Domain parking is an unfamiliar term for the majority of web users, yet it’s something most of us have likely encountered while navigating the internet.
Sometimes referred to as cash parking, this online entrepreneurial strategy is an effective way to generate extra income if executed correctly. In this article, we will explore parked domains in more detail, including how they work, their benefits and drawbacks, and how to set one up.
What is a parked domain?
A parked domain is a registered domain name that isn't actively being used for a website but may display ads or a placeholder page.
While a parked domain is a free domain that may not have any content on it, it can still be used for various purposes, such as redirecting traffic to another website or as a placeholder while a more permanent site is being built.
Domain parking, also known as cash parking, involves leveraging advertisements on a parked web domain to generate revenue while that domain is otherwise inactive.
When you type the domain name into a web browser, you are redirected to a placeholder page or advertisement.
Parked domains can be owned by individuals or companies, and can serve various purposes. Some people park a domain to reserve it for future use or to protect their brand by preventing others from registering it, while others do it to monetize traffic by displaying ads.
Why would you park a domain?
There are a few reasons why you might choose to park a domain:
1. Reserve valuable domain names
If you have a business or idea that you are considering developing in the future, you may choose to park a domain in order to reserve the name and prevent someone else from registering it.
You could simply be doing it just so you can sell those valuable domain names later at a higher price.
Find out how much is your domain worth?
2. Your website is under development
If you are in the process of developing a website, you may choose to park the domain as a placeholder while you work on building the site. This can help you to reserve the name and start building brand awareness while you work on the site.
3. Cybersquatting prevention.
Registering a domain name with the intention of profiting from the goodwill of someone else's trademark. Cybersquatters often register domain names that are similar to well-known brands or trademarks in the hopes of attracting traffic and selling the domain back to the trademark owner at a profit. This can be a form of intellectual property infringement, as the cybersquatter is using someone else's trademark without permission.
Cybersquatting is often considered unethical and may be illegal in some cases. In the United States, the Anti-cybersquatting Consumer Protection Act (ACPA) provides a legal remedy for individuals or businesses that have been victims of cybersquatting. This law allows trademark owners to sue cybersquatters in federal court and seek damages, including the transfer of the infringing domain name.
Note: Registering a similar domain name is not the same as getting a subdomain.
When buying a domain try to get all the other extensions with it.
4. Investment
Domain investing is buying domain names and then selling them later at a higher price. This can be another idea you can explore and begin building wealth around it.
Learning the value of a domain name is easy with the GoDaddy Domain Valuation tool. All you have to do is look up the domain name and the valuation tool will show you the price and why.
Earn cash with your unused domains using GoDaddy CashParking.
5. Waiting for website expiration
Domain parking can be used as a temporary measure when a website is set to expire. When a domain expires, it is no longer registered to the owner and becomes available for others to register. If you want to keep the domain, you will need to renew it before it expires.
Benefits of domain parking
When considering domain parking, remember it isn’t practical for every type of entrepreneur. However, it offers significant advantages for those closely connected to the internet.
For instance, if you own a great URL but aren’t sure what to do with it yet, you could use cash parking to generate revenue without running a fully operational website.
Attract visitors with advertising instead of turning them away with an under-construction notification: parked domains can be accessed online and sell twice as fast as offline domains.
With every click on an ad, you earn revenue! Domain parking services display thematically matched advertising links aligned with your domain name and in the language of your visitors, ensuring maximum engagement and revenue.
As you wait for emails from potential buyers interested in your domain name, you can earn money passively.
Furthermore, domain parking services manage ad placement and handle payouts automatically, streamlining the process and allowing you to focus on other aspects of your investment.
Visitor statistics provide valuable insights into your domain’s performance. These metrics can help assess the domain’s value and support informed price negotiations with prospective buyers.
For domain investors managing large portfolios, GoDaddy provides dedicated personal account managers and access to an international advertiser network. These services are designed to maximize your revenue and streamline your domain management process.
If you’re in the business of purchasing promising domain names, cash parking is an excellent way to generate profit while waiting to find the right buyers. Want to see if the domain you have in mind is available?
How to make money with domain parking?
