Old question with a bit of a different spin, about expired domains

I have researched a lot before posting here, and I know this is often asked, but I have a bit of a different spin on my question.

The scenerio is my client lost their domain. On the day the renewal grace period expired, another firm picked it up and pointed it to a porn site. The domain is little to no value. The domain is the persons name and he is a CPA, such as firstnamemiddleinitiallastnamecpa.com. The porn site will not be generating any revenue from the domain, outside of holding it hostage from the previous owner.

The domain is 4 years old, and places on the first page for many searches including location and service, such as anywhere cpa, anywhere accountant, anywhere payroll, etc.

The domain has a PR of 1 and only 2 external backlinks, which are easily replaced.

Also, for the most part, he does not use email at this domain. Often times email addresses can be more valuable then the website itself, but that is not the case here.

So I have two questions. First is, if the domain was picked up at auction, as the new holder is claiming, what do you think the value of a domain that is the full person's name is. I'm betting less then $100 and maybe in the $10 bargain range. I think they tried pulling "I paid $2,400 for this domain" BS.

Second question is, is the SEO damage already done. The domain whois information was updated. My understanding between the change in whois and the domain expiring, that the SEO damage may already be done, and even if the client get's it back, the SEO it previously had may not stick.

Google last indexed the homepage on Dec 13, and the domain expire date was Dec 20. So Google still has the old site in the index, at least for the homepage.

Looking for any input people have as to the monetary value of the domain, but primarily interested in SEO. I don't want to give this guy any money, and I think we can probably get a new domain that has the same website just as high in relatively short order. Depending on how much importance Google puts on the creation date of a domain.

 

I don't think there is SEO damage. If the page changed and the information is different, then Google is going to treat it differently if they cache it. Since Google still has the old cache, then they don't know that it's a redirect. I think you should just get a new domain. You shouldn't be focused on rankings in Google. The traffic is the most important part. If the website was receiving a lot of traffic, then it might be a good idea to get it back. However, if it wasn't, then make a new domain.

 

Value is subjective. It's obviously worth more to your client than it is to other people. It doesn't matter whether you value it at < $100, what matters is whether you and the current owner can reach an agreement. It doesn't even matter that they paid $2,400 at auction if they're adamant that they won't let the domain go for less than $5K. Unless there's a trademark issue, you don't really have any bargaining power.

If there are only 2 links to this domain, there probably isn't that much SEO to damage.

 

get it back asap, google will treat as nothing happens

or just forget it

 

Hum i dont think so any problem you have to face about the problems you are thinking just forget every think you are thinking be continue

 

I would be more inclined to get a new name. Possibly the same as your client originally had with the .net .org extension and start again. I don't think you'll lose anything.

 

Too bad for your client, considering his name was on the domain. Try to get is back in a week or so with only the right bid or forget it. Start a new one, choose a better domain name and don't ever let any close connection or links to that domain.

 

try any ways to get it back.

 

there shouldnt be any problems with SEO - also it does suck that your client lost this domain- didnt he get an email saying the domain is going to expire?

now he is holding the domain hostage - he knows someone else wants it and wont give it up until his price is met.
I personally think name domains are only worth whatever someone wants to pay for them. All it takes is 2 people to drive a $10 domain to hundreds of dollars. Its all about creating a demand.

I would try to bargain with the guy and see whats his lowest price he would take for it. I would NOT pay thousands for my name.
Cant he register his full name minus his initial or CPA, etc?

IF all else fails - GET A .CO DOMAIN - I guarantee you his name is available - First Name Last Name .CO - and he can even throw in the CPA if he wants -

Problem Solved!