The 3 Pitfalls of 301 Redirects With Aged Domains

Today, we have some valuable insights to share with you on how to find expired domain redirects using AHREFs, a powerful SEO tool.

Whether you're a seasoned SEO pro or just starting out, 301 redirects can boost your website to the moon, or keep you chained in the Google’s ol’ basement (aka page 2 or further).

Let's dive into the actionable steps:

Step 1: Plug in the Domain into Ahrefs

• Log in to your AHREFs account.

• Navigate to the Dashboard.

• Enter your site's URL into the search bar and hit enter.

Step 2: Navigate to Backlinks Option

• Find the "Backlinks" option on the sidebar and click it.

• You'll see a list of all backlinks pointing to your website.

Step 3: Filtering by 301 Redirects

• AHREFs offers filtering capabilities on the Backlinks report.

• Filter by "Link Type" and select "Redirect."

• You'll see a list of backlinks labeled as "301."

Step 4: Verifying 301 Redirects From External Domains

• Click on "Link Type -> Redirect" to see the backlinks from 301 redirects.

Next Steps: Further Due Diligence 

If you discover redirects, further investigation is crucial. Here are some red flags to watch for:

Pitfall #1: The expired domain's original topic/backlinks have no relation to your niche website.

Pitfall #2: The redirect is domain-level, not page-level (the entire domain is redirected to your site).

Pitfall #3: Use the Wayback Machine in Archive.org to check for topical relevancy.

By following these steps and being vigilant for red flags, you can uncover valuable opportunities to boost your website's authority and relevance.

Remember, a well-executed expired domain redirect strategy can give your SEO efforts a significant boost.

Stay tuned for more SEO tips and strategies in our upcoming newsletters. If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out.

Patrick from SERPpro

PS: Don’t have time to hunt for vetted aged domains for 301 redirects?

We have over 11,000 domain listings in our marketplace here that you can use for 301 redirects. Just make sure to pick topical relevant domains in relation to your site.