Podcast Summary: Grumpy SEO Guy – "Dr. is Not The Main Thing You Should Look At" (Episode 113)
Release Date: June 18, 2025
Introduction
In Episode 113 of the Grumpy SEO Guy podcast titled "Dr. is Not The Main Thing You Should Look At," host Grumpy SEO Guy delves into the overemphasis placed on Domain Rating (DR) within the SEO community. Drawing from his 14 years of experience running an SEO agency, he challenges the prevailing notion that DR is the primary metric for making SEO decisions.
Understanding Domain Rating (DR)
00:00 – 05:30
Grumpy SEO Guy begins by defining Domain Rating (DR) as an estimation of a website's authority, provided by the SEO tool Ahrefs. He explains that authority, a critical ranking factor, measures a website's trustworthiness. The podcast revisits the four essential factors for ranking:
- No penalties
- Content
- Relevancy
- Authority
Grumpy emphasizes that while authority is vital, it's the most challenging factor to achieve.
Grumpy SEO Guy [05:00]: "Authority, while last on the list, is probably the most important rank. Well, depends on how you look at it. It's the most difficult ranking factor to get."
He further clarifies that DR is merely Ahrefs' approximation of Google's hidden PageRank, which is no longer publicly available. Various SEO tools, including Moz’s Domain Authority (DA), Semrush’s Authority Score (AS), and Majestic’s Citation Flow (CF) and Trust Flow (TF), offer their own versions of authority estimates due to PageRank's secrecy.
Grumpy SEO Guy [04:22]: "Because nobody knows what page rank is, other SEO tools created their own approximations of authority."
Problems with Relying Solely on DR
05:30 – 17:22
Grumpy criticizes the SEO community's over-reliance on DR, arguing that it oversimplifies the complexities of SEO. He highlights common misconceptions, such as:
-
High DR ≠ High Quality: A website with a high DR might be spammy or previously used for dubious purposes.
Grumpy SEO Guy [12:00]: "But they forget that there are other things that are more important. Like that domain has good doctor, but is it spammy? That domain has good doctor, but was it used as a casino?"
-
Low DR ≠ Poor Quality: Conversely, a site with lower DR can be an excellent source for backlinks if other quality factors align.
Grumpy stresses that DR is an estimate and does not directly correlate with search engine rankings:
Grumpy SEO Guy [15:12]: "Higher doctor does not mean a website is good. Higher doctor does not mean a domain is good. It just means it has a higher estimate of authority."
He advises SEO practitioners to look beyond DR, considering factors such as:
- Backlink Quality: Not just the number but the relevance and trustworthiness of referring domains.
- Spam Indicators: Assessing if a site's previous use aligns with your SEO goals.
- Penalty Risks: Ensuring the domain hasn't been penalized by search engines.
Grumpy SEO Guy [13:38]: "So stop focusing on doctor. Stop buying backlinks based on the doctor of the website. Stop buying domains just because of doctor."
The Importance of a Holistic Approach
05:30 – 17:22
Grumpy advocates for a comprehensive evaluation of potential backlink sources or domains, integrating multiple metrics and qualitative assessments rather than fixating on a single metric like DR. He underscores the significance of understanding SEO fundamentals to adapt to changes rather than relying on static guidelines.
Grumpy SEO Guy [09:00]: "SEO is not about doctor. Higher doctor is not definitely better."
He recounts instances where clients misunderstood the role of DR, leading to poor SEO decisions based solely on this metric. Grumpy emphasizes the importance of contextual analysis over numerical indicators.
Author's Perspective on Teaching SEO
05:30 – 17:22
Grumpy addresses his audience, explaining why he hasn't created a formal SEO course despite frequent requests. He believes that the podcast is sufficient for teaching SEO effectively:
Grumpy SEO Guy [07:56]: "I literally teach it for free in the podcast, okay? So there's no reason to make a course because I already teach it for free."
However, he remains open to developing a course if there's significant interest, highlighting the depth and adaptability of his content:
Grumpy SEO Guy [08:30]: "Because if you understand the way it works, then if there's changes in the future to how a search engine, you know, determines what's important or not, it won't matter to you because you'll understand how it works."
Practical Advice for SEO Practitioners
17:22 – 18:06
Grumpy wraps up the episode by reiterating the need for SEO professionals to adopt a balanced and informed approach. He encourages focusing on multiple aspects of SEO rather than overemphasizing DR:
- Evaluate Backlink Sources Thoroughly: Look at various indicators beyond DR to assess the quality and relevance of backlinks.
- Understand SEO Fundamentals: Grasp the underlying principles to adapt to algorithm changes effectively.
- Avoid Metric Obsession: Don’t let a single metric dictate your SEO strategies.
Grumpy SEO Guy [17:22]: "Stop doing those things and focus on the manner in which these things behave together and look at the full picture of the domain."
Conclusion
Grumpy SEO Guy's episode serves as a critical reminder to the SEO community to avoid being swayed by singular metrics like Domain Rating. By promoting a holistic and informed approach, he empowers SEO practitioners to make more nuanced and effective decisions, ultimately leading to sustainable SEO success.
For more insights and in-depth discussions on SEO strategies, listeners are encouraged to subscribe to the Grumpy SEO Guy podcast and engage with the community on Reddit or via email.
Notable Quotes:
- [05:00] Grumpy SEO Guy: "Authority, while last on the list, is probably the most important rank. Well, depends on how you look at it. It's the most difficult ranking factor to get."
- [12:00] Grumpy SEO Guy: "But they forget that there are other things that are more important. Like that domain has good doctor, but is it spammy? That domain has good doctor, but was it used as a casino?"
- [15:12] Grumpy SEO Guy: "Higher doctor does not mean a website is good. Higher doctor does not mean a domain is good. It just means it has a higher estimate of authority."
- [17:22] Grumpy SEO Guy: "Stop doing those things and focus on the manner in which these things behave together and look at the full picture of the domain."
Connect with Grumpy SEO Guy:
- Reddit: Grumpy SEO Guy Subreddit
- Email: hellorumpyseoguy.com
- Patreon: patreon.com/grumpyseoguy
This summary captures the essence of Episode 113, providing listeners and non-listeners alike with a comprehensive understanding of why Domain Rating should not be the sole focus in SEO strategies.