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Domain Name Registration Length
and Your Google Page Rank
Does your domain name registration length really help boost your Google page rank? I suppose no one knows for sure but from what I’ve been told by GoDaddy, and from the research I’ve done on the subject, it seems to matter. I personally figure … what the heck?! When it comes to the coveted matter of PAGE RANK … I’ll give it a shot … won’t you?
According to a patent Google was awarded, “Certain signals may be used to distinguish between illegitimate and legitimate domains. For example, domains can be renewed up to a period of 10 years. Valuable (legitimate) domains are often paid for several years in advance, while doorway (illegitimate) domains rarely are used for more than a year. Therefore, the date when a domain expires in the future can be used as a factor in predicting the legitimacy of a domain and, thus, the documents associated therewith.” I read this to mean that they do care about the quality of websites and will make an effort to determine whether or not each is a “legitimate” (or valuable) site or not … that domain registration length is a considered factor.
I often hear internet marketers talking about only registering their domain names for 1 year at a time and that way if they aren’t making enough profit they can dump the site and move on. Well, it seems to me that’s exactly why Google takes domain name registration length into account (as well as, the registration date – how far back you’ve had it registered). I’m sure you’d agree that this longevity shows a commitment to the domain name … giving it perceived “stability.” You don’t want to be erroneously perceived as a short-term or temporary spam site do you?
In my recent post, “15 Things You Should Do to Help Google Do Their Job,” I listed domain name registration length, as well as, how long the domain name has been registered to the current owner as factors for your page rank. I had someone email me saying that they thought that was a “bunch of crap” and asking where on earth I came up with these notions.
Well, let me explain. When I spoke with a GoDaddy representative a few months back he noticed that one of the domain names I was reregistering was my name. He asked me if I’d like to register that domain for 5 or 10 years so I could improve my page rank. My reply, “What are you talking about?” He explained that I would be awarded “extra points” towards my page rank if I registered out for 5 or 10 years (he even gave me a break down of the points and I’ll dig out my notes and report back with them). I remember thinking, “How the heck could GoDaddy (or this guy) possibly know that?”
Well, I went ahead and registered this domain, www.suzannefranco.com, for 5 years and on the very next round of page rank updates I went from a PR1 to a PR3! Of course I have no idea how much (if any) the domain registration length played a part in this jump … but it sure seems coincidental to me.
I’ve also read that Google indexes the public domain records from WhoIs and “uses” this information when determining page rank. When I was researching what was involved with purchasing an existing website I remember reading that the page rank might drop when you reregistered the domain into your name. If that’s true (who really knows) it seems that they do also take into account how long the domain has been registered to its current owner.
I wish I knew whether or not these factors were indeed considered in page rank. I’m going to go ahead and do a 5 year renewal on the domain for another blog of mine. It currently has a PR1 and I’ll report back with the results after the next update (rumor has it I just missed that opportunity and that we’re going through an update right now – can anyone confirm this?).
What about you … how long do you register your domain names? If you have several domains do you find yourself treating some differently than others when it comes to the cost commitment of domain registration? Have you ever seen a jump in page rank after renewing a domain for a 5 or 10 year period? Please share your thoughts so we can all learn. *Smiles* Suzanne
P.S. To the jerk who sent me the rude email … you mentioned that your blog was a PR1 and that you highly doubt renewing your domain name for 5 years would have an impact … did you spring for the $35 bucks out of curiosity? If it helped … you’re welcome and I’ll be happy to accept your apology! LOL.
P.S.S. I’m curious … if you truly believed in your position why didn’t you post here publically instead of sending me a nasty email privately? Things that make you go hmmmmmm …
Head over to GoDaddy NOW
and extend your domain name registration for 5 or 10 years
and see how you do this next update!
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17 Comments
JR @ Internet Marketing Strategies
on 30th Sep, 08 01:09am
I think you are right, especially since many IM’ers try to buy old domains and pay a lot more for them just for the age!
JR
[Reply]
Rob
on 30th Sep, 08 02:09am
Thanks for the post. Interesting concept. One the one hand it could be a marketing technique that registrars use to get one to commit more and hence spend more with them on registation fees and on the other it just might be that google actually rewards such domains with a higher page rank.
If it is the latter, it is an easy and highly valuable google page ranking and SEO technique to know and use!
[Reply]
Jake
on 30th Sep, 08 09:09am
What up WHAM? Funny, i was thinking about needing to extend my domains, the ones that i am focusing on and then checked your site to find this post! Good job!
I always try to take part of my earnings and put them back towards my sites… this month i believe i will use a portion of it to lengthen the registration of a few of them!
Take care…
[Reply]
Suzanne
on 30th Sep, 08 10:09am
@ JR … I’ve seen the aged domains for sale too … but then I was also told that it’s risky doing that because when you transfer the domain to the new owner it effects the page rank. I don’t know for sure on that.
@ Rob … I too thought it could be GoDaddy trying to sell me a longer domain registration but after researching it I found quite a bit of info supporting it so I will hope it’s true!
@ Jake … Are your domains with GoDaddy? Be sure to use discount codes for that … (OYH3 will give you domains for $6.95/year) Congrats on your stores this month too! *huGs*
[Reply]
Domain Name Registration
on 2nd Oct, 08 11:10am
Suzanne
I think that you’re onto something because I have a bunch of domains which I generally register for 1 year for the exact reason you mentioned above.
With that said, I have 4 domains that I really work on and have therefore registered them for 10 years each. Ironically they have the best PR of all of the domains I own and I don’t do any more with the link campaigns of these domains than I do with the others.