Now that we’ve discussed how domain parking complements domain investing, you’re likely interested in how parking can specifically help you earn money. First, you need to understand the different types of domains you can acquire, as each comes with its own advantages and disadvantages.
3 types of investment-worthy domains
To successfully execute a domain parking strategy and pull a profit, your domain names must be high quality since search engines like Google prioritize valuable traffic. The domain name itself acts as your primary traffic-driving asset.
Here are three categories of domains to consider before investing in them:
1. Misspelled domains
Did you know that Google owns and redirects domains like Gooogle.com, Goolge.com, Gogle.com, Gogole.com, Googel.com, Googl.com, and Google.net to its homepage? Many popular websites are frequently mistyped by users, resulting in misspelled domain entries.
These variations, including single-letter misspellings and incorrect pluralizations (e.g., Googles.com), receive significant traffic.
While Google has the resources to redirect these misspelled domains to their intended pages, most websites don’t. If they do, they typically only manage commonly used TLD variations (like Google.com and Google.net).
The key point is that people frequently misspell domain names, especially for popular websites accessed tens of thousands of times daily. By cash parking these misspelled domain names, you position yourself to earn revenue from them.
Note that there are potential legal scenarios if a company tries to reclaim a misspelled domain name that infringes on their trademark.
Specifically, if you’re domain squatting to capitalize on another company’s trademark or brand, laws (see ICANN) ensure the rightful company receives ownership of the domain. Ensure your practices are ethical to avoid issues.
2. Fresh (new) domains
A different strategy from buying misspelled domains is purchasing brand new domain names that have never been used. The advantage of new domain names is their affordability. You can quickly assess their potential cost on domain registrars like GoDaddy.
But how do you attract visitors to domains that have never had traffic without actively driving clicks?
Consider the following strategies when buying such domains.
First, identify industries likely to grow in the near future or are already emerging. Great domain names for these industries are often available and can attract valuable clicks as the sector expands.
Additionally, you can sell these domains for a profit later, providing another revenue stream.
You can also purchase exact match domains (EMDs), which include high-volume keywords in their names that people search for on search engines. EMDs are valuable because users sometimes include a TLD like .com in their search queries without realizing it, leading them to land on these domains instead of their intended results.
To assess potential EMDs, perform keyword research using tools like SEMrush (which offers 10 free keyword volume results per day) and then search for EMDs related to promising industries on GoDaddy.
These domains could become significant moneymakers in the future, though there is always the risk they may not perform as expected. Investing in a variety of domains can help mitigate this risk.
Related: How to choose a domain name
3. Expired domains
If you’re concerned that misspelled domain names might lead to legal issues and new ones lack established authority, investing in expired domains is a viable option.
Unlike new domains, expired domains have previously attracted users and may continue to do so, making them excellent candidates for domain parking.
Use GoDaddy’s WHOIS tool to find out when a domain will expire. There are methods to track recently expired domains that can simplify your search, and these domains may not necessarily be expensive to purchase.
Ensure your target domains have received traffic in the past to maintain their value, as many expired domains that lack traffic hold the same value as new domains but may come with higher price tags.
All three types of domains — misspelled, fresh, and expired — can generate income through cash parking. Building a diverse collection of these domains is key to success, allowing you to determine which ones are the most profitable for your investment strategy.
How does cash parking work?
While cash parking requires an initial time investment (for domain name research) and financial investment (for purchasing domains), it can become a passive income source for many online investors.
Here’s how passive income from domain parking starts flowing in:
Step-by-step guide to setting up domain parking
One of the best things about domain parking is that it’s not a complicated process getting started. Here’s all it takes:
1. Create a customer account
Start by registering for a free account on your domain parking provider’s website. This account will allow you to manage all your parked domains in one place.
2. Complete certification
Within your customer account, navigate to the domain parking certification section. Completing this certification ensures that your parked domains display ads from premium advertising partners, enhancing revenue potential.
3. Add your domains
Add all the domains you wish to park to your account. Use the platform’s online assistant to streamline this process, making it quick and easy to manage multiple domains.
