(UPDATE 2012 – Watch out with this tactic. Getting loads of unnatural links too fast may invite a GWT Notice of Unnatural Links and eventual penalty)
This is something like the linkbuilding tactic I laid down in my last post. It’s all about spotting opportunity.
Only last week I used a very simple method to get 500 links from a PR 5 site with over 3000 links to it. Yes a REAL site. Best of all, I’ve used the same method to contact 10 other sites with exactly the same request about the exact same matter. I’ve used this method a bit over the last couple of years.
Looking at the SERPS I was interested in, I spotted an expired suspended domain that was ranking for a term I cherished. The site was actually suspended, and had been like that for the last six months. There was no content on the site, so I knew immediately it was the strength of the incoming back links alone that was keeping this high. I could of course look to buy the expired domain (but it belongs to a competitor – I’m sure if I expressed a value in it I’d lose out!)
So i ran the expired suspended domain through a backlink checker, identified the most powerful links, contacted the site owners in question and explained to them:
- They were linking to a dead site (and had been that way for 6 months)
- I had exactly the same (nay better and up-to-date) content on a site that they could link to if they wished.
Not only did I get a friendly email thanking me for pointing out they had broken links on their site (broken links are never a good thing), I now have 500 new links on a real site pointing to my site.
Linkbuilding for me is all about opportunity – spotting it and actioning it to get real backlinks from real sites. If you can see a win-win (something as simple as links in return for pointing out another site has broken links on it) jump on it.
If you can’t see win-wins – you’re not a linkbuilder – hire somebody.
Part of linkbuilding month for beginners At Hobo!
By the way, the result is I now rank and that suspended domain has sunk – oops :)
Hi there, Really enjoy the content on your site. Always helpful. I did have one question though. How did you know the domain had expired? Simply by clicking on it? Is there an add-on that shows this to you on the SERP? Cheers
I’ve edited the post – it was “suspended” :) and it actually said that in the SERPS!
I was going to ask the exact same thing so instead I will ask: Why would it say ‘suspended’ in SERPS. I’ve never seen that. Why don’t they just leave it out? Anyway, presumably this is a fairly rare opportunity? Loving your Linkbuilding month! Thx, Chloe
Hi Chloe Depending on the header a server sends to Googlebot, Google will read and index the page so you can actually find suspended accounts using Google. It’s easy – type keywords into Google and also “account suspended” – you’ll soon see opportunities to either buy a suspended domain (and 301 redirect it to your site if relevant of course) or dig through and see who links to those suspended accounts and inform them if there are any particular juice links going a begging. ;) Not only are you getting links, you’re cleaning up Google for it, and helping other webmasters clean up dead or useless links on their site. If you run the one site and are serious about your linkbuilding efforts I’d spend a lot of time doing stuff like this to help build your domains trust and authority.
Hi Chloe – I explain here – Finding Suspended Websites & Link Partners With Google
[...] new (popular) plugins like this, and with smart folks chasing down other people’s 404s to build links, I’d strongly advise you to keep a close eye on your 404 statistics… Push my Buttons! [...]
What can I say? Brilliant! I had a client who is no longer (he never paid me) who spent £20K on buying a website just for it’s backlinks. Mind you it did him no good, I built a site in his niche and within 4 months am out ranking both his sites; he should have paid me. Now though, I wish I had thought of this idea and taken those links before he purchased the website, he might have then paid me what he owed me. Great tip. I will Twitter it
Great post and idea. I will now be following the rest of the month to get more ideas:) Keep them coming. For this technique do you usually ask for the same anchor text that the “loser” had?
@Gideon – Not at all – just that their link is removed and replaced with yours ;) Good question though.
I see a lot of useful info on backlinks and SEO, but how would you recommend that I start optimizing a site. I am getting virtually no visitors and really do not know where to start. I think I have worked on my content quite a bit, but its time to make it popular. I turly would like to learn and apply it myself and not have someone else do it. Any recommendations?
Hmmm… when I talk abut SEo, people want me to talk about linkbuilding. When I talk about linkbuilding…… For SEO Advice – see our guide here – What Is SEO For SEO Beginners – see our guide here – SEO For Beginners For SEO Book – see our guide here – SEO PDF For linkbuilding, we are doing a linkbuilding month this month – see here if you subscribe to the blog, you should be OK.
Shaun, As always I love your stuff and follow all the links to all the articles. What you write is so much better than so much other rubbish I get. I stop everything when I get your emails :) Thanks Matthew
Many thanks Matthew :)
Shaun, Actually I have another comment/question. If it is not that stupid you might be able to write a blog post about it :) Anyway with regards to buying expired domains where there is link juice going I have identified one which is in the top 10 for my terms. Now if I was to buy that and do a 301 then Google would end up on my site. However eventually that expired domain will fall off the Google page 1 but mine wont be there instead because I am sure there are other factors besides links that got him to page 1. Like 1 – he has been there for 10 years. 2 – unique content? 3 – keyword densite and all of that? So I am not sure buying a domain will give you an automatic top 10 once the cache is cleared etc. So what should I do when this domain which is in the top 10 and is for sale? So if that was not that stupid maybe you could write a blog on it?
Google is ranking that site there because of the links and content. If you 301 the links and keep the content, there’s a VERY VERY high probability you’ll keep the rankings. I’d also claim both sites in Google webmaster tools to keep those rankings if that was relevant etc – see changing domain names and keeping Google rankings.
thanks for that but the content of that webpage is very very very thin at best. 5 years ago it was great. So I would trash the website. keep the domain and refer it all to mine :) but fear not getting the full value out of what I would pay. I cant use it as a shell and transfer mine in that would mean an instant win but that ship has sailed. thanks for the link I am aware of it … Almost tempted to pay the $$ and see what happens. If nothing else I would have a great blog on what NOT to do 6 months form now. Matthew