FP - The "short" list of things to consider before buying a site

[succor]

I'm new to site flipping and I was trying to figure out how to evaluate a site so as not to get burned. This is what I gathered while researching. When I was done and reading through it all I though "hey, maybe someone else would find this short list helpful". This really ain't the shortest list though.

Link: Site Flipping Tutorial
Major points:
The thread that started it all.
Good overview; not intended as "point and click" instructions.
Breakdown of the types of investments by price range.
More than just how to pick a site.

Link: How to Avoid Getting Scammed (read before it's too late!)
Major points:
1. If it seems too good to be true then it probably is!
2. Traffic and revenue don't seem to be in correlation.
3. Seller unwilling to disclose (enough) statistics.
4. Seller's got no reputation or even worse - bad reputation.
5. Unprofessional listing copy.
6. Price too low.
7. Seller demands payment via unsafe/dodgy channels.

Link: Guest Post: 7 Things to Look Out for When Buying a Website (Flippa blog)
Major points:
1. History of the Website
2. Revenue Streams
3. Revenue Trends
4. Traffic Quality
5. Replication Possibilities
6. Time and Expertise Needed to Maintain the Website
7. Accuracy of Provided Figures

Link: What Are The First Things You Check On An Auction
Major points:
Any improvements possible without outsourcing (in my case, design)
Any outsource worthy improvements possible (long term flip)
Domain name (English or not. Product or not.) (brandable? short? easy to remember?)
Historic revenue and trends
Possibilities of increasing revenue
Price
Revenue
Search engine rankings and pr
Sustainability of revenue
The site itself (Open it in browser, view ad placements and see where you can increase revenue)
Traffic (Search Engish or not. USA/Canada or not)

Link: Things to Look for When Buying Sites
Major points:
Consistent and scalable traffic that has been monetized
Maintenance
Verified Owner
Snatch it up!
Help someone

Link: Time consuming web purchase's...
Major points:
Neat tricks to find profitable and quick purchases/turn arounds.
Buy sites below their market value so even if you don't touch the site you will be in profit.
Don't waste time on tasks that won't directly increase the value of the site (either actual or perceived).
Don't be afraid to negotiate and make purchases based on YOUR terms, not the seller's.

Link: Google Analytics - be careful with it!
Major points:
If the Google Analytics and Google Adwords accounts aren't linked a seller can easily run paid traffic to their site, yet claim that the traffic comes from search engines making the site look worth more.
It is extremely important to take a closer look into SE rankings.

Link: (question) site not verified by seller
Major points:
Why this is and is not a problem and some tips.

Link: Assessing a website for sale
Major points:
Specifically about website directories.
There is money to be made here even with their increase in popularity.
Lots of opinions.

Link: Non-Established Sites Flip Bad Now?
Major points:
Thread has to do with new sites, non-established sites, turnkey sites, whatever you want to call them.
Getting harder to make money at unless doing it over the long term.
Lots of back and forth on this one.

Link: Opinions on PDF Search Engine sites?
Major points:
Depends on where the traffic is comming from.
Possibility of getting de-indexed.

Link: Buying Amazon Store Sites?
Major points:
These types of sites are available.
They can be profitable.

[MojoFlip]

Succor,

The efforts you spent on creating this post is phenomenal! Definitely will save the members lots of time based on your recommendations.

Keep it up, buddy!


Mojo

[Bryan]

Great job, succor. I was actually thinking of doing something like this myself for everybody to benefit so you saved me some time

One thing's for sure - new or not new, there's already SO much good information here on FP that anyone who does a bit of reading and surfing (similarly like you've done) is almost guaranteed not to fail.

Have made this thread a sticky.

[succor]

Thanks. I hope it helps.

When I'm trying to figure something out I like to skim and then go back and read making notes and organizing it. Then I have my study guide and a quick reference list for future use if I ever need it.

I get confused if I hop from subject to subject; the list allows me to stay on task. Staying on task is crucial for me because I am easily Oh look a squirrel! (after several minutes observing the squirrel and wondering if he uses his tail to keep warm and wondering how he keeps up with where he buried all of his nuts and thinking it must be nice to live in the treetops).... Now where was I? Oh, yes, I get easily sidetracked.

[Thomas]

I get confused if I hop from subject to subject; the list allows me to stay on task. Staying on task is crucial for me because I am easily Oh look a squirrel! (after several minutes observing the squirrel and wondering if he uses his tail to keep warm and wondering how he keeps up with where he buried all of his nuts and thinking it must be nice to live in the treetops).... Now where was I? Oh, yes, I get easily sidetracked.

So more importantly... where is this squirrel now?!

[jrickman]

Thanks for the great thread Succor. I am a total newbie to site flipping so every little bit of information is very helpful. You have put so much into one place it makes it a lot easier for newbs such as myself.
I too am easily distracted and this sure helps.

Thanks,

Joe

[Ryan Sorensen]

This will be one of many awesome posts on Flipping Planet. I'm just excited about the future knowing that everyone here now will be able to say "Yup, we've been here since the beginning. We helped build this forum!"

It's never too late for many of you to start building relationships, credibility, and a reputation by contributing to this forum even if you don't feel like you know anything. Questions help as well as mentioning the little things that you learn along the way that could help someone else in your shoes.

[BrettM]

Update: flipfilter has posted a list of questions in the following thread, that I think people watching this thread will want to include in succor's list. Great stuff all around!

http://experienced-people.net/forums...ll=1#post44095

[tnphoneman]

So more importantly... where is this squirrel now?!

Nah the important question is where did he hide my shovel?

The hardest part about starting a forum is getting users involved and adding content. It is threads like this one that get the ball rolling. Thanks for the great post. This site has grown in just the short time I have been here.

[Clinton]

This is one of the better FlippingPlanet threads that we imported and is well worth bumping.

I'll have you know that all the links in the OP were pointing to FP destinations, as you'd expect, and succor very kindly went hunting all the new locations down. KenW3 updated the OP. Many thanks to both of them.