Ever dreamt up the perfect website name, only to realize you’re not quite ready to launch? That’s where parked domains come in!
Finding the perfect domain is the first step in building your online identity. If you’ve ever wondered, “What is a parked domain?” or heard about it but weren’t sure what it means, you’re in the right place. Parked domains are sometimes also called unused domains, as they refer to domains that are registered but not yet in use.
In this guide, we’ll break down parking domains, explained in simple terms so that you can make the most of your online presence, whether you’re a student, an entrepreneur, or just curious about the digital world!
- What Is Domain Parking? (& Why Should You Care?)
- Why Do People Park Domains?
- How to Park a Domain (Step-by-Step)
- Types of Domain Names: Parked, Addon, Registered, & Expired
- Risks & Things to Watch Out For
- Best Practices for Managing Parked Domains
What Ιs Domain Parking? (& Why Should You Care?)
A parked domain is a domain name you’ve registered but aren’t using for a live website or email yet, and registering a domain is the process of acquiring and securing it for your own use. The domain owner is the individual or entity who controls the parked domain. Think of it as reserving your spot on the internet before you’re ready to build something awesome. Instead of leaving your domain name up for grabs, domain parking lets you hold onto it until you’re ready to launch.
Many people park domains for future use, such as potential development or business ideas. Sometimes, a parked domain will display a “Coming Soon” page, a placeholder, or even ads to help you earn a little cash while you wait, with ad placement playing an important role in how much revenue you can generate during this period, so we’ll cover that in depth later!
Tip: To check the status of a domain, you can use a WHOIS lookup tool.
How Does Domain Parking Work?
When you park a domain, you register it through a domain registrar (like EasyHosting.com), but instead of building a website right away, you use a domain parking service. This service can display a simple landing page with a short message or ads that generate revenue, paid based on user clicks or visits, when people visit the domain.
Why Do People Park Domains?
Why bother parking a domain? It may sound odd to register a domain and have it parked in the first place, but there are many circumstances that can lead you to park your domain while getting benefits from it.
Take a look at the several reasons why domain owners park their domains:
1. Brand Protection
Lock in your brand name before someone else does. Don’t let someone else snag your business name or a close variation—registering these domains is essential for brand protection. Parking domains help you protect your brand identity and avoid cybersquatting (when someone registers domains just to sell them back to you at a higher price).
Registered domains are those you have secured for your brand, even if they are not currently active. Domain registration plays a crucial role in safeguarding your brand identity from malicious actors and competitors.
Also, you can park it just to save a great idea for later. Registering new domains gives you options for future development or expansion. In the end, if the idea does not work out, you can just cancel the domain name subscription.
2. Monetization
Many domain owners benefit from parking services by monetizing unused domains without needing to set up a full website. With domain parking, you can earn passive income by using domain parking services, as these may show ads on your parked domains, with a parking service provider facilitating this process, and you get a cut of the ad revenue.
However, be aware that some parking service providers may display malicious content, which can pose security risks to visitors and potentially harm your brand reputation. It won’t make you rich overnight, but it’s a nice bonus for something you’re not using yet.
3. Traffic Redirection
If you own multiple domains (like .ca and .com versions), you can park the extras and redirect them to your main site, effectively redirecting visitors to your primary website. This way, you capture traffic from typos or alternate spellings and send users to the correct site. Visitors who land on a parked domain will be automatically redirected to your main site.
4. Low Maintenance
Once your domain is parked, there’s little you need to do. Just keep an eye on your account and renew your registration as needed—some domains can be registered for up to ten years, depending on the registrar.
5. Investment Potential
Hold a valuable domain as an investment. Some domains become valuable over time and are sold for a profit. By parking domains, you can hold onto them and sell later if someone wants to buy, transferring the domain to a new owner.
How to Park a Domain (Step-by-Step)
If you’re intentionally thinking of having a parked domain, here are the simple steps you’ll need to follow:
- Register your domain: Use a registrar to claim your domain name. Many registrars, including EasyHosting, offer domain parking as part of their account.
- Set DNS settings: Configure the DNS zone for your domain, ensuring the necessary SOA and NS records are present. Point your domain’s DNS to the domain parking service, which involves pointing the domain to the correct IP or service as a signpost for visitors. Even though your domain is parked, you can show it’s secure.
- Decide what you want to display: The parked domain shows a placeholder, an ad page, or a redirect. A parked domain often points to a placeholder page or can be set up to point to the main website. Decide what you want to display and what will benefit your audience to see when they click this domain.
- Manage and monitor: Use your hosting account to track traffic, ad revenue, or update settings. Parked domains can be configured to point to your primary domain or main domain, allowing multiple domains to direct visitors to your primary domain name and protect your brand.
