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Casual Articles - How To Sell A Website Fast
Small businesses have it rough in America, as they do not have the huge lobbying monies that large corporations do. When the economy gets tight, large companies reign in credit and slow their out going payments. If you own a small business with corporate accounts this means they string you out as long as possible and you will notice invoices conveniently lost and checks 180 days out? Basically you become a bank for the big corporations, isn’t that the silliest underhanded bunch of bull you ever heard? They slow your checks down when you need them the most. More than one small business owner has said to me; “Those Bastards!”When we are in an up business cycle the corporations suck up all the labor, making it tough to get good help and when the business cycle goes South, all of a sudden the Corporations start laying off all those folks they promised all these great benefits to, that the little guy could not compete with. Interesting that the corporations are now not honoring such promises and reneging on their pension contributions, after preventing you from recruiting the labor you needed in your small business. You know damn well if you did something like that, they would throw you ass in jail. If you are a small business you need to plan for those slow downs in the business cycle to survive. It is a rough world out there and you need to face reality. So, consider all this in 2006.
How is the site ranked with the major search engines?
What does is take to maintain the site? i.e. hosting fees, content addition, promotion, etc.
Why does the owner want to sell the website?
If you?ve purchased a unique domain name with a great deal of potential value, it may not be necessary for you to have an existing website in order for you to sell your domain name for a profit. Typically, domain names will sell based on its performance in four key categories:
1. Commercial Development Potential - The ability of your domain name to be used as a brand, redirect, campaign address, etc.
2. Recognition - The relevance of your name to the market and how easy it is to remember.
3. Length - In most cases, shorter is better. However, a longer more obvious name can sometimes be more valuable than a short classified-ad contraction style domain.
4. Extension Value - This refers to the .COM part of your domain name. Currently .COM names still command the highest values followed by .NET, some national domains (such as .UK) and .ORG names.
How Can I Guarantee I've Priced My Site Correctly?
Unless you are a true domain name expert, we strongly recommend having your site professionally appraised. In fact, this is probably one of the most important steps you can take towards ensuring a successful sale of your site. Appraisers are professionals and experts in their field, and they have the means and methods to conclude what your domain nam
Working for yourself as a writer, designer, or other creative professional is extremely satisfying. It's also lucrative, if you can face the reality that you're responsible for how much work you do. Your aim as a freelancer is to be happy, constantly employed, but not overwhelmed, so that you're making more money than you would be making if you were working for someone else.You can avoid under-employment as a freelance creative professional if you compartmentalize the creation of products, and the selling of your services. These two activities demand different mindsets. Schedule both activities, and do them at different times of the day or week.Set aside a couple of hours each day, or each week if you're moonlighting in your own business, to promote yourself and your services so you can build up work-orders. Over time, you'll learn how much work you need to have lined up in order to feel comfortable.Here's how to stay as busy as you want to be:=> Step One: Create a marketing packageYou need a marketing package on hand that you can send out to prospective clients immediately, as soon as they enquire.What your marketing package contains is up to you. Here are some ideas:* a short bio (100 words max) with a photo. Note: you're a consultant not a potential employee, so you don’t need to send your CV, no matter how impressive;* a couple of work samples. You can print, scan, or send a PDF file of these work samples;* an outline of the kind of work you do for clients, or would like to do;* your hourly rate, and how this translates into projects.I like to compile all this material into a PFD file. I burn this package onto several CD-Rs, and have them ready to drop into the postal mail.=> Step Two: Target specific companiesIn the best of all possible worlds, which companies would you like to work for? If you're a writer, in which publications would you like to see your byline?In a nutshell, the process is this:* researc
If you have an existing website or domain name you no longer need and wish to sell it to an interested buyer for a one-time profit, or if you?re a speculator looking to build a steady source of revenue by buying and reselling valuable domain names, this helpful guide will explain the steps you need to take to ensure a quick,easy,profitable sale.
Step 1 - Establish a Reasonable Price for Your Site
How Much Can I Get?
Before you sell, it's a good idea to know how much the domain is worth. Market prices for domain names can run from a few dollars to thousands of dollars for premium names. The domain name "Loans.com", for example, sold for $3,000,000 just a few years ago.
