Check if a website might be seen as spam
Before working with any website - whether you're buying links, reviewing partnerships, or checking competitors - you need to know if search engines trust it. Our tool uses Moz's metrics to give you insight into potential quality signals. These metrics, while not directly used by search engines, can help guide your decisions.
Understanding Moz metrics
The scores shown in our tool come from Moz, a respected SEO software company. It's important to understand that these are third-party metrics based on Moz's own data and calculations - they're not official Google rankings or direct search engine signals. While valuable for comparison and analysis, they should be used as one of many tools in your evaluation process.
Moz calculates these metrics using their own algorithms and databases, which analyze billions of web pages and search results. Their scores can help identify patterns and potential issues, but shouldn't be taken as absolute measures. Think of them as useful indicators rather than definitive ratings.
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Domain Authority (DA)
Domain Authority is Moz's prediction of how likely a site is to rank in search results, scored from 1 to 100. This proprietary score looks at multiple factors including the quality of backlinks, domain age, and overall site performance. While not a Google metric, DA has proven useful for comparing sites within the same industry.
A site's DA builds up over time through good practices and quality connections. New sites start low and gain authority as they prove themselves with good content and legitimate backlinks. Remember that DA is most useful when comparing similar sites, as scores can vary significantly between different industries and business types.
Page Authority (PA)
While Domain Authority looks at entire websites, Page Authority is Moz's metric for individual pages. This granular view helps you understand which specific pages might perform well in search results, according to Moz's calculations. PA considers factors like internal linking, content quality, and page-specific signals.
Understanding PA helps you identify your strongest content and spot opportunities for improvement. A page might have high PA even on a domain with average DA, or vice versa. While not a direct ranking factor, PA can guide your content strategy and optimization efforts.
Spam Score
Moz's Spam Score shows the percentage of similar sites that have faced Google penalties. This metric works like a risk assessment tool, analyzing patterns Moz has identified in penalized websites. A score between 1-30% suggests low risk, while anything above 60% warrants careful investigation.
The score comes from analyzing 27 different signals that Moz has found often appear in penalized sites. While having some of these signals doesn't guarantee problems, a high number of them suggests patterns similar to sites that have faced penalties. Use this score as a guide for further investigation rather than a definitive measure of site quality.
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Using metrics responsibly
While Moz's metrics provide valuable insights, they shouldn't be your only decision-making factor. Always combine these scores with:
- Your own site analysis
- User experience evaluation
- Content quality assessment
- Technical SEO audits
- Business performance data
Remember that Moz updates their metrics regularly, and scores can change as their algorithms evolve. What matters most is the overall trend and context of these numbers rather than specific scores at any given time.
Frequently asked questions
What's a good spam score?
Generally, you want to see scores under 30% for sites you work with. This low range suggests the site follows good practices and avoids risky behavior. However, context matters - some legitimate sites might score higher due to technical issues or industry-specific factors.
When evaluating a score, look at the site's overall quality and business practices. A slightly higher score might be acceptable if the site otherwise demonstrates strong authority and good user experience. The key is understanding why the score is what it is and whether those factors pose real risks.
Can spam scores change?
Yes, spam scores are dynamic and update as websites evolve. Improving site quality, fixing technical issues, and building legitimate backlinks can all help lower a high spam score over time. Similarly, neglecting a site or engaging in risky practices can cause scores to increase.
This flexibility means that even sites with high scores can improve through dedicated effort. It typically takes several months of consistent improvements to see significant changes, as search engines need time to recognize and trust these changes.
Why check Domain Authority too?
Domain Authority provides crucial context that spam scores alone can't show. While spam scores highlight potential risks, DA shows the positive aspects of a site's influence and trustworthiness. Together, these metrics help you understand both the strengths and weaknesses of a website.
Consider DA like a positive credit score and spam scores like risk factors. A site with high DA and low spam scores likely represents a strong, trustworthy partner. Conversely, low DA with high spam scores might indicate fundamental problems that need addressing.
How often should I check these metrics?
Regular monitoring helps you spot trends and address issues early. For your own sites, monthly checks help track progress and identify potential problems before they become serious. When evaluating potential partnerships or acquisitions, always check current scores as part of your due diligence.
Remember that sudden changes in these metrics might indicate larger issues that need attention. Setting up regular monitoring helps you maintain site health and respond quickly to any concerning changes. For competitors, quarterly checks usually suffice to keep track of market trends.
What causes high spam scores?
High spam scores usually result from a combination of factors rather than a single issue. Poor content quality, technical problems, and suspicious linking patterns often work together to raise red flags. Sites might accumulate these signals through neglect, aggressive SEO tactics, or simply not following best practices.
Understanding what causes high scores helps you avoid similar problems. Common factors include thin content, missing contact information, technical issues like broken SSL certificates, and suspicious domain patterns. Many of these issues can be fixed with dedicated effort and attention to best practices.