[slideshare id=51031488&doc=1b-buyingandsellingwebsites-mullins-150728201744-lva1-app6892]
Transcript of „Buying and Selling Websites“
- Lessons Learned from Several Million Dollars Worth of Site Acquisitions – Chuck Mullins, Founder CashForYourSite.com – [email protected]
- Questions to Ask Yourself
– Why buy and sell websites?
– How much is my time worth?
– Do I want a Job or an Investment?
– What kind of return on my capital investment do I need?
– What size deal makes sense?
– What kind of risks does the site have?
– What are my plans for this site? - Why Buy or Sell Websites – Know your reasons for buying:
− Cash flow
− Asset appreciation
− Synergy
− Untapped potential
− Private Blog Network - Why Buy or Sell Websites – Know your reasons for selling:
− Cash out
− Redeploy capital
− Declining market
− Focus on core business
− Bored - How Much is Your Time Worth
$100k a year / (52 weeks x 40 hours) ≈ $50 per hour.
Don't work for less than you are worth: Website Monthly Income = $1,000 Hours Required Per Week = 10 $1000 / (4 weeks x 10 hours ) = $25 per hour Website Monthly Income = $10,000 Hours Required Per Week = 10 $10,000 / (4 weeks x 10 hours ) = $250 per hour - What Kind of ROI Do You Want – Typical investment:
− CD Rates 1%
− Bonds 2-6%
− Stock market 7-12%
− Real estate 5-14%
Why do these investments pay different rates of return? What kind of return do you want? - What Size Deal Makes Sense $50 x 40 hours x 12 months = $24k per year.
$50 x 40 hours x 12 months = $24k per year.
Total return needed on $500k investment would be $149k or a 29.8% time and risk adjusted return.
The larger the deal, the less your time requirements impact the return.
$100k x 25% = $25k per year $500k x 25% = $125k per year
Total return needed on $100k investment would be $49k or a 49% time and risk adjusted return. - Is The Investment Worth The Risk
How much competition is there?
What are the barriers to entry?
Are there one or more critical employees?
Does the business rely on an outside source?
Does the business exploit something?
What kind of SEO has been done?
Are there pending changes to the law?
Is the business seasonal? - Is The Investment Worth The Risk – What is the traffic mix?
− Organic traffic
− Paid traffic
− Social traffic
− Direct traffic
− Referral
− Affiliate - Due Diligence Tools (Free/Paid)
– SpyFu.com (F/P)
– Moz.com & Moz.com/researchtools/ose (F/P)
– SEMRush.com (F/P)
– Majestic.com (F)
– BannedCheck.com (F)
– SeoMastering.com (F)
– YouGetSignal.com (F/P)
– DomainTools.com (F/P)
– CopyScape.com (F)
– Alexa.com (F/P)
– Compete.com - Due Diligence Tools
– Archive.org (F)
– BuiltWith.com (F/P)
− Topsy.com (F)
– TradeMarkia.com (F)
– SocialMention.com (F)
– Google Trends (F/P)
– WhoRush.com (F/P)
– ReverseInternet.com (F)
– SpyonWeb.com (F/P)
– KeyWordSpy.com - Has the site been affected by Google updates? How long has the site been ranking?
- Additional Due Diligence
– Read the comments of other prospective buyers
– Research the seller not just the company
– Ask questions that you have already researched and know the answers to
– Ask seller to add you to their Google Analytics account
– Ask questions about potential revenue streams
– Ask what plans the seller had for the business moving forward
– Ask seller to verify all claims with documentation
– Ask about anomalies
– Ask about skills and time required to operate the site
– Ask, Ask, Ask!!!
– Does everything add up? - What Are Your Plans For The Site
− Create a detailed plan and time line before closing on a deal
− Migration
− Backup website
− Transfer domain
− Update income sources
− Take/transfer accounts
− Transfer website
− Operation: Who, what, when
− Expansion / Optimization: Who, what, when - How to Transfer the Site:
− Communication is Key
− Agree on specific terms and a transition plan before you agree to purchase the site.
− What is your pain point?
− High value vs. low value sites - Prepare a contract detailing the terms of sale:
− Time frame and consequences for transfer
− Payment Terms
− Seller Support
− Non-Compete
− Non-Disclosure
− Non-Performance
− Contracts With Key Employees - How to Pay For a Site Send Payment First:
− Escrow.com
− Paypal.com
After Transfer of Domain and Files in Hand: **Warning these methods have little to no recourse!
− Check
− Cash
− Wire Transfer
− Western Union - Where To Buy and Sell Websites Auctions
– Flippa.com
– Ebay.com Broker
– QuietLightBrokerage.com
– DigitalExits.com
– FEInternational.com
– WeSellYourSite.com
– AcquisitionsDirect.com
– WebsiteProperties.com
– W3BusinessAdvisors.com
– WebsiteBroker.com - Where To Buy and Sell Websites Market Place
– BuyingandSellingWebSites.com
– BizBuySell.com Miscellaneous
– RhodiumWeekend.com
– Internet Investment Summit
– Master Mind Groups
– Networking
– Contact Site Owners
– Craigslist
– Forums