The key to deciding whether or not to sell a domain name you own is to determine its worth to you if kept and, alternatively, how much a buyer is willing to pay. You may have heard -rags to riches- type stories of cheap domain names resold for hundreds of thousands of dollars. During the good old days of the Internet boom this was possible. However, things have slowed down considerably since then and there it is very rare to hear of a domain name sold for more than $10,000.
However, while big deal domain sales do occur less often in today?s domain market, selling domain names can still be very profitable. Short, catchy, top level domain names are selling for upwards of $5,000 on the domain aftermarket. Other longer, but still usable, names may be worth hundreds of dollars.
Pricing is relative. Relative to your desire to sell, the type and timeliness of bidder inquiries (individual or corporate) and how well the sale price is negotiated. Don't try to fit your domain name into some 'proprietary pricing model'. Every domain name is applicable to a different target market. Determine who your potential buyers are before determining your asking price so you don't over or under estimate that price. Most names (~85%) sell for between 15%-40% of the asking price. Exceptions to this trend:
Fantastic names - Truly great names can command what a seller requests, unless that amount is unreasonable.
High asking prices - Names that have ridiculous or greedy asking prices rarely sell. Important!
Poor names - Names littered with hyphens, adult names, "4"s for the number "four", "2"s for the number "two", "U"s for the word "you", etc. Don't waste your time listing names like these. They rarely sell.
How Do I Determine My Site's Worth?
Selling virtual real estate is a lot like selling physical real estate. Just like with the housing market, website ?homes? (also known as domain names) can be purchased for a low cost, remodeled and decorated to look very attractive to potential buyers, and sold for a considerable profit. To understand how this works, first consider that you were in fact selling an actual house built on land instead of an abstract entity on the web.
It would be impossible to price your home without doing extensive research to determine its worth. You'd need to take many factors into consideration, such as: size, landscape, curb appeal, the value of other properties in the area, the current buying market, and -perhaps the biggest factor- location, location, location! You'd never dream of arbitrarily assigning a sale price to your home without having some idea of its worth and what buyers might be willing to pay. If you underprice your home, you could be missing out on a substantial profit opportunity.
However, if you overprice your home, you might not be able to sell it at all. That's why it's so important to have all the facts before putting your home on the market - and the same holds true for selling your virtual home on the web.
When determining your site's value, you may need to do some research online. It is often a good idea to compare different websites on the Internet and to see which sites catch your eye. You can make a mental note of the methods used on websites that were appealing to you; then you can use those ideas when creating or updating your own website. The design of a website is very important when you are trying to sell an existing site online.
The design should be bold and colorful, but should not be too busy. You may want to use colors that relate to the theme of the site as well. For instance, if you are selling bottled water, it would be logical to use shades of blue on your website. However, no matter how brilliant the website design is, the purpose of the site must also be useful for the website to sell. A good website will revolve around an interesting idea or useful type of business. To reflect the purpose of your website, you should include clear, informative content that is easy to understand. A website with a clear and interesting purpose is very likely to sell on the Internet.
What Makes a Site Valuable to Buyers?
These days most websites are valued by the number of visitors they attract. One common yard stick is your domain name is valued at $10 to $30 per hit per day. If 1,000 people land on your front page each day, your domain could be worth $10,000 to $30,000. Another optimistic way of looking at domain values is each unique visitor you get over the course of a month is worth $250. If the visitor clicks to a second page on your site, her presence is worth $500.
By this measure, a site getting only 10 hits per day could go for $15,000. This strategy is a lot like the way traditional businesses have always been sold. The more customers a store has, the more it is worth to a buyer. That is a pretty solid way to value domains. It is a model that is likely to be around for a long time to come.
Here are some of the main questions a typical buyer will ask him or herself when considering whether or not a website is worth purchasing ? and at what price:
Is the site making any money? Is there proof?
What is the potential for future profits?
Does the site have traffic? Is there proof?
Is the site attractive/well designed? Is it functional and user friendly?
When was the domain name registered?
How is the site ranked with the major search engines?
What does is take to maintain the site? i.e. hosting fees, content addition, promotion, etc.
Why does the owner want to sell the website?
If you?ve purchased a unique domain name with a great deal of potential value, it may not be necessary for you to have an existing website in order for you to sell your domain name for a profit. Typically, domain names will sell based on its performance in four key categories:
1. Commercial Development Potential - The ability of your domain name to be used as a brand, redirect, campaign address, etc.
