People are always looking for shortcuts to success, but do they know what they’re getting into? SEO is a big deal for any site that wants to rank on search engines and gain traffic.

So it comes as no surprise that some people want the fast lane. How about you? If there was one method to shortcut your SEO success, are you willing to risk it?

The practice of buying expired domains is not a new thing. However, this tactic is one of the most common black hat or grey hat SEO strategies.

This article will help deep dive into the world of expired domains, how it works, and if it’s worth buying them for SEO.

What are expired domains?

An expired domain is a domain that someone once owned, and that person decided not to renew it. It means that this domain name became available for public purchase, just like any other domain name.

Domains can expire for several reasons, such as a business closure or just forgetting to remember to renew the domain, which is more common than you might think.

Expired domains may provide a slew of hidden benefits, including established link profiles and authority that might be used for SEO.

Are expired domains good for SEO?

Expired domains are a wonderful approach to boost your backlink profile and SEO. It’s difficult to develop links, and utilizing expired domains is an extremely successful strategy to assist you in gaining high-quality backlinks and improve your website’s authority.

What are The advantages of Buying Expired Domains for SEO

Expired domains provide you with a competitive edge over your rivals in the same area. So why should you care about expired domains?

1. Prebuilt backlink profile

Even the best SEO professional understands that obtaining and developing high-quality links may take a long time. From content development to promotion, a marketer’s effort is spent. Therefore, paid methods were utilized to optimize outcomes.

With link building, buying expired domains drastically reduces your workload. In addition, you may continue the domain’s prior owner’s efforts. Instead of starting from the ground up, that would be a lot easier.

With an expired domain, you may immediately start ranking higher by utilizing the current SEO value of the domain.

2. Established Domain Authority

The age of a website’s domain is one of Google’s criteria when deciding which sites to rank.

The older a domain is, the more established it is. Second, spammy web pages don’t last long. Spammers frequently change domains. However, this should never be assumed to be the case.

If you’re thinking about buying one, be sure to look for spam and other factors that might impact your future search engine rankings. Spamzilla.io has a free spam-review service that looks at website history and backlink information to identify whether the site is contaminated with spammy links.

 

3. It’s easier to rank higher

Depending on your domain age, page authority, and trust flow, they tend to rank really well compared to new domains. Most new domains don’t have any DA, page authority, or trust flow, so ranking well in Google is harder. This won’t happen with the expired domains as they are already established and might be getting decent traffic from search engines.

4. Target the right traffic

Buying a domain that has expired may provide you with access to an existing audience. Many old websites already have the sort of traffic your company needs.

You’ve probably heard that to be successful online; you need traffic. If your website doesn’t get people to visit it, you won’t make any money. It’s as easy as that.

The Best Ways to Utilize Expired Domains

1. Niche Websites

If you have ever tried to start a niche website, you probably have encountered what is often referred to as the “sandbox” effect. This is the time when your site will not rank on Google until you have enough authority and trust.

If your website’s URL is available, you can use it to jump into the sandbox period. To bypass this sandbox phase, start your niche site on an expired and antiquated domain. To be clear, this technique isn’t flawless, but it works.

2. Redirect an Expired Domain to Your Own Website

You can actually redirect a domain to your site if you’ve discovered a relevant, high-quality one. This has the advantage of improving your site’s authority, making it easier to rank in search engines.

3. Flip the Domain

The concept of domain flipping is to acquire a domain name and resell it for a profit. You may either purchase and flip regular domain names or entire websites.

The key to this plan is finding a domain or site that isn’t currently reaching its potential.

4. Private Blog Networks (PBNs)

In the SEO world, personal blog networks are still quite popular. We’re not suggesting you use your own PBN because it’s a potentially dangerous approach to rank your site, but it is still a frequent technique.

The procedure for establishing a PBN is to buy dormant domains with good authority and then use them to create content for those sites. You may also insert links to your primary site into the text of such articles, which you can manage.

 

How does Google treat re-registered expired domains?

Google rarely provides definitive answers to such questions, and John Mueller’s response was no exception. So instead, he looked at a few of the legitimate reasons that domain names might be renewed and re-registered and why it would be just as unjust to resurrect all such domains from zero as it would be to ignore clear cases of abuse.

He ended by stating that, in his opinion, Google “does a decent job” of dealing with the bad actors.

Things to keep in mind before buying an expired domain.