4. Reroute domains to the parking service
Log into your domain registrar or web hosting account. For each domain you want to park, update the name server (DNS) settings to point to your domain parking provider’s servers. Typically, this involves entering two name server addresses provided by the parking service. Your Domain Parking will be activated after 24 hours.
How to keep your parked domains secure
When registering domains, it’s important to remember that purchasing a domain is essentially leasing it for an agreed-upon period. Once that period ends, ownership reverts unless renewed. Losing ownership of a parked domain means losing the potential passive income it generates. To maintain continuous ownership and prevent loss of passive income, ensure that your domains are consistently renewed before their expiration dates.
Here are ways to keep your domains secure while enjoying the benefits of cash parking:
1. Use a domain registrar with a good reputation
Always choose an accredited registrar when registering a domain. Accredited registrars ensure that your domain remains registered even if the registrar goes out of business.
Additionally, they adhere to regulations that protect domain owners, ensuring your domain portfolio is managed fairly.
Related: Check out our overview on the top domain registrars.
2. Lock your domain name
Locking your domain is an additional security measure to prevent unauthorized transfers. Domain theft does occur, and locking helps safeguard your domain name from being transferred without your permission. Lock your domain as soon as you purchase it.
3. Privately register your domain
Privately registering your domain name keeps all your personal details hidden. Domain privacy protects your details from hackers, identity thieves, and spammers, enhancing the security of both you and your domains.
4. Register your domain name for more than a year
Most domain registrars offer registrations for up to 10 years. If it fits within your budget, registering your domain for a longer period ensures you won’t lose ownership down the road.
Additionally, consider enabling auto-renewal and provide your registrar with multiple contact methods and payment options to avoid any interruptions in your domain’s registration.
5. Monitor parked domains for security
Regularly monitoring your parked domains is crucial to detect and prevent any malicious activities. By keeping an eye on the traffic and interactions, you can swiftly identify and address potential security threats, ensuring that your domain parking strategies remain secure and effective.
By diligently renewing your domains, you maintain ownership and continue to benefit from the passive income generated through domain parking. This proactive approach prevents the loss of valuable domains and the associated revenue streams they provide.
Differences between an addon domain & parked domain:
An addon domain and a parked domain are two types of additional domains that can be added to a hosting account’s name server.
However, there are key differences between the two:
- Addon domains are separate domains that are added to your hosting account and behave like a separate website. They have their own unique content and can be accessed by their own domain name.
- Parked domains, on the other hand, are additional domains that point to the same website as the main domain on your hosting account’s name server. They do not have their own unique content and are used to redirect traffic to the primary domain name. Essentially, a parked domain is an alias for the primary domain, and when a visitor types in the new domain name, they will be redirected to the primary domain.
Basically, addon domains are separate websites with their own content, while parked domains are additional domains that redirect traffic to the primary domain on a hosting account.
How can I tell if a domain is parked?
Any registered domain name that isn't actively connected to any service like a website or email address is likely a parked domain.
There are a few ways to tell if a domain is parked:
- Check the website's content: If a domain is parked, it will typically have placeholder or "under construction" content, or it may be completely blank. If the website has unique and relevant content, it is likely not a parked domain.
- Look for advertising: Many parked domains display ads in order to generate revenue. If you see a large number of ads on a website, it could be a parked domain.
- Check the WHOIS record: The WHOIS database is a public record that contains information about domain registrations. You can use a WHOIS lookup tool to check the status of a domain and see if it is registered and in use, or if it is parked.
- Check the website's traffic: If a domain is parked, it is not actively directing traffic to any specific content, so it is unlikely to have much traffic. You can use a tool like SimilarWeb to check a website's traffic and see if it is receiving a significant amount of visitors.
Keep in mind that some legitimate websites may have placeholder content or display ads, so these signs alone may not definitively indicate that a domain is parked. However, if you see multiple indicators that a domain is parked, it is likely that it is indeed a parked domain.
Error message
There are a few common error messages that may be displayed on a parked domain, depending on the specific circumstances:
- "404 error: Page not found": This error message indicates that the server was unable to find the requested webpage. This may occur if the domain is parked and has no content, or if the webpage has been removed or moved.
