Using aged drops, or expired domains, is a technique in SEO where previously registered domains that have lapsed are acquired and repurposed to benefit a new website. These domains often carry existing backlinks and authority, providing a potential boost to the SEO efforts of the new owner. This article explores the concept of using aged drops, its benefits, and best practices for implementing this strategy effectively.
Immediate Authority and Backlinks
Aged drops come with existing backlinks from other websites, which can provide an immediate boost in domain authority. This pre-existing link profile can help improve the new siteβs search engine rankings and visibility more quickly than starting from scratch. According to Ahrefs, a strong backlink profile is one of the key factors in achieving high search engine rankings.
Established Traffic
Some expired domains still receive traffic from users who previously bookmarked the site or follow old links. Acquiring such a domain can provide an immediate influx of visitors, which can be beneficial for brand exposure and lead generation.
Faster Indexing
Search engines often index aged domains more quickly than new ones because they have a history and existing backlinks. This can accelerate the SEO process, helping new content get discovered and ranked faster.
Conducting Due Diligence
Before acquiring an expired domain, itβs crucial to conduct thorough research to ensure it doesnβt have a history of spam or penalties. Tools like Wayback Machine can provide insights into the domainβs history, and services like Ahrefs or Moz can analyze its backlink profile.
Relevance to Your Niche
Ensure the aged drop is relevant to your niche or industry. Relevance is key for transferring the domainβs authority effectively to your new website. If the domain was previously used for a completely different purpose, the existing backlinks might not be as beneficial.
Proper Redirection
Implementing 301 redirects from the aged drop to your new website ensures that the authority and traffic from the expired domain are correctly passed on. This helps preserve the SEO value of the backlinks and directs users to the appropriate pages on your site.
Risk of Penalties
There is a risk of acquiring a domain with a history of spammy practices or penalties from search engines. Such domains can harm your SEO efforts rather than help. Proper due diligence is essential to avoid these pitfalls.
Maintaining Relevance
Itβs important to maintain the relevance of the content and links associated with the aged drop. If the new content is not relevant to the old backlinks, it can lead to high bounce rates and reduced SEO benefits.
Backlink Profile: According to Ahrefs, backlinks are one of the top three ranking factors in Googleβs algorithm.
Faster Indexing: Studies show that aged domains can be indexed up to 50% faster than new domains.
Using aged drops can provide significant SEO advantages, including immediate authority, established traffic, and faster indexing. However, itβs essential to conduct thorough due diligence and ensure relevance to your niche to maximize the benefits. By properly implementing aged drops, businesses can enhance their SEO efforts and achieve better search engine rankings more quickly.