SEO Case Study: How a asite.com Increased Ahrefs DR from 37 to 46

SEO Case Study: DR Growth from 37 to 46 | Backlink Cleanup + Content Clusters

One of the biggest challenges in SEO is proving measurable results. Domain Rating (DR), a metric by Ahrefs, doesn’t directly influence Google’s rankings but acts as a strong indicator of backlink profile health, authority, and trustworthiness.

In this case study, we’ll explore how asite.com (a mid-sized digital marketing blog) boosted DR from 37 to 46 in just six months. The strategies involved content cluster development, backlink cleanup, and removing outdated affiliate/paid links.

👉 For another real-life study, check out: SEO Case Study: DA & DR Growth

Background

• Website: asite.com

• Niche: Digital marketing and SaaS content

• Starting DR: 37

• Timeline: 6 months

• Objective: Increase DR, improve organic visibility, and establish topic authority

Before the campaign, ASite’s backlink profile contained:

• Several toxic links from link farms and spammy directories

• Outdated affiliate links from old partnerships

• Thin content without semantic or topical clustering

Step-by-Step Strategy

Step 1: Backlink Audit & Toxic Link Removal

• Used Ahrefs + Google Search Console to audit backlinks

• Identified toxic and spammy links (e.g., auto-generated blogs, irrelevant foreign forums)

• Disavowed 250+ domains

• Removed outdated affiliate links from 40+ blog posts

• Updated anchor text profile to reduce over-optimization

👉 Related Reading: Literal URL Redirection and SEO

Step 2: Content Cluster Development

• Created pillar content around high-value keywords:

  • “SEO Strategy for SaaS”

  • “Content Clustering for Topic Authority”

  • “AI SEO & Semantic Optimization”

• Built supporting articles linking internally to pillars

• Optimized for semantic relevance (NLP-based terms)

• Improved internal link architecture with contextual links

👉 Related Reading: Keyword Segmentation Guide

Step 3: Quality Backlink Acquisition

• Guest Posting on niche-relevant websites

• Built resource page backlinks by contributing original data studies

• Earned editorial backlinks from industry roundups

• Avoided paid or low-quality link exchanges

👉 Related Reading: Audience-Centered Marketing Psychology

Step 4: Content Refresh & Affiliate Link Cleanup

• Removed outdated affiliate content that diluted topical authority

• Updated old blog posts with fresh data, infographics, and case examples

• Applied schema markup for articles to improve visibility in SERPs

Results

Within six months, asite.com achieved:

• DR Growth: 37 → 46 (+9 increase)

• Referring Domains: 850 → 1,320 (+470 new high-quality domains)

• Organic Traffic: 21K/month → 38K/month (+81%)

• Ranking Keywords in Top 10: 560 → 1,020

These results came from a strategic blend of backlink quality management and content clustering, not shortcuts.

Key Takeaways

1. Toxic Link Cleanup Matters: Removing harmful backlinks strengthens your overall profile.

2. Content Clusters Drive Authority: Topic relevance + internal linking builds credibility.

3. Affiliate Links Can Hurt: Outdated or excessive affiliate links may weaken authority.

4. Quality > Quantity: A smaller number of high-quality links outweighs 100s of spammy ones.

5. Consistency Wins: Continuous monitoring and refresh cycles ensure sustainable growth.

Step-by-Step Guide for Replication

1. Audit Your Backlinks

   • Use Ahrefs / SEMrush to identify spammy or irrelevant links

   • Remove or disavow them

2. Clean Up Outdated Content

   • Remove irrelevant affiliate links

   • Update old posts with fresh, contextual insights

3. Build Content Clusters

   • Choose a pillar topic (e.g., “Technical SEO”)

   • Write supporting articles that internally link back

4. Acquire Quality Backlinks

   • Guest post on industry blogs

   • Create linkable assets (infographics, data studies)

5. Monitor DR Growth

   • Track metrics monthly

   • Adjust strategies based on backlink profile health

FAQ: SEO Case Study – DR Growth

Q1: Does DR directly affect Google rankings?
No. DR is an Ahrefs metric, but a higher DR often correlates with stronger authority and better rankings.

Q2: How long does it take to see DR improvements?
Typically 3–6 months, depending on backlink cleanup and new content velocity.

Q3: Should I remove all affiliate links?
Not necessarily—only outdated, irrelevant, or low-quality affiliate links. Maintain contextual, value-driven affiliate partnerships.

Q4: What’s better: 100 low-DR links or 5 high-DR links?
Always aim for fewer, high-quality links over bulk low-quality backlinks.

Q5: Can content clusters work without backlinks?
Yes, clusters improve on-page SEO and semantic authority, but backlinks accelerate results significantly.

Final Thoughts

The journey of asite.com shows that DR growth is achievable without shortcuts. By focusing on content clusters, toxic link cleanup, and quality link-building, the site boosted DR from 37 to 46 in six months while almost doubling organic traffic.

If you’re looking to replicate similar results, start with a backlink audit, build cluster-centric content, and maintain a healthy linking strategy.

👉 See also: SEO Case Study: DA & DR Growth

The case study of ASite.com shows that Domain Rating growth is not about shortcuts but about discipline, strategy, and quality execution. From removing toxic links to building content clusters, every step contributed to sustainable growth and authority.

At SEOSiri, we believe in human-centered, AI-aware SEO strategies that drive real results—not just vanity metrics. Whether you’re in Bangladesh or competing on a global stage, you need more than traffic—you need authority, trust, and conversions.

👉 This is where SEOSiri and Momenul Ahmad’s expertise comes in.

• 🔹 SEO Audits & Toxic Link Removal – Clean up your backlink profile for stronger authority.

• 🔹 Content Cluster Strategy – Build topic authority with semantic-rich content.

• 🔹 Live SEO Training & Skill Tests – Practical SEO mastery through structured exams.

• 🔹 Technical & AI SEO Optimization – Future-proof your website for Google’s evolving algorithms.

📩 Ready to grow like ASite.com?
Contact Momenul Ahmad and the SEOSiri team today:
👉 Email: sales@seosiri.com | 🌐 SEOSiri.com

Your next SEO growth story starts here. 🚀

🌱 Founder’s Note

“At SEOSiri, we believe SEO is more than algorithms and rankings — it’s about building trust, authority, and meaningful connections between businesses and their audiences.

From Bangladesh to beyond, our mission is to create ethical, human-centered, and AI-adaptive strategies that help brands grow sustainably in the digital landscape.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Let’s keep learning, testing, and pushing boundaries together.”

— Momenul Ahmad
Founder & SEO Strategist, SEOSiri.com