Like you said, there’s really no way to prove this but it does make sense considering the domains I have registered for extended periods of time have a better PR.
Thanks,
David L.
[Reply]
Suzanne
on 2nd Oct, 08 01:10pm
@ david … that’s very good feedback.
I am going to change all of my domains to 10 year registrations. I will start with the most promising and work my way through all of them as I feel inclined. From what I’m finding, after you put them out to 10 years you are supposed to renew them for a year at a time each year thereafter ~ thus keeping them 10 years out.
[Reply]
spike@myrtle beach website design
on 28th Oct, 08 11:10pm
I hope this works. I set up my new site a couple months ago, and I have had a PR -1 ever since the beginning, even before I was indexed.
All my other sites are between 1 and 4, so that came as a shock.
Any other tips would be greatly appreciated.
[Reply]
Suzanne
on 28th Oct, 08 11:10pm
@ spike ~ Welcome … I am waiting patiently to see if one of my other blogs has a rise in PR (it’s a 1 now) because I put the domain out 5 more years … *fingers crossed* Suzanne
[Reply]
spike@myrtle beach website design
on 28th Oct, 08 11:10pm
Hi Suzanne
Do you know if I can renew it ten times, one year at a time, until I’m at 10 year total length?
The reason I ask is, I have a discount code that would save me about $30 per domain (I have over 30 websites I manage) but not if I purchase for more than a year.
I can’t imagine Google cares how it was done, they probably just look at the expiration date on the whois.
Anyway, thanks for the quick response.
Spike
[Reply]
Suzanne
on 29th Oct, 08 12:10am
I don’t see why not … they way it was explained to me is that they do indeed read the date … and once you have it at either 5 or 10 (which ever you want) then you still have to renew for at least a year each year to maintain that length. Where are you renewing the domains? I have a code for GoDaddy that will get them at $7.49/year (OYH3) but it’s a little different if you’re transferring the domain to them. I think when I renewed for 5 years it tried to give me a “discount” for multiple years and I had to back that out … so I could apply my coupon code and that worked.
Your site looks great … love the little robot guy! *SmiLes* Suzanne
[Reply]
Kenny
on 11th Nov, 08 10:11am
Great Great info! I knew that the age of a domain played allot into page rank and people pay more for older domain names than new ones but I have no idea that google takes into account how long you register it for. I will regiter my domain for 5 years next time it is up. A 2 point page rank thata allot.
Also if someone has their own name as a domain name I dont see why one wouldnt want to register it for 5 yars or more. Its not like your going to change your name anytime soon. Great info. I’d like to use this on my newbiew blog if possible. Someone looking to start a web site should know this info before they register their domain name.
Kenny’s last blog post..Community Network Marketing – How To Beat Mlm Failure
[Reply]
Frank C
on 16th Nov, 08 10:11pm
I’ve not noticed this have an impact on the PR of a site. I’d guess it’s a good marketing ploy for GoDaddy though.
Your recent PR boost is probably due to your link building through dofollow comments on blogs, guest posting and other such things related to promoting your blog. All of these are good, solid, ways for your to increase the PR of your site.
One of the risks of long term renewals is that you may not get an automatic renewal payment or renewal notice and lose your domain. For example, you buy a domain with your name for a 10 year period. It is likely that you won’t have the same credit card number or email address on file with the registrar. If you forget to renew your domain will expire and it will probably be gone or cost you a lot to get it back.
Frank C’s last blog post..Dazzle Video Creator Platinum Review
[Reply]
Okan E.
on 21st Dec, 08 05:12am
Hi Suzanne, in these days i have been searching the internet for a while if domain age and registration length affects pagerank and saw your blog. I have an experiment about this topic, my company site is 6 years old and registered year by year, this is my first priority domain to focus on it . Always making some changes to make it more readible and up to date and pagerank “0″. Another one is my customers domain, web site designed by me in 2002. But in first registration i paid for 8 years (2002-2010), designed website and never touch it again until today but it’s page rank “3″. I think same as you “It affects”…
[Reply]
LelsGreaseple
on 29th Dec, 08 07:12pm
iszkgotfdkgmgkqiwell, hi admin adn people nice forum indeed. how’s life? hope it’s introduce branch
[Reply]
Jacob
on 23rd Feb, 09 01:02am
I own around 140+ domains. They are registered anywere from year by year up to the 10 year mark. I can tell NO DIFFERENCE in pr or ranking for keywords in serps. While G may consider registration length a factor I personally feel it is a very very small one. Plenty of the domains I register yearly rank well above others that have a much longer registration length. I rank higher because of relavent backlinks with anchor text and because of well focused content.
This is just my own experience so do you own test or read around more. I feel your time would be better spent getting quality relavent backlinks and good unique content. There is no magic bullet. Just solid hard work
[Reply]
Work At Home Blog
on 12th Apr, 09 09:04am
Hi Suzanne,
I’ve heard of this too from website grader which indicates your site’s domain expiry date. But there is no way you can verify this as you can’t do nothing and wait to see your PR increase can you. Well even if it does factor in the calculation of PR, the SEO experts claimed ranking in SE is more important than the color of your green bar. Actually I’ve seen a site which is quite new and less than 2 months old out ranked many older websites with very high PR.
Peter Lee
Work At Home Blog’s last blog post..4 Bloggers’ Interview:If I Could Start My Blog All Over…
[Reply]
Barbara56
on 22nd Oct, 09 05:10pm
I have edited the collection. ,
[Reply]