Podcast Summary: Grumpy SEO Guy - Episode 03 Title: How to Build Your Own Portfolio of Authoritative Websites to Rank Your Clients, Part 1: Domain Acquisition (How to Build a PBN the Correct Way)
Release Date: May 10, 2023
Host: Grumpy SEO Guy

Introduction

In Episode 3 of the Grumpy SEO Guy podcast, the host delves into the critical process of building a portfolio of authoritative domains to enhance client rankings. This episode, titled "How to Build Your Own Portfolio of Authoritative Websites to Rank Your Clients, Part 1: Domain Acquisition," focuses primarily on domain acquisition strategies necessary for establishing a Private Blog Network (PBN) the right way.

Why Authoritative Domains Matter

Grumpy SEO Guy emphasizes the importance of authoritative domains over regular or newly purchased domains. He explains that authority is king in SEO, not just quality content.

Grumpy SEO Guy (00:02:30): “The more authority a website has, the more power a link from that website has. This is referred to as link juice. So the higher the authority, the greater amount of link juice a link from that website has.”

He highlights that older, authoritative domains with strong backlink profiles can significantly boost a website's ranking compared to numerous low-quality, spammy backlinks. This distinction is crucial because search engines prioritize the quality and authority of backlinks over sheer quantity.

The Decline of Quantity Over Quality in Backlinks

Grumpy SEO Guy reflects on past SEO practices where quantity mattered more, leading to the proliferation of spammy backlinks from blog comments and forum profiles. He notes the shift in search engine algorithms toward valuing high-quality backlinks.

Grumpy SEO Guy (00:04:50): “Now you might be thinking, why would I want to go through all this effort... because the backlinks were super low quality and spammy. They were on blog comments and forum profiles. And it's not the solution you're looking for.”

He warns against using automated tools that generate thousands of backlinks, as these are typically low-quality and can lead to penalties rather than improved rankings.

Steps to Acquire Authoritative Domains

The core of the episode provides a step-by-step guide on acquiring authoritative domains, ensuring they contribute positively to your SEO strategy.

1. Understanding Expired Domains

Grumpy SEO Guy introduces the concept of expired domains and why they are valuable for building authority quickly.

Grumpy SEO Guy (00:10:18): “Expired domains are domains that someone stopped paying for... you can identify domains that fit your criteria that are available at auction.”

2. Evaluating Domain History

Before purchasing, it's essential to verify the domain's history to ensure it hasn't been used for spammy purposes.

• Historical WHOIS Lookup: Determines previous ownership and checks for a clean history.

Grumpy SEO Guy (00:14:05): “Check if the domain has a clean history... just make sure it hasn't been used for spammy purposes.”

3. Assessing Backlinks and Referring Domains

Using tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Majestic, evaluate the domain's backlink profile.

• Backlinks vs. Referring Domains: Quality over quantity.

Grumpy SEO Guy (00:22:09): “More referring domains is always better... it's less spammy.”

4. Analyzing Anchor Text

Ensure the anchor text associated with the domain's backlinks isn't spammy or overly optimized.

• Avoid Spammy Categories: Pharmacy, gambling, and adult-related keywords.
• Maintain Diversity: No single keyword should dominate the anchor text.

Grumpy SEO Guy (00:24:23): “If you see any backlinks related to pharmacy, gambling, or adult content, don’t buy the domain.”

5. Geographical Origin of Backlinks

Check the geographic sources of the backlinks. A majority from regions known for spam (e.g., Philippines, India, Russia, China) can be a red flag.

Grumpy SEO Guy (00:25:54): “If the majority of backlinks are coming from countries like India or Russia, it’s a sign the domain might be spammed.”

6. Reviewing Content History with Archive.org

Use the Wayback Machine to inspect the domain's historical content, ensuring it maintained a consistent and legitimate purpose over time.

Grumpy SEO Guy (00:33:05): “Make sure the website looked like a normal website each year. If it was an online casino one year and a blog the next, consider it suspicious.”

Tools and Metrics for Domain Evaluation

Grumpy SEO Guy recommends using multiple SEO tools to cross-verify a domain's authority, as reliance on a single tool may not provide an accurate picture.

• Ahrefs: Domain Rating (DR) between 10-40
• SEMrush: Authority Score between 10-40
• Majestic: Trust Flow (TF) and Citation Flow (CF) between 10-40

Grumpy SEO Guy (00:36:07): “Look for domains with authority scores between 10 and 40 across Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Majestic. It’s more effective to have multiple moderately authoritative domains than a few highly authoritative ones that are expensive.”

Purchasing Domains at Auctions

The episode guides listeners through the process of bidding and winning domains at GoDaddy Auctions via expired domains.net.

Grumpy SEO Guy (00:46:03): “GoDaddy auctions are similar to eBay, but if you place a bid with less than five minutes left, it adds five more minutes to the auction.”

He cautions against getting caught in bidding wars over specific domains and advises having multiple options ready to avoid overpaying.

Additional Tips and Best Practices

• Private Registration: Always enable to protect personal information and reduce spam.

Grumpy SEO Guy (00:41:05): “Put private registration on it... because most people do, and it helps protect your information.”

• Email Considerations: Use non-search engine associated emails to avoid footprints that might signal manipulative SEO practices.

Grumpy SEO Guy (00:48:50): “Don't use Gmail or other search engine-connected emails if you're paranoid about backlinks creating a footprint.”

Conclusion and Next Steps

Grumpy SEO Guy wraps up the episode by summarizing that acquiring authoritative domains is the first third of building a successful PBN. He teases the next episode, which will cover the hosting aspect of managing these domains correctly.

Grumpy SEO Guy (00:49:43): “Join us next Wednesday when we talk about the right way to host your authoritative domains.”

Listeners are encouraged to reach out with questions or topics for future episodes via email.

Key Takeaways

• Authority Over Quantity: High-quality, authoritative backlinks are more valuable than numerous low-quality ones.
• Thorough Evaluation: Always check a domain’s history, backlink profile, anchor text diversity, and content consistency.
• Use Multiple Tools: Cross-verify metrics using Ahrefs, SEMrush, Majestic, and Ubersuggest.
• Smart Purchasing: Be strategic when bidding at auctions to avoid overspending on domains.
• Protect Privacy: Utilize private registration and mindful email practices to maintain anonymity and reduce spam.

For More Information:
If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, contact Grumpy SEO Guy at me@hellorumpyseoguy.com.

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