Buying a domain vs. renting a domain

[jampaper]

I am considering buying and redirecting a domain that has a pretty strong, relevant link profile. However, it's very expensive. There is another option to rent the domain on a month-to-month basis. I am interested in doing this for at least a month just to see what SEO benefits are to be had and if it would ultimately be worth buying or not. Can renting a domain have any negative impacts on my primary site? Would the search engines know if I did this? Is there any harm in having those redirects appear and then disappear?

[Andy.Drinkwater]

Hi Andrew,

If all you are planning on doing is buying / renting a domain, only for it to be redirected to another domain, this is something that will definitely pick up a penalty off Google. This would fall into the category of 'misleading / deceiving visitors'.

If you have a domain with such a strong link profile, why would you not want to have a site on that domain and use it, but don't go down the route of automatic redirects to other sites. This will cause you untold headaches.

-Andy

[jampaper]

Hi Andy,

Thanks for your response. I don't believe setting up a redirect would be classified as "misleading / deceiving" visitors because the domain is very relevant to our site and we would be able to provide appropriate redirected landing pages for all of its existing links. The research I have done suggests that this practice of "domaining" is still a white-hat, effective way of acquiring links. Here is one resource I used: http://searchenginewatch.com/article/2328577/Domaining-for-Links

I don't have enough time to focus on two individual domains. I want to strengthen my primary domain.

[Andy.Drinkwater]

It certainly isn't a white-hat (ethical) technique Andrew. If it were, it would appear in the Google links guide, which it doesn't. What that article above says is just how you do it - no mention of it being an ethical way to gain links. What you are saying there is just because one site is similar to another, it is OK to just forward people there - it isn't. At least, it isn't if you want to stay white-hat about it.

If this were you moving a site, then that is a different matter altogether.

-Andy

[jampaper]

On second thought, it definitely isn't a white hat technique. But the google links guide you sent is actually google link schemes, and it doesn't mention buying whole domains in there. It mentions buying individual links, but not entire domains. (Maybe I'm nitpicking here?)

I'm curious as to what you think of this recent Moz thread: http://moz.com/community/q/buying-expired-domains-with-decent-da-pa-for-seo-purposes. Do you feel that these people are totally off base?

[Andy.Drinkwater]

If you follow some of the links in there, you will find lots of info on what is a correctly acquired link. You won't find what you are suggesting in there anywhere.

If by off base you mean, do I agree with them? Nope. It's a black-hat technique, but like many black hat techniques, you can get gains - mostly short-lived as Google finds ways to clamp down on them.

I can only give you my opinions on what this is Andrew. Just be aware that these things can come back and bite you hard and then you can end up with an exclusion, never mind a penalty.

-Andy

[jampaper]

Thanks for talking me out of this one Andy. It's just too risky.

[Andy.Drinkwater]

Great to hear Andrew

Have a great weekend.

-Andy