What is TF (Trust Flow) in SEO?
TF stands for Trust Flow, a metric developed by the SEO tool Majestic.
It measures the trustworthiness and quality of a website based on the quality of the websites linking to it.
Scale: 0 to 100
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Higher TF = More trusted website
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Lower TF = Weak or spammy backlink profile
✅ How Is Trust Flow (TF) Calculated?
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Majestic has a list of highly trusted seed websites (like government, educational, and big brand sites).
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If your website is linked to directly or indirectly by those trusted sites, your TF increases.
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Links from relevant, authoritative sites matter more than just quantity.
Example:
A link from harvard.edu boosts your TF more than 100 low-quality blog links.
📊 TF Score Meaning Table (0–60)
TF Score | Level | What It Means |
---|---|---|
0 – 10 | Very Low | Weak trust; spammy or poor-quality backlinks. |
11 – 20 | Low | Some trust signals, but still early-stage authority. |
21 – 30 | Moderate | Average site; some quality backlinks are present. |
31 – 40 | Good | Trusted site; links from reputable sources exist. |
41 – 50 | Strong | High trust; your site is considered reliable in its niche. |
51 – 60 | Very Strong | Very high-quality backlink profile; close to elite-level trust. |
🔄 TF vs CF (Citation Flow)
Metric | Meaning | Focuses On |
---|---|---|
TF | Trust Flow | Link quality and trustworthiness |
CF | Citation Flow | Link quantity (regardless of quality) |
✅ Best Practice:
High TF with balanced CF is good. If CF is high but TF is low, it could mean your backlinks are spammy or low-quality.
🔐 Why is TF Important?
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Helps detect spammy link profiles
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Useful in link building: High TF websites are better to get backlinks from
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Important for PBN evaluation (if you’re buying expired domains)
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Helps gauge overall domain trust beyond just DA or DR
✨ Summary
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Trust Flow (TF) measures the quality of backlinks, not just quantity.
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A higher TF means search engines may trust your site more, leading to better rankings.
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Always aim for high TF + high-quality, relevant links for sustainable SEO growth.