What Is Domain Authority?

Once I began to take blogging seriously I kept coming across the mysterious term 'DA'. It didn't stand for District Attorney, or Deviant Art, or even Domineering Aardvarks. What it actually stood for was 'Domain Authority'.

So what is Domain Authority?

Domain Authority predicts how well websites rank on search engines, and comes in the form of a score between 1 and 100. The higher the score, the better the website will rank. Examples of websites with a DA of 100 include Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Page Authority or PA, on the other hand, scores a specific page on the website.

Does my blog have Domain Authority?

The basic answer is: yes. The full answer is slightly more complicated. For your blog to have its own Domain Authority, it has to have its own domain. My domain is babiafi.co.uk, for instance. If your blog address is a subdomain, like babiafi.blogspot.uk, its DA will be 'shared' with the host domain.

When I had that blogspot address my DA would come up as 95 - but that was actually Blogger's DA. I had no Domain Authority of my own. You can find out your DA HERE; you can also download the MOZ toolbar which lets you be nosy and check out the DA of every website you visit. DA is not static either, it is updated roughly every month, when the Mozscape link index is updated.

Why is Domain Authority important?

DA is only a prediction of how well a website ranks and, as the cynical may well point out, is the rather recent brainchild of Moz, a digital marketing company. But - your DA is used in lots of other settings too. It impacts on your Tots100 score, for example, and many brands won't work with a blog which has a DA of less than 25 or so.

How is Domain Authority calculated?

There are over 40 different factors used to calculate a website's DA, but some of the big ones include:

• Age of the domain.
• Domain popularity. I.e. the ratio of links from and to your website.
• Size of the website. The more content there is to be indexed, the better chance a site has of being ranked highly.
• Number and quality of backlinks.
• Moz metrics like MozRank and MozTrust.

What can I do to improve my Domain Authority?

What tips do you have for increasing Domain Authority?

For more posts like this, click the picture below:

How to set up a custom domain email address - for free!

I'd always intended to get a custom domain email address sorted out at some point, then last week I hit upon the idea of setting up a LinkedIn company page for the blog, something you can't do without one. It was time to put good intentions into practice...


What is a custom domain email address?

Basically, this is an email address which uses your custom domain. So, instead of jess@gmail.com we're talking about jess@babiafi.co.uk.

Why would I want one?

This is one instance where it really is all about appearances. Gmail - and the like - addresses are fine, but custom domain email addresses just look a bit more professional.

How do I get one?

First off, you need a custom domain. I bought mine - www.babiafi.co.uk - from 123-reg.com for £3.49 per annum. If you have gone fully self-hosted with that domain, chances are your email will be bundled in with your hosting package. If, like me, you're just using a 'vanity url' (i.e. your own domain name and a redirect), you have three options.

1. Paid Hosting. I don't like spending money, so this one was straight out!

2. Yandex. Sign up is in Russian, but you can always use Google Translate - there's a step by step guide to it all. I have no faith in Google Translate though, so went with...

3. Zoho Mail. Zoho offers you 25 unique email addresses, with 5GB mailbox storage per user. For free. Click HERE to sign up. After clicking on the free option you'll be taken to a new page and asked to input your domain name.

With that done you need to verify your ownership of the domain. To do this, log in to your custom domain account, i.e. where you bought your domain name from. Once you're into your advanced DNS settings there are three methods you can use to verify: CNAME, TXT or HTML. Whichever one you go with, Zoho's instructions are nice and clear so you shouldn't have any problems. I used TXT and it was all done and dusted in two minutes.

The next task is to set up your administrator email address. From there you can either create more users, or skip on to add MX records. This will require you going back into your domain name's DNS settings and adding a new MX type record. Again, the on screen instructions from Zoho are pretty fail safe.

You've Got Mail

No, really, you'll have the Zoho welcome emails waiting for you in your new inbox. You're now free to faff about with the settings, add new users, and promote your fancy new email address.

With that in mind, if you want to get in touch please feel free to email me at jess@babiafi.co.uk. ;)

Review: Baker Days Valentine's Letterbox Cake

I was absolutely thrilled when Baker Days contacted me on Twitter and asked if I'd like to review a letterbox cake from their Valentine's range, RRP £14.99. Being a huge fan of cake, I couldn't say yes fast enough!


The idea behind the letterbox cake is so simple, so ingenious, and totally brilliant. Sending foodstuffs through the post can be a nightmare because, if your recipient isn't home, they can end up getting past their prime at your local sorting office. With the letterbox cake you don't need to worry because, well, it fits through your letterbox. When ours landed on our doormat I wasted no time in getting the package open.

