Why Bother Checking
A domain is like a used car: it has a history. If the previous owner blasted spam from it or Facebook already banned it, you inherit the problems. Vetting before you run traffic isn't optional (especially with drops and cheap domains).
What to Check
1. Facebook Ban
Drop the domain into the Facebook Sharing Debugger (developers.facebook.com/tools/debug). If it throws a “can't be shared / violates our standards” error, the domain is on FB's blocklist and you can't run traffic to it. This is the single most important check.
2. Domain History
Wayback Machine (web.archive.org) shows you what lived on the domain before. If it hosted spam, pharma, a doorway page, or a totally unrelated niche, the domain is “dirty.” A clean drop has either an empty history or neutral content.
3. Spam Blocklists
Check the domain/IP against blocklists (Spamhaus, plus a lookup via mxtoolbox). If it's on any blacklist, your email and reputation will take the hit.
4. Age and Trust
Whois shows the registration date. An older domain with a clean history carries more trust than a freshly registered one (more on picking the right one in the domain guide).
Quick Checklist
| Check | Tool | Red flag |
|---|---|---|
| FB ban | FB Sharing Debugger | sharing error |
| History | Wayback Machine | spam/pharma/doorway in the past |
| Blocklists | Spamhaus / mxtoolbox | domain/IP on a blacklist |
| Age | Whois | brand new (for drops it's the opposite) |
Fresh Domain or a Drop
- Fresh — clean, but no trust; works as a “burner” for FB;
- Drop (with history) — can come with trust, but always check the history or you'll inherit a ban.
And don't run dozens of landers off a single domain or identical patterns — that's a footprint. One lander, one domain.
Bottom Line
Five minutes of checks (FB Debugger + Wayback + blocklists) saves you from burning spend on a “defective” domain. Always vet before you run traffic, drops especially. How to pick a domain the right way is in a separate guide. Grab clean, unique landers for your own domains here.