2. Recognition - The relevance of your name to the market and how easy it is to remember.
3. Length - In most cases, shorter is better. However, a longer more obvious name can sometimes be more valuable than a short classified-ad contraction style domain.
4. Extension Value - This refers to the .COM part of your domain name. Currently .COM names still command the highest values followed by .NET, some national domains (such as .UK) and .ORG names.
How Can I Guarantee I've Priced My Site Correctly?
Unless you are a true domain name expert, we strongly recommend having your site professionally appraised. In fact, this is probably one of the most important steps you can take towards ensuring a successful sale of your site. Appraisers are professionals and experts in their field, and they have the means and methods to conclude what your domain name
Your clients are the backbone of your business. You can't afford to lose even one of them so you must concentrate on building solid relationships. Relationships with fellow business owners and your employees are equally important. Building strong business relationships creates stability for your business because you are able to give more personalized service. Whether you realize it or not, your company's location affects your relationships with others. Here's how renting an executive office suite can help you build great relationships with your clients, business associates, and employees.More Time for the Things that MatterRenting an executive office suite is a solution many businesses are using simply because it saves time and money. An executive office suite is an office rental service that goes the extra mile for you as a tenant. You're not only renting office space, but also the features, functions and equipment that are necessary for your office to operate efficiently. You don't have the worries of furnishing your office or keeping up with building maintenance, so you can focus on your clients.Network with Surrounding Business OwnersWith an executive office suite, you'll be located near many other businesses. The suites are usually located in a large business ark with many offices. You should attempt to build relationships with other tenants. Visit your office "neighbors" and introduce yourself. Let them know you are willing if they ever want to participate in a joint venture. Recommending one other to clients is a great way to establish an ongoing relationship with your fellow tenants. These business associates might one day become your clients, or vice versa. In the business world, this is called networking.Pamper Your ClientsUse your extra time and your professional office to build very strong relationships with your clients. If your client requests a meeting, you can meet with confidence because of you
Pricing is relative. Relative to your desire to sell, the type and timeliness of bidder inquiries (individual or corporate) and how well the sale price is negotiated. Don't try to fit your domain name into some 'proprietary pricing model'. Every domain name is applicable to a different target market. Determine who your potential buyers are before determining your asking price so you don't over or under estimate that price. Most names (~85%) sell for between 15%-40% of the asking price. Exceptions to this trend:
Fantastic names - Truly great names can command what a seller requests, unless that amount is unreasonable.
High asking prices - Names that have ridiculous or greedy asking prices rarely sell. Important!
Poor names - Names littered with hyphens, adult names, "4"s for the number "four", "2"s for the number "two", "U"s for the word "you", etc. Don't waste your time listing names like these. They rarely sell.
How Do I Determine My Site's Worth?
Selling virtual real estate is a lot like selling physical real estate. Just like with the housing market, website ?homes? (also known as domain names) can be purchased for a low cost, remodeled and decorated to look very attractive to potential buyers, and sold for a considerable profit. To understand how this works, first consider that you were in fact selling an actual house built on land instead of an abstract entity on the web.
It would be impossible to price your home without doing extensive research to determine its worth. You'd need to take many factors into consideration, such as: size, landscape, curb appeal, the value of other properties in the area, the current buying market, and -perhaps the biggest factor- location, location, location! You'd never dream of arbitrarily assigning a sale price to your home without having some idea of its worth and what buyers might be willing to pay. If you underprice your home, you could be missing out on a substantial profit opportunity.
However, if you overprice your home, you might not be able to sell it at all. That's why it's so important to have all the facts before putting your home on the market - and the same holds true for selling your virtual home on the web.
When determining your site's value, you may need to do some research online. It is often a good idea to compare different websites on the Internet and to see which sites catch your eye. You can make a mental note of the methods used on websites that were appealing to you; then you can use those ideas when creating or updating your own website. The design of a website is very important when you are trying to sell an existing site online.
The design should be bold and colorful, but should not be too busy. You may want to use colors that relate to the theme of the site as well. For instance, if you are selling bottled water, it would be logical to use shades of blue on your website. However, no matter how brilliant the website design is, the purpose of the site must also be useful for the website to sell. A good website will revolve around an interesting idea or useful type of business. To reflect the purpose of your website, you should include clear, informative content that is easy to understand. A website with a clear and interesting purpose is very likely to sell on the Internet.
