Why SEO Metrics Matter for Backlinks
When investing in backlinks or guest posts, it’s important to know you’re getting real value. SEOs often rely on metrics like:
- Moz’s Domain Authority (DA)
- Ahrefs’ Domain Rating (DR)
- SEMRush’s Authority Score
- Majestic’s Trust Flow and Citation Flow
The challenge is that these metrics aren’t equal, and choosing the wrong ones can leave you paying for backlinks that don’t index, don’t drive traffic, and don’t improve your rankings.
The Problem With DA and DR
Moz DA and Ahrefs DR are the most widely used metrics, but they’re also the easiest to manipulate. Many low-quality link sellers build private blog networks (PBNs) or repurpose expired domains to artificially inflate their DA and DR scores.
The problem is that DA and DR don’t factor in real organic traffic. A site can have DA 60 or DR 70, but still:
- Generate very little organic traffic.
- Be penalised or devalued by Google.
- Struggle to index new guest posts, making your backlink effectively invisible.
Paying high prices for DA/DR-based links on low-traffic websites is one of the most common ways businesses waste their SEO budgets.
Where Majestic’s Metrics Fit In
Majestic measures websites using Trust Flow (TF) and Citation Flow (CF), scoring link quality and link volume. In theory, high Trust Flow indicates strong backlinks from relevant, authoritative sources, while Citation Flow measures the quantity of links.
However, Majestic’s metrics can also be manipulated. Low-quality link sellers often build artificial backlinks to inflate TF and CF, creating the illusion of authority without genuine organic performance.
And just like DA and DR, Majestic doesn’t factor in organic traffic or Google indexing. A high TF/CF site can still be:
- Devalued by Google.
- Missing from search results.
- Failing to index your guest posts.
Why SEMRush Authority Score Is More Reliable
SEMRush’s Authority Score is harder to manipulate because it factors in real organic traffic and visibility.
It analyses:
- Organic search traffic volumes.
- A site’s visibility in Google search results.
- The quality of referring domains.
- Signals of spammy or artificial link-building.
Websites with inflated DA/DR/TF but no organic visibility will typically have a much lower SEMRush Authority Score. That’s your clearest sign that these sites won’t deliver genuine SEO value.
Why Articles That Don’t Index Are a Waste of Money
If a guest post doesn’t get indexed in Google, it can’t pass PageRank or improve your rankings. Google simply treats it as though it doesn’t exist.
This problem is common with low-quality websites sold by DA, DR, and TF-based link sellers. Despite their impressive-looking metrics, these sites often:
- Have minimal or no organic traffic.
- Are penalised or devalued.
- Struggle to get new content indexed.
For a deeper dive, check out our full guide on why articles that don’t index in Google kill your SEO.
Why Premium Links Focuses on Genuine SEO Value
At Premium Links, we take a publisher-first, traffic-driven approach that avoids vanity metrics and prioritises real results. Here’s how we do it:
- We work directly with genuine publishers who generate real organic traffic.
- Our flat pricing model is based on the publisher’s actual cost, not inflated metrics.
- We secure placements where content indexes reliably in Google.
- We focus on long-term SEO value and sustainable rankings.
Because we carefully vet every site, your backlinks actually index, pass authority, and drive meaningful results.
Flexible Approach, Educated Clients
With all that being said, Premium Links is happy to work with whatever metrics you prefer: whether that’s DA, DR, Trust Flow, or SEMRush Authority Score.
However, we take a great deal of pride in our work and enjoy educating our clients on how to get the best value for their investment.
By helping you understand which placements are most effective, we make sure your SEO strategy delivers stronger, safer, and longer-lasting results.
How to Use SEO Metrics the Right Way
When evaluating backlink opportunities, here’s the smarter approach:
- Prioritise SEMRush Authority Score: it factors in real traffic and visibility.
- Check indexing: ensure the site’s content appears in Google search results.
- Cross-reference multiple metrics: DA, DR, and Trust Flow can provide context, but don’t rely on them exclusively.
- Focus on organic performance: genuine traffic beats vanity scores every time.
By combining these steps with Premium Links’ expertise, you build a healthier backlink profile and achieve better long-term rankings.
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DA, DR, and Majestic Trust Flow are useful signals, but they’re easily manipulated and often misleading without traffic data.
SEMRush’s Authority Score gives a more accurate reflection of SEO value, and Premium Links goes further by working directly with real publishers whose content indexes properly and drives results.
If you want backlinks that index, bring real traffic, and improve rankings, Premium Links is the smarter, safer choice.
