The Secret Sauce Behind Aged Domains: Trust Flow & Citation Flow Explained

Majestic is a website that provides tools for analyzing and tracking the performance of websites. Among its key metrics are Trust Flow and Citation Flow. Citation Flow measures the volume and potential influence of backlinks directed to an expired domain. Domains with a high Citation Flow are often viewed as more valuable for SEO because they typically have a strong backlink profile.

Trust Flow is another important metric offered by Majestic, designed to assess the quality of backlinks leading to an expired domain. It operates on the principle that links from reputable, authoritative websites can transfer trust to the domains they reference. As a result, an expired domain with a high Trust Flow score is typically seen as more trustworthy and is often considered more beneficial for SEO.

Expired domains are previously registered domain names that were not renewed and have become available for others to purchase. These domains often appeal to SEO professionals because they may retain existing authority and backlinks, which can contribute to improving a new website’s search rankings. Metrics like Trust Flow and Citation Flow are essential for assessing the quality and SEO potential of these domains. By examining these scores, SEOs can pinpoint high-quality expired domains worth acquiring. AgedDoms offers a selection of such domains, featuring strong Trust Flow and Citation Flow metrics.

What are Trust Flow and Topical Trust Flow?

Trust Flow (TF) is a metric developed by Majestic that evaluates the quality of a website’s backlinks. It operates on the principle that links from highly trusted and reputable websites carry more weight and positively influence search engine rankings compared to links from low-quality or untrusted sources. The score is determined by assessing the trustworthiness of sites linking to a domain, as well as the trustworthiness of sites linking to those sources, forming a chain of trust. Both Trust Flow and Topical Trust Flow help gauge the authority and influence of a webpage, website, or expired domain.

How are Trust Flow and Topical Trust Flow Calculated?

Trust Flow is measured on a scale from 1 to 100. Although the exact calculation method is proprietary and not publicly disclosed, it’s understood that the score reflects the trustworthiness of a site’s backlinks. Both Trust Flow and Topical Trust Flow are used to estimate the authority or influence of a specific website or web page. These metrics analyze the quality and quantity of external links pointing to the site. Trust Flow, in particular, focuses on how credible those linking sources are, based on Majestic’s proprietary algorithm, which powers the Trust Flow metric.

The algorithm behind Trust Flow considers both the number of external links to a page or website and the credibility of those links. Trust is assessed based on the quality and reputation of the referring sites. Backlinks from well-established and trusted websites contribute more significantly to a site's Trust Flow score, whereas links from lower-quality or less reputable sources have less impact.

Topical Trust Flow is a specialized version of the Trust Flow metric that takes into account the topical relevance of backlinks to a specific subject or industry. To determine this score, Majestic evaluates each domain’s trustworthiness based on the quality and credibility of its incoming links, as well as how closely those links align with a particular topic. A website’s Topical Trust Flow is then calculated by analyzing the trust scores of the domains linking to it. A higher score indicates that the site is not only trusted but also highly relevant within a specific niche or category.

You can use the trust flow score as a way to gauge the overall quality of the website’s links.

What is Citation Flow?

Citation Flow is a metric developed by Majestic to estimate the potential influence of a website or web page, based primarily on the number of backlinks it receives. It is one of the key metrics offered by the Majestic SEO tool, widely used by SEO professionals to analyze and evaluate a site's backlink strength and link-building potential.

How is Citation Flow Calculated?

Citation Flow is determined by examining the quantity of external links pointing to a webpage or domain, along with the influence of the sites providing those links. A higher number of backlinks—especially from influential sources—leads to a higher Citation Flow score. While Citation Flow doesn’t evaluate link quality as thoroughly as Google’s PageRank, it remains useful for spotting patterns in a site’s link profile and for gauging the overall strength and potential impact of its backlinks.

Correlation between Trust Flow and Citation Flow

Trust Flow and Citation Flow are both metrics used to evaluate the significance and influence of a web page or domain by examining its backlink profile. While they are connected, each serves a distinct purpose.

Citation Flow focuses on the number of external links pointing to a site. It quantifies the raw volume of backlinks, regardless of their source quality. In contrast, Trust Flow measures the credibility of those backlinks, emphasizing the quality and trustworthiness of the referring domains.

Although these metrics are interrelated, they do not always move in tandem. A domain might have a high Citation Flow due to numerous backlinks, but if those links come from low-authority or spammy websites, the Trust Flow may remain low. Conversely, a site with fewer but highly reputable backlinks might score high in Trust Flow while having a moderate Citation Flow.

Generally, an increase in Trust Flow is often accompanied by a rise in Citation Flow. However, the reverse isn't guaranteed. A surge in Citation Flow alone—especially from less reputable sources—doesn’t ensure a boost in Trust Flow and might even dilute the domain’s trust signals. That’s why SEO professionals often consider Trust Flow more valuable than Citation Flow, as search engines are believed to prioritize link quality over quantity.

How AgedDoms uses Trust Flow and Citation Flow in the valuation of Expired Domain

Experts at AgedDoms consider Trust Flow and Citation Flow as important factors when assessing the value of an expired domain. A domain with a high Trust Flow score typically suggests it has earned numerous high-quality backlinks, reflecting that the site once held authority and significance in its niche.

Citation Flow is one of several metrics that SEO specialists use when determining the SEO value of a domain. It serves as an indicator of a domain’s potential strength. An expired domain with a high Citation Flow may be considered more valuable because it suggests the ability to draw increased traffic and enhance search engine visibility.

However, it’s important to note that Trust Flow and Citation Flow are just one factor to consider when valuing an expired domain, and they should not be the sole determinant of the domain’s value. Other factors to consider might include the following:

• The age of the domain.
• The relevance of the content on the site.
• The overall quality of the links pointing to the site. 

Additionally, it’s worth noting that the value of a domain for SEO purposes may change over time, as the domain’s trust flow and citation flow and other factors can fluctuate. As such, it’s essential to buy an expired domain at a precise time to ensure that it continues to meet the needs of an SEO campaign.