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Age of a domain as a factor in SEO rankings

by affiliate_marketer
27 replies
  • SEO
    • |
Hi,

I would like to know how much of a factor or weight age of a domain name plays in SEO rankings. I'm trying to revitalize my 1+ year old blog (one you see in my signature) and I'm wondering if it's a good idea. I made a number of posts and I haven't done anything with it since.

I was thinking of focusing on low competition (if I can find them) to medium keywords and then writing articles, making posts and then finally bringing backlinks to them.

If the age of a domain is a significant factor in SEO rankings am I better off getting an aged, expired domain in my niche and starting from scratch or should I stick with my niche?

Or should I just find another niche that's not as competitive and start from scratch in another niche?

Your ideas would be appreciated.
#age #blog posting #blogging #domain #expired domains #factor #rankings #seo #seo rankings
  • Profile picture of the author estreet
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    • Profile picture of the author Jon Patrick
      Definitely stick with the domain name you've owned for a year. Google takes established sites much more seriously than new ones, and I'm sure they can also tell if you start a new site on an "old" domain that you've just purchased. Even if your existing site hasn't been very active, its age will work in your favor when you resume publishing content on it.
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  • Profile picture of the author World Marketing
    A couple of tweaks on your old domain could make a big difference...Some of my domains took a year to rank well in Google after I made certain changes to them...Sometimes the older the domain the better but not always...
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  • Profile picture of the author TheCollegeInvestor
    Yes, at the one year point, Google weighs it much more than a new domain. I started really getting traffic at the one year point, and nothing really changed except for aging.
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  • Profile picture of the author Nathan2525
    Originally Posted by affiliate_marketer View Post

    Hi,

    I would like to know how much of a factor or weight age of a domain name plays in SEO rankings. I'm trying to revitalize my 1+ year old blog (one you see in my signature) and I'm wondering if it's a good idea. I made a number of posts and I haven't done anything with it since.

    I was thinking of focusing on low competition (if I can find them) to medium keywords and then writing articles, making posts and then finally bringing backlinks to them.

    If the age of a domain is a significant factor in SEO rankings am I better off getting an aged, expired domain in my niche and starting from scratch or should I stick with my niche?

    Or should I just find another niche that's not as competitive and start from scratch in another niche?

    Your ideas would be appreciated.
    Google definitely gives aged domains preference as it normally implies trust.
    (less likely to be a spammer)

    You can use new domains, it just takes a little bit more time and it all comes down to the competition.

    If you are in the IM market, an aged domain would be a great asset.

    If your in the one-armed gardeners market an domain would not matter so much.
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  • Profile picture of the author sanjon
    Sometimes it may work, sometimes it may not, depends on your domains past performance, relevancy, competition and the PR of your competitors..
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  • Profile picture of the author VeronicaD
    An aged domain definitely gives you an advantage over a brand new domain. Especially if you're trying to enter a competitive market where there are a lot of established domains already ranking.
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    • Profile picture of the author Nour Saber
      Originally Posted by VeronicaD View Post

      An aged domain definitely gives you an advantage over a brand new domain. Especially if you're trying to enter a competitive market where there are a lot of established domains already ranking.
      I agree with you, it's really crucial now days if you have an old domain name as Google and other search engines in general consider it one of the main factors for SEO rankings.
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  • Profile picture of the author InternetMarketingIQ
    Wouldn't we all like to know EXACTLY how much weight Google and Microsoft give to Domain Age? Sure we would.

    But the reality is you can not do anything about it.

    If your blog needs updating, then update it.
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    • Profile picture of the author dburk
      Hi affiliate_marketer,

      I'm afraid a lot of folks are misinformed on this topic. There is no "Domain Age" factor that I have ever seen. There is an "indexed age" factor but not a domain age factor.

      The reason an SEO agent may look at "domain age" is because it is relatively easy to look up, while age in the index is not as easily ascertained, especially on bulk research. Naturally, for a page to have been indexed for a long time it would have to be on a domain that has been around for at least the same amount of time. So "domain age" is only meaningful as a method to filter out new websites that couldn't possible have "indexed aged" pages. Domain age is not a ranking factor, but just a hint to researchers that the website may have been around a long time, and may have aged pages within the search engine indexes.

      The idea that you can purchase an aged domain and benefit from the age of the domain is invalid. You can however purchase a domain that has "aged backlinks" pointing toward pages on that website. By placing new pages on the same URL that those "aged" backlinks point toward, you benefit from the link juice being passed by those "aged backlinks".
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      • Profile picture of the author outwest
        Originally Posted by dburk View Post

        Hi affiliate_marketer,

        I'm afraid a lot of folks are misinformed on this topic. There is no "Domain Age" factor that I have ever seen. There is an "indexed age" factor but not a domain age factor.

