The 5 Steps to Selling a Website or Blog There are many reasons why you might want to sell your blog or website. Maybe you're tired of having to manage an eCommerce site or find it challenging to come up with engaging content for your blog every week.
By Jacky Chou
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There are many reasons why you might want to sell your blog or website. Maybe you're tired of having to manage an eCommerce site or find it challenging to come up with engaging content for your blog every week.
Whatever the reason for wanting to sell, this endeavor could be quite profitable. If you're wondering whether you should sell your website, how to do so, or where you can make the sale, keep reading!
Is selling your blog or website a good idea?
The truth is that selling your blog or website is entirely your decision. Websites often generate revenue long-term, whereas selling them means receiving a lump sum. However, if you simply do not have the time to invest in the website any longer, selling it may be the ideal choice.
Moreover, keeping your site isn't always the best option because you cannot be sure that it will make more money in the future. The best way to determine whether it's time to sell is to weigh the pros and cons and consider your personal goals and objectives.
Related: How to Start a Website-Flipping Side Hustle
Steps to Selling a Website
Selling a blog or website requires a few sales tactics, much like selling any physical asset does. Follow these steps and tips to make the sale.
1. Do your research
Before you sell your website, you'll need to do a little research to learn more about your target market and previous websites that were sold successfully. Many website owners make the mistake of employing the same methods for diverse audiences.
Different sales approaches are required to sell various types of blogs and websites, so getting to know your target market can help you predict how they will react to the sale. You can upgrade, adjust and rebuild your site or blog to meet the objectives and preferences of your buyers once you learn about your target market.
Secondly, you will need to do some research to determine how similar sites performed. Look at the sales tactics these sites used and use them to increase your chances of success.
2. Get your Profit and Loss Statements (P&L) in Order
The truth is that no one wants to invest in an eCommerce business that does not have proof of its earnings or traffic. Before selling your website or advertising it to potential buyers, you must ensure that you have updated reports that detail the volume of traffic your site receives and how much money you earn from your website.
Bear in mind that most platforms and brokers need several months' worth of revenue and internet traffic information to list your website. You can use Google Analytics to generate these reports for you.
3. Focus on SEO
SEO is a crucial tool for understanding your intended audience and the foundation of any effective website. The truth is that without it, a site would not be successful.
Typically, potential buyers inquire if a website or blog is search engine optimized, and if it isn't, there is no sale. This is because SEO affects a website's ranking on search engines like Google, so you must ensure that your site has been optimized before attempting to sell it.
Related: Simple Ways to Dramatically Improve Your SEO
4. Select a suitable marketplace or broker
Now that you have your sales strategy and financial information in order, it's time to sell your website or blog. To start with, you'll need to find a website broker or marketplace.
Because there are so many options, you're probably wondering where you should list your site. Here are some of the best marketplaces to try.
Flippa
Unlike many other marketplaces, Flippa allows auctions rather than typical sales. You could try to sell your site for whatever price you want, but there's no guarantee that it'll sell.
Since it is a free marketplace for everybody, there is a greater chance of being scammed, which is something to consider if you decide to use the platform. The websites on Flippa have not been reviewed, so anyone interested in buying a website will be responsible for doing the research to determine whether it's a good deal.
FE International
This is among the most respected online brokers, with some vendors selling numerous websites, including one worth six figures. These brokers also handle the promotion of your blog or the legal papers for the sale and make it easier to communicate with all possible buyers.
The fee charged by FE International fluctuates, and you do not have to pay anything in advance to post on the marketplace. It is the ideal solution for large authority sites with a value of more than $100,000.
Empire Flippers
Empire Flippers is much like FE International in that it assists sellers with a number of tasks, making it an easy approach for selling a website. However, the process isn't always as easy as it is with FE International.
You will need to pay $297 upfront if it's your first time selling on the platform and $97 for all recurrent sales. Moreover, should your blog or website sell on the platform, you will also be charged a commission.
5. Prepare for the sale
Once you've made the decision to sell your eCommerce site or blog, you'll have to prepare everybody concerned for the possible ownership transition. Using current team management platforms such as Slack to help you manage the transfer of ownership, you can make the process a lot easier.
Moreover, you will need to know how much your site is worth to prevent making a loss. Ensure that you have a good idea of what your website is worth and have prepared for the sale. You will also need to list the important features when listing your site or blog on the platform. Be sure to include the traffic and revenue potential buyers can expect.
Final thoughts
When it comes to selling a blog or website online, going in without the proper know-how can leave you frustrated and unsuccessful. It is important to be patient, put money into your site, and make it the best it can be.
Determine who your target buyers are and learn how to communicate with them effectively. Lastly, choose the best platform and build a listing that highlights the most important features of your website.
