Opting ALL ad accounts out of domain parking — Google now

Look out below; the domain industry was just dealt another huge blow.

In September 2024, Google informed advertisers that fresh Google ad accounts would automatically be opted out of serving ads on parked domains.

That meant that the growth of fresh ads to show on parked domains would stop, and over time, there would be fewer advertisers showing ads on parked domains. This would suppress ad prices.

The bad news just got worse.

Google is now opting ALL ad accounts out of parking. Advertisers will have to explicitly opt-in for their ads to show on parked pages.

I received an email from Google when it made the first notice in September. I have yet to receive one regarding the newest policy, as it seems accounts will be opted out over a series of time. A NamePros user posted the email he received.

Few advertisers will take the step to opt in, which means ad inventory on parked domains will plummet.

Looking back in time, Google required all advertisers to show on parked domains until letting them opt out in 2008.

As I discussed in my 2024 in Review series, domain parking still underpins a lot of the domain industry. I expect firms like Team Internet Group (London AIM: TIG), which has an extensive arbitrage and parking business, to be significantly hurt. Sedo will also feel a sizable impact.

This change will impact you even if you don’t park on ad landers. Domain registrars that count on parking ads on “coming soon” pages to provide a bit of margin will feel the squeeze, which might ultimately result in higher registration prices for everyone.