What Makes a Site Valuable to Buyers?
These days most websites are valued by the number of visitors they attract. One common yard stick is your domain name is valued at $10 to $30 per hit per day. If 1,000 people land on your front page each day, your domain could be worth $10,000 to $30,000. Another optimistic way of looking at domain values is each unique visitor you get over the course of a month is worth $250. If the visitor clicks to a second page on your site, her presence is worth $500.
By this measure, a site getting only 10 hits per day could go for $15,000. This strategy is a lot like the way traditional businesses have always been sold. The more customers a store has, the more it is worth to a buyer. That is a pretty solid way to value domains. It is a model that is likely to be around for a long time to come.
Here are some of the main questions a typical buyer will ask him or herself when considering whether or not a website is worth purchasing ? and at what price:
Is the site making any money? Is there proof?
What is the potential for future profits?
Does the site have traffic? Is there proof?
Is the site attractive/well designed? Is it functional and user friendly?
When was the domain name registered?
How is the site ranked with the major search engines?
What does is take to maintain the site? i.e. hosting fees, content addition, promotion, etc.
Why does the owner want to sell the website?
If you?ve purchased a unique domain name with a great deal of potential value, it may not be necessary for you to have an existing website in order for you to sell your domain name for a profit. Typically, domain names will sell based on its performance in four key categories:
1. Commercial Development Potential - The ability of your domain name to be used as a brand, redirect, campaign address, etc.
2. Recognition - The relevance of your name to the market and how easy it is to remember.
3. Length - In most cases, shorter is better. However, a longer more obvious name can sometimes be more valuable than a short classified-ad contraction style domain.
4. Extension Value - This refers to the .COM part of your domain name. Currently .COM names still command the highest values followed by .NET, some national domains (such as .UK) and .ORG names.
How Can I Guarantee I've Priced My Site Correctly?
Unless you are a true domain name expert, we strongly recommend having your site professionally appraised. In fact, this is probably one of the most important steps you can take towards ensuring a successful sale of your site. Appraisers are professionals and experts in their field, and they have the means and methods to conclude what your domain nam
My son slipped a penny in the slot, cranked the machine, and turned his (or was it mine?) penny flat. He can't spend it now, but who uses pennies these days? We have drawers full of them. Watching him made me think of Thomas Friedman's book, The World Is Flat: A Brief History Of The Twenty-First Century (an easy recollection since I was reading the book).Friedman writes for the New York Times editorial department. He has written Longitudes and Attitudes and The Lexus and the Olive Tree. The World is Flat completes a trilogy that validates Marshall McLuan's maxim, "We now live in a global village...a simultaneous happening."Friedman makes global observations with wise criticism and keen understanding. For example, listen here to Friedman talk about the Iraq War, "If you don't visit a bad neighborhood in a flat world, it will visit you, " and it did.11/9 and 9/11 I won't give away the entire content of Friedman's book. I couldn't do it justice, and it is too long (471 pages). I will tell you that two events hinge the world for Friedman. The fall of the Berlin Wall, the rise of Windows95, and the fall of Windows on the World. Oddly, the first happened 11/9/1989 and the last 9/11/2001.Finding Flat Pennies The world is flat because nothing is proprietary. What can be made, learned, constructed, and used in America can be made, learned, constructed, and used almost anywhere. Information and innovation are not constrained; the Internet, the cell-phone, and imagination have global instincts. Almost anyone can flatten a penny.What a flat world means to your investment choices Friedman does not address foreign investing. He emphasizes collaboration between
However, if you overprice your home, you might not be able to sell it at all. That's why it's so important to have all the facts before putting your home on the market - and the same holds true for selling your virtual home on the web.
When determining your site's value, you may need to do some research online. It is often a good idea to compare different websites on the Internet and to see which sites catch your eye. You can make a mental note of the methods used on websites that were appealing to you; then you can use those ideas when creating or updating your own website. The design of a website is very important when you are trying to sell an existing site online.
The design should be bold and colorful, but should not be too busy. You may want to use colors that relate to the theme of the site as well. For instance, if you are selling bottled water, it would be logical to use shades of blue on your website. However, no matter how brilliant the website design is, the purpose of the site must also be useful for the website to sell. A good website will revolve around an interesting idea or useful type of business. To reflect the purpose of your website, you should include clear, informative content that is easy to understand. A website with a clear and interesting purpose is very likely to sell on the Internet.
