There may be some history of former owners on your domain. But does domain history affect how you rank in Google searches?
The likelihood is that a domain name registered today will have a history associated, unless you’re fortunate enough to register one that no one else has thought of.
Does the new domain owner have any cause for concern regarding what the former owner(s) done with it?
Yes, even after ownership changes and a domain is used for a new website, its past matters.
Contrary to what website owners may believe, domain history is more important. Sadly, some people don’t realize it until it’s too late.
Continue reading to find out more about the allegations that domain history affects rankings. After that, we’ll examine Google’s supporting documentation.
The Claim: Domain History Is A Ranking Factor
Over the course of their existence, domains may be used for a wide variety of purposes.
A domain name that is now being used by a reputable company might have once been associated with a pirate website, a payday lending website, or another type of website that Google dislikes.
Despite the fact that the website is brand-new, domain history is reportedly being taken into account by Google today when displaying search results.
This implies that a new website might not even have the chance to rank in Google searches.
Is this a valid worry? Or is it all just a theory?
Here is what the data indicates.
The Evidence: Domain History As A Ranking Factor
Google has talked about domain history and how it affects rankings on many occasions.
It is frequently claimed that Google’s current treatment of a domain may be influenced by how it was utilized in the past.
There are many effect levels, from mild to severe. The most serious problem a website owner can encounter is if they purchase a domain that has a history of unsolved manual actions.
Even if the former owner sells the domain or lets the registration lapse, Google’s manual activities continue to exist.
The next owner of the domain risk having their website demoted or deindexed from the start if the penalties aren’t addressed.
In a video on the subject, Matt Cutts, a former employee of Google, suggested doing some research on a domain name before buying it.
By looking at the manual action report in Google Search Console, a site owner can quickly find out if a manual action has been taken against their domain.
The worst-case situation is that. However, it’s merely a short-term problem because all manual actions may be fixed.
In some situations, a domain might not be subject to a penalty but still have a troubled past with Google.
In some circumstances, search results may still have an impact on the website. According to John Mueller of Google, the problem will eventually be resolved.
Mueller claims that a domain with a brief history of malicious behavior is not grounds for alarm. It could be more difficult to move on if the unfavorable history goes back ten years or more.
At Archive.org, you may look up the past of any domain.
Domain History Is Definitely A Ranking Factor
There is evidence that domain history affects search rankings based on claims made explicitly by Google. Prior to purchasing a domain that has already been registered, you should give this aspect careful consideration.
Even while the effects might be lessened with time, historical domain usage can and does affect how websites are ranked now. In general, this is more likely to appear as a bad ranking element than a good one.
It is unquestionably established that domain history is a ranking factor.
