Buying existing websites for revenue or flipping website

[codespaceuk]

I'm wondering what criteria people use to decide whether to buy a website or not. Obvioulsy you can use sites such as flippa to find sites for sale, or you can search in google for sites that look like they are for sale.

Let's assume you don't have access to the person selling the site so can't get any revenue details - what sort of things would you look for.

As an example, you might look at Alexa to see how the site ranks.

What I'm interested in is what other tools/ approaches you might use to decide if a site is worth buying?

Thanks!

[Odhinn]

For me, there are three important concerns:

1. Is the domain name full of keywords, or highly brandable?
2. Is the content unique and well-written?
3. What's the count on backlinks?

To me, revenue details are not really that important - they can be faked, and if the revenue coming out of a site is really any good, then the person should be keeping the domain, or sell it for more than it's worth to me. If the above three things are in place, then you have a site that can be turned into a real winner with little effort on your part.

[Aaarrrggghhh]

Originally Posted by codespaceuk

I'm wondering what criteria people use to decide whether to buy a website or not. Obvioulsy you can use sites such as flippa to find sites for sale, or you can search in google for sites that look like they are for sale.

Let's assume you don't have access to the person selling the site so can't get any revenue details - what sort of things would you look for.

As an example, you might look at Alexa to see how the site ranks.

What I'm interested in is what other tools/ approaches you might use to decide if a site is worth buying?

Thanks!

I normally sell sites but I include such things as keyword rich domain names, traffic and revenue stats when available, a spreadsheet outlining all accounts associated with a site, all backlinks that have been placed, etc.

If I was looking at purchasing a site, I would want to see their web stats and confirmation of any and all revenue earned. Not sure how you would go about that without contacting the owner tho.

Are you referring to maybe tools like Spyfu.com? Like trying to get stats on SERPS and traffic without contacting the owner unless you can determine it may be a site you are interested in buying before contacting the owner with an offer?

[DaneCharleston]

I've been really thinking about trying to invest into websites, building them up a bit and reselling them.

My only big problem is no matter where I go (flippa, etc), I never see anything that comes up of interest. Perhaps I need to stop thinking in terms of what I'd "like" to have as opposed to what will make me the most money.

But, having steady traffic, stable income, and room for growth is what I've been mainly looking at.

Dane

[davisbrands]

I would also look at closed auctions that are actually selling. No use buying something that has limited interest. Adsense sites with verifiable revenue seem to be coveted in that space.

[codespaceuk]

Thanks for the feedback, very useful.

Yes, I'm particularly interested in tools that might be useful to find out whether the site is commercial.

How can I find out how many backlinks there are for example, is copyscape the best way to check the content is unique, are there any good tools that can help work out what position the site ranks for different keywoards in different search engines - that kind of thing?

[kristisayles]

Hi,
I'm selling over 70 easy-to-remember, brandable dot com niche domain names. Do I need to set up a WSO for that or can I list them here? I'm streamlining my business focus this year.
Some of these have content and some do not.
I don't want to break any rules, so I'm asking.
Hugs,
Kristi

[Aaarrrggghhh]

Since I have been listing on Flippa I came across this and thought it might help. It seems to have some great tips and resources.

Buying Websites – Resources for Beginners | Flippa Blog | Buy & Sell Websites

Hope this helps!

[Aaarrrggghhh]

Originally Posted by kristisayles

Hi,
I'm selling over 70 easy-to-remember, brandable dot com niche domain names. Do I need to set up a WSO for that or can I list them here? I'm streamlining my business focus this year.
Some of these have content and some do not.
I don't want to break any rules, so I'm asking.
Hugs,
Kristi

Hi Kristi,

Have you checked into listing them in the WF's Classified Ads Section? I think the WSO's are more for items that you have personally created and offer a discount to fellow Warriors for.

I listed mine at Flippa only because I have so many non-internet marketing type domains but I still provide a link as I do have a few that are in the IM and Money Making niche.

Right now is typically the 'down' time at Flippa but my New Years Resolution was to slim down - lol! and really focus on keeping a few and marketing them aggressively.

