Buying websites

**Paul** · February 18th, 2010, 07:49 AM

I'm looking to dip my toes in the 'buying a website' market but struggling to decide the best way forward. My present sites: one is my main business site which is doing very well and keeps a number of us employed. The other is an informational site with Adsense which is an ongoing project but is earning enough to pay the bills each month. I also run a small hobby forum which brings in a few cents with Adsense. Both of the first two sites have got their rankings pretty much through unique content alone, plus recip linking in the early days. Now, I know I'm missing out bigtime as I just don't have the time to fully explore the marketing side of things, link buying, social bookmarking etc. etc. To be honest, there are so many companies offering 'killer apps' that will drive tons of traffic to your site that I've generally steered clear as I don't know which are the ones I should be using, if any. I've read enough on the forums to know that many are just not worth bothering with.

I just came across this listing, and as usual it's spouting the usual blurb we expect to see on this type of site. I'm sure in the right hands this site can make money, but that's the problem. Where do you start? As it's pretty much a one-page site, there's no point adding content so I guess article writing and submission to the various article sites is a start, but I know you guys do much, much more than this.

http://flippa.com/auctions/84922/ULT...s-On-Autopilot

Would you guys here suggest that this is the wrong type of site for someone starting out, and should be left to someone more experienced in marketing?

If so, do you have any recommendations for a type of starter site that is more suitable to learn the ropes with, on a limited budget of between $1000 to $2000?

Having followed Clinton's writings on here and my regular business forum I've been inspired to get off my backside and go for it. Getting started is the hardest part though.

I know due diligence needs to be done before any purchase but at this early stage I need advice on making the right choices for someone at my level.

Paul

**hooperman** · February 18th, 2010, 08:18 AM

I'd steer clear of that site Paul. There are too many weird things:

How did they get 11,000 links in such a short space of time?
What's all the other weird stuff on this domain? Like this. Is some of that impressive traffic going to pages like that?

Plus, it's a very young site and doesn't have much history.

**Clinton** · February 18th, 2010, 09:01 AM

How did they get 11,000 links in such a short space of time?

Via a widget.

I picked a site out of that Yahoo list - financialonlineguide - and had a look at their HTML. I get

Other backlinks are similar - an affiliate program by the looks of things. That gels with his claims that traffic is mainly from affiliates.

What I'm concerned about is the 35% refund rate. He sold $370 and refunded $130. Why?

**hooperman** · February 18th, 2010, 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by Clinton

That gels with his claims that traffic is mainly from affiliates.

That explains it!

You mean reading the auction properly should be part of my due diligence?

**Clinton** · February 18th, 2010, 12:14 PM

Would you guys here suggest that this is the wrong type of site for someone starting out, and should be left to someone more experienced in marketing?

If I were starting out I'd be suspicious of a site that's less than a month old. It's easy to fake short term stats and such fakes are worth doing as they get reflected in the price.

My present sites: one is my main business site which is doing very well and keeps a number of us employed. The other is an informational site with Adsense which is an ongoing project but is earning enough to pay the bills each month. I also run a small hobby forum which brings in a few cents with Adsense.

Sounds like you've done pretty well already, Paul.

If you care to share the URL for the info site/forum we may have some ideas for you.

hooperman, the site: search in Google was a good pointer. You get to see a lot of what the seller experimented with on that domain

Thanks.

**tke71709** · February 18th, 2010, 12:15 PM

I am using Butterfly Marketing Script to create this membership site, and for own that script it self, I have to pay $797

Better make sure he transfers the license to the buyer.

**Clinton** · February 18th, 2010, 12:44 PM

Paul, for that type of price I'd rather go for something like this especially if it came with some extra content.

**Paul** · February 18th, 2010, 07:14 PM

Many thanks for the help and advice guys, it's been really useful and a learning experience.

Originally Posted by Clinton

Paul, for that type of price I'd rather go for something like this especially if it came with some extra content.

Yes, that looks much more sensible and an uncomplicated format. What figure would you expect the site to go for?

Thanks again all.

Paul

**Clinton** · February 19th, 2010, 04:52 AM

It's not an auction, Paul. So it's just a matter of having a chat with the seller, seeing what his expectations are. (Sorry, I didn't have the right link in that thread, I've updated it now)

I once had such a chat and it turned out the owner was more interested in what became of the domain and not so interested in the price. Once I reassured him and told him my plans he let me have it for £100. I kept my promise to him and put some effort into building content on the domain. That URL is experienced-people.co.uk and the last offer I had for it (from a reputable London firm) was in the low six figures.

Your seller may well think his site is worth millions in which case decline politely, walk away, and keep his email address. Drop him an email in six months saying you hope things are going well and if he ever decides to give you a chance please get in touch. The chances are he'll give you a call