Moz's score predicting how well a specific page will rank, based on the page's link profile and other factors.
Page Authority is Moz's proprietary metric that predicts how likely a specific webpage is to rank well in search results. Scored on a logarithmic scale from 1 to 100, PA analyzes the strength and quality of links pointing to an individual page, along with other ranking factors. Unlike Domain Authority which measures an entire website's strength, Page Authority focuses exclusively on a single page's ranking potential.
Moz developed Page Authority as a way to estimate Google's PageRank algorithm, though it incorporates modern ranking signals that extend beyond Google's original link-based scoring system. The metric serves as a comparative tool rather than an absolute ranking predictor, making it most valuable when benchmarking pages against competitors or tracking authority changes over time.
Why It Matters for AI SEO
Page Authority remains relevant in the AI era because search engines still rely heavily on link signals to determine authority and trustworthiness. While AI systems like RankBrain and BERT have sophisticated content understanding capabilities, they use Page Authority-style signals to validate whether a page deserves to rank for competitive queries. High-authority pages are more likely to be featured in AI-generated answers and snippets. AI content creators often overlook the authority component of ranking, focusing purely on content optimization. However, pages with higher PA scores tend to rank faster for new content and maintain rankings more consistently during algorithm updates. This makes Page Authority particularly important for programmatic SEO strategies where you're publishing content at scale.
How It Works
Page Authority calculates scores using over 40 factors, with link quality and quantity being the primary drivers. High-quality backlinks from authoritative domains contribute more to PA than numerous low-quality links. Internal linking structure also influences the score, as pages receiving more internal links typically show higher authority. To improve Page Authority, focus on earning links from high-authority domains in your industry. Tools like Ahrefs and Majestic provide similar metrics (URL Rating and Citation Flow respectively) that can validate PA improvements. Monitor PA changes monthly rather than daily, as the metric updates relatively slowly and can fluctuate based on Moz's algorithm adjustments.
Common Mistakes
Many SEO practitioners obsess over achieving specific PA scores without understanding that it's a relative metric. A PA of 30 might be excellent for a niche industry page but poor for a competitive commercial keyword. Additionally, some focus exclusively on building external links while ignoring internal linking opportunities that can efficiently distribute authority throughout their site.