Godaddy Auctions: What To Do With Expiring Domain With PR?

[Johnathan]

I just recently started working on a small project and decided to look for domain(s) that would be beneficial to the network of sites I am starting up.

Now, Godaddy auctions has an expiring domain for sale with the pagerank of 2. The domain in question covers an entire category on my new website. I am asking if I purchase the domain, would I be better off building out the site or redirect the domain to my new domain and its category page?

The info that I could gather from the new domain:
1. PR - 2
2. 1 Year old
3. domain is linked on footer and by default, most other pages. The domain in question is linked on the footer of two sites in the same niche both are on different IPs. Both authority sites that link to it are in the same niche and have the same owner but have different IPs.
4. Domain is still indexed in G with 150 or so pages of very basic content.

My whole idea was to redirect the domain onto the category page and be done with it. I just want some of the links/pr to stick to my new domain and its category.

 

[Minderwinter]

I know that others might disagree, but I hate buying domains that get all their juice from a couple of sitewides on big authority sites. If anyone notices and fixes it, your investment becomes worthless. I'd look for domains with more diverse link profiles.

 

[morgan456]

Rather going for a already existing domain I would very well suggest you to own a domain by yourself start posting articles which are unique and are quality rich.include some social media plugins such that it will start gaining traffic from day one..And in quick time you will be able to do more than what you choose to do now...!

 

[doopie]

Like the others, Im also a fan of rather starting out fresh. PR alone doesn't say much and you don't know much of the history of the domain.
Conclusion: Id redirect it to your new domain...

 

[Minderwinter]

Alright, in light of the previous responses, if you're building to the longterm, I have the following advice:

If you absolutely must buy it, don't redirect it to your site. The way big G treats redirects is changing. Build it out, and try to bridge the content gap between the old content (use the Wayback machine, if there isn't a wayback machine cache, don't buy it). Use it as a pumper, and link tastefully to your new site.

Again, though, when buying pumper domains, I'm a big believer in not having sitewides be the source of my PR. You want it coming in from a variety of domains.

 

[microphone head]

I would certainly be looking for something with a more diverse link profile than that. As to whether you redirect or build it out, both have merits for different reasons but it would seem better to build out and try to keep the links for this particular brief.

I was looking at a domain recently that had fantastic backlink profile with deep links from sites like Microsoft, but they were deep links and my intention was to rebuild the site (according to wayback cache) and build the directory structure the same to keep the links, only changing front page content (keeping existing content by moved down page) with a prominent large area above the fold with links to sections on the new site, keeping the branding consistent throughout both sites. That way the juicy links don't die, site offers the same, but 'guides' visitors to new site.
Bastard thing went way over what I was bidding /prepared to bid though.

Redirect is good if you're just looking for a short-haul burn though if it has good PR and some hefty links, but it probably won't last as long as you'd like.