In an insightful interview at the Chiang Mai SEO Conference, Kalin Karakehayov, co-founder of SEO.domains, shares his journey and expertise on building profitable online businesses using aged domains.
From his early days in SEO to growing his company into a team of 50, Kalin dives deep into domain strategies, the importance of metrics, and how to effectively use PBNs for SEO growth.
🚀 Kalin’s SEO Journey and Company Growth
Kalin started his SEO career 12 years ago, initially focusing on client SEO and growing websites.
He built one site to 15,000 unique visitors per day, but after encountering penalties with Private Blog Networks (PBNs), his team shifted focus to acquiring expired domains.
SEO.domains evolved from an SEO agency to a domain-focused company, now employing 50 people.
Finding the Right Domains
SEO.domains specializes in aged, 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 align with your business goals.
Understanding Domain Metrics
Kalin breaks down the top three domain metrics providers—Moz, Majestic, and Ahrefs.
- Moz’s Domain Authority (DA): Kalin explains that while DA is stable, it doesn’t always reflect a domain’s true quality. A DA of 50 is good, but a DA of 10 might still hold potential depending on context.
- Majestic’s Trust Flow (TF) and Citation Flow (CF): He advises combining both Trust Flow and Citation Flow with referring domains to better assess a domain’s value, as a low TF could indicate spam.
- Ahrefs’ Domain Rating (DR): DR is generally helpful but can sometimes be inflated by many links from media sites. Kalin suggests considering the niche and types of links for a more accurate picture.
The Effectiveness of 301 Redirections
Kalin confirms that 301 redirections remain effective for improving Google rankings, particularly when done strategically.
Rather than simply redirecting to the homepage, he advises redirecting to relevant content or HTML sitemaps, making the process smarter and more efficient.
Stronger websites benefit more from these redirects, and for new domains, the risk is minimal.
Boosting Traffic with PBNs
Kalin sees PBNs (Private Blog Networks) as 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 for flexibility in linking to multiple pages in the same niche, providing more opportunities for SEO growth.
Building PBNs: What to Watch Out For
While PBNs can be highly effective, Kalin stresses the importance of diversifying your link-building strategy.
He advises using PBNs alongside other techniques to avoid over-reliance on any one method. PBNs work best in non-U.S. territories, where Google’s scrutiny may be lower.
Additionally, having control over the property allows you to remove links if a penalty occurs.
Kalin’s Experience at the Chiang Mai SEO Conference
Reflecting on his time at the Chiang Mai SEO Conference, Kalin shares that the event had a positive vibe and was an excellent opportunity to meet like-minded SEO marketers.
He appreciates the open, sharing nature of the community and describes the conference as an amazing experience.
Kalin, based in Bulgaria, looks forward to attending more SEO events, including those in the U.S. and Brighton SEO in the UK.
Also Read:
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- Niels Zee On Building a 7-Figure Affiliate Business with Google Ads
- Chris Tzitzis On Selling His 7-Figure Agency, Life Regrets, and Missing His Mom
- David Johnson: (Regrets and Redemption) How He Built a $1M Affiliate Empire?
đź’Ą Personal Takeaways
Kalin’s journey into the world of SEO and domains wasn’t a straight path, but it’s been filled with valuable lessons. He encourages others to stay 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 evolution,” Kalin shares with a smile. As he continues to push the boundaries of SEO with SEO.domains, he’s eager to see what the next chapter holds and how he can keep helping businesses grow using the power of aged domains.
For those interested in exploring aged domains and growing their online presence, Kalin’s SEO.domains is a fantastic resource, offering high-quality domains for businesses looking to make an impact in their niche.
