Expired domains can be a potent tool when you’re looking to improve your website’s SEO.
Choosing a high-quality domain can provide SEO benefits that would take significant time and money to achieve on your own.
When you build a website, you want to start building your site’s authority immediately.
However, building a site’s authority can take months or even years to establish.
That’s where expired domains come in.
So what makes expired domains so valuable, and how can you make the most of them?
Keep reading to find out.
- What Are Expired Domains?
- Do Expired Domains Still Work?
- What Happens if a Domain Expires?
- Why Are Expired Domains Valuable?
- How Long After Expiration Can You Buy a Domain?
- Is Buying Expired Domains Worth It?
- How Can You Use Expired Domains?
- How to Find Expired Domains
- How to Value Expired Domains
- How To Buy Expired Domains
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Wrapping Up
What Are Expired Domains?
Expired domains used to be owned by an individual or company but have since lapsed.
These domains often have strong search histories and backlinks, making them valuable tools for SEO purposes.
Do Expired Domains Still Work?
Expired domains still work in that you can use them for your website.
They may have had their fair share of technical issues in the past, but some expired domains still have incoming links and valuable backlink profiles.
Expired domains can be a link building strategy if you need to revamp your brand or expand your business.
If a domain has a solid history, you’ll be able to tap into its backlinks and ranking to improve your status.
What Happens if a Domain Expires?
Four different things can happen if a domain expires.
It could:
- Try to auto-renew
- Go on hold
- Get deactivated
- Go to auction
Let’s talk more about each in detail.
1. It Tries to Auto-Renew
In most cases, a domain will try to renew automatically when it expires.
If the owner has payment information on file, the renewal will happen.
However, the renewal will only be successful if the payment information is valid.
2. It Goes on Hold
If a domain renewal isn’t successful, it’ll go on temporary hold.
This hold is a grace period given to domain owners to give them extra time to get things sorted out.
3. It’s Deactivated
When a domain owner fails to submit payment or renew promptly, the registrar will deactivate the domain.
Once it’s deactivated, the website will no longer work for users.
4. It Goes to Auction
A domain will remain deactivated for thirty days.
Once that month is up, the registrar can put it up for auction.
An auction is the first place to go if you’re looking for a specific domain.
If no one purchases the domain after ten days, it’ll go back into the registry.
Why Are Expired Domains Valuable?
Expired domains are valuable because they can increase your site’s authority and provide valuable backlinks.
Each of these factors is crucial to boosting your brand’s ranking.
They Have Authority
One of the most significant benefits of expired domains is their domain authority.
Since expired domains are often associated with high rankings and well-established websites, they typically have considerable link authority.
Link authority can give your website a significant boost on SERPs, giving you more exposure and driving more traffic to your site.
It Has Value From Backlinks
Expired domains are so powerful because they usually come with good backlinks.
These are links from other websites that point to your website.
Backlinks are vital because they make it easier for people to find your website when they search online.
How Long After Expiration Can You Buy a Domain?
After a domain expires, it’ll go through a 30-day grace period during which the owner has the chance to renew it.
Then, the domain will go up for sale when that grace period is up.
Who Buys Expired Domains?
People who purchase expired domains are site owners who typically want to increase their website’s authority and ranking.
By using a 301 redirect, you can direct users from the high-authority domain to your website.
Others purchase domains to flip them to other users.
Is Buying Expired Domains Worth It?
Expired domains tend to be worth it due to their relevance to your chosen niche or industry.
By tapping into expired domains with high-quality backlinks and relevant content, you can quickly improve your site’s ranking and gain an edge over your competitors.
Pros of Buying Expired Domains
Here are a few pros of buying expired domains.
- Purchase domains for as little as $1
- Gain a significant SEO boost
- Rise higher in SERP rankings
- Inherit domains authority and trustworthiness
- Auctions apply to the entire domain, even on subdomains
Cons of Buying Expired Domains
As with anything, there are a few cons to purchasing an expired domain.
- You could get hit with a Google penalty if a site violates Google’s TOS
- Not all backlinks will be favorable for your site
- Domain privacy isn’t a given
- Choices might be limited and costly
Conclusion: Is Buying Expired Domains Worth It?
Buying an expired domain can often be a ticket to a much-needed SERP boost.
Expired domains have pros and cons, but ultimately, they’re usually worthwhile investments.
However, domain privacy is a must, and you can’t always guarantee that with expired domains.
How Can You Use Expired Domains?
Expired domains are valuable SEO tools you can use in several ways.
Here’s a quick look at a few things you can do with expired domains.
1. Start a New Website
If an expired domain perfectly suits your website and brand, you can use it to create a new site.
They’re a great way to get your brand up and running quickly.
2. Redirect Them to Your Site
You can use an expired domain with a 301 redirect to forward users to your website.
This redirect will link all the domain’s authority to your site without having to change your content.
3. Source Links
Expired domains often come with a lot of source links and backlinks.
These links add authority to your website without requiring a lot of extra legwork on your part.
4. Flip It
Just like houses, you can flip expired domains to other buyers.
The process is similar to flipping websites – buy low and sell high.
If you plan to flip a domain, aim for more valuable ones with more backlinks and a long history.
How to Find Expired Domains
Are you looking for an expired domain?
Here are a few places to start your search.
- Use Spamzilla or Domain Hunter Gatherer: Spamzilla and Domain Hunter Gatherer are services that scour the internet and compile a list of expired domains. You can use both of these sites to search for domains that suit your brand.
- Go to Auctions: If you know where to go for link auctions, they can be a great place to snag a hot domain as soon as it’s on the market.
- Check the Domains You Like: Have you had your eye on a specific domain? If so, keep watching. Monitoring the domains you want is a great way to know as soon as they become available.
- Search Domain Name Marketplaces: Domain name marketplaces such as Sedo are where owners buy, sell, or park their expired domains. You can search these marketplaces to find domains you like or that suit you.
How to Value Expired Domains
When purchasing an expired domain, you should ensure you’re getting your money’s worth.
So, to value a domain, you need to examine its backlinks and history to see what it’s worth.
1. Check Their Backlinks
The bulk of a domain’s value derives from its backlinks.
So, when determining the value of a domain, you need to consider how much time and money you’d spend to build the same backlink profile yourself.
2. Look at Its History
Choose a domain that has a long history.
Find out when it first appeared on SERPs, how long it was active, and whether it has any history of spam or other unfavorable content.
A longer history equates to more authority.
3. Check if It’s Indexed
A domain that’s still indexed with Google is more valuable than one that isn’t.
The domain should be the first result if you type it into a search engine.
If it’s not, do some digging to find out why that is.
How To Buy Expired Domains
The easiest way to buy an expired domain is through an auction site.
Some of the most notable domain registrars offer auction pages on their sites.
Log on, search through the database of expired domains, and place your bid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still looking for more information on expired domains?
Here are the answers to a few common questions.
How do I buy an expired domain from GoDaddy?
GoDaddy is one of the most popular registrars, so it’s logical to want to purchase from them.
Fortunately, GoDaddy has a domain auction site that lets you search for and bid on expired domains.
Can you transfer expired domains?
You can transfer an expired domain to another user.
However, you can only transfer it once you’ve purchased it.
Wrapping Up
As a web designer, expired domains should be part of your toolkit.
They can be relatively cheap, come with good backlinks, and can give instant credibility.
With the right expired domains and a solid SEO strategy, your website can experience a boost in traffic and engagement that will help you to stand out from the crowd and drive more conversions.
Have you purchased an expired domain for your business?
Drop a comment below to let us know how it went.
