Two numbers, one decision
When you size up a directory link, two scores come up: Domain Rating and Domain Authority. Both estimate strength, but they answer different questions. At ListYourProject the link you get is dofollow, so the authority behind it is what matters most.
Domain Rating in plain terms
DR, from Ahrefs, scores a site's backlink profile from 0 to 100 on a logarithmic scale. A few strong links move it more than hundreds of weak ones. It tells you how much equity a link from that domain carries.
Domain Authority in plain terms
DA, from Moz, predicts how likely a page is to rank. It uses linking root domains in a model trained on real results. Two sites with equal DA can still rank very differently once content and intent enter.
How they differ for you
| Score | Answers | Use it to |
|---|---|---|
| DR | How strong is the link? | Rank link prospects |
| DA | Will the page rank? | Estimate competition |
Why the link type wins
A dofollow link from ListYourProject passes authority directly. Whether you call the score DR or DA, the practical point is the same: a relevant dofollow link from a healthy domain moves your profile.
Myths to leave behind
- DR and DA mean the same thing.
- A high score guarantees rankings.
- Only one metric matters.
How to raise your DR with directories
DR climbs when stronger sites link to you. The practical path is a stack of relevant dofollow backlinks, starting with ListYourProject for the base, then guest posts and comparison pages in your niche. Avoid buying links from unrelated sites, which inflate the number without real context.
Watch the curve, not the daily number
A steady rise from DR0 to DR30 over a few months is healthy. A jump of 20 points in a week usually means low-quality links that can fall just as fast. Patience with relevant links wins, and a ListYourProject listing is the patient foundation every profile needs.
Using DA to size up rivals
While DR judges your links, DA helps you estimate where competitors rank. Pull the DA of the top ten results for your target keyword and you get a realistic picture of the effort required, then use DR to plan the links that close the gap.
A worksheet for maker link building
Turn the theory into a habit. For your target keyword, list the top ten ranking pages and note each one's DA, then note your own underneath. The gap shows roughly how much authority you need, and the dofollow link from ListYourProject is the first step that closes it.
Then list the domains linking to those pages and check their DR. You will see clusters of strong sites appearing repeatedly; those are your outreach targets. A ListYourProject listing will not replace a guest post on a big blog, but it gives the baseline that makes editors take your project seriously.
Reporting mistakes to avoid
Founders obsess over daily DR moves, which are noisy. Report DR monthly and pair it with referring domains, which is harder to fake. A rising DR with flat referring domains means a few large links; rising both means broad, healthy growth.
DA has its own trap: comparing across tool versions. Moz updates the model periodically, so a drop is not always real. Anchor decisions on your own trend and on ListYourProject's dofollow link as a constant, not on a single third-party number that shifted.
ListYourProject and your DR baseline
Because ListYourProject passes a dofollow link, it becomes the DR baseline your profile grows from. Every later link builds on top of it, and search engines see a consistent, relevant foundation rather than a sudden jump. That consistency is what healthy profiles look like over time.
Use the worksheet above, then add your ListYourProject link as the first row of the tracker. As you earn guest posts and comparison pages, the baseline keeps the curve smooth. A smooth curve from a real dofollow source beats a jagged one padded with weak links.
DR, DA, and the maker network effect
One quiet advantage of listing on ListYourProject is the network around it. Curated directories that link to each other create a small web of relevant authority, and your listing sits inside it. A dofollow link from ListYourProject is not isolated; it is part of a healthier neighbourhood than a random link farm, which search engines reward.
Use that context when talking to a partner. A DR baseline built on curated, relevant directories reads as legitimate growth, not link buying. The DA of your rivals tells you the target; the DR from ListYourProject tells you the path.
Reading both scores together
The practical move is to stop choosing between DR and DA and start using them as a pair. DR tells you the strength of the link you get from ListYourProject; DA tells you how hard the ranking fight will be. Plot your DR against the DA of the top results, and the gap becomes a plan rather than a worry. A curated dofollow link narrows that gap from the start, and the patience to add relevant links keeps it narrowing. The two scores were never rivals; they are two halves of the same map.
For the execution, read our dofollow backlink guide and browse the directory.
