Blacklisted domain check

[Gd196]

I am considering purchasing an after market domain, it's a bit on the expensive side. I want to make sure and research this domain isn't blacklisted by google and other services. Is there a good website that would allow me to do this type of research before I commit to purchasing this domain?

Thank you!

[Webwork]

Hmm... IF I Google / query the phrase you chose as the title for your thread - both with and without "quotes" around it - AND IF I substitute "website" for "domain" - I get dozens of relevant results returned . . . SO, I have to ask: Did you do what I just described? IF you did then did you play with any of the available tools and/or services? (I haven't used or played with them. I've always made decisions based solely on the quality of the domain and the price. Generally, it's been my experience that people don't blow up solid domains . . but there's exceptions to every rule. YMMV.)

Have you used the domain itself, with it's gTLD / ccTLD extension . . and with http/https +/- www . . as a query on Google and Bing? Any questionable results?

Did you check with Archive.org? Was there actually a website attached to the domain? Did it change? Anything questionable?

Did you ask the existing owner "for a history of the domain's use"? What about "Who did you acquire it from . . 'because I have the same question' (for that person)"? Do you trust him/her?

Is the domain "idle", i.e., not parked? IF it is parked is it showing ads from the Google feed? If "no" that might be a clue?

Have you searched TESS / USPTO.gov for trademark issues?

Have you queried any of the other domain name forums, using the domain name, to see if it's been subject to past discussions or sales?

Have you checked the various anti-spam services to see if it has been blacklisted for spam? (Such as Spamhaus)

". . . a bit on the expensive side . . . " doesn't tell us much. $10,000? $25,000? $50,000? 6 figures? Depending on your plans and skillz I might not worry much IF it's <$10K IF it's an industry defining one word .Com or .Org.

IF your investigation reveals that "there are issues" then you may use your evidence for negotiation purposes: "Domain, untainted, worth range $$$$-$$$$$+ but due to x,y,z - which will cost X dollars (for remdiation actions) and Y time because....therefore the domain is only worth $$$$__".

[edited by: Webwork at 3:01 am (utc) on Jun 10, 2019]

[tangor]

To continue @Webwork ...

It is not impossible to resurrect a tainted domain ... but it does take time, effort, and a marked improvement on what content/use the site is "known for" in the past. To put that much effort/time/resources into the the recovery of a tainted domain depends entirely on the real value of that "name"/"keyword".

[Dimitri]

Building a business (may be) over an expired domain (or more precisely a domain which has been dropped by the previous owner(s)) is not a good idea in my opinion. This can lead only to problems. Also, this is encouraging all those businesses which are buying expired domains for the purpose of selling them at expensive price.

[tangor]

NOT RECENTLY I rescued a domain name for a client ... done before the "hoarders" had fingers in the pie. There was success of a sort ... the taint was removed, but sadly the client failed to follow through (ran out of money/biz) and eventually was returned to "wild" some ten years later.

Personally, I will not take on such as task again. Too much work.

[martinibuster]

Building a business (may be) over an expired domain (or more precisely a domain which has been dropped by the previous owner(s)) is not a good idea in my opinion.

You're making a lot of unwarranted assumptions.

The OP is buying a costly domain name that could be useful for marketing purposes.

Webwork makes good suggestions. Checking Archive.org to see how it was previously used can help determine if there might be spam issues in the past that could indicate the presence of a legacy domain penalty.