Any problems 301 redirecting old domains to main domain?

[jebernier]

Is there any negative impact from pointing (301 Redirect) multiple domain names (older keyword domains that are useless now) to my main domain?

Is there a particular way that I should implement the redirects?

Thanks-in-advance,

John

[lucy24]

Ignoring the first question, which someone else will deal with...

Is there a particular way that I should implement the redirects?

The exact mechanics of the redirect don't matter, so long as the server sends back a 301 response on the first request. (In other words: no on-page redirects created by javascript or similar, and no chained multiple redirects.) Details depend on your server type and your personal coding style. The visitor-- whether a human or a search engine-- doesn't know how you coded the redirect; it only sees the 301.

[Robert Charlton]

The question is whether Google will see these as spam. The issue is that you'll be redirecting keyword domains, perhaps with associated keyword anchor text, and that could look like it's intended to manipulate.

Questions to consider...

• How many of these domains are you considering 301 redirecting?
  
• Have these keyword domains been promoted previously?... ie, did they have an active presence on the web?
  
• What kinds and quality of inbound links do they have... if any?
  
• What's the ownership history of these domains? Are these domains that you've owned for a while, or are they keyword domains you're acquiring for the purpose of redirection?
  
• Are any of the domains currently being penalized, hit by Penguin, etc?
  

[jimbeetle]

I would add to the list of Robert's questions: What positive impact would the redirection have on the main domain, if any?

[Walt Hartwell]

lucy24 pretty much covered the technical aspects and I agree with Robert and jimbeetle that there may more downside risk than positive benefit.

I also have some domains with links, PR and visitors that probably aren't going to fit in my long term plans. While I have not implemented it yet, I've been mapping potential groupings with the plan of taking the strongest site in a group and 301 the less popular sites to the strongest.

No risk to a main domain and if it works out well you can later redirect to a main domain if desired.