The Man With 150,000 SEO Domain Names - Kalin Karakehayov Interview

Summary

In this interview, SEO expert Colin Kov discusses the evolution of his domain and PBN business, starting from his frustration with clients to building a large domain database. He shares insights on securing VC funding, the importance of domain names with traffic, and the role of PBNs in SEO. Kov also addresses the impact of AI on domaining and debunks myths around diversifying PBNs, emphasizing the stability of the domain industry over the past 20 years.

Takeaways

• 😀 The interviewee, Colin Kov, started in SEO and domaining in 2008, initially working with clients before moving to more automated methods due to the challenges of client management.
• 🔍 Colin discovered the importance of having a large domain database, which became a competitive advantage, especially for catching expired domains in less competitive niches like country code top-level domains (ccTLDs).
• 💡 After being banned by Google, Colin and his team pivoted to building domain databases and offering enterprise services, eventually securing seed investment from a VC fund.
• 💼 The initial investment pitch to investors was focused on the potential of the domain database to find and resell valuable domains, which was met with skepticism but eventually led to funding.
• 📈 Colin's company experienced significant growth after securing investment, with a notable early client being Jason from Digiity, which helped to validate their business model.
• 🌐 The importance of a good domain name was discussed, with traffic being a significant factor, sometimes even more so than the domain name itself, especially when traffic comes from direct referrals or streaming.
• 🔑 Domain age and its impact on SEO was debated, with Colin suggesting that Google's algorithms may learn from the usage patterns of expired domains rather than having a set rule against them.
• 🌐 The role of AI in the domain industry was questioned, with Colin expressing doubt that AI will significantly change the domain system, given its stability and the slow-moving nature of the domain governing bodies.
• 🛡️ Colin highlighted the importance of diversification in building private blog networks (PBNs), including using different hosting solutions, themes, and CMSs to avoid footprints that could be penalized by search engines.
• 📊 The interview touched on the efficacy of PBNs and links in SEO, with Colin's experience indicating that high-quality PBNs can be effective even if the websites themselves have poor user metrics.
• 👥 Lastly, the interview concluded with Colin offering assistance in the domain community, particularly for those facing issues with domain blacklisting, leveraging his unique name and connections in the industry.

Q & A

What was the initial motivation for the interviewee to start working with domains?

The interviewee started working with domains after finding clients annoying while running an agency. He was looking for ways to learn more with less effort and discovered that working with domains was easier in 2008-2009.

How did the interviewee's company get VC funding?

The company acquired VC funding after building a large domain database and pitching to investors. Initially, they received €50,000 for 12% equity after several pitches, and later received an additional €100,000 for another 10% equity.

What was the role of the interviewee's co-founder in the company's development?

The co-founder, being a skilled developer, joined the team and helped build the domain database, which became a significant competitive advantage for the company.

What was the first major order the company received after starting to catch and resell domains?

The first major order was from Jason, a partner at Digity, for 300 domains, which marked a significant breakthrough for the company.

What are the three factors that make a domain name valuable according to the interviewee?

The three factors are good name, links, and traffic. Some domains may not have links but have traffic from sources like direct referrals or pirate streaming.

How has the domain industry changed in the last 20 years according to the interviewee?

The interviewee believes that the domain industry has not changed significantly in the last 20 years. The system for registering, transferring, and dropping domains remains largely the same.

What is the interviewee's opinion on the importance of domain age and its effect on SEO?

The interviewee believes that domain age's effect on SEO depends on the pool size of expired and non-dropped domains and how they are used. He suggests that machine learning may have found ways to use this data that even Google engineers did not anticipate.

How does the interviewee diversify his PBN (Private Blog Network)?

The interviewee diversifies his PBN by using different hosting solutions, themes, CMS's, and ensuring that the domains are registered to real people to avoid being flagged by Google.

What is the interviewee's view on the effectiveness of PBNs and links in the context of AI and Google updates?

The interviewee believes that PBNs and links will continue to be effective, as the main difference will be in terms of economy and money flows, allowing for more investment in links and domains.

How does the interviewee handle the issue of domain blacklisting?

The interviewee offers to help by contacting people he knows in most domain registries, which may assist in unblocking the domains, although he cannot guarantee success in every case.

What advice does the interviewee give regarding the use of unique domain names in SEO?

The interviewee suggests that having a unique domain name can be beneficial in SEO, as it can make it easier to rank and is less likely to be confused with other sites.