Preferred method to verify domain ownership?

Hi all,

I am building a marketplace and would like to know which is the preferred method to verify ownership of domain names.

As we know verification used to be straightforward via WHOIS data (just check user sign-up email matched the whois email) but alas, progress changed that !!

Common methods:

1. Change the CNAME to point to marketplace servers.
2. Create a DNS TXT record.
3. Upload a file to the domain.

I would appreciate your thoughts.

 

Email to the owner/admin on record.

It is far easier than uploading a file or changing records for multiple domains.

1? Sure.
100? HELL NO.

Replying to an email... doable.

 

Thanks for the reply.

I guess Flippa, Brand Bucket etc make users forward their names because they want exclusivity (of course it means they can serve landing pages but the lock-in is probably the key for them).

I'll look at the email option.

 

Email will work when you have WHOIS privacy............but what do you do when the registrar redacts all info ?

 

BrandBucket you have the name exclusive with them especially as they put in effort to make logo.

Flippa... not necessary.

Neither is it anywhere else, like Undevelopped, Tough Domains, etc.

If you are exclusive and only handling one or two names... sure I get it, point name servers to you.

BUT... if you are merely hosting a marketplace like Undevelopped, I am not going to go through process of verifying or uploading or anything else on 100+ names.

You never stated what your role is in all of this so it could be different based on the efforts you are providing to sell the domain.

 

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but uploading a file won't work unless the domain owner has a hosting account and is hosting the domain on it, right?

So it is my belief (if the above is true) then that would be a terrible way of verification as it seems to me most domainers do not have hosting accounts and want nothing to do with hosting and websites and all that jazz. Most domainers are in the business to acquire and sell.

 

my opinion adding txt record..by checking whois email only domain owner can post in market place, domain brokers or like persons can't post, that is the problem...

 

Yeah.... there is that too.

While developers can upload a file to a server, there are plenty of names I own that still point to their registrar landing pages. This is why services like Undevelopped are popular.

 

I like TXT record method, too, until a few weeks ago. I regged some domains at Namecheap and no matter what I did I could not get the TXT record method to work for verifying ownership to SEDO. So I eventually said SCREW IT, I just changed my NS to point to sedo's NS instead.

I have no problems with the SEDO TXT record verification at NameSilo, though (which where I have most of my domains).

Which brings me to the point I have been thinking all along.

No matter which methods you go with, you will always have problems. Which is why SEDO (as an example) provide multiple ways for verification.

There is no "best".

 

If the potential sale is in discussion, I've always found it sufficient to point the domain or change name-servers to those requested. In a general marketplace I'm not sure how that would be accepted, unless you built in a time-window

 

Yup I agree sometimes one method is instant, tomorrow it takes a day.

Once added to Sedo, I set it to their NSs for a few minutes, login/out, verified, then again change the NS.

Email works too I guess,

 

That's the thing, NS propagation isn't always instant, but I do agree it seems to be most of the time. Most registrars will have a note in the backend telling you that it could take up to 72 hours, but I never find that it ever takes anywhere close to that long.

 

Yep , I agree. Surprisingly (or not) the registrars that charge at the top-end, are pretty much instant'

Says he, that just paid Godaddy for three .com renewals today - (20% discount) I Still know I'm subsidising all those $1.99 offers. I'm away this month I promise. after joining them since day-dot

 

What I like about NameSilo is that it allows you to set DNS templates.

So I have a template set for SEDO's TXT change. I don't have to type or copy and paste anything. I select the domain or domains I want to sell on sedo, and set my saved sedo TXT template for those domains and in a few clicks it's all done.

This is why I use namesilo more than any other and why I use Namecheap less than I used to. NameSilo's CP saves me time while NCs CP wastes my time. IN fact, the only reason why I use namecheap is because I have been regging .CC and >INFO domains lately and they are super-cheap for the first year right now at NC. Come renewal time, I'm moving them to silo (if I can't sell them before the year is over).

 

That's not my experience. NS changes at Namecheap and Namesilo are pretty much instant. Neither of them are top-end in terms of prices. I'm sure they aren't instant all the time, but especially with NameSilo, I have had no problems. The one time I had a problem it was actually my fault, so it wasn't a "problem".

 

Anyway - back to the question of a sales platform built-in verification. I'd say why try to be all things to all men. Every buyer has their own apprehensions - you'll never address them all. Offer verification as a live-online service

 

I've had no problem with the Namecheap TXT and Sedo. You do need to switch the DNS back to Namecheap though I think. I do this and create TXT file just prior to adding name at Sedo, and usually verifies in minutes. Then I switch Namecheap DNS back to what I want.
Bob

 

I prefer TXT records because it's less timeconsuming and can easily be automated. My whole setup is automated actually. I think I spend about $10/month on my dns servers and two webservers but it's well worth the time saved. Verification, ssl certificates, I never have to worry about it

 

I'm doing this with almost every registrar, even if it doesn't have this wonderful template feature, by creation of my own templates in my Roboform. Saved a form once - huge timesaver forever.

 

It's easy to use but just for verification

 

Thank you everyone.

As we can see a mixed bag of preferences.

o TXT & NS are acceptable (sometimes begrudgingly) defaults.
o Handling volume should look to templates, email or just-in-time verification.
o Uploading a file is not liked

 

Would anyone like to be involved in testing the system as it evolves? It would give you the opportunity to influence direction etc.

 

If you're using txt record verification count me in for some testing.

 

Great. Thank you.