What Is Domain Parking
Complete guide to domain parking
Contents
What is domain parking
Domain parking means registering a domain without pointing it to a real website. The domain shows a placeholder page or ads while waiting to be developed or sold.
- Domain registered but no real website attached
- Prevents squatters from registering it first
- Waiting for future website development
- Can earn revenue from ads in some cases
How to park a domain correctly
Park a domain at your registrar by pointing nameservers to the registrar's parking nameservers or redirecting to another site.
- Change nameservers to the registrar's parking NS
- Or set A record pointing to the parking IP
- Or set up a 301 redirect to another site
- No hosting purchase needed for a parked domain
Can domain parking generate revenue
Premium domains with direct type-in traffic can earn PPC ad revenue, but ordinary domains earn almost nothing. Do not buy domains expecting parking revenue.
- Revenue depends on direct type-in traffic
- Short or clear keyword domains have better potential
- Ordinary domains earn almost nothing
- Sedo and GoDaddy Parking are popular platforms
Park vs let expire: what is the difference
If the domain has value (brand or good keyword) park it; if it has no value, let it expire to save renewal costs.
- Park: retain the domain, pay annual renewal
- Expire: save money but anyone can register it
- Brand domains should always be parked
- Thai TLDs cost more than .com — think carefully
How to park a domain with a redirect
Redirecting a domain to your main site via 301 permanent redirect also helps SEO if the domain has existing backlinks.
- 301 redirect passes link equity to the target
- Easiest to set up through registrar DNS
- No hosting needed
- Use for domains that already have backlinks
Domain parking to prevent cybersquatting
Brands should register similar TLDs such as .com, .co.th and .net and park them to prevent squatters from registering and reselling at a premium.
- Register .com, .co.th and .net versions of your brand
- Park all of them redirecting to your main site
- Costs far less than buying back from a squatter
- Essential for brands with significant traffic
Domain parking tools and services
Sedo, GoDaddy Parking, Namecheap and ParkingPage are leading platforms, some sharing ad revenue with domain owners.
- Sedo: largest domain marketplace with parking
- GoDaddy: easy parking if registered there
- Namecheap: free parking with ads
- ParkingPage: more attractive minimal design
Does a parked domain affect SEO
Google does not index parked domain pages with thin or duplicate content, but a 301 redirect to your main site passes link equity.
- Thin parked pages are often automatically noindexed
- 301 redirect passes link equity
- Domain with existing backlinks: always redirect first
- New domain with no backlinks: standard parking is fine