Google: Search Console Data Survives After Domain Expiration via @sejournal, @MattGSouthern

In the August variation of Google’s SEO office-hours Q&A video, John Mueller, Senior Search Analyst astatine Google, tackled a unsocial question astir domain expiration and Search Console data.

The question highlights the imaginable risks to Search Console information erstwhile domains alteration hands.

A tract proprietor facing the expiration of their domain and nonaccomplishment of hosting raised concerns astir aboriginal domain owners’ imaginable misuse of their Search Console data.

They asked however to region each URLs associated with the domain to forestall misuse aft expiration.

Mueller’s Response

Mueller explained respective important points astir Search Console data:

• Search Console info sticks with the website, not the user. New owners who beryllium they ain the tract tin spot each the aged data.
• There’s nary “delete all” fastener for Search Console data.
• To power the data, you request to support owning the domain name.
• If you support the domain, you tin regain ownership successful Search Console without losing immoderate aged data.
• If you’ve already taken down the website, you tin usage domain verification successful Search Console to inquire Google to fell it from hunt results temporarily. This doesn’t erase it from Google’s records; it conscionable keeps it retired of show temporarily.
• Mueller suggests telling the purchaser if you person immoderate progressive removal requests erstwhile selling a domain. This way, they tin undo it if they want.

His afloat response:

“This is an absorbing question that I don’t deliberation we’ve tally crossed yet. The information successful hunt console is not tied to users, truthful anyone who verifies a tract aboriginal connected volition spot that data. There’s nary mode to reset the information shown there, truthful you’d person to forestall the domain sanction from expiring. The vantage of this process is that you tin reverify successful hunt console without immoderate information loss.

To region each contented from hunt for a tract that’s already removed from the server you tin usage the domain verification for hunt console and taxable a impermanent tract removal request. This doesn’t region the tract from the index, but it volition forestall it from being shown for a play of time.

If you’re selling the domain sanction it would beryllium bully to archer the caller proprietor of this removal petition truthful that they tin cancel it.”

Why This Matters

This taxable is applicable for each website owners, particularly those who mightiness merchantability oregon suffer their domain. It shows however Search Console information is retained from proprietor to owner.

It besides reminds america to beryllium cautious with domain names and hunt information erstwhile ownership changes hands.

What To Do With This Info

• If you program to fto your domain sanction expire, retrieve that whoever buys it adjacent tin spot your aged Search Console data.
• Even if you’re not utilizing your website anymore, it mightiness beryllium worthy keeping the domain sanction to power who sees your Search Console info.
• If you can’t entree your website anymore, you tin usage Search Console to inquire Google to fell it from hunt results for a while.
• If you’re selling your domain, archer the purchaser astir immoderate requests you’ve made to fell the tract from hunt and astir the aged information successful Search Console.

Understanding these points tin assistance you support your information and negociate however contented appears successful search, adjacent erstwhile domain ownership changes.

Hear the afloat question and reply below:

SEJ STAFF Matt G. Southern Senior News Writer astatine Search Engine Journal

Matt G. Southern, Senior News Writer, has been with Search Engine Journal since 2013. With a bachelor’s grade successful communications, ...