Should You Buy a Domain for SEO?

If you’ve heard about buying an old domain for SEO, you might be wondering if it’s worth it. This technique, often called "parasite SEO," involves purchasing an expired domain with strong backlinks and redirecting it to your site using a Google Change of Address. In theory, this transfers some of that domain’s authority to you.

So, should you do it? For wedding photographers, the answer is usually no.

When It Might Work

✅ The old domain is your exact niche and location – If a well known photography business in your area/state shuts down, acquiring their domain could give your site a boost.

When It Won’t Work

❌ The domain location is unrelated – Buying a German wedding photography domain when you serve Dallas, TX? That’s not going to help. Google will likely see the mismatch.
❌ It’s full of spammy links – Many expired domains have low quality backlinks, which could do nothing or even hurt your website.
❌ The niche is different - Example: If the domain you buy is health related and you’re a photography domain it’ll do nothing for you.

Watch Out for Scams

If someone emails you about buying a domain, be extremely cautious. 90% of the time, these are scams. If you’re interested, always request a phone call to verify legitimacy.

Final Verdict

For photographers, buying a domain for SEO is rarely worth it. Instead, focus on building quality content, getting local backlinks, and optimizing your website naturally. That will get you far better results than a risky domain purchase.