        The reason an SEO agent may look at "domain age" is because it is relatively easy to look up, while age in the index is not as easily ascertained, especially on bulk research. Naturally, for a page to have been indexed for a long time it would have to be on a domain that has been around for at least the same amount of time. So "domain age" is only meaningful as a method to filter out new websites that couldn't possible have "indexed aged" pages. Domain age is not a ranking factor, but just a hint to researchers that the website may have been around a long time, and may have aged pages within the search engine indexes.

        The idea that you can purchase an aged domain and benefit from the age of the domain is invalid. You can however purchase a domain that has "aged backlinks" pointing toward pages on that website. By placing new pages on the same URL that those "aged" backlinks point toward, you benefit from the link juice being passed by those "aged backlinks".
        very logical and informative reply
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      • Profile picture of the author Dentist
        Take this comment seriously. It has a lot of correct point that not every SEO expert notices...

        Originally Posted by dburk View Post

        Hi affiliate_marketer,

        I'm afraid a lot of folks are misinformed on this topic. There is no "Domain Age" factor that I have ever seen. There is an "indexed age" factor but not a domain age factor.

        The reason an SEO agent may look at "domain age" is because it is relatively easy to look up, while age in the index is not as easily ascertained, especially on bulk research. Naturally, for a page to have been indexed for a long time it would have to be on a domain that has been around for at least the same amount of time. So "domain age" is only meaningful as a method to filter out new websites that couldn't possible have "indexed aged" pages. Domain age is not a ranking factor, but just a hint to researchers that the website may have been around a long time, and may have aged pages within the search engine indexes.

        The idea that you can purchase an aged domain and benefit from the age of the domain is invalid. You can however purchase a domain that has "aged backlinks" pointing toward pages on that website. By placing new pages on the same URL that those "aged" backlinks point toward, you benefit from the link juice being passed by those "aged backlinks".
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  • Profile picture of the author yukon
    Banned
    Right now I'm looking at a site that is ranking middle of page #2 in Google SERPs for the keyword car insurance.

    The domain was first registered 2011-09-15 (two weeks old), never registered before that date (ever).

    The guy has awesome external backlinks.

    Don't give me the "Well all new sites start out doing good in the SERPs", backlinks put him on page #2 in the SERPs. I know it's page #2, still that's got to be a very competitive keyword.
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    • Profile picture of the author Mike Anthony
      Originally Posted by yukon View Post

      Don't give me the "Well all new sites start out doing good in the SERPs", backlinks put him on page #2 in the SERPs. I know it's page #2, still that's got to be a very competitive keyword.
      My datacenter shows the one you were talking about a few weeks back now one spot out of page 3 position 20. It is in fact falling since I tracked it at 12 at one point. Don't know if thats the one you are referring to but that one was the domain you swore going and coming had staying power even subsequently arguing with me when I said it had no chance at reaching and then maintaining top rankings on page one? After that debacle I wouldn't be trying to make any point on a two week old domain that may head south as well.

      Plus domain information indicates two previous drops on the one people were cooing about before which means it was registered before. It may well have been in the index before which means as a poster child for brand new domains it would fail. Generally speaking though I don't worry about any domain that is over two months old. Month to two months is the only time I see a big effect.
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      • Profile picture of the author yukon
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        Originally Posted by Mike Anthony View Post

        My datacenter shows the one you were talking about a few weeks back now one spot out of page 3 position 20. It is in fact falling since I tracked it at 12 at one point. Isn't this the domain you swore going and coming had staying power even subsequently arguing with me when I said it had no chance at reaching and then maintaining top rankings on page one?

        Plus domain information indicates two previous drops which means it was registered before. It may well have been in the index before which means as a poster child for brand new domains it would fail. Generally speaking though I don;t worry about any domain that is over tow months old. Month to two months is the only time I see a big effect.
        Hey Mike,

        This is another new domain, I'll PM the url since that last thread was deleted (must be someone on this forum that owns it).

        The site your talking about, his links are falling off the Index pages on the backlink network.

        If the site your talking about was mine I would have to order a second package on the network, If the network owner allows it.
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        • Profile picture of the author Mike Anthony
          Originally Posted by yukon View Post

          Hey Mike,

          This is another new domain, I'll PM the url since that last thread was deleted (must be someone on this forum that owns it).
          Received Yukon but the domain info you sent me indicates a 2007 registration and theres an entry in the internet archives from February of this year all indicating to me this is not a domain that has not been registered before
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  • Profile picture of the author John Williamson
    Like dburk said, I think 'domain age' is negligible. 'Site age' or 'page age' or 'indexed age' is more important, the concept that specific content on a specific page has withstood the test of time.

