Not all expired domains are created equal.
When building a Private Blog Network (PBN), domain selection is everything. If you get this wrong, you risk wasting money, building weak links, or even harming your site.
Professional PBN building services always focus on domain quality first — because the power of your PBN backlinks depends on it.
Let’s break down the key metrics you need to evaluate before buying a domain for your PBN setup.
1. Referring Domains (RD)
The most important metric is how many unique referring domains are pointing to your target domain.
Look for:
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Minimum 10-20 RD (the more, the better)
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Focus on quality over quantity
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Look for links from authority sites in your niche
Suggested further reading: “How to Find Expired Domains for Your PBN“
2. Trust Flow (TF) and Citation Flow (CF)
Majestic’s Trust Flow (TF) measures link trust and quality.
Rules of thumb:
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TF above 10 = decent
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TF above 20 = solid
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TF above 30 = premium domain
Compare TF to CF — ideally, TF should not be much lower than CF (avoid TF5 / CF50 type spam profiles).
3. Domain Authority (DA) and Domain Rating (DR)
Tools like Moz (DA) and Ahrefs (DR) give a broad view of a domain’s link power.
While not perfect, they’re useful for:
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Filtering weak domains quickly
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Spotting domains with strong overall authority
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Comparing domains in bulk
Just don’t rely on these alone — always combine with backlink analysis.
4. Anchor Text Profile
Check what keywords were used to link to the domain.
Avoid domains with:
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Spammy anchors (viagra, casino, adult terms)
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Over-optimized commercial anchors
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Foreign language anchors (unless relevant)
Clean anchor text profiles = safer, stronger PBN backlinks.
Suggested further reading: “How to Diversify Anchor Text in a PBN Strategy“
5. Backlink Quality & Source Sites
Use Ahrefs or Majestic to check where the backlinks come from.
Look for:
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Niche-relevant links
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Links from authority sites (news outlets, niche blogs)
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Do-follow backlinks
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Contextual links within content
If 90% of the links are from directories or blog comments, avoid it.
6. Domain History
Use Archive.org to review:
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Past content (does it fit your niche?)
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Signs of spammy content farming
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Language consistency
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No adult or foreign content abuse
Suggested further reading: “10 Signs You’ve Built a Toxic PBN“
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right domains is what separates rookie DIY PBNs from pro-level networks built by expert PBN setup services.
Want safe, powerful domains with clean backlink profiles? Our PBN building services handle everything — sourcing, checking, and building.
Or grab instant link power with our high quality PBN backlinks packages — crafted only from high-quality domains.
