Domain Rating Over Time

Last updated: July 14, 2025

Updated by: Ruan Marinho

What it is

Domain Rating Over Time tracks the authority of a website based on its backlink profile and how that score changes month to month. It’s used to measure the long-term growth of a site’s SEO strength and understand how link-building efforts are impacting performance. The report includes metrics like domain rating, total backlinks, referring domains, and spam score—all plotted over time.

How to use it

  1. Go to the Domain Rating Over Time section in your SplashDash dashboard.
  2. Enter the domain you want to run the report on.
  3. Click Submit to run the report.
  4. Review the domain rating trend line, see calculated traffic and other metrics.
  5. Share the report to sell or retail clients.

When to use it

In your sales process

Local SEO planning

Competitor benchmarking

When you don't have Google's tools

Domain valuation

For Marketing & Agency Use

This report is generated by analyzing a domain’s backlink data, including total links, referring domains, and link quality, then applying an authority scoring model to show trends over time. For agencies, it’s a simple, visual way to prove SEO momentum. When explaining to clients, focus on how domain rating is a proxy for authority and trust, and how your link-building or content efforts are helping move that score in the right direction. Use the timeline to connect specific efforts to upward movement.

Frequently asked questions

  • What input is needed to generate the report?

    Just the domain name, SplashDash does the rest.

  • What metrics are included in the report?

    Domain rating, total backlinks, referring domains, spam score, and link type distribution—all tracked over time.

  • How is the traffic data calculated?

    Traffic estimates are generated using AI models that factor in keyword rankings, backlink authority, and historical traffic trends—no code or integrations required.

  • How often is domain rating updated?

    Domain rating is refreshed upon your input and is provided by Ahrefs.

  • What do the different traffic sources mean?

    • Organic: Traffic from search engines like Google
    • Direct: People typing your URL or using bookmarks
    • Social: Clicks from platforms like Facebook or Instagram
    • Ads: Visits from paid campaigns (if detected)

    Note: several data points are AI calculated. Domain rating and organic traffic is provided by Ahrefs.

  • How accurate are the conversion estimates?

    Conversion estimates are based on industry benchmarks and traffic behavior models. While they are not exact, they provide a strong directional view of likely lead flow from your current traffic volume.

  • Why is my domain rating so low?

    A low domain rating often means few or low-quality backlinks. To improve it, focus on link-building strategies, guest posts, press mentions, or local directory listings.

  • What should I do if my traffic is growing but my conversions are not?

    This may signal UX or CTA issues. Try improving mobile design, adding trust signals, and making call-to-actions (like “Call Now” or “Get a Quote”) more prominent.

  • Can I compare this report with my competitors?

    Yes. For deeper insights, run a Competitive Overview report to see how your traffic, domain authority, and reputation compare against others in your local market.

  • How often should I re-run this report?

    We recommend checking every 30–60 days to monitor domain rating progress and conversion trends, especially after launching a new SEO or backlink campaign. If you're selling a new local SEO client, we recommend running it once.

See an example

Explore a live example of the report to understand its capabilities and interface.