NEWS

Expired Domains And Google Ranking Bonus? via @sejournal, @martinibuster

Published

3 years ago

November 27, 2021

In a Google Office-hours hangout Google’s John Mueller answered whether reviving content on a parked domain would have any kind of ranking advantage. Google’s John Mueller explained how Google handles expired domains.

Parked And Expired Domains

An expired domain is a domain that’s been previously registered but was allowed to expire and it returned to the general pool to be registered by someone else.

A parked domain is a domain that is registered but is not being used.

When many people buy an expired domain from a domain broker, what they’re really buying is a parked domain that had previously been registered.

Authority Of Expired Domains?

The person asking the question wanted to know if there was any “authority” left over from a parked domain that would cause Google to speed up the indexing and ranking of the domain.

While Mueller did not address the issue of website authority in his answer, he has in the past vigorously denied that Google uses any kind of metric that represents authority.

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This is the question:

“I have a domain that hasn’t been used in four years. The blog I had was doing great in its niche. But because I didn’t want to sell it I deleted all the content and left the domain parked.

I want to revive the content on it but I want to take a slightly different approach.

My question is, does Google need to learn about my blog again as if it was new or do I have a better chance to be an authority in my niche faster than usual because of this old domain?”

Google’s John Mueller Discusses Expired Domains

Google's John Mueller explains why expired domains have no impact Related: Domain Authority: Is It a Google Ranking Factor?

Google's John Mueller explains why expired domains have no impact

Google And Expired Domains

John Mueller confirms that there is no ranking related advantage to using an expired domain and explains what the next steps are from the point of view of SEO.

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Mueller:

“So if the content was gone for a couple of years, probably we need to figure out what this site is, kind of essentially starting over fresh.

So from that point of view I wouldn’t expect much in terms of kind of bonus because you had content there in the past.

I would really assume you’re going to have to build that up again like any other site.

Like, if you have a business and you close down for four years and you open up again then it’s going to be rare that customers will remember you and say oh yeah I will go to this business.

And it looks completely different. They offer different things. But it used to exist.

I think that situation is going to be rare in real life …if you will, as well.

So I would assume that you’re essentially starting over, here.

This is also one of the reasons why it usually doesn’t make sense to go off and buy expired domains in the hope that you’ll get some kind of a bonus out of using those expired domains.”

Expired Domains Have No Ranking Bonus

For those of us with twenty years or more of SEO experience, Mueller’s explanation that expired domains have no bonus does not come as a surprise.

We already knew this because it was our generation of SEOs that pioneered the practice of buying expired domains and experienced the moment when Google applied an algorithm update to deal with them.

We experienced first hand how expired domains did in fact help sites rank better.

Not only were they useful for ranking purposes but we could actually see in Google’s toolbar how much PageRank they offered.

And it wasn’t just expired domains that contained holdover PageRank. A link to a broken domain could be a source of PageRank as well.

The practice was to run a crawler on a popular website and review the outbound links that returned a 404 Page Not Found error message.

Those 404s were links to pages and sites that did not exist.

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So what SEOs did was to purchase those domains, usually misspellings and then redirect those domains to affiliate sites. In a matter of weeks the PageRank would flow and the affiliate site would begin to rank higher.

These practices of buying misspelled domains with lots of inbound links and buying expired domains were part of a practice of recycling PageRank to help rank sites without having to build links.

They were link building shortcuts.

Google Algorithm Already Handles Expired Domains

Google found out about the practice and eventually changed their links related algorithm to reset the PageRank of expired domains way, way back in 2003.

That might come as a shock to those who are new to SEO and have five or so years of experience and believe in expired domains.

But it’s true that Google’s algorithm resets the PageRank and link influence of expired domains since 2003.

I was practicing SEO at the time when it happened and I witnessed the fallout from that change.

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Announcement Of Google Expired Domains Update

The announcement about resetting the PageRank for expired domains was done by a Google engineer who used the WebmasterWorld nickname of GoogleGuy.

Most of the time the identity of GoogleGuy was Matt Cutts.

But other search engineers used that alias as well to make announcements in the name of Google as well.

In a WebmasterWorld post called Good News About Expired Domains, Google posted this:

“Hey, the index is going to be coming out real soon, so I wanted to give people some idea of what to expect for this index. Of course it’s bigger and deeper (yay!), but we’ve also put more of a focus on algorithmic improvements for spam issues.

One resulting improvement with this index is better handling of expired domains–the authority for a domain will be reset when a domain expires, even though dangling links to the expired domain are still out on the web. “

Google affirmed that an expired domain could still rank but not because of any pre-existing links since they no longer counted.