- "This domain has expired": If a domain is not renewed by the expiration date, it may be parked and display a message indicating that the domain has expired.
It's worth noting that these error messages may also be displayed on legitimate websites under certain circumstances, such as if a webpage has been removed or if a domain has expired. However, if you see one of these messages on a domain that you suspect is parked, it is likely that the domain is indeed parked.
Domain on sale
"This domain is for sale": Some parked domain names display a message indicating that the domain is available for purchase. This may occur if the domain owner is no longer using the domain and is looking to sell it.
Pro tip: If you do indeed want to buy the domain, it is a good idea to to check the value of the domain first.
Domain parking can be a great way to make money on the side.
A notification/message
"Under construction" or "coming soon" message: Some parked domains display a placeholder message indicating that the website is not yet available or is in the process of being developed.
How to park a domain yourself?
While cash parking does require time (domain name research) and money (for purchasing the desired domains) to get going, it eventually becomes the dream for many online investors: a form of passive income that you can largely set and forget.
But how does that passive income start rolling in?
First, you need to tie your parked domain to a domain parking service.
Cash parking works differently depending on your partner, but the account will allow you to select which domains you wish to park.
Once you’ve created your account and established your preferred parked domains, a web page will be put up on each. That web page and its advertisements will be tailored to the specific domain — based on factors like its name and the amount and type of traffic it attracts.
Ready to register your domain? Give it a go here:
Here’s an example of a domain parked through GoDaddy’s CashParking platform (note how its ads are all tied to misspellings of the word “care”, as well as to the actual domain name, “ACLCare.com”):
Every time a visitor drops by your parked domain and clicks an ad, you receive money through your cash parking account. Depending on your preference, your options normally include PayPal, direct deposit, and personal checks.
The more clicks you get, the more money you make.
Also, some clicks will make you more money than others. Talk with our experts and you can keep such factors in mind in the future if you want to invest in more domains.
How to list your parked domain for sale?
- Log into your control panel dashboard. The most common one is cPanel.
- Scroll down to the ‘Domains’ section and select ‘Aliases’
- In the space provided at ‘Create a New Alias’, enter the domain name that you wish to park
- Click ‘Add Domain’
A few things to note about this process:
- It only works if you are using a cPanel version above 76 and if your web host has enabled domain creation.
- You must already have registered your domain (that you want to park) and is pointing to your DNS servers.
- cPanel will remind you of this with a note under the ‘Create a New Alias Domain’ box.
The video below will show you how to list your parked domain on sale:
Frequently Asked Questions about Domain Parking (FAQs):
Here are some answers to your Frequently Asked Questions about Parked Domains:
Are parked domains safe?
Parked domains are generally safe to visit because they do not host content and do not pose a security risk. However, parked domains could be used to phish for personal information or spread malware if the domain owner is malicious. Therefore, it is important to be cautious when visiting any website, even if it is just a parked domain.
Do parked domains expire?
Yes, parked domains can expire just like any other domain name. Domain names are registered for a specific period of time. The owner must renew the registration before it expires in order to continue using the domain. If the owner does not renew the registration, the domain name will become available for anyone to register.
The length of time that a domain name can be registered for varies depending on the specific domain extension (e.g., .com, .net, .org, .biz, .io, etc.). You can register some domains for as little as one year. Domains can be registered for up to ten years. When a parked domain expires, it may be sold to a new owner or it may be deleted by the registry.
It is important to note that just because a parked domain expires does not necessarily mean that it will no longer be used as a parked domain. The new owner of the domain may choose to continue using it as a parked domain, or they may use it to host a website or other online content.
Can you make money on parked domains?
If you’re not using your domain for a website, you can make money on it by using GoDaddy’s CashParking service (if GoDaddy is your domain registrar). All you do is sign up for the service. After that, when someone visits your parked site, they will see ads that are relevant to them. When they click on these ads, you’ll make a percentage of the ad revenue generated.
You do not necessarily need a web hosting or a landing page. GoDaddy will created a parked page and complete the work for you.
Editor's Note: This article was first published on 3 January 2023 and updated on 8 May 2026.
