Your domain likely carries a history from its previous owners. However, does this domain history have the potential to influence your rankings in Google search results?
Unless you register an entirely novel domain name that no one has previously considered, any domain registered today will likely come with a pre-existing history.
Should the new domain owner be bothered by the activities of its previous owner(s)?
A domain’s history holds significance, even after it changes ownership and transforms into a new website.
In reality, the importance of domain history extends beyond what many site owners may initially realize. Regrettably, some only grasp its significance when it’s already too late.
Continue reading to delve deeper into the assertions regarding domain history as a ranking determinant. Following that, we’ll examine the corroborating evidence provided by Google.
The Assertion: Domain History as a Ranking Variable
Domains have the potential to serve a multitude of diverse purposes over their lifespan.
A domain name currently employed by a legitimate business may have previously been associated with a payday loan website, a piracy site, or any other website type disapproved of by Google. Surprisingly, even if the website is brand new, domain history is purported to influence Google’s present-day search results.
This implies that a freshly launched website might face obstacles in Google search rankings before it even has an opportunity to establish itself.
Is this a legitimate concern, or is it purely theoretical?
Let’s explore the available evidence to find out.
The Proof: Domain History’s Role as a Ranking Determinant
Google has addressed the matter of domain history and its repercussions on rankings on several occasions.
Google has consistently affirmed that a domain’s past usage can influence how it is treated in the present. This influence can range from mild to severe. The most severe predicament a site owner might encounter is obtaining a domain with a history of unresolved manual actions.
It’s crucial to note that Google’s manual actions do not automatically disappear, even when the previous owner sells the domain or allows its registration to expire.
Suppose these penalties still need to be addressed. In that case, the subsequent domain owner may find their website either significantly demoted in search results or wholly removed from Google’s index from the outset.
This issue was discussed in a video featuring former Googler Matt Cutts, who strongly advised conducting thorough research on a domain before acquiring it.
A site owner can swiftly determine if their domain is subject to a manual action by checking the manual action report in the Google Search Console.
This represents the most dire situation, but it’s worth noting that it’s a temporary setback, as all manual actions are ultimately resolvable.
A domain might not carry a penalty in different scenarios, but it could still bear a negative track record with Google.
In such instances, the website’s performance in search results might still be affected. John Mueller of Google has explained that, in due course, this issue tends to resolve itself.
As per Mueller, a domain with a brief history of unfavorable activity is generally not a cause for significant concern. However, if the adverse history spans a decade or more, the path to recovery might be more challenging.
Domain History Undoubtedly Impacts Rankings
Conclusive statements from Google provide solid evidence that domain history has a bearing on search rankings. Before acquiring a previously registered domain, due consideration should be given to this factor. While the effects of domain history can be alleviated with time, it is clear that past domain usage significantly affects the current ranking of websites. Typically, this impact tends to lean more towards being a negative ranking factor than a positive one.
The status of domain history as a ranking determinant is undeniably established.
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