Approximate linking root domains we need based on these metrics

[BobGW]

Our top 4 competitors for a single term we're targeting has the following metrics:

1. PA 45, DA 89, 6 linking root domains to page, 40,000 linking root domains to domain

2. PA 53, DA 100, 3 linking root domains to page, 1.6 million to domain

3. PA 32 DA 37, 4 linking root domains to page, 200 to domain

4. PA 55 DA 66, 6 linking root domains to page, 3300 to domain

All other optimization is about the same, except in (2) they have half of the keyword phrase in the domain and the whole keyword phrase in the URL. Also everybody else has title and meta description with the plural form, and the singular is what I typed in.

We have the whole keyword phrase in the domain. The above 4 sites were internal pages, ours is a home page rank.

Our metrics: PA 33, DA 22, 30 linking root domains to page, 43 linking root domains to site

How tough will it be for us to compete? How many strong linking root domains will it take?

[BobGW]

Hi Nakul,

We're trying to determine if this is a huge undertaking or a possibility to compete. We don't want to waist our time.

Do you need any more information?

Thank you.

[BobGW]

Also:

1. Where are you ranking currently compared to your competition?

We're on the 5th page or so

1. How many common keywords to you see ranking between your website and the competition?

just a few

1. How large is your website compared to the competition ?

Ours is a little smaller - 2000 pages, their is around 3000

[BobGW]

Hi Nakul,

Thanks for the good reply.

We are thinking about working to rank higher in our niche site as explained above, but we need to know if it's going to take a lot of backlinks or just a few. We don't use general directories except strong ones like DMOZ, and we only aquire strong links.

Any ideas as to how hard this is going to be?

[NakulGoyal]

1. Where are you ranking currently compared to your competition?
2. How many common keywords to you see ranking between your website and the competition?
3. How large is your website compared to the competition ?

Looking at the metrics, I think the fact that you are competing with internal pages and yours is a homepage, makes it easier. Are you sort of a niche site ?

It's more of quality and then relatedness of the links, then just pure quantity. I would continue to build brand links to homepage, inner pages and adding more content to strengthen my presence in the niche.

I hope that helps stay on track. You are definitely on the right track in terms of what to look at. Just don't get distracted in the number of root domain links / domain authority.