Forum Moderators: martinibuster
The Pros: It carries with it 26 nicely targeted industry links, most of which will likely stick for the foreseeable future... PLUS, in addition the url has DMOZ, Google and Yahoo directory listings. It is also the name of a specific (defunct) product line which would still generate a little direct type in traffic.
The Cons: No PR remains as the squater has been sitting on it for a couple of Google cycles. Also, the product name (and url) matches a web virus of the same name from a few years ago (guilt by mistaken association in the eyes of Google?).
I'm very tempted to buy it and do a 301 redirect to my (already nicely ranking) main site in hopes of gaining something from the targeted links and directory listings. Not sure if any PR/Trust value would pass from them to help Google ranks on the main (could it possibly hurt?), but the link traffic in a year alone would be worth the asking price.
Thoughts... advice... similar experience?
It is also the name of a specific (defunct) product line which would still generate a little direct type in traffic.
This is the part that would concern me more than the web virus issue. Just because the product line is discontinued doesn't necessarily mean that someone doesn't still own the trademark.
If you benefit financially through the use of the mark, you may be setting yourself up for a future surprise.
They flat dumped the product name, URL, and moved on so-to-speak.
When I say that, I assume that, in your niche, the product name is still linked more strongly with the product than with the web virus?
If Google isn't ranking it, I don't know what a 301 redirect will do--whether it will be harmful to your existing site or not. Someone else will have to offer an opinion on that.
If nothing else, you could build it as a separate site, restore its reputation in Google, and then maybe 301 it to your existing domain?
Google will reset the vaule to the trust rank (which the domain has gained over the years) if the domain's age is reset.
