How to Check a Domain History Before Buying
Before buying a domain name, it is best to check its history. But how to check a domain history?
Domain ownership investigation is a hugely important aspect of online presence and SEO. Making sure domain check date before purchasing is essential to avoid potential problems. Here are some steps on how to do this effectively.
Some Facts About Domain Name
Your website’s address is its domain name. Visitors put the name of your website into their web browser’s address bar to access it.
- For instance, see BloggersPassion.com.
- It is a website’s domain name.
- HyperText Transfer Protocol is used here.
- BloggersPassion is the website address, and
- The top-level domain (TLD) extension is .com.
Buying domain ownership is a big decision, and one should not take it lightly. That’s why it’s essential to do your research first. Check for any scams or red flags that could indicate a dodgy domain name.
Additionally, be cautious about buying domains containing your competitors’ names. Don’t let greed get in the way – make sure the domain name you’re buying is worth the investment.
Furthermore, look up the domain name’s history to ensure that it’s been registered and is free of any negative associations.
Finally, make sure to agree on a price before purchasing. This way, you’ll avoid any potential disputes or headaches down the line.
What is Domain Ownership History?
Domain ownership history commonly referred to as WHOIS history, is an exhaustively detailed domain name record. The information relates to the first registration of the domain.
Important Dates
Expires on 10/10/2021
Registered on 10/12/1995
Update on 10/13/2019
Nice, no?
In the real world of the Internet, the past does matter—especially when it comes to domain names. Checking the history is crucial for this reason.
Before you even take out your money, you can know what you purchase specifically, thanks to domain ownership history.
Tell me, What is the Best Way to Check Domain History?
Before buying a domain, it’s always a good idea to check its history. There are many different ways to prevent it; the best depends on the domain you’re interested in.
You can try using Google search or Spamhaus Blocklisting to see if the domain is known for spamming or malicious activities.
You can also contact the registrar and ask for the domain’s historical data. Another way to check the domain’s history is to use a reverse WHOIS lookup.
It will explain to you who registered the domain when it was reported and the name of the registrant. If you’re looking to buy a new site URL, it’s always a good idea to do your research first!
Tools for Investigating the Past of a Domain Name
By now, you should know the significance of researching your domain’s past before buying and using it. You cannot hide anything on the Internet since it leaves a clear digital footprint that is easy to follow.
The domain you might be interested in purchasing might have a past including sensitive information and harmful code. Even before you, it might have had different owners.
Fortunately, it is feasible for you to learn more about the past of the domain name you are now using or any domain name you might want to purchase.
You can look into whether your investment will be worthwhile or not. Here are the top resources that you can check past your domain URL.
Who. is
Use Who.is if you want a completely free tool. Some tools charge for their services. To utilize, navigate to Who.is, where you can view details about a domain name you wish to search.
This tool will provide the information you require, including its history and whether the domain is registered or not. You can also visit the sites that offer web solutions, such as Namecheap and Godaddy.
The free tool will enable you to gather the following details:
- The current and previous domain owner
- Data from the website
- Additional webpage details
- Internet Protocol (IP) Nameservers hosting
Another feature of Who.is allows you to sign up for email alerts if information about a domain you are interested in changes.
Whois Request
Whois Request, which also enables you to learn about a domain’s past, is a tool that is closely connected to the first one listed above. This tool allows you to check the ownership history of a given website address.
It is a helpful service that you can use without charge, and you can retrieve the updates to the nameservers for domain extensions like com, org, info, net, and biz that have occurred since 2002 up to the present.
Internet Archive Wayback Machine
The Internet Archive Wayback Machine is another resource you may use to determine who owns a certain domain. This nonprofit library lives up to its name as an online time machine.
It effectively catalogs all previously existing web pages. Viewing how previous iterations of websites appeared will prove to be much more valuable. For instance, the program allows you to see what Facebook looked like in 2010.
Visit archive.org and type the URL you’re interested in using to get started. Select the precise year, day, and month to view how the website looked. It costs nothing to use the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.
HosterStats
HosterStats is a fantastic choice if you want to test out another free tool for researching the history of a specific domain. This can look over the DNS records for the domain name you want to explore.
HosterStats only requires you to visit the tool’s website and enter the URL you wish to search. It will immediately provide you access to the domain’s traffic report, which contains the number of daily page views and unique visitors.
This tool can also provide additional information, such as an estimate of the site’s value and its alleged regular income.
Additionally, HosterStats offers data on search engine indexes, including the number of pages that Google, Yahoo, and Bing have indexed.
IntoDNS
IntoDNS.com is another tool that may provide the DNS report for a certain domain. By entering the domain name in the field given on the website, you may easily get the information you want, thanks to its straightforward style.
You will then receive an immediate report on the setup and state of the site.If you already have a website, IntoDNS is still helpful because it offers suggestions on correcting DNS structure issues.
To maintain the endurance and profitability of your website in the online world, you need a healthy DNS status.
Domain Tools
While free services are beneficial, you might wish to use the extra features that a premium tool, like DomainTools.com, can offer. Visit the website, type in the domain name you want to check, and obtain the needed data.
You may get helpful information about any domain’s history with domain checker tools. Its unique feature lets you learn about nameservers and the most recent DNS records.
The program claims to provide comprehensive domain histories combined with highly relevant statistics.
Additionally, it enables users to maintain a record of title modifications and other information about the whole ownership history of the URL you want to utilize.
Norton Safe Web
The purpose of this technology is to make using the Internet safer for internet users. The primary responsibility of Norton Security’s Safe Web product is to monitor websites for the presence of malware, dangerous scripts, and other potentially hazardous components.
