Guest blogging has now become the foundation of digital PR and SEO tactics. It’s a good method to create backlinks, enhance visibility, and push relevant traffic. But as the demand for high-authority backlinks increased, so did the incidence of websites misrepresenting Domain Authority (DA) and Page Authority (PA) metrics to trick link buyers. Unless you are cautious, you may spend precious time and budget on links that never bring any SEO benefit.
Here’s how to identify fake DA/PA and make better guest posting choices—particularly if you’re using a reliable platform like QuickPR, which introduces you to real high-authority publishers.
Don’t Rely Exclusively on Moz’s DA and PA
Though DA and PA are good metrics developed by Moz, they’re not applied by Google in ranking websites. DA is a projection of how probable a site is to rank on search engines, and it can be manipulated. Some tools that guarantee high DA links may prioritize boosting numbers rather than actual authority.
Tip: Always cross-verify DA with other indicators like organic traffic, backlink profile, and trust flow.
Apply Traffic Validation Tools
Semi-legitimate high-DA sites usually possess little to no organic traffic. That is a warning sign. Software such as Ahrefs, SEMrush, or SimilarWeb can provide you with a picture of true visitor figures. If a site purports to possess DA 70 but only reflects 300 visitors/month, you should be cautious.
At QuickPR, each publisher is screened not just for DA but for actual traffic and domain trust, so your backlinks are an investment well worth making.
Inspect Spam Score and Link Profile
Moz also gives a spam score. DA 50 site with more than 10% spam score warrants attention. Check using Majestic and Ahrefs wherein the backlinks are originating. A natural link profile has links from an assortment of niches and domains—not thousands of links from forum and comment spam.
Search for PBN Signals (Private Blog Networks)
Fake guest post opportunities typically reside on PBNs—networks of websites built specifically for link spam. Some of the giveaways include:
Thin content throughout the site
No genuine social presence
Generic blog names and topics
Similar backlink footprints
Instead, use PR services that push your brand through real publisher relationships. QuickPR does this with transparent pricing and an editorial guarantee.
Review Publishing Frequency and Quality
True authority sites never release 50+ articles per day coming from non-relevant niches. Overposting usually indicates a link farm. Look out for true editorial standards, quality of content, writer bios, and internal linking policies.
QuickPRguarantees you get published on websites prioritizing quality over quantity, assisting you in establishing permanent domain equity.
In guest posting, not every backlink is the same. Bogus DA/PA values can take you down a rabbit hole of wasted budget and zero SEO return. By looking at traffic, link profiles, and site integrity—and working with vetted platforms like QuickPR—you can protect your plan and create links that actually count.
If you’re looking to scale your link-building efforts the right way, explore vetted guest posting services on QuickPR today.