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Build My Own Or Buy An Existing Site

by seanz614
24 replies
I've been a member of the WF for quite awhile now and I learned a lot, by reading and taking action. I've built some decent websites and some crappy ones. Some made money and some didn't. Also, I've paid for some adsense sites that were advertised here and they ended up being a huge waste of money.

During my time dabbling with websites and Internet Marketing, I started a couple of offline businesses that are doing quite well. I would like to add some websites to build new revenue streams. I would like to know what the Warriors would recommend. Do I go on Flippa and buy existing sites or do I build authority sites by outsourcing them 100%? Right now, I'm leaning towards building my own because I'm a little scared to buy a site from someone. I'm open to any suggestions or thoughts on this. If there is something else you would recommend, I would like to hear about it.
#build #buy #existing #site
  • Profile picture of the author Green Moon
    It really depends. If you can find and excellent site at a good price, buy it. But don't settle for the best you can find if it is not good enough. Like you, I have bought sites and created sites. In both cases, I have had some winners and plenty of losers.

    My best site was one that I created from scratch to supplement my offline business. I controlled all the content and wrote most of it myself. The content sites I have bought (even the relatively successful ones) did not measure up to the content I created myself. It's not because there are not other good sites out there, just that I traded down quality for a more affordable price. The lesson is, you usually get what you pay for.
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    • Profile picture of the author LillySage
      I'd build from scratch because you have complete control over every aspect.

      The thing about buying a website from someone else....even if it's not a scam, it doesn't guarantee success.

      Websites are like any business. Just cuz they worked when Bob owned them, doesn't mean they will when Jill owns them.

      Google's algorithm changes practically daily. A website gaining 10,000 visitors a day from Google today could plummet to zero tomorrow through no fault of anyone.

      At least when you build yourself you have a measure of control and experience.
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      • Profile picture of the author Maecenas23
        To buy a real, good and steady performer website needs more knowledge than creating a website by yourself. Why? Because of the reasons mentioned above. There are a lot of scams, a lot of websites built on rented links which will disappear once you buy the website. This means your traffic will decrease dramatically.

        To build a new website is like building a new house by yourself. You know every hidden corner. If you have time and patience this is the correct way to do things.
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      • Profile picture of the author Anton543
        Originally Posted by LillySage View Post

        I'd build from scratch because you have complete control over every aspect.

        The thing about buying a website from someone else....even if it's not a scam, it doesn't guarantee success.

        Websites are like any business. Just cuz they worked when Bob owned them, doesn't mean they will when Jill owns them.

        Google's algorithm changes practically daily. A website gaining 10,000 visitors a day from Google today could plummet to zero tomorrow through no fault of anyone.

        At least when you build yourself you have a measure of control and experience.
        It depends on what kind of site it is. If its a quality site and it falls from thousands of visitors to practically zero, you can easily complain to Google and the site will be reinstated, and usually gain its rankings back. If its a spammy site, well, I think that's what the algorithm is designed to do.

        I think there are too many scare tactics surrounding google. If you have a good site and maintain it, at least update quite regularly, there is no reason why the site should fall.

        Also, don't forget, if its a quality site it will have gotten some good links, some returning traffic, some Yahoo, MSN traffic, some social traffic and you could easily get to 30% or more non-Google traffic.
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      • Profile picture of the author Malcolm Thomas
        Originally Posted by LillySage View Post

        I'd build from scratch because you have complete control over every aspect.

        The thing about buying a website from someone else....even if it's not a scam, it doesn't guarantee success.

        Websites are like any business. Just cuz they worked when Bob owned them, doesn't mean they will when Jill owns them.

        Google's algorithm changes practically daily. A website gaining 10,000 visitors a day from Google today could plummet to zero tomorrow through no fault of anyone.

        At least when you build yourself you have a measure of control and experience.
        This. I would further like to add that it is sometimes better to build your own site just to get the experience needed to run your own website. By building your own website you will be able to gain a lot of knowledge and then later on down the road you could buy a site when you have more knowledge.
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  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    There's nothing wrong with buying a site on Flippa as long as you do due diligence and be careful. Here's a post I did for Flippa on due diligence

    Guest Post: the Domaining Diva on Due Diligence | Flippa Blog | Buy & Sell Websites

    If that scares you, it's probably better for you build your own site. Buying a site with revenue can be tricky. They could be dumping a site that was making money until it got bit by a Panda.
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    • Profile picture of the author seanz614
      Originally Posted by sbucciarel View Post

      There's nothing wrong with buying a site on Flippa as long as you do due diligence and be careful. Here's a post I did for Flippa on due diligence

      Guest Post: the Domaining Diva on Due Diligence | Flippa Blog | Buy & Sell Websites

      If that scares you, it's probably better for you build your own site. Buying a site with revenue can be tricky. They could be dumping a site that was making money until it got bit by a Panda.

      Thank you for posting the link. It will be very useful. Yes, I am a little scared to purchase a site. I'm looking for sites that are bringing in some revenue and can be built out to bring in more. I haven't found one that I feel comfortable purchasing yet.
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  • Profile picture of the author Bobby Asburn
    I'm leaning towards building my own because I'm a little scared to buy a site from someone.
    I'd recommend you to build your own site from scratch, because sometime you won't be able to select a good website and it would be a complete waste of money.
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  • Profile picture of the author talfighel
    I would build the site myself because you will get more experience.

    There are some programs out there that will allow you to pick the theme and graphics yourself.