I tore open the white shipping box to reveal a gorgeous card, a cute tin containing the cake, and a mini pack of Love Hearts which I thought was just a really sweet (geddit?) touch. I love that the cake comes in a proper tin because it's something that can be kept as a memento, in addition to having a practical use as storage for bits and bobs - or even more cake.

The lid is off!

We couldn't wait any longer, there was cake waiting to be tasted. Anthony was sure the cake would be in pieces after a trip through the post, so I took great enjoyment in proving him wrong when I took the lid off the tin. The cake is plastic wrapped, and packaged really snugly so you can be sure it will arrive at its destination in perfect condition. The paper tab is there to help you get the cake out of the tin. You just pull the tab to raise the cake, then carefully remove it.

Depending on your preferred slice size, this 5" letterbox cake is a great option for 1-4 people, but Baker Days actually make their cakes in four sizes (7", 9" and 12"), not counting their cupcakes. There are loads of different designs too, for occasions ranging from Get Well Soon to Graduation to One Direction. You might think that last is not an occasion, but I'm sure most of us had moments where we'd like nothing more than to see a toddler cake smash through a picture of modern world's most ubiquitous boyband...

I chose the 'Pugs and Kisses' design because it's a long running joke between Anthony and I that one day, irrespective of his allergies and dislike of dogs, I will have a pet pug. I figured he'd enjoy a reminder of what his future holds! Baker Days offer lots of personalisation options, so I had Anthony's name put on the cake. 

You can also choose what flavour sponge you want. The default choices are vanilla or belgian chocolate chip, but for a little extra you can upgrade to fruit cake, gluten or dairy free sponge. I went for the chocolate chip and it was absolutely stunning! The sponge was lovely and moist, and the combination of choc chip and icing was fab. I loved it, Anthony loved it, and when my mum popped around she tried some and loved it too. Even Marianna got in on the action.

We were all really impressed with the cake, the packaging, and the whole concept. It's something a bit different to give as a gift, and with the huge range of designs you're bound to be able to find something suitable, no matter what the occasion. To get your own Baker Days cake, check out their website, www.bakerdays.com, or click HERE to go direct to the Valentine's range. If you live in Wales, remember (to remind your significant other) that St. Dwynwen's Day is on January 25th too.

Mini Mart: Felicity Price Miniatures

I haven't bought too many miniatures recently, what with the financial pressures of Christmas, Marianna's birthday, etc. But I did have a little splurge on stuff from one of my favourite suppliers...

This was my other purchase over Christmas, from eBay. It's a 1/18 scale VW Golf GTI from Welly - it's the perfect home for the Re-Ment Pose Skeletons. :)

Supplier: Felicity Price
Website: felicityminiatures.co.uk. You can also find them on eBay.

Products: Felicity stocks a wide range of 1/12 scale needlepoint kits, along with various miniatures, from dolls to cutlery. There is a working search function, and the website is particularly good if you're looking to buy craft elements, which tend to be much cheaper than other UK stockists. This time round I bought lots of miniature tinsel and bells, a garland of miniature ivy, and a set of picture frames.

Post and Packing: You place your order using the online shopping cart, then Felicity will check everything is in stock and send you an invoice. You can pay by Paypal, cheque or postal order, and items are generally dispatched within 24 hours of payment. UK postage is a flat rate of £3.50. I've bought from Felicity a few times and always had top notch service.

How to Set Up a Custom 404 Error Page on Blogger

What is a 404?

The dreaded '404 Not Found' message appears when a server can't find the web address you requested. This might be the result of a broken or dead link, or human error when typing in the address. Either way, it leads to equal amounts of frustration!

What does my 404 page look like?

To check just add /404 to the end of your blog's web address. If you're using Blogger's default settings, your 404 page will look something like this:

What's wrong with it?

Well, nothing per se. It's just a bit boring, and doesn't do much to keep the disgruntled visitor on your blog. Some people set up an automatic 301 redirect from 404 errors to their home page, but this is bad for your SEO, and confusing for people who clicked a link expecting something specific. The best way forward is to create a custom 404 page.

How do I fix it?

Blogger makes things nice and simple for you. On your Dashboard, click 'Settings' then 'Search Preferences'. You'll now see a section headed 'Custom Page Not Found'. Click 'Edit' and, ta-dah, you get a nice empty box waiting to receive your custom HTML.

