What You Need to Know About Domain History and SEO
March 9, 2023 | By Ilfusion Team
Search engines like Google are not always very clear about the many different factors they consider when ranking sites in organic search. However, John Mueller, a senior search analyst at Google, has confirmed that domain history is one of the more important factors the algorithm considers.
What Is Domain History?
Domain history refers to the entire web presence of a domain name. It includes information such as the following:
- how long it has been active
- how often it has changed owners
- whether it has ever been penalized by search engines
- the content, links, and other elements that have been associated with it over time
A website’s domain history can be found by using a Whois lookup tool such as ICANN Lookup and Whois.com. This will provide the domain’s age and other information related to its previous owners.
How Does Domain History Impact SEO?
Search engine algorithms look at domain history to determine if a website is trustworthy, authoritative, and relevant.
If the algorithm finds that a website has had multiple owners, or if any of the previous owners have been penalized by search engines, it is likely that the domain will be given a lower ranking.
Similarly, websites that have been active for a long time are often seen as more trustworthy and authoritative than newer sites, since search engines view them as having been around longer and therefore more reliable.
What Can I Do to Improve My Domain History?
If you want to improve your domain history, there are a few steps you can take:
1. Ensure that you are the sole owner of your domain name
If there have been previous owners, make sure to transfer the domain into your own name. To do this, you will need to contact the domain registrar and request a change of ownership. The process can vary depending on the type of domain name you are registered with.
2. Keep your website active for as long as possible
Having an active website for a long period shows search engines that you are committed to providing quality content. This can result in higher rankings, as the algorithm will see your website as a reliable source of information.
3. Monitor the links and other elements associated with your domain
Make sure to keep track of the links and other elements that are associated with your domain. If any of them are spammy or low-quality, it can be a red flag to search engines and lead to a lower ranking. Conducting a regular SEO audit of your website can help to ensure that your domain is free from these issues.
4. Monitor your domain history
Ongoing monitoring of your domain’s history is important to ensure that you are aware of any changes that could affect your rankings. Using Whois lookup tools can provide you with the information you need to determine if there have been any significant changes to your domain’s history.
5. Consider getting a brand-new domain
If you are starting a new website and want to avoid any potential issues, it may be worth considering getting a brand-new domain name. While this may be costly, it will allow you to have a clean slate and start with a good domain history that can lead to higher rankings.
Improve Your Organic Search Rankings with the Right Strategy
Identifying and addressing any issues with your domain history is an important, yet often overlooked, part of SEO. However, remember that domain history is but one of the many factors that could affect your SEO rankings and overall SEO goals.
To achieve the best results, it’s important to have a comprehensive SEO strategy that takes into account all of the various elements of your website and online presence.
Ilfusion has a team of experienced and knowledgeable SEO professionals who can help you develop and implement a strategy that will drive organic search results, improve your rankings, and boost your bottom line.
To get started, get in touch with us at 888-420-5115 or at [email protected].
