How to Check Domain Rating History: Overview
Domain rating history shows how your DR score has changed over time, helping you understand the impact of your link building efforts and identify trends. Tracking DR history is essential for measuring SEO progress, correlating DR changes with ranking improvements, and making data-driven decisions about your link building strategy.
Ahrefs stores historical Domain Rating data going back several years, allowing you to see when your DR increased or decreased and correlate those changes with your SEO activities. This historical perspective is invaluable for understanding what strategies work and what doesn't.
This guide covers multiple methods to check domain rating history: using Ahrefs built-in historical data, manual tracking methods, API access, and other tools. You'll also learn how to analyze DR trends and use historical data to improve your link building strategy.
How to Check Domain Rating History in Ahrefs
Ahrefs is the best tool for checking domain rating history because they created the DR metric and store comprehensive historical data. Here's how to access DR history in Ahrefs:
Method 1: Site Explorer Overview
Step 1: Go to Ahrefs Site Explorer and enter the domain you want to check.
Step 2: Navigate to the "Overview" tab (default view).
Step 3: Scroll to the "Domain Rating" section, which shows your current DR score.
Step 4: Click on the DR score or the chart icon next to it to view historical data.
Step 5: The historical view shows a graph of DR changes over time, with data points for each DR update cycle (typically every 3-4 weeks).
Method 2: Historical Data Export
Step 1: In Site Explorer, go to the "Overview" tab.
Step 2: Find the "Domain Rating" section and look for export options.
Step 3: Export historical DR data to CSV or Excel format.
Step 4: Import the data into a spreadsheet to create custom charts and analyze trends.
This method is useful for detailed analysis, creating custom reports, and tracking DR alongside other metrics like referring domains or organic traffic.
Method 3: Ahrefs API for Historical Data
For developers and automated tracking, Ahrefs API provides programmatic access to historical DR data:
- Use the historical metrics endpoint to retrieve DR data over time
- Set up automated scripts to track DR history regularly
- Integrate historical DR data into your own tools and dashboards
- Create custom alerts for DR changes
API access requires an Ahrefs subscription and provides the most flexible way to track and analyze domain rating history programmatically.
Tracking domain rating history helps you measure the impact of your link building efforts and identify trends over time.
Other Tools for Checking Domain Rating History
While Ahrefs is the primary source for DR history, other tools can help you track domain authority metrics over time:
Moz Domain Authority History
Moz provides historical Domain Authority (DA) data, which is similar to DR but uses a different algorithm. While not the same as DR history, DA history can provide insights into domain authority trends. Moz's Link Explorer shows DA trends over time, and you can export historical DA data for analysis.
SEMrush Authority Score History
SEMrush tracks Authority Score history, another domain authority metric. While different from DR, it can help you understand authority trends. SEMrush provides historical data in their Domain Overview tool, showing Authority Score changes over time.
Custom Tracking Spreadsheets
Create your own domain rating history tracker using spreadsheets:
- Set up a spreadsheet with columns for date, DR score, referring domains
- Record DR scores monthly (when Ahrefs updates)
- Create charts to visualize DR trends
- Add notes about link building activities to correlate with DR changes
This manual method is free and gives you complete control over how you track and analyze DR history.
Third-Party SEO Dashboards
Some SEO dashboard tools integrate Ahrefs data and provide historical DR tracking features. These tools can aggregate DR history alongside other SEO metrics, making it easier to see correlations between DR changes and ranking performance.
Manual Tracking Methods for Domain Rating History
If you don't have access to Ahrefs historical data, you can manually track domain rating history:
Monthly DR Checks: Set a monthly reminder to check your DR score in Ahrefs (free tools or paid). Record the date and DR score in a spreadsheet. Over time, you'll build your own historical database. This method is free but requires discipline to maintain consistently.
Spreadsheet Tracking: Create a spreadsheet with columns for: Date, DR Score, Referring Domains, Backlinks, Notes. Update it monthly after each Ahrefs DR update cycle. Use spreadsheet charts to visualize trends. This gives you a custom view of your DR history tailored to your needs.
Correlate with Activities: In your tracking spreadsheet, add a column for link building activities. Note when you launched campaigns, earned major backlinks, or made significant changes. This helps you understand which activities correlate with DR increases, making your historical data actionable.
Track Leading Indicators: While DR updates monthly, referring domains count updates more frequently. Track referring domains weekly as a leading indicator—if referring domains increase, DR will likely follow in the next update cycle. This gives you earlier feedback on your link building efforts.