    When you order from someone, there is a good chance that you may not like what they did. When you do it yourself, you control everything.
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    • Profile picture of the author LillySage
      I once sold a website that was earning about $500 a month consistently. The new owner changed it all around, changed the design layout, the ads, the copy on some pages etc.

      After two months they wanted their money back because the site wasn't pulling in the same money that I had "claimed". Of course it had nothing to do with the fact that they changed the site completely!
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      • Profile picture of the author seanz614
        Originally Posted by LillySage View Post

        I once sold a website that was earning about $500 a month consistently. The new owner changed it all around, changed the design layout, the ads, the copy on some pages etc.

        After two months they wanted their money back because the site wasn't pulling in the same money that I had "claimed". Of course it had nothing to do with the fact that they changed the site completely!

        If you make another one, let me know
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        • Profile picture of the author seanz614
          The consensus seems to be that I should build my own site, which leads to another question. If I am going to outsource 100% of the work, is there anything for sale that would help keep everything organized? I've searched the WSO section and I haven't really found what I'm looking for. Does anyone have any recommendations?
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  • Profile picture of the author intergen
    I purchased a site off of Flippa for $425. Awesome looking site well designed - its one of the sites in my sig file (for reference). He claimed no income and with some SEO on my part etc. I've taken the site to the first page of google for several search terms and it brings in a nice monthly income.

    Could I have the same site built for $425? Probably, but it would have been my time investment that would have cost me tons of hours in the dev process pushing the "cost" of the site to well over $1500 or more.

    Did I have a good experience on Flippa - yes absolutely - but every situation is different and I've heard of scammers on Flippa too (one of my coaching clients got burned). Follow sbucciarel 's advice and check out her due dil doc.
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    • Profile picture of the author PHILFEATH
      I would learn to build your own site (1) saving some money (2) build your skill base (3) No worries about getting scammed. (4) use the skills another day, another site.
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  • Profile picture of the author jgant
    I recently bought my first site because it had the perfect domain was a PR 2 and was super cheap. I didn't use any of the existing content and instead built it out myself.

    Generally I prefer building sites out myself ... after all that's what I do.

    If the site has content you like, hasn't been bombed with tons of lousy links, and is ready for you to build up and not spend much time making changes, go for it. If it has established PR, that's a bonus.
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  • Profile picture of the author sirtiman
    It's easy to build your own. I think this time for you don't just easy to buy something.
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  • Profile picture of the author TimothyTorrents
    I think you should build your own website that way you will have total control and you will learn how to set up an authority website. Once you learn how to set up and rank one authority website it will be easy for you to set up and rank future authority websites. If you have like 5 successful authority websites you will be making a lot of money!
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  • Profile picture of the author Jason Perez O'Connor
    Try the process yourself, and once you become knowledgeable in many aspects of IM you can better decide whether websites that interest you on FLIPPA are actually making the money they say they are, or if they even have any potential to grow !

    I would assume this is the best route to take, unless you're just looking to earn a monthly income owning a few assets and have money to throw around.
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  • Profile picture of the author sethriley
    If you build your own you can always out-source some of the work if you don't have time for it. At least this way you will still be in complete control of your website.
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  • Profile picture of the author Makis77
    I usually advice people to start building their own website/blog before anything.
    Since you already been burned and also have built your own websites I suggest you setup a budget where you are going to move when trying to buy a website through Flippa or other marketplaces.
    In fact I suggest to look into other marketplaces such as webmasters forums for websites to buy.

    I did this twice, bought each website for $150 and $200 and already made the money in 6 months through ad banners and links, but I m experienced enough to dig such websites and then add them value through posting them regularly fresh and valuable content.
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  • Profile picture of the author RachelLily
    If you can find a site thats really good, with high content and lots of visitors, then why waste time making a new one trying to establish a new name? go for buying a site already, make sure the price compensates the site
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  • Profile picture of the author Zaney
    Originally Posted by seanz614 View Post

    I've been a member of the WF for quite awhile now and I learned a lot, by reading and taking action. I've built some decent websites and some crappy ones. Some made money and some didn't. Also, I've paid for some adsense sites that were advertised here and they ended up being a huge waste of money.

    During my time dabbling with websites and Internet Marketing, I started a couple of offline businesses that are doing quite well. I would like to add some websites to build new revenue streams. I would like to know what the Warriors would recommend. Do I go on Flippa and buy existing sites or do I build authority sites by outsourcing them 100%? Right now, I'm leaning towards building my own because I'm a little scared to buy a site from someone. I'm open to any suggestions or thoughts on this. If there is something else you would recommend, I would like to hear about it.

    Check your inbox
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  • Profile picture of the author turnkeybiz
    There is nothing wrong with you doing both, Find a site and design that fits the bill, pick it up at a fair price, add a good keyword rich domain, upload to domain.

    Then start basic marketing and SEO, once that is happening, the search engines start to index you a bit, start to change and make the site your own.

    It might help and start you off a little quicker then doing it 100% on your own.

    Good Luck
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    • Profile picture of the author seanz614
      Originally Posted by turnkeybiz View Post

      There is nothing wrong with you doing both, Find a site and design that fits the bill, pick it up at a fair price, add a good keyword rich domain, upload to domain.

      Then start basic marketing and SEO, once that is happening, the search engines start to index you a bit, start to change and make the site your own.

      It might help and start you off a little quicker then doing it 100% on your own.

      Good Luck
      I'm having an issue with finding the right price. I hear people talk about buying sites at around 6 months of revenue, but I don't see that happen very often. The sites that I always really like are very expensive. What is the general guideline? I don't want to wait five years to get a return on my investment.
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