Hi there,

I'm currently in the process of selecting a domain name for my new company website. I am faced with a decision of either registering a brand new domain or purchasing a pre-owned one.

I have recently received an offer to buy a pre-owned domain that is more than 10 years old for $500. This domain has no TIC and links (Backlink) and its indicators are currently at zero. However, it does contain the main key and has a similar subject matter to my website.

I am wondering whether it is worth investing $500 on this pre-owned domain for potential SEO advantages?

Thank you.

If Jesus had purchased a domain name but did not use it at all, then it would have no value to him regardless of any other factors. However, if the name is brief and relevant to your topic, it may be worth acquiring.

It's important to note that simply owning a domain name does not guarantee success in online ventures. It's crucial to create quality content and engage with your audience to build a strong online presence. Additionally, shorter domain names are often easier to remember and type, making them more valuable in the long run.

Having an old domain is crucial for getting a "quick start" on your website. Google tends to place new domains in a "sandbox" for a year, meaning that even with strong indexing, they will rank very poorly in search results. However, if you attach an existing old domain to your new site, it will bypass this one-year quarantine period.

After a year has passed, the age of the domain becomes less important. Nevertheless, it is always beneficial to have an established domain as it can improve your chances of ranking higher in search results. Building a strong online presence takes time, but having an aged domain can give you a head start.

The age of the domain does play a role in its potential SEO benefits. Search engines tend to trust older domains more, as they are seen as more established and credible. This could potentially give you a head start in terms of ranking on search engine results pages.

However, the absence of TIC (Trust Flow), backlinks, and low indicators is a concern. These are important metrics that contribute to a domain's authority and credibility in the eyes of search engines. Without these factors, the pre-owned domain may not provide the SEO advantages you are hoping for, at least not immediately.

On the other hand, if the pre-owned domain contains the main keyword and has a similar subject matter to your website, it could still hold some value. Exact match domains can sometimes have a positive impact on SEO, although the significance of this factor has diminished over time due to search engine algorithm updates.

In terms of the $500 investment, it's important to weigh the potential SEO benefits against the current state of the pre-owned domain. If you believe that with the right strategy and investment, you can build up the domain's authority, acquire backlinks, and improve its SEO indicators, then it might be worth considering. However, if the domain's lack of existing SEO value is a concern, you may want to explore other options.
The decision should be based on a thorough analysis of the domain's potential, your SEO strategy, and the overall marketing budget for your new company website. It's always advisable to consult with SEO experts before making such an investment to ensure that it aligns with your long-term digital marketing goals.