Bought Expired Domain: redirected all internal pages to homepage, is that OK?

Vincenzo Udinesi · Dec 13, 2019

Hi,

This is the first time I bought an expired domain with some good metrics(to best of my knowledge) and redirected(301) all the internal pages to the homepage because there were many backlinks here and there on images and posts.

Also, because I wanted to design a completely new website instead of using the old site's structure and content with the purpose of using it as a money site.

Is it OK to approach this way in this situation? Would it negatively affect the content ranking when I start publishing?

I appreciate your responses.

Also, if possible.. point me to some thorough guide to follow when creating a money site on an expired domain.

Thanks a TON!

Cleast Intwood · Dec 13, 2019

It could negatively affect it. Depends on how many links/link targets it is etc. But Google doesn't like 404 all to home. That said, there is probably a threshold somewhere so if its a ton of links id play it safe and redirect some of them to an inner page.

nakamura · Dec 13, 2019

No, it will have a positive affect, since all the link juice will go to the homepage. Otherwise it would be lost.

Vincenzo Udinesi · Dec 13, 2019

Cleast Intwood said:
It could negatively affect it. Depends on how many links/link targets it is etc. But Google doesn't like 404 all to home. That said, there is probably a threshold somewhere so if its a ton of links id play it safe and redirect some of them to an inner page.

I had to make 296 redirects from some worthy inner pages to the homepage as its a 15 years old website. I also configured my SEO plugin to redirect all 404s to the homepage.

I can disable the "404s to homepage" configuration and create fresh content on inner pages and redirect relevant old pages to the new ones. Would it help or the damage might already be done? as a month or so has passed since I created the new website.

Thank you for your time.

Vincenzo Udinesi · Dec 13, 2019

nakamura said:
No, it will have a positive affect, since all the link juice will go to the homepage. Otherwise it would be lost.

Your opinion about the link juice is correct as I saw the homepage UR(inside Ahrefs) go up from 20 to 27 after the redirect but I fear a Google penalty or future problems when I publish good fresh content on the website.

Thank you.

BuildMoreLinks · Dec 13, 2019

that's the right way to do it, also monitor the 404's and later mass 301 it to the homepage.

Mr Positive · Dec 13, 2019

I think you should be safe but keep monitoring the site

BuildMoreLinks · Dec 13, 2019

Mr Positive said:
I think you should be safe but keep monitoring the site

https://wordpress.org/plugins/404-monitor/
this plugin comes in handy.

Vincenzo Udinesi · Dec 13, 2019

BuildMoreLinks said:
https://wordpress.org/plugins/404-monitor/
this plugin comes in handy.

I already have the Rank Math SEO plugin installed, below is a snapshot if it helps.

Thank you.

BuildMoreLinks · Dec 13, 2019

Now 301 these 32 URL's (unique ones, if pages existed) back to the homepage.

Vincenzo Udinesi · Dec 13, 2019

BuildMoreLinks said:
Now 301 these 32 URL's (unique ones, if pages existed) back to the homepage.

I noticed that all those 32 404 errors were more than 20 days old, probably they occurred while I was setting up redirects on the site.

Cleared the log and monitoring from now onwards for any 404s so I can 301 redirect them immediately. Thanks a TON

Bought Expired Domain: redirected all internal pages to homepage, is that OK?

Vincenzo Udinesi

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Cleast Intwood

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