Anyway, go check out the Classifieds and let us know:
Warrior Forum Classified Ads

Hope this helps!

[sbucciarel]

Originally Posted by kristisayles

Hi,
I'm selling over 70 easy-to-remember, brandable dot com niche domain names. Do I need to set up a WSO for that or can I list them here? I'm streamlining my business focus this year.
Some of these have content and some do not.
I don't want to break any rules, so I'm asking.
Hugs,
Kristi

They'd probably get the most attention in Warrior Forum Complete Websites for Sale. I know they're not complete websites but people do sell domains in there too. You could also list on Sedo. You can't just post them in the discussion thread.

[sbucciarel]

Sometimes I just get a gut feeling about a site. I've bought quite a few gems for cheap and flipped them for a good profit. The idea was fresh and unique and I grabbed them. I've been lucky buying some revenue sites that the revenue was real and the sites were profitable. Since screenshots can be easily faked, it's a risk to rely on them.

I also bought a site I really liked with a lot of traffic. I was asleep at the wheel that day. The traffic was crap from auto-traffic sites. Had to send the girl 5 emails to make her discontinue that traffic so I could get real traffic to it and flip it.

Take a look at Flippa's Recently Sold section to get an idea of what sells and what is popular.

[sbucciarel]

I was just browsing Flippa and saw this site that interested me. It said there were 0 copyscape copies. He's selling it for $247. I noticed that he did not claim design and copy as unique. I did a search for the words in the domain name.

I found that this site is all over the place and can be purchased for 50 cents through Tradebit, with 12 videos, an affiliate center, video transcripts.

Site for Sale: Clickbank Ready VIDEO Package! WHITE HOT Niche! Priced To Sell — Flippa

You really have to be careful when making a purchase. There are so many people who are taking these MMR sites that they get for a couple of bucks and flipping them for hundreds. This guy was smart enough to change the wording around ... just spinning it ... enough that it passed copyscape.

He is not claiming that it is unique, so he isn't exactly lying, but who wants to pay $250 for a site that is already all over the place when you can get it for peanuts?

[Aaarrrggghhh]

Wow that was a good catch...I don't usually look at the Clickbank stuff but I would not have caught that.

Goes to show you really need to know what questions to ask too and what to look for specifically in the listings because if it is not in the listing, it probably is not included. I would have just assumed you received full PLR rights but it is not stated in that listing...it only says you will receive the PSD files. Hmmmmm....

In looking closer at this, I see your comment was deleted from that listing...wish I could of seen that

[sbucciarel]

Originally Posted by Aaarrrggghhh

Wow that was a good catch...I don't usually look at the Clickbank stuff but I would not have caught that.

Goes to show you really need to know what questions to ask too and what to look for specifically in the listings because if it is not in the listing, it probably is not included. I would have just assumed you received full PLR rights but it is not stated in that listing...it only says you will receive the PSD files. Hmmmmm....

In looking closer at this, I see your comment was deleted from that listing...wish I could of seen that

lol ... he didn't waste any time deleting it. I just politely informed the general public that they could purchase this site here for $247 or purchase it on Tradebit for fifty cents.

[FlippaLuke]

Originally Posted by sbucciarel

Take a look at Flippa's Recently Sold section to get an idea of what sells and what is popular.

We might be able to share some data soon around what's selling. Keep an eye on the Flippa blog.

[Aaarrrggghhh]

Originally Posted by FlippaLuke

We might be able to share some data soon around what's selling. Keep an eye on the Flippa blog.

That would be awesome. Before when this was over at SitePoint there seemed to be a lot more information readily available...it would be great if they brought back some of those same features. I really liked the transparency at SitePoint...am enjoying Flippa and will stick around as it matures

[Aaarrrggghhh]

Originally Posted by sbucciarel

lol ... he didn't waste any time deleting it. I just politely informed the general public that they could purchase this site here for $247 or purchase it on Tradebit for fifty cents.

You did not...really? OMG thanks for sharing that - that made me laugh...I just assumed you would have asked if it had PLR rights, not reveal that it was actually available for fifty cents Oh that's a good one!