Selling websites for fun and profit

I've recently come across a truly ingenious post on how to build an affiliate site that you can sell for $1M. I will not try to recap its content - there are too many valuable points and it's really worth reading in its entirety.

However, during reading it has struck me that I am really most focused on properly developing a website into a profitable business when I consider selling it eventually as my exit strategy.

It provides me with the energy and determination to make sure that all bases key for valuation are covered. And guess what, when they are covered, the profits usually grow fast, even if I don't sell it after all.

However, if you have a website that you think could have some tangible value for other people, what are your options when it comes to selling it?

Where to sell your website?

As always, there are many options. I will focus on two of them, which are widely considered to be the best bet for small to medium websites:

• Forum at Digital Point

• SitePoint Marketplace

Who can sell?

Digital Point and SitePoint have slightly different requirements; one or the other service may suit you better, depending on your situation.

If you want to sell at Digital Point:

• you have to be a member of the forum for at least 14 days and have 25 posts
  
• listings are free

If you want to sell at SitePoint:

• you have to be a member (simply register)
  
• listings are not free (see below - each credit equals $1)

Which means that:

• if you're in a hurry and not yet a member of Digital Point, use SitePoint
  
• If you're on a budget, use Digital Point

Obviously, both services have other advantages and disadvantages that you should take into account, besides basic formal requirements.

Digital Point vs. SitePoint

Even though both websites serve the same purpose, they're quite different in their approach.

While Digital Point has simply a separate forum category for selling and buying websites, SitePoint has a completely dedicated feature called Marketplace.

Here are the most important characteristics of both:

Digital Point

• A simple forum category
  
• Some generally accepted rules, but little disciple enforced by the tool itself
  
• Disclosing your URL and other important details publicly is not required (although hiding them is criticized by some)
  
• No formal bidding mechanism - bids are sent via PMs or public messages in the thread
  
• No way to promote your thread (other than ensuring that there is some discussion and it stays on page 1-2)
  
• Users can earn reputation (good or bad) from their past transactions

SitePoint

• Dedicated auction system
  
• Ability to set Buy it Now (BIN) price and secret reserve price
  
• Features to place bids
  
• Additional mechanisms to promote your offer (require additional payments - see below)
  
• Sellers are required to publicly disclose the basic details, such as the domain.
  
• Category system for different types of websites (premium, established, turnkey, etc.)
  
• More formal set of requirements

As you can see, these are quite different beasts and depending on your website and strategy, either one or the other may be better suited.

The important point here is that both services are very active, which means that there are many potential partners for your transaction.

It's also absolutely possible to post your offer in both Digital Point and SitePoint.

I would also say that SitePoint seems to be a better fit if you're selling a well-established site with good traffic and revenue. This, however, can not be completely valid because many transactions at Digital Point are completed via private messages.

What you can get

Obviously, the range of prices varies wildly, depending on many factors:

• type of website
  
• its current performance (traffic, revenue)
  
• content, design, custom solutions
  
• domain
  
• your negotiation and promotion skills

There are transactions in the low $XX range and in the upper $XX,XXX range, with some (rather rare) six-figure transactions as well.

Additional information

Both services offer excellent resources to get you going fast. Please refer to the following for further information:

• A sticky thread at Digital Points: General tips on how to properly buy or sell a website
  
• Guidelines from SitePoint that auction holders and participants must follow
  
• FAQ and tips on selling a website - both from SitePoint

If you've ever bought or sold a website, please share your experiences and tips in the comments!

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