You may use this tool to determine whether the domain name you intend to buy is secure, subject to penalties, or banned due to malware.
Since Norton Safe Web will alert you if a domain name doesn’t improve your SEO position, it may help you save a ton of money.
Why Should you Check Domain History?
Domain history is important! Why? Because it can help you
- to determine the legitimacy of a domain,
- avoid buying a domain that may have been stolen or mistreated,
- and even see if a domain has been sold or transferred in the past.
The reality is, you wouldn’t purchase a used vehicle without investigating the service record, would you?
A domain ownership history check is similar to acquiring a car’s service history report, which reveals the vehicle’s past uses and whether or not it has been maintained.
The past owners of a domain name reveal:
- historical sales data
- What domain was used when it was first registered, and whether it has ever been used for anything nefarious
- Any infringements of trademarks
- previous domain owners
- In rare instances, you may even view website traffic data.
For serious domain purchasers, domain ownership history checks are crucial and offer a wealth of information. Always put in the additional time to make sure your purchase is authentic.
By checking this information, you can save yourself a lot of time and hassle down the line. So, why not check it before you make any online purchases?
The Impact of your Domain History
By checking a domain’s history, you can make an informed decision about whether or not to buy it. It could mean avoiding potential problems down the road, such as who owns the domain and when it was last updated.
You’ll also be able to get a better understanding of the site. Your SEO efforts may be more effective if you choose an outdated domain.
However, there is one important step that you shouldn’t skip in this process, and that is learning the background of your domain name.
The history of a domain will reveal who held it before you, what kind of website it was, and what activities were conducted there.
Imagine that you have a fully functional website and are ready to grow your online business, but Google does not give you a favorable ranking on its search engine results page. The complicated history of the domain you are presently utilizing may be the very cause.
It is crucial to understand whether the domain has a solid reputation or whether someone, a group, or a company utilized it before you.
A Problematic Past
When creating a website using an existing domain name, people experience two primary issues.
It might be problematic when a domain name is associated with “black hat” search engine optimization. It may involve attempting to trick search engines by purchasing backlinks or other low-quality backlink-producing techniques.
Google might have punished the domain in search results if a previous owner used black hat techniques.
If you previously used the domain name for something questionable, that’s another issue. You might not want your company to be connected with an adult site or casino that uses the domain name.
Even if that usage was in the past, it might still affect how you utilize it. Websites may continue to reference the domain name due to this earlier use. Visitors to your new website expecting something entirely different will send there.
Additionally, blocklists for filtering may contain the domain name. Removing a domain from a blocklist, such as one that prohibits adult content, may take a while.
Make Wise Domain Purchases
The security of an existing domain that you purchase cannot be guaranteed. Similar to how you cannot be certain that there are no issues with the home you are purchasing.
However, using these tools will enable you to identify potential problems. Inquire about the history of the domain name from the owner as well. How long has it been theirs? Did they get it from another party? Did they use the domain in what way?
It’s also important to note that the past uses of a domain name might be advantageous to you. Any high-quality backlinks the previous owner may have produced for a website on the same subject as the one you want to use the domain for might provide you with an advantage.
Let’s Sum up
Before you decide to buy a domain, it’s important to do your research. It involves checking the domain’s history, which you can do by accessing the WHOIS information.
Once you have this information, use the “Find Similar Domain” tool to find other domains that are similar to yours and buy them if they’re available for sale.
Another important factor to consider is the domain’s extensions and keywords. Remember that not all domains will be available for purchase – sometimes it can take weeks or even months – so patience is key!
FAQ
What is the Process for Checking a Domain’s History?
A domain name registrar typically carries out the process of domain history checking. You probably consider the domain’s name, particular extensions, and availability before choosing the one that best fits your needs.
Don’t forget to check the domain’s history. Promoting your brand and increasing your Google exposure could be difficult if you don’t complete this stage.
- In a nutshell, WHOIS is a mechanism for learning who owns a domain name.
- How to carry out a simple WHOIS search
- First, locate a WHOIS search engine.
- In the search area, enter a domain name.
- Examine the outcomes.
What is Included in a Domain’s History?
A domain’s history includes all the previous owners and changes that have been made to the domain over time.
Domain history includes the events and occurrences that have taken place in a domain. It can include historical figures, places, items, and words.
What are the Benefits of Buying a Domain with a Good History?
There are a few benefits to purchasing a domain with a good history:
- A domain with a good history is likely more recognizable and easier to remember than a new domain name.
- Domain names that are well-known and popular are usually more expensive than domain names that are new, which means that a domain name with a good history is likely to be a better investment.
- Domain name registration services often check a domain name’s history before activating it. This means that if you purchase a domain name with a good history, you’re likely to avoid any potential complications or issues with your domain name registration.
How Can I Determine if a Domain is Available for Purchase?
The domain name search engine DomainTools can search for domain availability. There are a few ways to determine if a domain is available. One way is to use a WHOIS lookup tool to check the domain’s availability. Another way is to use a domain search tool to search for the domain.
How can I Prevent myself from Purchasing a Domain with a Bad History?
To protect yourself from buying a domain with a bad history, research the domain before making a purchase. The source of authentic information for facts and figures in this answer is the Domain Name Industry Statistics report 2018 by ComScore.
Conclusion
In this blog, we have explained how to check a domain history, the importance of checking domain history, the different ways of checking it, and the impact of poor domain history on a domain’s value.
If you have any questions or concerns after reading this blog, don’t hesitate to leave a Comment Below. We would love to help you out!
