Someone I’ve been advising on a start-up website has recently registered his desired domain name. That domain is currently parked, and he intends to begin designing the website this summer (college break). I think I understand correctly that the search engines take age of inbound links into account in the SERPs. Therefore my questions are these: 1) Can he even now begin getting some inbound links to his parked domain name? From directories, forums, etc.? 2) If so, is there anything about doing this that the search engines might consider “black hatâ€, since the wesbsite won’t go public until this summer? If getting links to a currently parked domain is fine, I want to get him going on that. Thanks for any advice.
He could do that, but there will be some problems. A lot of directories will go and check the page they are about to be linking to, if all they see is a parked domain, most likely they won't let him in (even if it is a free directory). A better plan of action would be to write a few pages with some content on each explaining what he plans to do on the website and his time frame to getting it completed, and then begin marketing. If he has the time to market it now though before summer, he should also find some time to develop it. Even if he is just adding one page of content each week until then.
The earlier you get links to your site the better, however as already mentioned, you'll have a hard time getting directory owners to approve an under construction website
I think you're right on that. Probably he'll have to be content with a couple of links from forums just to get him started and indexed, once he gets a decent home page up.