If you’re curious about how to add more privacy settings for your domain, we have a full guide about the matter! You can read it here: The Importance of Domain Privacy Protection: EasyHosting’s Plan
How to Forward a Domain with EasyHosting.com
If you have a domain and you’re not using it, you can redirect that domain to your main one with EasyHosting’s help. On the other hand, if you want to create a new one, just to redirect users to somewhere else, you can also do that with us. Here are the complete steps.
- Register your domain: Search for your perfect name using our domain search tool. If you’re starting a new project, register a new domain to get started.
- Choose domain forwarding: If you have already created the new domain you want to park, it’s time to select the forwarding option. Select the domain you just created and use the domain management tools to set up the forwarding. Add the URL you want your audience to see when they type your domain.
- Monitor and manage: Use the EasyHosting dashboard to keep track of your domains and renewals!
Tip: For more step-by-step help, check out our EasyHosting Domain Forwarding Guide.
Types of Domain Names: Parked, Addon, Registered, & Expired
Parked domains are just one type in the domain ecosystem; there are more categories within the parked domains ecosystem, and it’s easy to get confused by all the domain jargon. Here’s a quick breakdown:
| Type of Domain | What It Means |
| Parked Domain | Registered, but not used for a website/email; may show ads or a placeholder. Parked domains can also point to the same website as your main domain, acting as an alias or redirect. |
| Addon Domain | A separate website hosted on the same account as your main site. Addon domains are fully separate websites with their own content and hosting, distinct from parked domains. |
| Registered Domain | Any domain you’ve registered can be parked, live, or used for email. |
| Expired Domain | A domain that wasn’t renewed and is now up for grabs by someone else. |
Risks & Things to Watch Out For
While domain parking is mostly safe, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Expiration: If you forget to renew, someone else can grab your domain.
- Security: Make sure your account is secure and use domain locking to prevent unauthorized transfers. Parked domains can pose a security risk if malicious actors exploit them for phishing scams or the distribution of malware.
- Phishing scams: Some parked domains may be used to redirect users to phishing scams or fraudulent surveys that attempt to steal sensitive information.
- Malware distribution: Certain parking services or compromised parked domains can be used for malware distribution, infecting users who visit these sites.
- Reputation: If your parked domain displays low-quality ads, it might hurt your brand image and reduce user trust. Users exposed to malicious ads or redirects may lose confidence in your domain.
- Website content: The website content on parked domains is often analyzed to determine if a domain is safe or being misused for malicious purposes. Some parked domains may display the same content as other domains, which can be a red flag for potential abuse.
- Revenue fluctuations: Ad income from parked domains can be unpredictable.
Best Practices for Managing Parked Domains
If you create a domain and decide to park it initially, it’s important to see it as a regular website that will need the basic maintenance features as any other one. Of course, there will be a lot that you can take off your shoulders, but the basic stuff to keep in mind is the following:
- Renew regularly: We can’t stress this enough. Don’t let your domain expire—set reminders or auto-renew. Even though your domain is parked, you will need to renew your subscription with your selected domain registrar. If it was monthly, quarterly, or yearly, keep an eye on the renewal date to be prepared.
- Update security measures: Make sure your domain’s DNS settings are correct and point to your chosen parking service. Every time you enter your parked domain, check if the DNS settings are properly set. Also, use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication to avoid any identity loss problem.
Conclusion
If you’ve got a killer idea, don’t wait—register and park your domain now! Whether you want to protect your brand, plan for the future, or earn a bit of passive income, domain parking is a simple, low-risk way to secure your place online.
Ready to get started? Visit EasyHosting.com and park your domain today! Explore our services for more tools and features to add to your domain, or reach out to our team for expert advice and support!
support@easyhosting.com
Call us: 1-888-390-1210
Want more Marketing tips? Explore the EasyHosting blog for the latest trends, strategies, and insider secrets to grow your online business!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is a parked domain?
A parked domain is a domain name you’ve registered but aren’t actively using for a website or email. It usually shows a basic web page, such as a placeholder page or ads, and is often held for future projects, brand protection, or resale.
How do I park a domain?
Register your domain, log into your hosting account, and use the domain parking feature to point your domain to a placeholder or ad page.
Can I make money from parked domains?
Yes! Some parking services display ads on your parked domains, and you earn revenue when visitors click those ads. Revenue is typically generated from user clicks on these ads. It’s not a huge income stream, but it can help offset registration costs.
Do parked domains expire?
Absolutely. If you don’t renew your parked domain, it will expire and become available for someone else to register, just like any other domain. Always keep an eye on your renewal dates.
Can I redirect a parked domain to my main site?
Yes, you can set up redirection so that visitors to your parked domain are sent straight to your main website. You can also redirect multiple parked domains to the same website as your main domain, which is handy for capturing traffic from alternate spellings or similar names.
Is domain parking safe?
Domain parking is safe as long as you use a reputable registrar and keep your account secure. Use domain locking and monitor your account regularly to increase safety.
What’s the difference between a parked domain and an add-on domain?
A parked domain is reserved and not used for a live site, while an add-on domain is a separate website hosted on the same account as your main site.
