Can I Get Penalized for 301 Redirects (Too Many or In Any Scenario)?

[JCunningham]

A client of ours owns several domain names that are keyword similar to the domain they actually use to run their site.

They are asking us if we should 301 redirect all of these websites to the domain they use.

However, I don't want this to work against them and their site get penalized later for this.  I have heard buying out competitors and redirecting their domain to yours is frowned upon and penalized when you get caught (they did not do this).  We are also wondering if there is a limit as to how many domains you can 301 redirect and what type (keyword similar, misspellings, .net's, etc.) and if you are penalized after too many (i.e. >50).

All of the domains in question are keyword/brand name similar only and do not exist as actual websites.

We just want to do the right thing.

Thank you for your help.

[acecream]

I think the number isn't important, if you have 1000 and every single one points to a relevant point, close to what they were trying to find- then there is absolutely no problem!

Just watch they don't all go to the homepage or are trying to use them to an SEO advantage etc; thats not what they're for and you will get penalised for that.

I've just done about 100 on a client's store recently and after a couple of weeks their rankings improved incredibly! they were getting hit with so many 404s etc

[acecream]

I also forgot to mention, I'd heavily assume a high number would be ok, because of instances like working on a store that contains 1000's of products and if a URL rewrite or something similar happens, all these need to be connected to the right place!

[ske11]

Hi

When you say "All of the domains in question are keyword/brand name similar only and do not exist as actual websites." does this mean they are just registered domain names rather than websites?

If that is the case then you do not need to do a 301 redirect you just point the nameservers to the new site rather than where they are at the moment and I do not think there is a limit to the number you can do this for.

Hope this helps

Sean

[JCunningham]

That is correct.  They don't exist as websites.  We just don't want to get penalized for doing so.  Basically after that, if anyone types in these domains, they'll go to ours.  Wondering if I should be wary but it sounds like you said it's ok.

The brand related ones seem fine but keyword?

I.e.: if the site is GoBig.com then .net & org & GoBigg should be fine.

But (ie the site is about adding on to your house via this contractor (example) and you redirect contractor.com to it and houseadditions.com are you going to get penalized?

Thanks!

[ske11]

Again if there is no website on the domain name then it does not matter what the domain name is that you redirect, so if there is no website on the domain name

Plumbers.com could be pointed at fishing.com and there would be no problems

Does this help?

Sean

[JCunningham]

Thanks!  Will go with it.  Worth the try.

Thank you!  Love this community thing.