Definition
A referring domain is a unique website linking to yours, so ten links from one site count as ten backlinks but only one referring domain.
Referring domain explained
Backlink tools report both numbers because they tell different stories. A site can have a large backlink count simply because one partner links to it from every page footer. The number of distinct, relevant domains linking to you is usually a better indicator of how widely your content is referenced.
When reviewing referring domains, look at:
- Growth over time: steady growth from real sites is healthy; sudden spikes from unrelated sites can be a warning sign.
- Relevance: domains in your industry or audience matter more than generic ones.
- Quality: sites with real traffic and editorial standards versus link farms.
- Which pages they link to: are your key commercial pages supported, or only the homepage?
Comparing your referring domains with competitors' is one of the most useful link-building exercises. Sites that link to several competitors but not to you are often the most realistic targets.
Example
Your brand has thousands of backlinks, but most come from a handful of partner sites' footers. A competitor has fewer backlinks from many more referring domains across industry blogs and news sites, which helps explain why it outranks you.
Why it matters
The breadth of sites vouching for you is a better measure of authority than raw link counts, and a clearer guide to link-building progress.
Related service
Link Building
Editorial links and mentions from relevant publications, earned with research and digital PR.
White-hat link building servicesPublished by Vidern, founded and led by Malhar Shah. Updated .
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Related terms
- BacklinkA backlink is a link from another site to yours; relevant, editorial backlinks tell search engines that others vouch for your content.
- Domain AuthorityDomain Authority is a third-party score from Moz, with similar scores from other SEO tools, estimating how likely a domain is to rank based on its links.
- Digital PRDigital PR is earning coverage, links and brand mentions on news sites, industry publications and blogs through stories, data and expert commentary.
- Anchor textAnchor text is the visible, clickable text of a link, which tells readers and search engines what the linked page is about.