Does domain age affect website ranking?
According to Google’s John Mueller, domain age doesn’t affect SEO Google rankings. Older domains rank better not purely because of the age of the domains – it is what happened to the domains during those years.
Google does not use domain age as a direct SEO Google search ranking signal.
In this blog, we will delve deeper into the topic, explaining what domain age is, why it doesn’t directly impact SEO rankings, and what factors tied to domain age can influence your website’s SEO performance.
What is domain age?
Domain age refers to the period that has elapsed since Google first discovered your domain. This is different from the domain registration date. Domain age is marked from the first time your website was indexed by Google or identified through a link on the web. It’s common to use the registration date as a rough marker, but technically, it’s the date of first discovery by Google that counts.
Website domain age does not directly affect your SEO Google rankings
Despite widespread belief, Google has clarified that website domain age does not directly influence SEO Google rankings. This means that just because a domain has been around for a longer time doesn’t automatically grant it higher ranking status in search engine results pages (SERPs).
John Mueller, a senior webmaster trends analyst at Google, has reiterated that Google does not use domain age as a direct ranking factor. What truly matters is the content quality and the relevance of that content to users’ search queries.
In the early days of SEO, there were assumptions that domain age could be a significant factor due to its correlation with authority and trust. However, Google’s algorithms have evolved to prioritize more dynamic and robust metrics like the quality of backlinks, user engagement, and content relevance.
Potential SEO ranking factors that domain age impacts
- Backlink profile
- Content development
- Authority and trust
- User engagement and behavior
1. Backlink profile
An older domain usually has had more time to accumulate backlinks. Backlinks are crucial for SEO rankings because they signal to Google that other websites find your content valuable. However, it’s important to note that not all backlinks are created equal.
Quality over quantity is the guiding principle.
Links from reputable and relevant sites are far more valuable than numerous links from low-quality sites. Tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, and Moz can help analyze your backlink profile to ensure you’re building a strong and healthy link structure.
2. Content development
Older domains have had more time to build a robust content library.
Consistently publishing high-quality content over the years helps in establishing authority and trust. Search engines recognize websites that continually offer valuable information, thus rewarding them with better rankings.
However, it’s not just about having more content; the content must be relevant, up-to-date, and useful to users.
3. Authority and trust
With time, older domains often establish higher authority and trustworthiness. This is because they have had longer to prove their reliability and relevance to users and search engines alike.
Google’s E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) guidelines emphasize these aspects, and an older domain that consistently meets these criteria can benefit from higher SEO rankings.
4. User engagement and behavior
Older domains often have more historical data regarding user engagement metrics such as bounce rate, average session duration, and pages per session.
These metrics can indirectly influence SEO rankings as they provide insights into the quality of the user experience on your site.
A domain with a long history of positive user engagement can signal to Google that it is a valuable resource, thus positively impacting its rankings.
Conclusion
To sum up, while domain age itself does not directly affect SEO Google rankings, it can influence several key factors that do. Older domains typically have the advantage of accumulated backlinks, extensive content, and established authority, all of which contribute to better SEO performance. However, these benefits arise from the sustained effort and quality improvements over time, not merely from the age of the domain.
The verdict is clear: Google does not use domain age as a direct ranking signal. Instead, focus on building high-quality content, earning reputable backlinks, and enhancing user engagement to improve your SEO rankings.