Is Google checking domain registry length?

[bordeaux]

We had an email recently from our hosting company warning that Google was checking sites for the length of their domain registry, and was regarding those which paid for only a year as suspicious.

Do we think there's anything to this? Or is it just a greedy hosting company wanting a decade of cash upfront?

[Broadway]

I had read this type of comment here on WebmasterWorld. I renewed the registration for a sandboxed site a few months ago. I've forgotten how much money was involved but the difference between registering one domain for 1 year or 5 years is pretty miniscule when compared to having a chance at a good SERP's ranking. I renewed for a five year period.

Now some months later I can absolutely say I have absolutely no evidence that doing so made any change in the ranking of this site. For all practical purposes it is still sandboxed.

[netmeg]

I've heard this, but I don't know if I believe it. I did a site for a band - the domain was the-bandname.com because the domain without the hyphen wasn't available when we did the site. A couple years later, thebandname.com DID come available, and we grabbed it and pointed it to the site. (It had just been parked before - wasn't even in use) Anyway, for no apparent reason anything I put on that site ranks unbelievably high in the SERPS - on the second domain name. In fact, I use it sometimes as a link when I need to boost something else (ork ork) But it didn't rise till we added the second domain name and retired the first, and that one is still pretty recent.

[PhraSEOlogy]

From what I have read here in the past, I believe a theory was put forward that Google might consider a domain that was registered for one year as disposable. In other words, it may have been purchased with the person having no intent on it being a long term site. Someone purchasing 5 years or more would appear to be in it for the long-haul and therefore may be considered as a "serious" website.

[BigDave]

This was actually part of one of the patents that they were granted around a year ago. Just because it was in a patent does not mean that it is being used or that it has a lot of weight in the algo.

[texasville]

Silly really if true. Most businesses pay once a year. Domain and site cost.

[BigDave]

Not necessarily so silly when it is a first year domain. Don't think of it as a penalty, but as a boost for those that care enough so that they pay for several years in advance.

Buying a domain name for 10 years in advance is not the sort of thing that a spammer is likely to do.

If you have already owned the domain name for several years, and renew it yearly, this factor should not be applied.

[ShinyShoes]

IMHO, if I were Google, I'd consider OLD domain names more relevant than brand new ones, as opposed to the number of years a domain name has been renewed for. Would make more sense.

[Swanson]

Does the company name begin with F?

They want you to register the domain for many years so they get more cash - yes, its in the patent - but so is indexing web sites which Google isn't doing so domain registration length is the least of your problems!

[Swanson]

Actually, only register it for the shortest period of time because in a few weeks it will probably be supplemental or home page only so you will need another one!

PS. really only joking please do not take my advice!

[Web_speed]

Silly really if true.

I agree. IMO with Google's current mess, I have no doubt this is probably the last thing on their check list (if at all).

If anything now, they are probably more concerned with the fact that their index has just lost 85% of the web due to a faulty, bug riddled algo that no one (including their pHDs) can make sense of. Forget the rest, it is all hype.

[Nicky_uk]

Im guessing the hostname did begin with F, because I got the same email.

I don't think it makes any difference at all. Perhaps someone at F thought it up and decided to tell everyone about it to get them to pay up for 10 years.

I actually did renew mine for 10 years, but only because it saves it coming round every year.