Josh Buckley Internet Entrepreneur

Selling sites can be a daunting task for those who have never done so before. However, it can be very rewarding to both parties at the end of a sale. I have sold multiple websites in the past, having got a very good price for them.

It is becoming a much more popular trait. All over the news, we are hearing of extravagant website sales, motivating us to get our sites selling for truly absurd prices. Of course, that probably won’t happen. Let’s keep our feet on the ground. Although, we can get a great price for a site. Something that would definitely make you happy. In this two-part post, I will cover ways to help your site sell for that price you would love to get.

What these posts won’t do is covering the selling process of a website, that would require a different post.

How much is the website worth?
There’s a popular saying for those selling websites. It goes:

“A website is worth only what somebody is willing to pay for it.”

The quote pretty much sums it all up. However, working out how much people will pay for a it can be a craft in its own. It is something that has to be learned over time. I believe that a formula can never be devised, people will value a website differently.

People all value websites in different ways. A common method is to multiply the monthly revenue by 12 or 24. I am against this method, as there are many different factors to be taken into consideration. For instance, a website may be making very little money, but the traffic and technology used is very very good. This is where our little friend potential joins the game. Remember the sale of youtube? Think of the potential the site had, with all the traffic and it was not plastered with adverts. I believe that’s where google saw value in youtube.

Ofcourse, there are variables that will take down the value of your site. Such as expenses, how much work is needed to maintain the site, competition, potential and future predictions. All of these things should come into the equation. This is why it is so hard to value a website. There is one good way, in my opinion to seek a good valuation, that is:

How much do YOU want for the website?
Be realistic. People often overprice when selling. Think about the work you have put into the project, how much will you be happy walking away with? Think of the minimum amount you would let it go for.
A good way to work it out at this stage is to put yourself in the buyer’s shoes. How much would you pay for it?

Once you have thought up a good price range, you have got past the first hurdle. Choosing the right place to sell can be quite tricky. However, for any website sale over $100 - I would list on sitepoint. I’ve had great success with them, upgrading your listing is also a good idea.

In the next post, I will cover some killer tips for once your site is at the marketplace.