Its very true that google does use some of the domain details in their algorithms, such as the length of registration of the domains (on my own domains I register then 10 years in advance….i can feel some subject matter for another article coming on!) however I was not aware that using private whois can affect your serps. I will have to look into that claim and test it it I think.

However it should be noted that if you do opt for a private whois, then try to have the following pages on your site:

- accessible contact page with all contact details
- privacy policy (p3p compliant – hmm…however p3p project is on hold)
- legal page (include jurisdictional info of the site owner)

I know one of the reasons of private whois is to remain anonymous so putting all your contact details negates that but if you want to be treated legit, then you have to appear legit.

One of the main reasons for opting to have a private whois on a domain is noted below, to avoid “whois marketeers” who use the details of whois records to send automated letters or emails.

I personally don't have any reason to hide my own whois details and I am pretty wary of the spam and domain soliciting however I get at least one email or phone call per week from clients telling me they have either received a letter or phone call from a person or company claiming someone is going to register the .xyz equivalent of their main domain but of course the client has the option to buy it first for $250 (or some other unreasonable sum).

This is usually a good reason to opt out of public whois.

However I have some clients who simply don't want to be found and want to remain anonymous. I don't really need to question their reasoning but of course if one of their concerns about their business is serps plus they want to remain private then they should seriously reconsider the private who is option especially if using private whois is proven to affect your serps.

Its very true that google does use some of the domain details in their algorithms, such as the length of registration of the domains (on my own domains I register then 10 years in advance….i can feel some subject matter for another article coming on!) however I was not aware that using private whois can affect your serps. I will have to look into that claim and test it it I think.

However it should be noted that if you do opt for a private whois, then try to have the following pages on your site:

- accessible contact page with all contact details
- privacy policy (p3p compliant – hmm…however p3p project is on hold)
- legal page (include jurisdictional info of the site owner)

I know one of the reasons of private whois is to remain anonymous so putting all your contact details negates that but if you want to be treated legit, then you have to appear legit.

One of the main reasons for opting to have a private whois on a domain is noted below, to avoid “whois marketeers” who use the details of whois records to send automated letters or emails.

I personally don't have any reason to hide my own whois details and I am pretty wary of the spam and domain soliciting however I get at least one email or phone call per week from clients telling me they have either received a letter or phone call from a person or company claiming someone is going to register the .xyz equivalent of their main domain but of course the client has the option to buy it first for $250 (or some other unreasonable sum).

This is usually a good reason to opt out of public whois.

However I have some clients who simply don't want to be found and want to remain anonymous. I don't really need to question their reasoning but of course if one of their concerns about their business is serps plus they want to remain private then they should seriously reconsider the private who is option especially if using private whois is proven to affect your serps.