What Makes a Site Valuable to Buyers?
These days most websites are valued by the number of visitors they attract. One common yard stick is your domain name is valued at $10 to $30 per hit per day. If 1,000 people land on your front page each day, your domain could be worth $10,000 to $30,000. Another optimistic way of looking at domain values is each unique visitor you get over the course of a month is worth $250. If the visitor clicks to a second page on your site, her presence is worth $500.
By this measure, a site getting only 10 hits per day could go for $15,000. This strategy is a lot like the way traditional businesses have always been sold. The more customers a store has, the more it is worth to a buyer. That is a pretty solid way to value domains. It is a model that is likely to be around for a long time to come.
Here are some of the main questions a typical buyer will ask him or herself when considering whether or not a website is worth purchasing ? and at what price:
Is the site making any money? Is there proof?
What is the potential for future profits?
Does the site have traffic? Is there proof?
Is the site attractive/well designed? Is it functional and user friendly?
When was the domain name registered?
How is the site ranked with the major search engines?
What does is take to maintain the site? i.e. hosting fees, content addition, promotion, etc.
Why does the owner want to sell the website?
If you?ve purchased a unique domain name with a great deal of potential value, it may not be necessary for you to have an existing website in order for you to sell your domain name for a profit. Typically, domain names will sell based on its performance in four key categories:
1. Commercial Development Potential - The ability of your domain name to be used as a brand, redirect, campaign address, etc.
2. Recognition - The relevance of your name to the market and how easy it is to remember.
3. Length - In most cases, shorter is better. However, a longer more obvious name can sometimes be more valuable than a short classified-ad contraction style domain.
4. Extension Value - This refers to the .COM part of your domain name. Currently .COM names still command the highest values followed by .NET, some national domains (such as .UK) and .ORG names.
How Can I Guarantee I've Priced My Site Correctly?
Unless you are a true domain name expert, we strongly recommend having your site professionally appraised. In fact, this is probably one of the most important steps you can take towards ensuring a successful sale of your site. Appraisers are professionals and experts in their field, and they have the means and methods to conclude what your domain nam
Financial management is one of the most important aspects of any business. If the company’s finances are handled adequately and deployed in the right areas, it’s sure to prosper. On the other hand, if amateurs manage the company’s finances, the business can get into trouble before it takes off. So how can you ensure that your company’s finances are managed properly? The answer is by finding an efficient financial advisor.Services Offered By Financial AdvisorsA financial advisor can help you with planning the company’s finances in such a way that the working capital is adequately met, the operating expenses are under control, and the capital expenditure programs are well-planned. Wise financial planning also helps a company to restrict its borrowing, and protecting its high credit rating. High credentials, in turn, reflect on the company’s transparent operation, and instill trust among the investors. This benefits the company over the long-term. This article aims at educating entrepreneurs in choosing the right financial advisor for their company:Check The Advisor’s CredentialsFind out the advisor’s professional designation. If he is a Registered Financial Consultant (RFC), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), or Certified Financial Planner (CFP), you may rely upon him. These credentials give you an idea of how qualified the professional, which will help you to determine whether he will be deliver quality services. Also check how many years of professional experience does the advisor have; ideally choose an advisor who has at least five years of working experience with good clients. Find out his record of accomplishment from the industry sources and hire him only when he has a proven track record of wealth creation and management.Find Out The Charges of The AdvisorDo not hesitate in asking the advisor about how much he would charge you for providing various services related to financial management. Generally, these professionals have a fixed fee; if the advisor you are i
What Makes a Site Valuable to Buyers?
These days most websites are valued by the number of visitors they attract. One common yard stick is your domain name is valued at $10 to $30 per hit per day. If 1,000 people land on your front page each day, your domain could be worth $10,000 to $30,000. Another optimistic way of looking at domain values is each unique visitor you get over the course of a month is worth $250. If the visitor clicks to a second page on your site, her presence is worth $500.
By this measure, a site getting only 10 hits per day could go for $15,000. This strategy is a lot like the way traditional businesses have always been sold. The more customers a store has, the more it is worth to a buyer. That is a pretty solid way to value domains. It is a model that is likely to be around for a long time to come.
Here are some of the main questions a typical buyer will ask him or herself when considering whether or not a website is worth purchasing ? and at what price:
Is the site making any money? Is there proof?