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GoogleGuy wrote:

“…you can get that domain into Google; you just won’t get credit for any pre-existing links. “

GoogleGuy additionally noted that expired domains with pre-existing penalties would still carry those penalties.

GoogleGuy advised:

“Right now the penalties can remain on a domain. So you’ll want to do your research before you buy a domain.”

PageRank resetting wasn’t limited to expired domains. The PageRank of misspelled domains were also reset as well.

The market for expired domains collapsed soon after and people pretty much stopped buying them.

Resurgence Of Expired Domain Buying

Then around ten years later a new generation of SEOs came along and rediscovered expired domains, without knowing the history of Google taking measures to assure they no longer worked.

The whole expired domain thing started all over again.

Anecdotal evidence can be found to support virtually any SEO practice. One can even find vocal advocates in support of ineffectual strategies such as comment spam. So it’s not surprising that something like expired domains would catch on all over again.

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Adversarial Information Retrieval

Google can stop PageRank from flowing from links in the sidebar or the footer.
Google can limit how much PageRank flows from one site to another depending on whether that link is relevant.
Google can stop PageRank from flowing from one site to another site because there is no relevant context for the link.

Most SEOs can comprehend those facts about Google.

But when it comes to expired links, some SEOs feel that Google is ineffectual and unable to reset the PageRank of expired domains.

Google has over 20 years experience dealing with manipulation of their search engine, including dealing with expired domains (which is documented above).

There’s even a name for designing search systems that are resistant to manipulation, it’s called Adversarial Information Retrieval.

In a world of Natural Language Processing, BERT, and MUM, and given that Google announced a PageRank reset for expired domains in 2003, a case could be made that it strains the limits of plausibility to claim that all it takes to defeat Google is to buy an expired domain.

Citation

2003 Announcement That Google Will Reset PageRank On Expired Domains

Good news about expired domains

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No SEO Bonus For Expired Domains

Watch John Mueller explain that expired domains have no SEO advantage at the 35:31 Minute Mark

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Searchenginejournal.com

NEWS

OpenAI Introduces Fine-Tuning for GPT-4 and Enabling Customized AI Models

Published

3 weeks ago

August 21, 2024

Max

OpenAI Introduces Fine-Tuning for GPT-4 and Enabling Customized AI Models

OpenAI has today announced the release of fine-tuning capabilities for its flagship GPT-4 large language model, marking a significant milestone in the AI landscape. This new functionality empowers developers to create tailored versions of GPT-4 to suit specialized use cases, enhancing the model’s utility across various industries.

Fine-tuning has long been a desired feature for developers who require more control over AI behavior, and with this update, OpenAI delivers on that demand. The ability to fine-tune GPT-4 allows businesses and developers to refine the model’s responses to better align with specific requirements, whether for customer service, content generation, technical support, or other unique applications.

Why Fine-Tuning Matters

GPT-4 is a very flexible model that can handle many different tasks. However, some businesses and developers need more specialized AI that matches their specific language, style, and needs. Fine-tuning helps with this by letting them adjust GPT-4 using custom data. For example, companies can train a fine-tuned model to keep a consistent brand tone or focus on industry-specific language.

Fine-tuning also offers improvements in areas like response accuracy and context comprehension. For use cases where nuanced understanding or specialized knowledge is crucial, this can be a game-changer. Models can be taught to better grasp intricate details, improving their effectiveness in sectors such as legal analysis, medical advice, or technical writing.

Key Features of GPT-4 Fine-Tuning

The fine-tuning process leverages OpenAI’s established tools, but now it is optimized for GPT-4’s advanced architecture. Notable features include:

Enhanced Customization: Developers can precisely influence the model’s behavior and knowledge base.
Consistency in Output: Fine-tuned models can be made to maintain consistent formatting, tone, or responses, essential for professional applications.
Higher Efficiency: Compared to training models from scratch, fine-tuning GPT-4 allows organizations to deploy sophisticated AI with reduced time and computational cost.

Additionally, OpenAI has emphasized ease of use with this feature. The fine-tuning workflow is designed to be accessible even to teams with limited AI experience, reducing barriers to customization. For more advanced users, OpenAI provides granular control options to achieve highly specialized outputs.

Implications for the Future

The launch of fine-tuning capabilities for GPT-4 signals a broader shift toward more user-centric AI development. As businesses increasingly adopt AI, the demand for models that can cater to specific business needs, without compromising on performance, will continue to grow. OpenAI’s move positions GPT-4 as a flexible and adaptable tool that can be refined to deliver optimal value in any given scenario.

