lmao, apologies for taking the thread off topic but I may be able to redeem my reputation

One things led to another with the Google alerts system, It's certainly a fantastic addition, one of the alerts I received was to a nice on theme pr3 domain name virtually identical to the keyword I'd added to the alerts (100% perfect link opportunity) yet it had ZERO content and nothing indexed on Google just a typical "parked page". It's relevance seems  purely based on the domain name itself and the related inlinks to the aforementioned domain.  Unfortunately It's for sale and finances don't support the desire to purchase (sobs). This got me thinking (beware) so I performed a few searches on the domain and a couple of things jumped out and slapped me round the face, SEARCH for some of this dead domains inlinks !!! (perfect to chase because the existing link now goes to a dead domain when it could be targeted to mine). This in turn caused more deeply painful thought so I proceeded to search domains very similar to the one I'd just observed, The already acquired domains almost identical to the one Google threw out are also in some cases perfect potential linking opportunities for the keywords!!!

Has anyone ever used their keywords to search for domain names, find the already registered sites and chase them for links if suitable, as well as tracking expired domains and chasing their soon to be wasted inlinks?

Your thoughts please chaps ...

As It stands I'm using Yahoo to track the links and Alexa (found a use for them afterall )

Ok now I know I'm on the right tracks It's example time keyword or keyword phrase lets say, Smurfs was the Google Alert and It threw out www. smurfs .com

It's a dead domain, chase it's inlinks ... Would be great to be able to track a list of domain name expiry dates... failed renewals = a free link campaign that doesn't require too much work.

You follow on to search if the domains smurfs.net .org .co.uk  and so on are taken and in use, the ones that are taken, visit the site if on topic chase links to those also if on topic with your keyword, most keyword orientated domain names I expect would be related or at least a section of the site. Rinse and repeat for all your main landing page keywords.

Basically that's all I meant could be compared to intitle: smurfs , inurl: smurfs , api search with Google but maybe with far less crap to sift through in the results, btw did I remember the api correctly ? lol

Congrats on the link man!!!

I'm also really pleased with my gradual traffic increase and it's still going, seems to be a case of waiting for Google to catch up with the SEO I've employed across the site (still loads to do). Page 1 results at last 

Been using this a few days now and it's paid off dividends!!!

ctabuk Thank you for the walk through, most helpful

No way Matt. Otherwise we all can setup a bloody directory and add links to gov resources, and above and below their links we plug-in our link.

I know that Matt wasn't starting that and was trying to understand the point of David. So I just wanted to help him out, as I saw he did not get a response.