In an insightful interview at the Chiang Mai SEO Conference, Kalin Karakehayov, co-founder of SEO.domains, shares his journey and expertise in building profitable online businesses with legacy domains.
From his beginnings in search engine optimization to growing his company into a 50-person team, Kalin is immersed in domain strategy, the importance of metrics, and the effective use of PBNs for SEO growth.
Kalin’s SEO journey and business growth
Kalin began his SEO career 12 years ago, initially focusing on client SEO and website development.
He built a website that served 15,000 unique visitors per day, but after suffering penalties with private blog networks (PBNs), his team shifted focus to purchasing expired domains.
SEO.domains has grown from an SEO agency to a domain-focused company that now employs 50 people.
Find the right domains
SEO.domains specializes in outdated, expired and country-specific domains. Kalin explains that country domains are often undervalued compared to .Com domains and can offer great prices.
He emphasizes the importance of niche relevance when selecting domains to ensure they meet your business goals.
Understanding domain metrics
Kalin breaks down the three largest domain metrics providers: Moz, Majestic, and Ahrefs.
- Moz’s Domain Authority (DA): Kalin explains that while DA is stable, it does not always reflect the true quality of a domain. A DA of 50 is good, but a DA of 10 could still have potential depending on the context.
- Majestic’s Trust Flow (TF) and Citation Flow (CF): He recommends combining both Trust Flow and Citation Flow with referring domains to better assess the value of a domain, as a low TF could indicate spam.
- Ahrefs’ Domain Rating (DR): DR is generally helpful, but can sometimes be bloated with lots of links from media sites. Kalin suggests considering the niche and type of links to get a more accurate picture.
The effectiveness of 301 redirects
Kalin confirms that 301 redirects continue to be effective in improving Google rankings, especially when done strategically.
Instead of simply redirecting to the homepage, he recommends redirecting to relevant content or HTML sitemaps to make the process smarter and more efficient.
Stronger websites benefit more from these redirects and for new domains the risk is minimal.
Drive traffic with PBNs
Kalin considers PBNs (Private Blog Networks) to be one of the best SEO strategies due to their low renewal costs and long-term value.
If not penalized, a PBN can generate ongoing traffic and link value, making it “cash positive.” PBNs also allow flexibility in linking to multiple sites in the same niche, providing more opportunities for SEO growth.
Building PBNs: What to pay attention to
While PBNs can be very effective, Kalin emphasizes the importance of diversifying your link building strategy.
He recommends using PBNs alongside other techniques to avoid over-reliance on one method. PBNs work best in areas outside the US, where Google’s control may be less.
Additionally, control over the property allows you to remove links when a penalty occurs.
Kalin’s experience at the SEO conference in Chiang Mai
Kalin recalls his time at the Chiang Mai SEO Conference and shares that the event had a positive atmosphere and was an excellent opportunity to meet like-minded SEO marketers.
He appreciates the openness and exchange in the community and describes the conference as a great experience.
Kalin, based in Bulgaria, looks forward to attending more SEO events including in the US and Brighton SEO in the UK.
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Personal takeaways
Kalin’s journey into the world of SEO and domains has not been a linear path, but it has been full of valuable lessons. He encourages others to remain flexible, learn from mistakes and adapt to new opportunities.
For Kalin, the SEO community has been a huge part of his growth, and attending events like Chiang Mai only reinforces his passion for the industry.
“The journey is about constant development” Kalin shares with a smile. As he continues to push the boundaries of search engine optimization with SEO.domains, he is excited to see what the next chapter brings and how he can continue to help businesses grow using the power of legacy domains.
For those interested in exploring legacy domains and growing their online presence, Kalin’s SEO.domains is a fantastic resource and offers high-quality domains for businesses looking to make an impact in their niche.
