How to Buy and Sell Websites by Matt Johnson
Buying and selling websites has become a popular business model comparable to
buying or selling real estate. Some people even make their living from buying
and selling websites. If you have a website you want to sell, or are
considering buying a website, there are certain guidelines you will want to
follow to make sure you get the best deal possible.
The price for a website may vary. You will find some sites that are as low as
$35 or as high as $20,000. There are a number of different factors that will
determine the price of a website. The age of a website is very important.
Websites which have been online for 2 years or longer tend to have more traffic
and better search engine rankings. Websites which are well taken care of will
age like wine, and their value will increase. The Google PageRank of a website
is also important. Sites with a higher PageRank are generally worth more.
Another important factor in valuing a website is traffic. Traffic equals money.
A website which gets 900 visitors a day will be more expensive to purchase than
a website that only gets 50 visitors a day. The more traffic a website has, the
more money you will make in affiliate sells, direct sells, or advertising. If
you are thinking about buying a website, it's important to find out what the
traffic statistics are. You should also find out how much the website earns per
month. If the site has a forum, find out how many members visit per day, how
many messages are posted, and how many members are inactive.
These are some of the things you will want to consider when buying a website. If
you are selling a site, this is information will be required. Astute buyers
will want to know why you are selling your site. Many websites earn residual
income, and many buyers will want to know why you are selling a website which
earns a residual income each month. Many people lose interest in their sites,
or are too busy to deal with maintaining them. You should look at how a website
ranks for keywords, what programming language it uses, and the domain name.
Some webmasters try to defraud buyers online. The best way to avoid them is to
join a webmaster marketplace such as Tidget.com,
SitePoint, or
Digital Point. These are webmaster communities which have rules
regarding the sale of websites. Tidget.com has
a number of impressive features such as IM, member feedback, and free listings.
Joining a good webmaster marketplace is your best protection against fraud.
People who attempt to defraud other members can be banned, and their reputation
in the marketplace will be ruined.
When you transfer your website to a buyer, you will want to make sure you send
the domain and all the content. If you use a hosting company or domain
registrar, they should be able to help you. Things you will want to transfer
over include script licenses, affiliate data, or hosting information. You
should also make sure you don't transfer personal information such as your
social security number.
In a transaction involving money, always use a third party escrow account.
Paypal and Escrow.com are both good
services to use. If the price of the website is large, such as $15,000 or more,
it may be a good idea to get a lawyer. Both Paypal and Escrow.com may charge
fees in order to sell or buy a site, and the cost may vary. Paypal offers good
protection, and is available in most countries.
About the Author
Matt Johnson is the founder of Tidget.com, a
marketplace where webmasters can buy and sell websites,
domains,
graphics, content,
and more.
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