What is the potential for future profits?
Does the site have traffic? Is there proof?
Is the site attractive/well designed? Is it functional and user friendly?
When was the domain name registered?
How is the site ranked with the major search engines?
What does is take to maintain the site? i.e. hosting fees, content addition, promotion, etc.
Why does the owner want to sell the website?
If you?ve purchased a unique domain name with a great deal of potential value, it may not be necessary for you to have an existing website in order for you to sell your domain name for a profit. Typically, domain names will sell based on its performance in four key categories:
1. Commercial Development Potential - The ability of your domain name to be used as a brand, redirect, campaign address, etc.
2. Recognition - The relevance of your name to the market and how easy it is to remember.
3. Length - In most cases, shorter is better. However, a longer more obvious name can sometimes be more valuable than a short classified-ad contraction style domain.
4. Extension Value - This refers to the .COM part of your domain name. Currently .COM names still command the highest values followed by .NET, some national domains (such as .UK) and .ORG names.
How Can I Guarantee I've Priced My Site Correctly?
Unless you are a true domain name expert, we strongly recommend having your site professionally appraised. In fact, this is probably one of the most important steps you can take towards ensuring a successful sale of your site. Appraisers are professionals and experts in their field, and they have the means and methods to conclude what your domain nam
Does the term “collection agency” put you on edge? If you’re like many small business owners, the mountain of debt you accumulated during startup might have been enough to make you worry about collection agencies every time you answered the phone. But your feelings toward collection agencies are eventually going to change, if they haven’t already.While no one wants to hire a small business collection agency, it’s a sad reality of doing business that not every customer feels the need to pay, or has the ability to pay all at once.If you want to stay in business, you’ll need to collect that money. When your most polite and not-so-polite reminders to pay have failed, you’ll need to start getting serious, which means going to an agency.Collection Agency Services: More Benefits Than CostsProfessional collection agency services will certainly cost more than just writing letters demanding your money back. But the amount of money you’ll collect, not to mention the time you’ll save, will more than pay it back. In fact, when you consider the hourly rate of your employees, or you yourself, collection agencies’ fees really can be quite a bargain.Let’s say you have an assistant your business pays $10/hour, effectively costing your business $15/hour once you count in employment taxes, benefits, and the overhead of your office. You would be lucky if that assistant spent just five hours total on each debt, and managed to collect half of them. But you would have sunk $150 into each successful collection. Plus, there’s the opportunity cost: $150 worth of time you haven’t spent in growing your business. So the net loss is $300, and probably more if you’re a profitable business that gets a good return on your people’s time.But if you refer your delinquent debts to a collection agency for $75 each, and they collect three-quarters of them, you’ve invested only $100 per debt collected. Once you factor in all the money from all the debts the agency collected for you that you couldn’t have collecte
How is the site ranked with the major search engines?
What does is take to maintain the site? i.e. hosting fees, content addition, promotion, etc.
Why does the owner want to sell the website?
If you?ve purchased a unique domain name with a great deal of potential value, it may not be necessary for you to have an existing website in order for you to sell your domain name for a profit. Typically, domain names will sell based on its performance in four key categories:
1. Commercial Development Potential - The ability of your domain name to be used as a brand, redirect, campaign address, etc.
2. Recognition - The relevance of your name to the market and how easy it is to remember.
3. Length - In most cases, shorter is better. However, a longer more obvious name can sometimes be more valuable than a short classified-ad contraction style domain.
4. Extension Value - This refers to the .COM part of your domain name. Currently .COM names still command the highest values followed by .NET, some national domains (such as .UK) and .ORG names.
How Can I Guarantee I've Priced My Site Correctly?
Unless you are a true domain name expert, we strongly recommend having your site professionally appraised. In fact, this is probably one of the most important steps you can take towards ensuring a successful sale of your site. Appraisers are professionals and experts in their field, and they have the means and methods to conclude what your domain name is worth. As we mentioned earlier, if you place an exaggerated price on your name, potential buyers will be scared away from making a reasonable offer. If you undervalue your name, you may end up kicking yourself when your newly sold name rakes in millions - for someone else. Furthermore, an appraisal is a very handy thing to have when buyers want -proof- that your name is as special as you claim. In the end, it is an exceptionally valuable asset, available for a very small price.
