Some internet marketers become a lot like online real estate developers. Each website could become a valuable piece of real estate for them, if they do things well.
Buying established websites to help you do your internet marketing could be helpful and save you the time involved in building up your web presence. Are you thinking about buying some niche websites to use for affiliate marketing or promoting your own products? This could be a good idea.
Some internet marketers make money website flipping as a business. They take the time and some of their proven methods to build websites and blogs with a plan for keyword research, content, linking strategies, and other SEO tactics and then they sell that site to the highest bidder. Instead of taking time, effort, and having to wait for traffic, you could capitalise on a site that already has traffic today.
Beyond buying a site that is specifically created for the purposes of flipping, you may also look at buying established websites through keyword research and through making an offer directly to a webmaster.
Benefits Of Buying Established Websites
• Existing search engine indexing and a steady stream of traffic.
• A subscriber base that already exists.
• Valuable backlinks that already exist.
• Off-page search engine optimisation that already exists.
• An existing page rank that you can utilise immediately.
Investigate Before Purchasing
When you are looking at buying an established website, be sure that you check the site and its contents thoroughly. Here are some tips for exercising caution…
• Check the age of the site. How old it is could have an impact on how much it is worth. Beyond the age of the domain registration you’ll want to look at previous cached editions of the site, if possible, so that you are seeing a clear picture of the history of the site.
• You want to be sure that there are no grey or black hat techniques being used that could make the site worthless to you. Some website flippers may try unethical tactics to inflate traffic and make the site appear to be more valuable so they can get a higher sales price. Know what to look for and do some investigating.
• You’ll also want to be sure that the content is original and that you’ll own copyright of that content once the site ownership transfers to you. Check anti-plagiarism sites (like Copyscape, for instance) and ensure the site is not loaded with duplicate content.
• Check website statistics and traffic reports carefully so that you can ascertain whether or not a site is really worth buying and what that value is.
• Investigate the reputation of the site flipper who is putting the site up for sale so you can avoid dealing with questionable people.
As you can see, there are a lot of benefits for buying established websites and also many things to consider before making a purchase. If the site looks good and the figures stack up, it could be a very worthwhile investment that can save you a lot of initial setup time.
About Sean Rasmussen
Wow.
What an interesting article Sean. It’s basically like buying an established business. As a buyer, you’d want to do your due diligence and know its value before making an offer I suppose. But like with everything else on the internet, it’s a hell of a lot easier than buying a bricks and mortar business. Thanks for the info and education.
Lina
Sounds like that article has given you some food for thought Lina
Definitely easier, cheaper and less of a risk than buying a conventional business. In saying that, there are the same sharks out there that will gladly take your money for something that may not be all it seems. There are plenty of opportunities around, just be cautious and do your homework and you could very well find something that works well for you.
Regards – Sean
Thanks Sean. Yes, it got my brain ticking, that’s for sure. More so about building and selling, than buying. I can only imagine the shark-fest it is out there.
I have heard that this type of “business” can be very lucrative – especially for established membership type websites where you already have a user base.
I mean somebody has gone through and done all the hard work and if the price is right you basically just step in and continue to run or even grow the site.
Of course you need to ensure that you do your research so ensure that you don’t end up paying for a website that just doesn’t meet your expectations.
Just be sure to ask the question Cemil: If you have done so much hard work and you have so many members – Why are you selling
Regards – Sean
Sean
As far as SEO goes is buying expired domains an option you would suggest? I have seen some promoting it as a way of getting ready made traffic and backlinks.
Hi Sean,
If the site and the price it could, work as long as you do your research before committing yourself to taking this step. My first thought is if the site is that good why sell it ?
Rita
You certainly lay it out carefully and well.
I think you have accomplished two things (or more) for me.
One is that you clearly define how buying a site can save you time and money and get you established quickly and easily, if you can afford it.
Two you have clearly demonstrated that no one is out there to give you a gift. If the site is a proper one and working it is going to cost properly. If it looks or feels like a bargain it should make red lights go off.
I may be the silly and poor one out of all this, but for me the idea of spending the time and effort to make sure that everything is on the up and up and that it is going to profit me enough to make not only the price worth it but also the amount of time I have to spend in research to make sure that it is what it is supposed to be just doesn’t seem attractive.
So, I feel that right now what you have done for me with this article is to convince me that it is more worthwhile for me to spend the time and effort to create my own things than to spend the time and effort to make sure what I am buying (which is still not my own creation) is going to work.
Thanks for making it easier for me personally to resist temptation. I hope the money I save will eventually come roaring in under my own steam and your advice.
Hi Sean,
I feel like I’d need more experience before buying an established website. I’m not sure I’d be able to pick genuine sites and I’d probably lose my money. Still, I see the advantages in buying an established website and I find it an interesting proposition.
Also, I see this as a great opportunity to make money. I’m just not sure that I have the skills to customize websites to make them unique enough. But, I’m sure I could find a way to overcome this issue.
I notice Market Samurai have just released a series of videos dealing with this subject of Tips For Buying Established Websites.
Hey Wal
Thanks for that information. Anything from Market Samurai is a gift.
Hi Sean
A very interesting and informative article. I really enjoy the thought of dabbling in the restorative process of building up an existing business. There is heaps of information here and I am thankful to Wal for his lead on the Market Samurai videos.
I could use this information for when I want to ‘flip’ businesses that I build up from scratch which is more or less one of the avenues that I will pursue when I feel I have enough knowledge to do so.
I really like the ideas presented here. Thank you
Sharks are always in the water. But with this in mind people sell for lots of honest reasons as well.They may have lost interest or desire to continue a site. Health reasons, financial reasons.They may simply not have the time to invest further in the site.Lots of things can be an influential justification to sell a good site.By all means use the useful tips Sean has provided but don`t let overly suspicious ideas keep you from purchasing a good deal.
I have purchased a few developed sites myself. Make sure you are able to continue the existing pace and even able to step it up a notch as the new owner.