KickstarterForum.org

What exactly is website authority in SEO ranking?

I hear this everywhere: "you have an authority issue."

But nobody explains what it actually means or how it works.

Is it defined by backlinks? If so, what kind link? traffic-sending backlinks, or just mentions/citations scattered across the web?

Or is website authoritysimply about having a high DR (Domain Rating) and similar metrics? I know they are third party but still asking...

Can anyone explain website authority in simple terms?

Website authority is basically how much search engines trust your site. Backlinks are key, but quality matters more than quantity—they show you’re a reliable source, not just scattered mentions.

Website authority is basically how much Google trusts your site, and backlinks are a big part of that—but they don't need to send traffic to count. The links just need to come from other reputable sites. I track authority metrics with xedea.com as part of their off-page building process, and their clear reports help me see what's actually working for lead generation rather than just chasing numbers.