Private WhoIs vs. Random Info With PBNs

8 years ago

Hello,

I don't recommend using fake or incorrect information for your whois contacts, because ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) has the right to cancel or suspend your domain if someone files a complaint for inaccurate information. It also complicates it in the event someone happens to hijack your domain, because you don't have proof of ownership if you're using incorrect information that you can't confirm. It's very easy to submit a complaint for inaccurate whois information as there's a form right on their website so a disgruntled customer could submit a claim just to get you in trouble so I don't advise using fake information.

If you are afraid to use your address for privacy concerns, then you could rent a post office box or an address through one of the mail box services and use that address for your Whois contacts. That way it's correct and you still have your privacy.

Here's more info from ICANN:
https://whois.icann.org/en/basics-whois

All the best,
Chris

Thanks
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yukon

Banned 8 years ago

Originally Posted by Chris Virtue

Hello,

I don't recommend using fake or incorrect information for your whois contacts, because ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) has the right to cancel or suspend your domain if someone files a complaint for inaccurate information. It also complicates it in the event someone happens to hijack your domain, because you don't have proof of ownership if you're using incorrect information that you can't confirm. It's very easy to submit a complaint for inaccurate whois information as there's a form right on their website so a disgruntled customer could submit a claim just to get you in trouble so I don't advise using fake information.

If you are afraid to use your address for privacy concerns, then you could rent a post office box or an address through one of the mail box services and use that address for your Whois contacts. That way it's correct and you still have your privacy.

Here's more info from ICANN:
https://whois.icann.org/en/basics-whois

All the best,
Chris

None of that is going to happen, especially on the average PBN.

Thanks

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ContentPro22

8 years ago

Don't bother with fake info.

Just keep your whois info private.

I've been keeping mine private for years without a problem. Even survived the mass PBN de-indexation of 2014.

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MarkJukov

8 years ago

You need a mixture of both. What looks the most natural to you: 30 websites all with private whois linking back to a website, or 30 websites with a mixture of private and public whois linking back to a website? If you say the latter, then you already answered your question.

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jamesbrands

8 years ago

Originally Posted by Converting Copy

Curious as to people's thoughts on this. In the interest of leaving no footprint, it looks suspect when every site of your PBN has private WhoIs info.

A mix is probably ideal, but regarding the WhoIs for your sites which are not private, do you just populate the domain info with random made up information for your registrar, or do you buy fake "ids"?

Never bought fake id's. I did use fake info at the start and it was flagged constantly and a head ache.

I use friends, relatives, employees, neighbors info - with their permission now and private whois for some. Guess it depends on how big the PBN is and how many friends you have!

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Shiksha

8 years ago

One question I am often asked is how to avoid footprints when building a private blog network. This guide is dedicated to just that.

Running your own Private Blog Network (PBN) can be broken down into 5 key areas;

Domains
Registrars
Hosting
Site Creation & Maintenance
Link Building

This guide will cover everything you need to avoid footprints on your PBN. I think we all respond well to lists, so you will see a lot of theme here, they are easily digested and you can refer back to them at any time.

Thanks
1 reply

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jamesbrands

8 years ago

Originally Posted by Shiksha

One question I am often asked is how to avoid footprints when building a private blog network. This guide is dedicated to just that.

Running your own Private Blog Network (PBN) can be broken down into 5 key areas;

Domains
Registrars
Hosting
Site Creation & Maintenance
Link Building

This guide will cover everything you need to avoid footprints on your PBN. I think we all respond well to lists, so you will see a lot of theme here, they are easily digested and you can refer back to them at any time.

What guide?

Thanks

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Sunder42

8 years ago

Private blog networks (PBNs) are one of the most used link building tactics in SEO, but are they worth it in 2016?

In this post, I’m going to explain the pros and cons of using a PBN and at the end, you’ll be able to decide if using one is “worth it”.

3 Reasons NOT to Use a PBN

I’m going to be a “Debbie Downer” and start the post off with the cons of using a PBN.