Competitor Tracking: Track your competitors' DR history alongside your own. This helps you understand if DR changes are industry-wide trends or specific to your site. If competitors' DR increases while yours decreases, it indicates you're falling behind and need to accelerate link building.
How to Analyze Domain Rating History and Trends
Simply checking domain rating history isn't enough—you need to analyze the data to extract actionable insights:
Identify Trends: Look for patterns in your DR history. Is your DR consistently increasing, decreasing, or stable? Steady increases indicate effective link building. Sudden drops may indicate lost backlinks or penalties. Understanding trends helps you adjust your strategy.
Correlate with Activities: Compare DR changes with your link building activities. Did DR increase after a specific campaign? Which strategies correlate with DR growth? This analysis helps you identify what works and double down on successful tactics.
Measure Campaign Impact: Use DR history to measure the impact of specific link building campaigns. If you launched a campaign in January and DR increased in February, that campaign likely contributed to the growth. Track which campaigns deliver the best DR improvements.
Compare to Competitors: Analyze competitors' DR history alongside your own. Are you gaining or losing ground? If competitors' DR is increasing faster, you may need to accelerate your link building efforts. Competitive analysis provides context for your own DR trends.
Set Realistic Goals: Use historical DR trends to set realistic goals. If your DR increased 5 points over 6 months, aiming for 10 points in 3 months may be unrealistic. Historical data helps you set achievable targets based on past performance.
Identify Issues Early: DR history can help you identify problems early. If DR starts decreasing, investigate lost backlinks or potential penalties immediately. Early detection allows you to address issues before they significantly impact your SEO performance.
Analyzing domain rating history helps you understand which link building strategies are most effective and identify areas for improvement.
How to Check Domain Rating History FAQ
How do I check domain rating history?
To check domain rating history, use Ahrefs Site Explorer: (1) Enter the domain, (2) Go to the 'Overview' tab, (3) Scroll to the 'Domain Rating' section, (4) Click on the DR score to view historical data and trends. Ahrefs provides historical DR data showing changes over time, typically going back several months or years depending on your subscription plan.
Can I see domain rating history for free?
Ahrefs free tools provide limited historical data. The free Ahrefs Webmaster Tools shows basic DR information but limited historical trends. For comprehensive domain rating history, you'll need an Ahrefs paid subscription. Some browser extensions may show current DR but not historical data. Free alternatives include manually tracking DR scores over time using spreadsheets.
How far back does domain rating history go?
Ahrefs stores domain rating history going back several years, but the exact timeframe depends on your subscription plan. Basic plans may show 6-12 months of history, while higher-tier plans can show 2+ years of historical DR data. Historical data is updated whenever Ahrefs recalculates DR (approximately every 3-4 weeks).
How do I track domain rating changes over time?
To track domain rating changes: (1) Use Ahrefs historical data feature to view DR trends, (2) Export DR data regularly and track in a spreadsheet, (3) Set up monthly reminders to record DR scores, (4) Use Ahrefs API to programmatically track DR history, (5) Monitor referring domains count as a leading indicator. Consistent tracking helps you measure the impact of your link building efforts.
What does domain rating history tell me?
Domain rating history shows: (1) Whether your DR is increasing, decreasing, or stable over time, (2) The impact of your link building campaigns, (3) Correlation between DR changes and SEO performance, (4) Seasonal trends or patterns, (5) Recovery from penalties or link loss. Historical data helps you understand what strategies are working and identify areas for improvement.
Can I export domain rating history data?
Yes, Ahrefs allows you to export domain rating history data. In Site Explorer, you can export historical DR data to CSV or Excel format. This enables you to analyze trends in spreadsheet tools, create custom charts, and track DR changes over time. Ahrefs API also provides programmatic access to historical DR data for automated tracking and analysis.
How often should I check domain rating history?
Check domain rating history monthly, as DR updates approximately every 3-4 weeks. Monthly checks are sufficient because DR doesn't change daily—it only updates when Ahrefs recalculates scores. More frequent checks won't show new data. However, track referring domains count weekly as a leading indicator, since it updates more frequently than DR.
Why is my domain rating history showing a decrease?
Domain rating can decrease due to: (1) Loss of backlinks from high-DR domains, (2) Competitors earning more quality backlinks (relative decrease), (3) Penalties affecting referring domains, (4) Natural link decay, (5) Changes in Ahrefs' algorithm. Analyze your backlink profile to identify lost links and focus on earning new quality backlinks to recover.
Need Help Increasing Your Domain Rating?
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