What is Domain Parking?
Domain parking is the practice of registering a domain name without linking it to a functional website or email service. Instead of a 404 error, visitors see a “placeholder” page.
In India, savvy entrepreneurs use parked domains to “reserve” their spot in the .in or .co.in space, often displaying “Coming Soon” messages or localized advertisements to generate passive income.
5 Strategic Reasons to Park Your Domain in India
1. Brand Protection & Anti-Cybersquatting
In a fast-growing market like India, competitors often try to buy similar names to divert your traffic. Parking your primary name—and its common variations—prevents others from poaching your brand identity.
2. Monetization (Passive Income)
You can earn in INR by allowing ad networks to place relevant links on your parked page. Every time a visitor clicks an ad, you earn a commission (Pay-Per-Click).
3. Capturing Typo Traffic
If you own myshop.in, it is wise to park myshop.co.in and mishop.in. By parking these and redirecting them to your main site, you ensure you never lose a customer due to a spelling error.
4. Holding for Future Development
Perhaps you have a brilliant startup idea for the “Digital India” initiative but need six months to develop the app. Parking the domain ensures no one else grabs it while you build your business plan.
5. SEO & Backlink Preservation
If you purchase an Expired Domain that already has high authority in the Indian market, parking it helps maintain its “link juice” until you are ready to launch your new project.
Parked Domains vs. Addon Domains: The Difference
It is common for users to confuse these two terms in their hosting dashboard:
- Parked Domain (Alias): Points to the same content as your primary domain. (e.g., example.in shows the same site as example.com).
- Addon Domain: A completely separate website with its own files and folders, hosted on the same account.
How to Tell if a Domain is Parked
- Placeholder Ads: The page is filled with generic links or “Related Searches.”
- Generic Templates: You see a “This domain is parked courtesy of HostingInIndia” message.
- WHOIS Data: Using a WHOIS lookup tool shows the domain is registered, but the “Last Updated” status indicates no active hosting.
How to Park and Unpark a Domain with HostingInIndia
To Park a Domain:
- Register the Name: Secure your .in or .com via our [Domain Registration Portal].
- Update Nameservers: Point your domain to HostingInIndia’s parking servers.
- Enable in cPanel: Log in to your control panel, navigate to “Domains,” and add your domain as an Alias.
To Unpark (Launch) a Domain:
- Update DNS: Change the Nameservers to your active hosting provider.
- Upload Files: Once the DNS propagates (usually 2–24 hours), upload your WordPress or HTML files to the public_html folder.
Buying a Parked Domain in India
Found the perfect .in domain but it’s already parked? Here is your roadmap:
- WHOIS Lookup: Find the owner’s contact details.
- Negotiate in INR: Many Indian domainers are willing to sell for a fair price.
- Secure Transfer: Always use an escrow service or a trusted provider like HostingInIndia to handle the domain transfer securely
Secure Your Digital Real Estate Today
Whether you’re protecting your brand or looking for a premium .in domain, HostingInIndia provides the tools you need to manage your assets with ease.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Is domain parking legal in India?
Yes, it is perfectly legal. However, parking a domain that uses a trademarked name (like tatasteel.co) can lead to legal disputes under the IndRP (Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy).
- Can I earn money from a parked .in domain?
Yes. By using parking services like Sedo or Bodis, you can display ads and earn revenue based on Indian and global traffic.
- Do parked domains expire?
Yes. You must renew your domain registration annually (or every few years) even if it is parked. If you forget to renew, it will enter the “Expired” state and eventually be deleted.