Dumb SEO Questions

(Entry was posted by Zack Hanebrink on this post in the Dumb SEO Questions community on Facebook, 02/11/2015).

Redirecting domains.

I have my opinion, but would love to hear y`alls! One of our developers just forwarded 600 domains to our website. What are your thoughts on that? I know it won`t really have any positive affect, but would that raise a flag to Google? (the domains are just domains, never had a website on them) 

Thanks for your input!?
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YOUR ANSWERS

Selected answers from the Dumb SEO Questions Facebook & G+ community.

  • Zack Hanebrink: I have my opinion, but would love to hear y'alls! One of our developers just forwarded 600 domains to our website. What are your thoughts on that? I know it won't really have any positive affect, but would that raise a flag to Google? (the domains are just domains, never had a website on them) ;

    Thanks for your input!
  • Dave Elliott: my first question would be do you need to own 600 domains that dont have anything on them, that must have cost a fair bit of money!

    But no, shouldn't be a problem in this instance.
  • Zack Hanebrink: Ha! I hear ya +Dave Elliott ;. We've had those domains for a while. Kinda bought them up in the past in case we could figure out a good use for them.

    Just don't want Google thinking we're trying to do anything shady.
  • Dave Elliott: if there are no links going to the domain, why would google think you are gaming the system? ;

    The only reason google would have a problem in my mind is if there were loads of links going to the page that were irrelevant to your main site.

    I'd question the point in forwarding them but seeing as your dev has done it i can't see a problem.

    Apart from anything else have a look at all the domains google own that forward to the main search engine.  ;Thousands upon thousands!
  • Zack Hanebrink: Good point +Dave Elliott ;, thanks for your input!
  • PromozSEO: I can't find any good reason to do it and suddenly overnight all these 600 domains redirecting to one single domain may look unnatural to Google. It does not make any good sense.
  • Dustin Watson: +PromozSEO good call i see no purpose unless your like a big company in 600 differant areas maybe......
  • PromozSEO: Yep +Dustin Watson ;, If we can't find any good reason to do so how come we expect that Google will find that reason. Ask yourself before doing anything on SEO.
  • Rajeshwar Reddy: I think you should be checking your webmasters often. My be this is the first time Google comes across with 600 domain redirects to a website. If any of the domains had shady background, then you should be worried.
  • Zack Hanebrink: Agreed
  • Jim Munro: This was a tactic known to be employed by pharma, payday loans, and rogue seos. It was seen working in 2014 but note that they are all churn and burn. :)

View original question in the Dumb SEO Questions community on Facebook, 02/11/2015).