Will be adding this to the post because it’s so awesome

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Abandoned domains do work and being smart means that you can pick them up before they drop.

GoDaddy (boo!) Auctions allows you to buy domains just before they drop as Hippititimus mentioned above many domain resellers massively overprice and even fake the Google Toolbar Pagerank on their domains to boost their value.

In GoDaddy auctions you can easily find PR3-5 Domains with a DMOZ backlink, over 4 years old going for as little as $20-50. Some of these sites sell PR5 domains for $300 +!

If you have the SEOMoz toolbar or similar installed its very easy to check the DA/PA and # of backlinks

You can then rebuild the popular pages using the Wayback Machine http://www.archive.org/web/web.php and now you have control of an authority site for the cost of less than $100???

—– White Hatters open your Eyes ———–

In terms on numbers, there really isn’t one. There are probably millions, but most don’t have any link equity for it to be worth it.

For identifying age, start with whois & the wayback machine. For link equity, OSE will still show links for some of the domains depending on how freshly they were abandoned.

You ask how i would do it? If i had a suitable domain i would set it up as suggested by yourself Jon, create an actual website of decent content (at least in an informative way) and use it for links, however without constant playing with and tweaking it wouldn’t last long – even if you saw any benefit (i think it is dubious as to how much benefit an established site would get from the links). Again I’m not sure the climb would be worth the view!!

Would be kinda interesting to do a case study – might give it a go

Hippi!

I think you’re definitely right on whether or not it’s worth your time. That’s why I said not to do this unless there is some decent equity there. The content shouldn’t be a problem because you can easily outsource it, but if you’re in a competitive, boring niche where social & blogging interaction is at a minimal, getting relevant links is hard to come by, so for some, this actually is a good use of their time.

It’s all based on your situation. That’s why you would need to make the call if you came across a situation like this of your own.

Or am I looking at this the wrong way? Is the point here to find an abandoned domain with some existing Domain Authority that I’m planning to appropriate by taking the domain over and hijacking the links?

Do you even think this is remotely a good use of time? (it strikes me as very time intensive, resource heavy and onerous compared to say, writing 5 good 1,000 word guest posts and getting them published.

If you come up with something, let me know! If it’s a great strategy you want to share, I’d be open to letting you write up a guest post. Just an idea

Thanks Stoked SEO!

The other point depends on how long the domain has been abandoned I guess, if its years then you have a point, if its weeks however the linking sites might not be hot on and in that case you’d get a response.

hmmmm, and now I’m thinking about a proactive way to find abandoned domains….