saying.

    I think the high level meaning is like an "authority" in the niche.

    Like CNN is to the News niche.
    Like Wikipedia is to the Online Encyclopedia niche.

    Every market has a website that acts either directly or indirectly
    as the "hub" of that marketplace. The main website everyone knows
    the most authoritative.

    You gain that authority thru:
    - Branding (being known by everyone)
    - Age (being first on scene)
    - Content (having all the info)

    Branding, age and content generate links, which generate the PR5-6+
    algorithmically over time.

    That's my interpretation anyway.

    Dan
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  • Profile picture of the author Andy Fletcher
    "Authority" isn't an official term, so there are several different definitions of what it means in terms of backlinking.

    The general definition is a site with PR 6+ or someone might refer to a "weightloss authority site" for a site with PR 6+ that focuses on weightloss topics.

    Some people just use it to refer the niche a website is in. Eg "A weightloss authority site" as in a site with content targeted at the weightloss niche regardless of whether it actually has any real authority or not. Ie a type of site.
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    • Profile picture of the author dburk
      Hi Jimerson,

      When one refers to an authority link it implies that the linking site is recognized as an expert on a topic.

      While it might seem that PR is a sign of authority it is not necessarily true. A website that has high PR could be an authority on "tropical fish breeding" but if it links to a page about "auto insurance" it would not be an authority link for that auto insurance site. A page could have a very high PR but not be an authority on any one subject.

      The best way, in my opinion, to determine if a site has authority is see how it ranks on SERP. If it ranks #1 in results for a keyword then it has more relative authority than other sites for that same keyword.

      So when you understand what it takes to rank #1 you will understand what it takes to be an authority site. Take note that authority is a relevant term and applies to a specific topic, it does not transfer to unrelated topics.
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