Before we get started with buying, we need to keep some things in mind. Be sure to review the following before making the final purchase:

1. Is the domain a spam haven

Before purchasing an expired domain, it’s critical to understand what you’re getting into. Many websites continue to operate for months or years, committing various unethical or spam activities.

When the site’s reputation falls through, its owner leaves the website, and the domain expires. On the other hand, people may still recall the site if it had an impact on the industry or was particularly popular.

To examine the website’s previous history linked with the domain, go to Web Archive. Then, simply input the URL into the browser window, and a screen from the previous avatar of the website will appear.

2. Is there a problem with the trademark

That is also a contributing factor that drives people away from their area. You might acquire a domain name relating to a business or bearing the name of a company in some cases.

In such circumstances, businesses frequently request that the domain name be deleted and the website or file legal proceedings against you. 

So, when purchasing an expired domain, check to see if it has a history of trademark disputes.

3. Is there a problem with the Google AdSense account?

If you’re about to establish a blog or article website and want to make money through advertising networks, Google AdSense should be your first choice. It’s the most important content monetization platform for website owners.

However, it frequently bans URLs for unethical behaviour and actions that are against AdSense regulations.

 

4. Check to see whether there is a manual penalty

If you’ve ever used Google Search Console, you’ve likely noticed the section labeled “Manual Actions.” Unfortunately, there’s no way to discover whether or not a domain name will get you into trouble before purchasing it. If you’re buying it from a domain seller, make sure he knows about any manual penalties.

When you buy a new domain name that has expired, check it with the Google search console and wait five days. If there are any manual penalties to the domain name, they should display.

If no manual penalties come up in the search console, you are safe.

How to Buy an Expired Domain Name

When purchasing expired domains, you must go through a different procedure than when registering a new domain. Domains that have exhausted their terms and are not renewed by the entity that owns them are put up for sale.

There are auction partners for domain name registrars.

 

The best marketplace for expired domains

 GoDaddy Auctions

GoDaddy is a major domain and hosting service provider. Millions of websites use GoDaddy to host, register, and other elements for their sites. In addition, GoDaddy Auctions is a marketplace where you may buy expired domains.

NameJet

NameJet is the most popular and reliable marketplace for purchasing expired domain names. They utilize sophisticated domain software to show all domains for domain experts, small businesses, and individuals.

Spamzilla

Spamzilla may also be a good choice for purchasing expired domains. There are several options to filter through the many available expired domain offerings.

NameCheap Domains

 

 

 

NameCheap is most recognized as a domain registrar, offering the lowest rates on expired domains.

 

Conclusion

Getting a domain that someone has previously owned can provide significant SEO advantages. An expired domain’s existing backlinks, traffic, and other factors can assist you in climbing to the top of search rankings faster if you’re looking to fully monetize your site.

To ensure that the domain you purchase delivers the finest outcomes, act with extreme caution. Whether you use your new site as your expired domain, 301 redirect it, or launch a PBN, double-check it using the techniques I outlined.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find out when a domain expires?

You may find out when a domain is due to expire by using one of the many free who is lookups, such as https://who.is. Not only does it provide you with information on that domain, but you’ll be able to find out a lot of things about the website. For example, you’ll get precise dates for when the website expires, when it was registered, the current registered owner and contact information.

How do I get expired domains for SEO?

Look at the backlinks that are pointing to this domain. Look for backlinks you can “steal” and contact the owner of any referring domains that link to this expired domain, informing them that it is now linked to an inactive website and requesting they point their visitors to your resource instead.

 

Does domain affect SEO?

What is the role of domain names in SEO? While Google doesn’t consider your domain name alone a direct ranking factor, parts of your domain name may influence your entire SEO success. Keyword memorability, length, brand-ability, and other factors are among them.

 

How important is a domain name SEO?

While they are not a significant ranking factor, domain names may have a major impact on SEO. Creating a short, concise, and click-worthy domain name using a combination of relevant and branded terms will significantly improve your chances of ranking well in search engines.

 

How long is a domain grace period?

What is the domain grace period, and how long does it last? After expiration, most TLDs enter the Grace Period. The Grace Period usually lasts between 0 and 45 days, but it frequently does not include any extra fees to allow a domain name to be renewed at its regular price.

 

How do I reactivate an expired domain?

If your domain name has expired, you should contact the registrar (or reseller) that provided your domain name registration services as soon as possible for renewal possibilities. In addition, you may perform a WHOIS search at whois.icann.org to find out whether your current registrar of record is listed.