Page Authority
Quick Definition
Page Authority (PA) is a Moz metric that predicts how well a specific page will rank in search results. It ranges from 1 to 100 and is based on the page's backlink profile, content quality, and other signals.
Why It Matters
While Domain Authority measures the strength of an entire website, Page Authority focuses on individual page strength. This distinction matters because not every page on a high-DA site is equally powerful. A well-linked blog post on a DA 50 site might have higher PA than a buried page on a DA 80 site. PA helps you evaluate specific link opportunities more accurately.
Real-World Example
You are deciding between two guest post opportunities. Site A has DA 70 but the page your link will appear on has PA 25 (low-traffic archive page). Site B has DA 45 but the page your link will appear on has PA 55 (their most popular resource page with many backlinks). The PA 55 page on Site B will likely pass more link equity to your site.
Signal Connection
Trust -- Page Authority reflects the trust accumulated by a specific page through its own backlinks and engagement signals. A high-PA page has earned trust from multiple sources, making any link from it a stronger endorsement.
Pro Tip
When evaluating backlink opportunities, check both DA and PA. A link from a high-PA page on a moderate-DA site is often more valuable than a link from a low-PA page on a high-DA site. Use MozBar or Ahrefs URL Rating to quickly assess page-level authority.
Common Mistake
Assuming that every page on a high-DA website has high Page Authority. Authority is not evenly distributed across a site. New pages, orphan pages, and deep pages often have very low PA even on authoritative domains. Always check page-level metrics before pursuing a backlink.
Test Your Knowledge
How does Page Authority differ from Domain Authority?
Show Answer
Answer: B. Page Authority measures the ranking strength of a single page rather than the entire domain
Domain Authority predicts the ranking potential of an entire domain, while Page Authority predicts the ranking potential of a specific individual page. Both are Moz metrics, but PA is more granular and useful for evaluating specific backlink opportunities.