I found a website getting traffic and its backlinks are leftover from what the site was before...

[1836]

So I was researching a niche I'm looking to build in and I come across a site that has 130 FOLLOW backlinks to the domain but I notice the backlinks are to a now-defunct conservatory website of some sort, which this website seems to have bought the domain to make this site, and this niche is in the sports category. Yet they're ranking well for a new site, they are up to nearly 10,000 organic traffic a month compared to 380 traffic in October. With the big shoot up being in December.

They are ranking on the first page for many different things and yet NONE of their backlinks are relevant to their niche, its all leftover from the former site. I would assume this is a domain they picked up at auction for the value of its backlinks, as the site itself is an abbreviation that has no relevance whatsoever on the niche.

My question would be, how am I supposed to compete against this? Or is this a non-issue that the google algorithm will eventually figure out and punish this site? Or should I pursue buying a domain that also has backlinks that aren't relevant to my niche and throw my posts up? Many thanks!

 

[bernard]

You can compete with a brand new domain if need be, it can just be easier to start with an expired domain such as the one you mention.

Where as it will work if the topic is very different, well that remains to be seen, for that particular site and that particular niche.

It's not as simple as saying one or the other. There's the simple risk of people removing backlinks, once they discover that the site has changed. If you keep on topic and even recreate some topics that had backlinks, then you might lose links slower.

What is for certain though, is that if you stick close to your original topic, then that will give you a boost.

 

[1836]

What is for certain though, is that if you stick close to your original topic, then that will give you a boost.

What did you mean by this? Stick close to the topic of the expired DOMAIN that your purchase or stick close to the topic of whatever your niche is? Also, sorry that I cannot like your reply, I have no idea how to do so and I don't see a like button anywhere!

 

[bernard]

What did you mean by this? Stick close to the topic of the expired DOMAIN that your purchase or stick close to the topic of whatever your niche is? Also, sorry that I cannot like your reply, I have no idea how to do so and I don't see a like button anywhere!

I don't think you can like a post until a certain number of posts. This site has a strict vetting process to discourage spammers.

Back on topic.

Lets use a real example: I bought a domain that had previously been used as a job site for public sector jobs.

You could use it for different topics:

Kitchen equipment -> not relevant at all
Unemployment insurance -> macro relevant (jobs)
Jobs in the private sector -> niche relevant
Jobs in the public sector -> very relevant

The boost you would get from an expired domain depends on the relevancy to the previous content topic, even down to recreating pages with content that used to be there.

I actually recreated the site as a public sector job site and I already have 2000+ visitors a month in about 3 months, without any promotion at all.

I'd say, if you keep it not relevant, then it's hit and miss if you will get a big boost. You will get indexed faster, but in my experience, you won't get that much of a ranking boost. If you keep it relevant, you will be much better off.

 

[1836]

I don't think you can like a post until a certain number of posts. This site has a strict vetting process to discourage spammers.

Back on topic.

Lets use a real example: I bought a domain that had previously been used as a job site for public sector jobs.

You could use it for different topics:

Kitchen equipment -> not relevant at all
Unemployment insurance -> macro relevant (jobs)
Jobs in the private sector -> niche relevant
Jobs in the public sector -> very relevant

The boost you would get from an expired domain depends on the relevancy to the previous content topic, even down to recreating pages with content that used to be there.

I actually recreated the site as a public sector job site and I already have 2000+ visitors a month in about 3 months, without any promotion at all.

I'd say, if you keep it not relevant, then it's hit and miss if you will get a big boost. You will get indexed faster, but in my experience, you won't get that much of a ranking boost. If you keep it relevant, you will be much better off.

That's a perfect answer to my question! Makes sense now! I'll keep this in mind and be on the lookout for domains now. And you were right I now have the like button after receiving three likes so that's great.