Using expired domains can be extremely powerful when done correctly. Which is why I want to spend some time explaining exactly what expired domains are and how to use them effectively.
By the end of this article, you will know how to harness the power from expired domains.
What Is An Expired Domain?
If you’re new to SEO, you may have heard the term ‘expired domains’ being chucked around, but you might not know what it means or how powerful they can be.
So, let me explain:
Expired domains are domains that have been previously registered by either an organization, individual, or business. If the domain name doesn’t get renewed, then it will become available for purchase.
Domains don’t get renewed for a couple of reason:
- The owner forgets to renew the domain
- The domain has gone out of business
- The owner got bored with the site
The beauty of buying an expired domain is, they usually come with a premade backlink profile. Making the profile yourself can take a portion of your budget and a lot of time, so why not speed the process up?
You can use expired domains to give you a boost in a few ways:
- Build a blog network
- 301 redirects
- Build authority sites
Let me explain in a little bit more detail:
Building A Private Blog Network
This method involves you using the expired domain to build a network of authority sites inside a specific niche. You will then use those sites to help you rank your own page.
Now, this isn’t as easy as it seems, you need to be very careful when building a PBN. And you need to find an expired domain that’s clean and has a spam-free history. Trust me, this can be a difficult task but also well worth it!
301 Redirects
This is a straightforward method, but it shouldn’t be overused. You shouldn’t do this more than once or twice, due to the risk it comes with.
Your goal is to transfer the link power from the expired domain to your site. And you get an even bigger bonus if the expired site is still gaining traffic.
All you need to do is take the expired domain and place a 301 redirect it to your site.
Building Authority Sites
This has to be my favorite method for expired domains. So much so, I won’t start a niche or authority site on a new domain. It just takes too long to see results.
So, why work harder when you can just work smarter?
Finding yourself an expired domain, which already comes with authority, can give you a massive headstart. In some cases, you can get yourself straight to page one after filling your site with great content.
Finding Expired Domains
Knowing how to use expired domains is one thing, but knowing where to find quality expired domains is something entirely different.
The thing is, not all expired domains are made equal, which means you need to do your research:
- Check the age of the domain
- Backlink quality
- Has it been used in spam
Usually, this would take up a lot of your time if you were to do it manually using tools like Majestic or Moz.
I told you it would take some time. But what if I told you there were tools available that will automate a lot of the process for you?
To help you out, I’m going to show you the two tools and the settings I use to find authoritative expired domains quickly and efficiently.
Let’s start with…
Domain Hunter Gatherer
Domain Hunter Gatherer (DHR) is one of the best tools out there for finding expired domains but can be a little trickier to use.
It’s a desktop-based tool that allows you to search for expired domains in real-time. The best thing about it is they provide all the metrics you need from backlink checkers like Moz.
This feature means it takes all the hard work out of finding an expired domain. The best thing is it comes with a vast database to pick from.
DHR is available with three plans including:
- Free plan – This is aimed at people that want to test the waters before they jump in. This means you get limited features and the odd pop-up.
- Premium Plan – This will cost you $17 per month, but you get access to all the free plan features and can use the Web 2.0 Hunter.
- Professional Plan – It’s $97 per month, but comes with some more exclusive features. This option is aimed at people building multiple authority sites and PBNs.
With DHR, you get a few ways you can use it to find expired domains quickly. Below are some of the methods you can use:
- Hunt From Websites: This allows you to find that link to the website you’ve entered
- Domain Auction Hunter: This allows you to search eight expired domain websites using keywords.
- Web 2.0 Hunter: Searches 20 website platforms using keywords
- Hunt From Websites: Enter a website to find which sites link back to it
- Reverse Hunt Domains: Finds all the backlinks that link to a domain, then scans the list for expired domains.
Each method works fantastically at finding expired domains, but more importantly, they can do the job a lot quicker than we can.
Let’s take a look at the next tool:
SpamZilla
Spamzilla is another great tool if you’re looking to find quality expired domains. The best thing is having one of the largest databases on the market for backlink data. This helps you filter out any misused domains.
They also offer a couple of packages:
- Free version – This will allow you to search and review 25 domains, so it’s only used to test it out.
- Standard – It costs $37 per month, but opens up all the features as well the ability to review 1850 domains per month.
The best thing about SpamZilla is how easy the interface is to use; it also makes it simple to break all the information down.
You can search for expired domains using the Keyword search function. From there, you’ll be able to see all the critical metrics and filter them accordingly.
Conclusion
Whichever tool you choose you’re guaranteed to find quality expired domains. If you’re looking for something easy to use, then it doesn’t get any easier than SpamZilla.
There’s one thing that I want you to remember. And that is, expired domains can give you significant boost. And although they can cost a little bit more at the start, in the long run, they will save you time and money trying to build up the authority by yourself.
