Someone is asking to test domain by changing nameservers

[TechMan]

Ok I have a domain and someone is asking to change its nameserver for 5 days so he can test the traffic it receives. This is before he purchases. Shall I do it? I mean have you ever encountered such request and how did you respond?

 

[raoul]

I see no reason to turn it down. Just be sure that you never used the domain as email adress to register example @ godaddy. changing nameserver could be he can set up @yourdomain email adress (for example you used it in godaddy, or paypal, or ... you choose....)

 

[TechMan]

But could it also hurt my rankings? Like the domain is receiving traffic from search engines and after changing nameservers it may hurt rankings?

 

[raoul]

there is real site or parking page?

if there is a site, I would not do it. Ask him his google adsense analytics code and use his instread of yours for a few days............

(or pm me site name (when real site) and ill think of some scam he might be breeding on )

 

[TechMan]

Yes it's a small site but real one. No parking page.
Or may be I can add him as a user in Google Analytics as I have done this before!
PM sent.

 

[ComScout.com]

I have done it, and never heard from the person again.

 

[dominator]

i have done it and sold the domain

but if it is a real site, the analytics solution is really better

and the question is also: do you know this person?
or is it only a gmail "john smith"?

 

[TechMan]

The user is forum's member and sent me a PM. He thought it's a parked domain but when I told him it's a website then he says not interested.

 

[dominator]

He thought it's a parked domain but when I told him it's a website then he says not interested.

strange

 

[gingeman]

It is very common on a parked domain to request a traffic test, i.e. changing nameservers to those of the buyers stipulation. I have done it for others and had it done for me many times. I would only do it for trusted or proven buyers usually, and only on parked domains.

 

[lhasson]

Testing traffic is what led to the sale of bankaholic.com for $15 million. http://www.dnforum.com/f17/1-man-blog-sells-15-million-dollars-thread-327773.html

 

[Gerry]

But could it also hurt my rankings? Like the domain is receiving traffic from search engines and after changing nameservers it may hurt rankings?

I did it many years ago for three days so someone interested in the name could actually measure the traffic. I had never heard of this being done before. I agreed to do it.

Yes, it will knock down your page ranking and yes, you will not get credit for any clicks, traffic, etc.

Yes, it did result in a very good sale.