Most users purchase a domain name with the intention of creating a website, but there are no rules or regulations that say this has to be, nor is there a time limit on when you must use your domain. You can legally purchase as many domain names as you want and hang on to them for later use. Purchasing multiple domains and keeping them “parked” is becoming a much more common practice.
So why would anyone buy domain names just to park them? Good question. The reasons for the parking domain vary widely but some common explanations include; Making sure to secure the specific domain name you want while you’re still working out the details and kinks of your project. By pre-purchasing and parking a domain, there is no chance that someone else will “steal” your unique name before you launch. Another use for parked domains is the ability to use them as an “alias” for a site that is already up and running.
Curious if parking a domain or two might be a good choice for you? In this context, we will provide some knowledge about parking domains, how they work and how to set up them, and then you can decide for yourself.
Benefits and Uses of Parked Domain
Almost every traditional websites have a single URL or domain name that guides visitors to the site. By typing in the domain name, guests are able to search your site, full business transactions, leave messages, and share your site with any social media. In addition to the single URL model, there is also the option of having an “alias” or parked domain that contains additional URLs, which lead to your main site. It is very obvious that having a “name” can increase the number of visitors who find your site. Aliases are a way to use a parked domain. Others include:
- Selling your parked, unused domain name.
- Controlling misspellings of your primary domain.
- Use other top-level domains (TLDs) to boost your primary domain.
- Create a secondary email account with an alias that forwards to your primary account.
As we discussed earlier, parked domains can also refer to registered URLs that are not linked to an existing website, thus truly “parked” and waiting for you to use when the time is right.
Is it difficult to set up an alias domain?
Actually No. If your hosting service provides access to a control panel, setup is pretty simple. You need to register your alias domain name in advance for this to work properly. Here are the basic steps.
- Register a Domain.
- New Alias Creation.
- Choose Options For Your Parked Domain.
Register a Domain
Regardless of the hosting service you use, buying and registering a domain is essentially the same across the board. Select the name you want, confirm that it is available, and then pay the registration fee
When your new domain is ready to use, you can access control panel options such as subdomains, add-ons, and aliases. Use the Control Panel to choose and set up any of these options.
New Alias Creation
You’ve successfully acquired a new domain, now it’s time to park it. Select the Alias option from the Control Panel. Then enter the URL of the new domain you want to park and use as an alias Make sure you point to the DNS servers of the web host you are currently using or if you registered your domain through a third party, you will need to update the DNS records to point to that.
Choose Options For Your Parked Domain
You can choose to let your site visitors know that your work is in progress by setting up a “Coming Soon” page. Then you can also redirect your alias to a website that is currently working, or you can simply park your domain. You can manage, update and change redirects through the control panel by adding the URL you want to redirect to.
Parked domain wrap-up
Parked domains are useful for different things in different situations. Using the same parked domain to all point to the same website is a smart way to increase website traffic. There is also nothing wrong with buying a domain for later use or resale.
From your host’s control panel, you can add, delete, and reroute aliases as often as needed It only takes a few simple steps to manage your parked domains and get them working for you. If you want to know about WordPress Security Guideline then you can read this article.
