Better to use aged domain or new domain?

[MojoUK]

So years ago I couldn't get the exact domain for my business and so I bought one that was as close as possible. I've now managed to pick up the exact domain name that matches the name of my business.

Am I better off keeping my main domain name with the old one as it's aged and has a few back links or is it better to use the new one as it matches the exact name of my business?

I'm new to SEO so apologises if this is a noob question, I'm still learning!

 

[validseo]

Domain age is not a factor... it just happens to correlate with sites that rank well but it is not causal. I have hundreds of domains that were registered in the 90s but they perform no better than a brand new domain because they have never been indexed by google. Google treats them exactly the same. The domains that have an advantage have been indexed by google for a long time. So it isn't the age of the domain that has value but rather how long it has been in google's index. So you really need to use wayback machine and find out how long a domain has been indexed and how it was used in the past before buying. Buying a domain because it was registered a long time ago is often a trap because if it was never used or if it was penalized for abuse then it will provide no advantage over a new domain or worse could be even worse than a new domain. The age benefit is often minimal in the sense that you can often make up for it in other ways like publicity.

 

[Ettienne]

Aged domains have lost quite a bit of value over the last year or two. There are golden nuggets for sure, but personally I prefer new domains, at least then I know exactly what's going on as well as the history. A lot of shady aged domains being sold with fake stats, so be careful

 

[blackpayman733]

If you catch aged domain with decent backlinks high DA/PA then you can work it with better than new domain. send me the niche i will give try to find for you, we have ranked site selling thread.

 

[Nargil]

Expired domains will always be more effective than new ones. That is of course true only if they have a decent backlink profile. Apart of that, age of the domain means absolutely nothing. Age of content matters, not the age of domain. And unless you are buying a live website, then you can disregard any age stuff altogether.

 

[Greengolegend]

I'd prefer new

 

[Max-tone]

Domain age is not a factor...

Really? Not a factor when google compare 5-years or 7-years domains for example, but if domain 2 month old - google is unlikely to put him in the top unless you have something super-ordinary. Tim Soulo from ahrefs recently did a research on this ahrefs.com/blog/how-long-does-it-take-to-rank/.
My opinion: In the real world use new domain, in internet use old domain (don't forget redirect from old domain) or you can read about "rel=canonical", maybe its your way

 

[Nargil]

Really? Not a factor when google compare 5-years or 7-years domains for example, but if domain 2 month old - google is unlikely to put him in the top unless you have something super-ordinary. Tim Soulo from ahrefs recently did a research on this ahrefs.com/blog/how-long-does-it-take-to-rank/.
My opinion: In the real world use new domain, in internet use old domain (don't forget redirect from old domain) or you can read about "rel=canonical", maybe its your way

It's the age of content buddy, not the age of domain. And you can read some information about that specific article here on BHW too.

 

[Cshark]

Now you're right on the money, @validseo

Domain age is not a factor... it just happens to correlate with sites that rank well but it is not causal. I have hundreds of domains that were registered in the 90s but they perform no better than a brand new domain because they have never been indexed by google. Google treats them exactly the same. The domains that have an advantage have been indexed by google for a long time. So it isn't the age of the domain that has value but rather how long it has been in google's index. So you really need to use wayback machine and find out how long a domain has been indexed and how it was used in the past before buying. Buying a domain because it was registered a long time ago is often a trap because if it was never used or if it was penalized for abuse then it will provide no advantage over a new domain or worse could be even worse than a new domain. The age benefit is often minimal in the sense that you can often make up for it in other ways like publicity.

 

[Max-tone]

It's the age of content buddy, not the age of domain. And you can read some information about that specific article here on BHW too.

I totally agree, and I think MojoUK in this situation when talking about the age of the domain had in mind exactly the content, I just answered in his terms

 

[Max-tone]

And you can read some information about that specific article here on BHW too.

I try find, but there are many topics about it, what "some information" you meant? I will be glad if you show me

 

[Nargil]

I try find, but there are many topics about it, what "some information" you meant? I will be glad if you show me

https://www.blackhatworld.com/seo/why-most-seo-case-studies-are-bs.923414/

 

[validseo]

Really? Not a factor when google compare 5-years or 7-years domains for example, but if domain 2 month old - google is unlikely to put him in the top unless you have something super-ordinary. Tim Soulo from ahrefs recently did a research on this ahrefs.com/blog/how-long-does-it-take-to-rank/.
My opinion: In the real world use new domain, in internet use old domain (don't forget redirect from old domain) or you can read about "rel=canonical", maybe its your way

I wish it were a factor. I have access to over 1600 domains that were purchased around 10 years ago but never used. They offer no advantage over a new domain. A domain that has been indexed by google for 10 years... that has advantage... but domain age... not a factor.

 

[Max-tone]

I wish it were a factor. I have access to over 1600 domains that were purchased around 10 years ago but never used. They offer no advantage over a new domain. A domain that has been indexed by google for 10 years... that has advantage... but domain age... not a factor.

Yes, i agree, if you read my message above you see this, that i say age domain but meaning content and i think MojoUK meant content too, because he say "has a few back links", Who backlinks to a non-existent domain without content.

 

[Max-tone]

https://www.blackhatworld.com/seo/why-most-seo-case-studies-are-bs.923414/

Thank you Nargil, It's an interesting thought about correlation and causation

 

[Deleted member 1006940]

I'd go after branding.. as others have said - it's the age of CONTENT that matters most in this regard..

 

[MojoUK]

Thanks for all the replies guys, I'm still a little confused though. I've perhaps not explained myself properly.

So I bought a domain name about 5 years ago and set up a website I have been trading from it since then (with little success and no SEO), I've now re built the website and I've managed to pick up a new domain name that fits the business better.

My question is this: Am I better off using the old domain name and pointing it to the new website as the main domain or use the new one I have just purchased as my primary domain? Or does it just make no difference?

 

[comfyhotel]

Its better you can use new one .