1. COST
2. TIME INVESTMENT
3. RISK

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MikeFriedman

8 years ago

Registrars will sometimes ask you to verify your information, and it is something that is happening more and more as ICANN tries to crackdown on people using fake information on domains. If you cannot verify your info when asked to, you will lose the domain.

Yes, having a domain with 30 links all from sites with private whois info could look suspicious, but only if those were the only 30 links pointing at a site, which they won't be.

More and more people are using private whois for legitimate reasons. I use it all the time on non-network sites to avoid spam mail and phone calls, and so do many other business owners.

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Converting Copy

8 years ago

Originally Posted by MikeFriedman

Registrars will sometimes ask you to verify your information, and it is something that is happening more and more as ICANN tries to crackdown on people using fake information on domains. If you cannot verify your info when asked to, you will lose the domain.

Yes, having a domain with 30 links all from sites with private whois info could look suspicious, but only if those were the only 30 links pointing at a site, which they won't be.

More and more people are using private whois for legitimate reasons. I use it all the time on non-network sites to avoid spam mail and phone calls, and so do many other business owners.

Thanks for the advice so far all. 30 sites on your PBN, Mike? I hope you're pointing to a very nice money site which is doing well because of that linking to help defray the cost of all of those unique hosting, registrar, and private WhoIs fees.

I'm sure it's possible that you or other people here have networks with many many more sites than that. The cost is the bit I sometimes have difficulty wrapping my head around regarding PBNs.

You make a good point, though, Mike, in that many people choose the private domain info route to avoid solicitation. And also the plan is to be receiving links from other sites, as well.

Just out of curiosity, though, has anyone had any experience with a service which has real identities they offer for this or a similar purpose so that if a site of yours ever gets flagged you can verify "your" ownership? I thought I read of services which do that but I can't speak beyond that or how well they work.

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MikeFriedman

8 years ago

Originally Posted by Converting Copy

Thanks for the advice so far all. 30 sites on your PBN, Mike? I hope you're pointing to a very nice money site which is doing well because of that linking to help defray the cost of all of those unique hosting, registrar, and private WhoIs fees.

I'm sure it's possible that you or other people here have networks with many many more sites than that. The cost is the bit I sometimes have difficulty wrapping my head around regarding PBNs.

You make a good point, though, Mike, in that many people choose the private domain info route to avoid solicitation. And also the plan is to be receiving links from other sites, as well.

Just out of curiosity, though, has anyone had any experience with a service which has real identities they offer for this or a similar purpose so that if a site of yours ever gets flagged you can verify "your" ownership? I thought I read of services which do that but I can't speak beyond that or how well they work.

Yes, most of my networks have more than 30 sites. Cost wise, the biggest cost is the acquisition usually. After that, hosting, private whois, domain registrations, etc. really is not that expensive. If you are not making that back from the site or sites you are trying to rank, you are doing something really wrong.

If you are really paranoid, you can setup 3-4 LLC's to register some domains in.

The other option you have as far as registration is buddying up with a few other marketers that you know. Each registering some of the domains in their own names and/or business names. They better be people you trust though, because technically the domain is in their name. They can claim it anytime they want, which is why I would avoid a service like what you mentioned above.

You would have no legal recourse in a situation like that. Trying to defraud the registrar, and then getting defrauded yourself is not the kind of argument that is going to hold u pin court.

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asmaralee

8 years ago

There is no need to buy Fake ids. You can try fakename generator for it. Mixing up both private and public fake WHOIS is the right way to go.

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yukon

Banned 8 years ago

There's a simple way to buy domains and still be anonymous, even the payment is completely anonymous.

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jamesbrands 8 years ago

Originally Posted by yukon

There's a simple way to buy domains and still be anonymous, even the payment is completely anonymous.

Via a company like - https://www.orangewebsite.com?
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Private WhoIs vs. Random Info With PBNs

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