For information on UK Website for Sale's professional appraisal services, visit: http://www.ukwebsiteforsale.co.uk/appraisal/. We offer a 20+ page Website Appraisal that can dramatically increase the value of your website. No one on the Internet offers a more complete or cost effective Website Appraisal, and certainly no one offers all the extras we do that are included for FREE!
Step 2 - Prepare your Business Information for the Sale
After you have decided to sell your business for whatever reason and chosen an asking price that you can support (hopefully with some advice from research or, even better, through a professional appraisal service), you are now ready to talk to some potential buyers. Or are you?
Much like the asking price, the art of preparing your business for sale is not that easy. So, what do you need to successfully prepare the business and information? The list and needs vary greatly over business types, revenue sizes, verticals, and so on. For any business, the basic requirements for what you will need are quite similar. At the very least, you should have the following items:
- Business Summary -- what it is and why you are selling
- Business Plan/Marketing Plan -- if you have them
- Asset List -- both tangible and intangible
- Search Engine Rankings
- Website Traffic Reports
- Any Technical details
- Financials (previous years and Current YTD financials)
- Most recent completed year's Profit & Loss or Income Statement report and Balance Sheet -- if you have it
- Sales Forecasts
- Supporting documents for the Financials -- Tax, Bank, and/or Merchant Statements
The previous items will give all potential buyers a good idea what is for sale and probably a good idea if they are interested in pursuing the sale or not. However, that is usually just the beginning, so be prepared for many, many, many more questions.
Also, please keep in mind that your materials, presentation, and responses will be graded as part of the business in a way. Why? Because, how can your business be successful if you are unorganized, not well presented, and not able to respond quickly and concisely? This is what the buyer will be thinking. And in my experience, this is pretty accurate.
Step 3 ? Market Your Website/Domain Name
There are various methods of putting your domain name up for sale. Decide whether you would like to sell your domain by owner or simplify the process and significantly increase your chances of receiving the best offer in the shortest amount of time by listing your domain name with a third party, such as http://www.ukwebsiteforsale.co.uk.
What if I Want to Market My Site On My Own?
There are 101 different ways to promote your domain name. One way we don't recommend is blanketing companies with unsolicited email. Writing mail to 200 banks asking if they want to buy -FasterInternetBanking.com- is not likely to win you many friends, nor make you any deals. Your time would be better employed using the methods listed below:
a) Update the domain name registration information
Many potential buyers will look at the information in the WHOIS database as a first step when investigating a name that they are considering buying. So make it perfectly clear that the name is for sale. Update the owner's name to include (This name is for sale) after your own name. Make sure all your contact information is current and accurate. Contact your domain name registrar to update your WHOIS listing.
b) Put a promotional website up
The other obvious way for a potential buyer to find out if a domain name is for sale is to visit the website. Don't disappoint them. If you don?t have an existing website, get some web space from a decent host provider and put a simple, one-page site up, showing that the name is for sale. Include a form or at least an email address so that interested parties can submit offers.
c) Get the Word Out
There are two different types of e-marketing strategies that may help increase your sales.
Direct Marketing: Identify and Address Your Audience. What types of businesses or individuals would be interested in your name? When you have identified your specific audience, you can take the next steps:
1. Visit newsgroups related to domain names and the nature of your name for sale. Post messages and begin discussions.
2. Subscribe to ezines related to the topic and find out where these people are on the web, and how you can contact them.
3. Once you have contacts, you can send out emails to potential customers.
Mass Marketing: Address Many. As opposed to direct marketing, mass marketing targets a large amount of people, hoping for a small response. Some ways to do this are:
4. Participate in domain forums, ask questions and seek out domain resellers or people who may be able to offer you more tips.
5. Use search engines. Although search engines differ in their methods of operation and website submission, you can often submit your site for no cost. To find out more information about different search engines and how they work, visit http://searchenginewatch.com/.
What are the Benefits to Registering My Site With a Third Party?
For a small fee, you can list your site with a reputable third party, such as
HTTP = HTML link (for blogs, profiles,phorums):
<a href="http://www.casualarticles.com/article/51144/casualarticles-How-To-Sell-A-Website-Fast.html">How To Sell A Website Fast</a>
BB link (for phorums):
[url=http://www.casualarticles.com/article/51144/casualarticles-How-To-Sell-A-Website-Fast.html]How To Sell A Website Fast[/url]
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