Definition:
Expired domains are domains that have expired and are no longer active due to various reasons. This may occur because the owner no longer needs the domain, forgot to pay the annual registration fee, or for other reasons. Once expired, the domain is available to be purchased again by any interested party.
Causes of domain expiration
The most common causes of domain expiration include:
- Neglecting to renew: The former owner may forget to renew the domain, which is more common than it seems, especially in small businesses or personal projects that do not have an automated reminder system.
- Disappearance of the trademark: If the trademark with which the domain was associated disappears, the domain loses its purpose. This can happen when a company closes, merges or changes its name.
- Lack of funds: The owner may not have the necessary resources to renew the domain, especially if renewal costs have increased or if the company is facing financial difficulties.
Expired domain and SEO
In SEO, expired domains are quite common and are used strategically to:
- Develop new web pages: Using an expired domain with a history of quality backlinks to launch a new site can provide an initial advantage in terms of authority and search engine visibility.
- Redirect backlinks: Take advantage of links that pointed to the expired domain by redirecting them to another project. This allows transferring part of the authority of the old domain to the new one, which can improve the positioning in search results with a minimum investment.
- Create automated sites: Set up automated web pages for affiliate programs such as Amazon or to generate revenue through Adsense. Expired domains can provide a solid foundation due to their age and link profile.
Advantages and disadvantages of expired domains
Advantages:
Among the advantages of using expired domains in SEO we can mention:
- External links: Getting domains with a significant amount of dofollow links can improve the link profile of a new site, helping to increase its authority and visibility in search engines.
- Age: Older domains may be given preference in Google search results, as search engines often value the stability and history of a domain.
- Sandbox circumvention: Skipping the trial period that new domains usually face. This means that an expired domain can start ranking faster than a new one.
- Streamline positioning: Facilitate keyword ranking for new projects by leveraging the existing authority of the expired domain.
Disadvantages:
This strategy has, however, some disadvantages:
- Penalty risk: Google may penalize the misuse of expired domains if it detects unethical practices, such as the creation of low-quality content or the use of spamming techniques.
- Economic loss: Risk of investing in a domain that is banned by Google, which means that the domain will not appear in search results, regardless of SEO efforts.
- Competition: Increased competition to acquire expired domains, as more and more people and companies seek to take advantage of the benefits they offer.
- Redirection problems: Difficulties when redirecting expired domains to transfer their authority, especially if the existing links are not relevant to the new content.
- Difficulty in detecting expiration: It can be difficult to determine if a domain has expired. The simplest method is to consult the domain’s WhoIs, but this is time-consuming and may not always provide accurate information about the domain’s status.