    Besides, I'd like to think a newly registered keyword-rich domain would outperform an 'aged' non-keyword-domain, all other things being equal.
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  • Profile picture of the author michael scott
    Mike is right, Yukon. Someone has owned the domain before.




    Yukon,
    Have you been looking deep into the serps for "car insurance"? Looks like someone's network is about to be TOASTED.
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    • Profile picture of the author Mike Anthony
      Originally Posted by michael scott View Post


      Yukon,
      Have you been looking deep into the serps for "car insurance"? Looks like someone's network is about to be TOASTED.
      I've been too lazy to look. Do tell (if even by PM). Wouldn't be surprised. Don't know if its related to what you are seeing but I tell people all the time - don't bring that spammy stuff to good competition. They will get busy reporting it. You better come with a real natural looking network not this spun content stuff with 40 links on page on 40 different subjects. Kiss of death. IF I ran networks like that I would stay FAR FAR away from really competitive keywords.
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  • Profile picture of the author akasheg
    Search engines do take into count the domain age factor but its one of the many factors that are used for deciding one's rankings. That too also plays a very major role if your domain age is much more older than your other competitors.

    I would suggest you that since you have a already running site which is 1 year old, so use it unless you have to start something that is completely different from this domain name.
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    • Profile picture of the author dburk
      Originally Posted by akasheg View Post

      Search engines do take into count the domain age factor but its one of the many factors that are used for deciding one's rankings. That too also plays a very major role if your domain age is much more older than your other competitors.
      I disagree, I believe it is not a factor (see my post above). I have looked high and low for evidence that the "domain" age has any influence and have found none.

      Correlation is not the same as causation. Just because many aged websites rank higher, does not mean that the domain age is a factor that causes this. If you don't believe me then try this:
      1. Take a website that has been around a long time and move it to a newly registered domain name.
      2. Setup 301 redirects on the old "aged domain" to redirect backlink juice to the pages on the brand new domain.
      3. Give it a few weeks for all the changes to be noticed by the search engines and then let us know how it ranks compared to when the same pages were on the "aged domain".

      Even after you take into account that the link juice from redirected backlinks are diminished by the decay factor, you will see the rankings have remained relatively steady. This is clear evidence that domain age is not a measurable factor.

      If you have some credible source where someone has found evidence of "domain age" as a SERP factor, I would love to see it. Please share!
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  • Profile picture of the author mejohn
    Think of a doctor just out of med school vs one who has several years under his/her belt. Which one would you trust more? I think it is the same with Google. New websites might be great, but it usually takes time for them to prove themselves to be an authority on their topic.
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    • Profile picture of the author paulgl
      Originally Posted by mejohn View Post

      Think of a doctor just out of med school vs one who has several years under his/her belt. Which one would you trust more? I think it is the same with Google. New websites might be great, but it usually takes time for them to prove themselves to be an authority on their topic.
      That is completely illogical. Proving yourself over time has nothing to
      do with anything.

      I don't know why people mix this stuff up. Domain age has nothing to
      do with anything. Nothing.

      Which doctor would I trust? There's some bad veteran ones.
      Dr. Conrad Murray comes to mind.

      Let's let Bernie Madoff out of prison. At 73, he's better than
      a 30 year old investor punk, right?

      Age has little to do with anything.

      Except in driving cars. Your speed on the freeway decreases directly
      as your age increases. So does the length of your car.

      Paul
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      • Profile picture of the author Mike Anthony
        Originally Posted by paulgl View Post


        Except in driving cars. Your speed on the freeway decreases directly
        as your age increases. So does the length of your car.

        Paul
        Not for me. My speed on the highway decreased directly to the presence of car seats in the back seat. So did the size of my vehicle. My friends of the same age still drove fast until they got some car seats in the back as well. Thing about it is the hugs I get from the people in tha back seat gives me far more satisfaction than the Vin diesel car driving impersonations.

        Just taking the analogy for a long off topic drive.
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  • Profile picture of the author RayW

    According to Matt Cutts, domain age isn't a factor at all.
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    • Profile picture of the author Seven3
      Originally Posted by raxr View Post

      According to Matt Cutts, domain age isn't a factor at all.
      He isn't talking about domain age there, he is talking about how many years the domain is registered for, as opposed to has been registered.

      Eg. Does buying a domain for 3 years give more weight than buying it for 1 year. The title of the video is a tad deceiving imo.
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  • Profile picture of the author learnrope
    I think that he was kind of referring to the same thing.

    To me, the folks saying how long it's been indexed for makes allot of sense to me.
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  • Profile picture of the author outwest
    Age of Backlinks? yes

    age of Domain indexing? matters slightly but not much
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