By offering fine-tuning, OpenAI not only enhances GPT-4’s appeal but also reinforces the model’s role as a leading AI solution across diverse sectors. From startups seeking to automate niche tasks to large enterprises looking to scale intelligent systems, GPT-4’s fine-tuning capability provides a powerful resource for driving innovation.

OpenAI announced that fine-tuning GPT-4o will cost $25 for every million tokens used during training. After the model is set up, it will cost $3.75 per million input tokens and $15 per million output tokens. To help developers get started, OpenAI is offering 1 million free training tokens per day for GPT-4o and 2 million free tokens per day for GPT-4o mini until September 23. This makes it easier for developers to try out the fine-tuning service.

As AI continues to evolve, OpenAI’s focus on customization and adaptability with GPT-4 represents a critical step in making advanced AI accessible, scalable, and more aligned with real-world applications. This new capability is expected to accelerate the adoption of AI across industries, creating a new wave of AI-driven solutions tailored to specific challenges and opportunities.

GOOGLE

This Week in Search News: Simple and Easy-to-Read Update

Published

2 months ago

June 30, 2024

Entireweb News Bot

This Week in Search News: Simple and Easy-to-Read Update

Here’s what happened in the world of Google and search engines this week:

1. Google’s June 2024 Spam Update

Google finished rolling out its June 2024 spam update over a period of seven days. This update aims to reduce spammy content in search results.

2. Changes to Google Search Interface

Google has removed the continuous scroll feature for search results. Instead, it’s back to the old system of pages.

3. New Features and Tests

Link Cards: Google is testing link cards at the top of AI-generated overviews.
Health Overviews: There are more AI-generated health overviews showing up in search results.
Local Panels: Google is testing AI overviews in local information panels.

4. Search Rankings and Quality

Improving Rankings: Google said it can improve its search ranking system but will only do so on a large scale.
Measuring Quality: Google’s Elizabeth Tucker shared how they measure search quality.

5. Advice for Content Creators

Brand Names in Reviews: Google advises not to avoid mentioning brand names in review content.
Fixing 404 Pages: Google explained when it’s important to fix 404 error pages.

6. New Search Features in Google Chrome

Google Chrome for mobile devices has added several new search features to enhance user experience.

7. New Tests and Features in Google Search

Credit Card Widget: Google is testing a new widget for credit card information in search results.
Sliding Search Results: When making a new search query, the results might slide to the right.

8. Bing’s New Feature

Bing is now using AI to write “People Also Ask” questions in search results.

9. Local Search Ranking Factors

Menu items and popular times might be factors that influence local search rankings on Google.

10. Google Ads Updates

Query Matching and Brand Controls: Google Ads updated its query matching and brand controls, and advertisers are happy with these changes.
Lead Credits: Google will automate lead credits for Local Service Ads. Google says this is a good change, but some advertisers are worried.
tROAS Insights Box: Google Ads is testing a new insights box for tROAS (Target Return on Ad Spend) in Performance Max and Standard Shopping campaigns.
WordPress Tag Code: There is a new conversion code for Google Ads on WordPress sites.

These updates highlight how Google and other search engines are continuously evolving to improve user experience and provide better advertising tools.

FACEBOOK

Facebook Faces Yet Another Outage: Platform Encounters Technical Issues Again

Published

6 months ago

March 20, 2024

Max

Uppdated: It seems that today’s issues with Facebook haven’t affected as many users as the last time. A smaller group of people appears to be impacted this time around, which is a relief compared to the larger incident before. Nevertheless, it’s still frustrating for those affected, and hopefully, the issues will be resolved soon by the Facebook team.

Facebook had another problem today (March 20, 2024). According to Downdetector, a website that shows when other websites are not working, many people had trouble using Facebook.

This isn’t the first time Facebook has had issues. Just a little while ago, there was another problem that stopped people from using the site. Today, when people tried to use Facebook, it didn’t work like it should. People couldn’t see their friends’ posts, and sometimes the website wouldn’t even load.

Downdetector, which watches out for problems on websites, showed that lots of people were having trouble with Facebook. People from all over the world said they couldn’t use the site, and they were not happy about it.

When websites like Facebook have problems, it affects a lot of people. It’s not just about not being able to see posts or chat with friends. It can also impact businesses that use Facebook to reach customers.

Since Facebook owns Messenger and Instagram, the problems with Facebook also meant that people had trouble using these apps. It made the situation even more frustrating for many users, who rely on these apps to stay connected with others.

During this recent problem, one thing is obvious: the internet is always changing, and even big websites like Facebook can have problems. While people wait for Facebook to fix the issue, it shows us how easily things online can go wrong. It’s a good reminder that we should have backup plans for staying connected online, just in case something like this happens again.