Forwarding your domain to a for-sale page so buyers find it

If you own a domain you'd like to sell, one of the simplest things you can do is make sure people who visit it can see it's for sale. Many buyers find a name by simply typing it into a browser. If they land on an error page, you've missed a sale.

Why a for-sale page matters

A domain that shows nothing gives a visitor no reason to think it's available. They assume it's in use or abandoned and move on. A clear for-sale page changes that by showing:

• that the domain is available,
• the price, or that you accept offers, and
• a safe way to buy it.

Visitors who type a domain directly are often the most motivated buyers. They already have the name in mind.

What a good for-sale page shows

• The domain name, large and clear.
• The price, or a note that offers are welcome.
• A button to buy or make an offer.
• Something that builds trust, such as verified ownership and protected payment.

Avoid pages packed with unrelated ads. They can look spammy and distract from the one thing you want the visitor to do.

How to forward your domain

Most registrars offer URL forwarding, sometimes called a redirect or URL redirect record. It sends anyone who visits your domain to another web address, in this case your for-sale page.

1. Get the address of your for-sale page, for example the listing page on the marketplace where your domain is for sale.
2. Log in to your registrar and open the domain's settings.
3. Find URL forwarding, or "redirect."
4. Enter the for-sale page address as the destination.
5. Choose a permanent (301) redirect.
6. Set up forwarding for both the plain domain and the www version.
7. Save, and test it in a private browser window after a few minutes.

Avoid masked or framed forwarding

Many registrars offer "masked" or "framed" forwarding, which keeps your domain in the address bar while showing another page inside a frame. It sounds appealing, but avoid it here. Many sites, especially ones that handle payments, refuse to load inside a frame for security reasons, so visitors may see a blank page. A normal redirect is simpler and works everywhere.

If forwarding doesn't work

• Wait a little. Forwarding can take some time to start working, as DNS changes spread.
• Check for conflicting records. If your DNS has old A records pointing elsewhere, they may override the forwarding. Your registrar's help pages explain what forwarding needs.
• Check https. Some registrar forwarding services don't handle the https version of your domain without extra settings, so test both.

When the domain sells

Once the domain sells and you transfer it, the forwarding settings are no longer your concern. The new owner takes control of the domain's DNS and points it wherever they like.

Doing it on our marketplace

Every domain listed on our marketplace gets its own for-sale page automatically, with the price, a Buy now button, a Make an offer button if you accept offers, and a note that payment is held in escrow. The listing's edit page gives you the exact address to forward to, with step-by-step instructions and a visit counter, so you can see how many people land on it. You can list a domain for free and set it up in a few minutes.