Best use for "dead" abandoned website

[Bobby]

I developed a website for a client whose business no longer exists, but the website still ranks high in Serps.

My question:

How can I best use the "dead" website to help another client who has similar themes?

Would it be best to "redirect" somehow to the new client's site?
Perhaps a javascript redirect?

Is there any way to use the old site to help the new site (completely different client and not the same exact service) to gain page rank?

I can keep the site online or do anything I wish, but I just wanted to get some food for thought on how best to help the new site.

Thanks for any thoughts

[goodroi]

If gaining page rank is the first thing that comes to mind, you might want to refresh your approach to Google SEO. Page rank continues to become a smaller factor.

Does the old site have any real traffic that could convert on the other website? High rankings sound nice but if the site is not generating a good volume of traffic it is not as nice.

[GreyBeard123]

If similar theme then..

Add a new page to the "dead" site with an article of 1000+ words about your client’s website.
Add an introduction for this new page on the homepage, and on this intro you add a link to your client’s site.

Your client might get traffic..
From the homepage link he will definitely get plenty page juice that will help with rankings and page rank (for what it’s worth).

[ganzojin]

If it gets good traffic, why don't convert it to a business themed site and sell direct advertising to companies moving in that same business?

[frankleeceo]

You may get better advices from certain other forums as it is really a more "gray-black" hat technique to gain strictly through redirection.

I personally think straight out redirect to the new client is a bad thing to do. Repurposing the old site is a much better choice. You can either sell direct advertising or as a product bait to get more clients in the similar niche.

[mhansen]

Find the most relevant competitors to the old business that has closed, explain the circumstances, and sell the website to them.

[werty]

I would turn it into a lead gen site and sell the leads to the other client.

If you now own it, it could be a recurring source of revenue for you. Better to have that then to sell the site outright.