In the November 2025 marketing review, Asymmetric presented and AHS approved a one-time Domain Rating (DR) boost service to raise the [1] website's authority score to DR30. The investment is intended to strengthen the organic search foundation underlying all ongoing SEO efforts.
Decision: Approved by Bob Stigsell on 2025-10-28.
Domain Rating (DR) is a metric (used by tools such as Ahrefs) that measures the overall authority and backlink profile strength of a website on an exponential scale. Key characteristics:
Large brands (Walmart, Verizon, etc.) typically sit at DR 50–70+. A smaller local service business like AHS starting from a low baseline benefits disproportionately from early DR gains.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Cost | $250 one-time fee |
| Target DR | 30 |
| Timeline | DR raised within ~30 days of initiation |
| Guarantee | DR maintained at or above 30 for 12 months; if it drops below 30, the provider will restore it |
| Mechanism | Backlink acquisition through Asymmetric's established SEO vendor |
| Renewal | Optional continuation after 12 months if ongoing monitoring is desired |
"It's kind of like putting a new engine in an old Corolla."
— Sebastian Gant, summarizing the value to Bob Stigsell
The AHS website's DR had been fluctuating at a low baseline. Because DR is foundational to keyword ranking potential, raising it to 30 was framed as an infrastructure investment that amplifies all other SEO work (content, on-page optimization, etc.) rather than a standalone tactic.
Gina Richardson confirmed the logical connection: a stronger backlink profile → higher organic rankings → more unpaid traffic from people searching for asbestos, mold, and lead paint services in Southern Wisconsin.
This service was introduced as a new offering Asymmetric is rolling out across its client portfolio, targeting clients with lower DR baselines. AHS was among the first clients presented with the opportunity. See [2] for the general playbook.