Expired Domains With PR and Links etc

What is the definitive answer

[shina]

Yes I know its been covered but I just need to hear the most recent advice from the horses mouth then I can do something about it or forget it.

Is there any point at all in buying expired domains supposedly with PR and links and traffic with a view to linking them to your site for the obvious benefits therein.

I get conflicting opinions on this.I read that there is a Google filter that deletes PR as soon as they drop, but there are people trading in these domains that are still listed in the SE's so there must be some value.I am(am I?) missing something.Its interesting to find anything that can apparently speed up a chance of a higher SE position.As my site is only a few months old and building up my links is a dead slow process it would be useful to learn what really works and what does not..

On a similar vein,I have come across a site, that promises high quality targeted traffic using expired domains as the source.All very convincing with compelling text and testimonials...as usual.Seems reasonable, so worth a punt do you think or am I wasting my money.

It would be good to hear some advice.Thanks all.

[gethan]

Hi Shina, welcome to WebmasterWorld.

IMO - expired domains names have value - but you have to ask yourself the following questions.

1) The name - is it good, catchy, descriptive, short, easy to remember?
2) Links - are there links coming in from prominant places which will be relevant to the use that you intend for your site. Are these reciprocal? are they likely to stay if you become the owner?
3) Traffic - how many visitors are coming in because of the old content, bookmarks, forum posts etc.

But buying an expired domain name on the basis of Google PR alone is a bad idea.

I haven't been lucky enough to get an expired domain with high PR to observe if links are removed and PR is docked - but with the expired domains that I have gained - I've not noticed google discounting the old links. Anyone with more experience here?

[Dpeper]

I asked this same questions a while back, and got a lot of great responses evne though I could not find the thread again :(

But

The general consenses that I got was Using a redirect to get the backlinks and page rank no longer works. But it does still have use, If you can make the web site in to something usefull with unique content and then use that site to link to your main site, or even to build as a seperate site.

Donny

[shina]

Thanks for these useful replies people.Seems that obtaining expired domains purely for PR is a non starter as suspected.

[GoogleGuy]

"buying an expired domain name on the basis of Google PR alone is a bad idea"

I'd second that.