If you don't feel confident typing it straight in, just get it all ready in a draft post then copy and paste. I decided to keep things simple - I made a cutesy 'page not found' image with canva.com and added a search bar:


The great thing is that you can make yours as simple or as complex as you like. You can use your 404 page to help find a missing child, showcase your favourite blog posts, or engage people with a web game. For inspiration, check out creativemarket.com's list of the coolest 404 pages on the net.

The Book of Everyone

I was really excited to be asked to review The Book of Everyone. I decided to make one for my dad as a Christmas present...



The Book of Everyone make personalised books suitable as Birthday, Christmas, Valentine's, Mother's / Father's Day and general keepsake presents. As Christmas is almost upon us I went for the festive option. The turnaround time was great; I ordered on November 27th and my book arrived on December 5th. I'm so impressed with it. The print quality and binding are excellent, the customer service was brill, and the trivia included is genuinely interesting. My favourite is the fact that my dad shares 45% of his DNA with a brussel sprout. :)



The website is incredibly easy to use. You begin by filling in a short 'who's it for?' form with name, gender and date of birth details. Next you input who the book is from, and their relationship to the recipient. Then the fun part begins! The basic default settings are awesome - the design team has done a fantastic job - with pages telling you things like what the top TV show was in the year of their birth, and even the most popular type of facial hair. There are still loads of opportunities to put your own stamp on the book though. For some pages this might just mean picking from a selection of colours or backgrounds, like the page pictured above, while others give you the option to upload your own photographs and add your own text. On the page below you could change the headline, and add your own photo. I chose one of my dad back in his teens:



I love personalised gifts and highly recommend The Book of Everyone. If you want to get one of your own, the books come in digital (£7.50), soft cover (£19.50), hard cover (£29.50), or deluxe (£49.50) formats. The latter three options also include a free digital version which is a really nice touch.

November Wins

Another great month for comping! :)

☆ Japan Candy Box. Anthony and I had great fun trying this out! Click the link for my review.
☆ The Christmas Grande from hampergifts.co.uk. It has been my goal since I started comping over ten years ago to win an expensive hamper. I was so pleased I finally managed it. :)
☆ Naomi Nursing Dress from Tiffany Rose.
☆ 21 Days of Christmas from Goodreads.
☆ The Drowned Detective (Neil Jordan) from Goodreads.
☆ £50 Amazon voucher from theprizefinder.com. I actually won this months ago but I hadn't received it - I sent an email asking if it had been sent out and got an email voucher the next day. It pays to chase things up!
☆ Wow Toys Town Advent Calendar from Melanie's Fab Finds blog. This is so cute; I'm going to put it away for next year when Marianna will be able to appreciate it better.
☆ Purina dog food sample.

Pocky from the Japan Candy Box.

☆ Reole's 'What's Cookin?' album from the Mother Distracted blog.
☆ Strictly Between Us (Jane Fallon) from Goodreads.
☆ Millie Marotta's Tropical Wonderland from the Diary of the Evans Crittens blog.
☆ Sometime Like Apes (J.C. Denham) from Goodreads.
☆ The Rabbit Who Wants To Fall Asleep (Carol-Johann Forssen Ehrlin) from the 3 Princesses and 1 Dude blog.
☆ Inkless Print Kit from the Chelsea Mamma blog.
☆ Set of handmade felt tags from the Attachment Mummy blog. I've asked for them to be personalised with Marianna's name and can't wait for them to arrive.
☆ £20 credit for Cheerz prints from the Rock and Roll Pussycat blog.

I won an inkless print kit last year, and planned to use it on Christmas Day. Marianna decided to drag things out so we actually used it when she turned a month old. Now I've won another I can do it again for her first Christmas, after all! :)

☆ A Reaper of Stone (Mark Gelineau) from Goodreads.
☆ The Announcement (Michael J. Gadja) from Goodreads.
☆ The Message Therapist's Handbook (Micahel Alicia) from Goodreads.
☆ Mister Cleghorn's Seal (Judith Kerr) from ?
☆ Sanctuary Spa shower gel from their Facebook page.
☆ The Mermaids Singing (Val McDermid) from Goodreads.
☆ Dead Pretty (David Mark) from Goodreads.
☆ I'm Working On It In Therapy (Gary Trosclair) from Goodreads.
☆ Personalised Christmas stocking. I got it made with Bracken's name, and I'm going to fill it with doggy treats for her.


Through the blog I've also had the chance to hold a giveaway for a carbon monoxide alarm, and to create a Christmas book from thebookofeveryone.com. I'll be reviewing the latter as soon as it arrives.