When selecting expired domains, it is crucial to evaluate various SEO metrics to
determine their potential impact. These metrics serve as benchmarks to assess
how strong a domain’s backlink profile is and how well it might perform in
search engine rankings. In this article, we will explain the eight essential SEO
metrics that should not be overlooked when choosing an expired domain.
Domain Rating (DR)
-
Overview: This metric reflects the overall strength of a
domain’s backlink profile. A higher score indicates a more robust backlink
profile. -
Meaning: DR evaluates the quantity and quality of external
links, helping to determine the SEO potential of a domain. Domains with a
high DR are more likely to rank well on search engines and possess strong
link power. -
How to Use: When selecting an expired domain, a high DR
suggests strong SEO potential, especially if you aim to enhance your site’s
backlink profile. -
Provided by:
Ahrefs
Domain Authority (DA)
-
Overview: A metric from Moz that measures a domain’s
overall authority. -
Meaning: DA is determined by the quality and quantity of
backlinks, influencing the domain’s SEO performance. Domains with high DA
are more likely to rank higher in search engine results. -
How to Use: High DA domains are especially valuable for
competitive industries where strong SEO influence is required. -
Provided by:
Moz
Page Authority (PA)
-
Overview: A Moz metric that indicates the authority of a
specific page within a domain. -
Meaning: PA measures the SEO strength of an individual page
and its potential to rank in search engine results. -
How to Use: Useful for evaluating specific pages within an
expired domain. If a page has a high PA, it may already hold significant SEO
value. -
Provided by:
Moz
Spam Score (SS)
- Overview: A Moz metric used to assess a domain’s spam risk.
-
Meaning: Based on factors indicating potential spammy
behavior, a high spam score signals a higher risk of penalties. Moz updated
its calculation method in 2023, and scores now range from 0 to 100. -
How to Use: Generally, domains with high spam scores should
be avoided. However, domains with a spam score between 50% and 70% might
still be usable depending on other factors. -
Provided by:
Moz
Trust Flow (TF)
-
Overview: A Majestic metric that measures the
trustworthiness of the sites linking to a domain. -
Meaning: The more trustworthy sites linking to a domain,
the higher its TF. Trusted backlinks are more likely to be highly regarded
by search engines. -
How to Use: When buying an expired domain, check its TF to
ensure it has trustworthy backlinks. -
Provided by:
Majestic
Citation Flow (CF)
-
Overview: A Majestic metric that measures the volume of
backlinks a domain has. -
Meaning: CF increases with the number of backlinks, but you
should also be wary of low-quality links. -
How to Use: A high CF suggests a large number of backlinks,
but it’s important to also check their quality to ensure they are
beneficial. -
Provided by:
Majestic
Trust Ratio (TR)
-
Overview: This metric represents the ratio of Trust Flow
(TF) to Citation Flow (CF), used to evaluate the overall quality of
backlinks. -
Meaning: TR reflects the balance of a domain’s link
profile. A ratio of 0.5 or higher is considered good, and a TR close to 1
indicates a high-quality backlink profile. -
How to Use: A higher TR indicates that the domain’s
backlink profile is balanced, with a good ratio of link quality to quantity,
which is beneficial for SEO. -
Provided by:
Majestic
Referring Domains (RD)
-
Overview: The number of unique external websites that are
linking to the domain. -
Meaning: A higher number of Referring Domains suggests a
stronger, more widespread backlink profile. However, the quality of these
referring domains is also an important factor. -
How to Use: When selecting expired domains, it’s essential
to check both the quantity and quality of referring domains to evaluate the
strength of the backlink profile. -
Provided by:
Ahrefs
Conclusion
These SEO metrics are crucial when choosing an expired domain. However,
selecting a domain based solely on high numbers is not enough. To identify a
domain with strong SEO potential, you must consider the balance of these metrics
and conduct a comprehensive evaluation. Relying too heavily on any single metric
can be misleading; instead, continually assess the domain’s performance in
real-world usage to make the best decision.