I had the chance to get an interview with someone who had much experience with regards to flipping websites, and I took advantage of this rare occasion by asking him as many questions as possible. In this article, I will share with you the valuable tips and highlights from the conversation.
In less than a year, this guy created and sold over 100 websites! Obviously, he has his system down when it comes to developing sites. As a matter of fact, he can set up one in less than three hours. More inspiring, especially to new website flippers, is that he doesn’t even flip websites full time.
He does acknowledge however, that the landscape for selling startups has changed. Just half a year ago, he couldn’t churn out new sites fast enough, and he was selling them for around $297. This was a huge profit considering that the startups weren’t showing any traffic or income yet. Now buyers are after websites that bear the same price tag but with some income and traffic already.
At present, the pro flipper is now working on finding established sites which he can then sell after some work. His strategies are quite similar to those he would use for a startup site. He posts a blog on the website, adds great content, puts backlinks, and so on. Using an aged domain Improving a website that’s already got some traffic and revenue, you are likely to get greater returns in comparison to selling startups.
One of the experiences he shared was when he made a very profitable flip where he acquired one for less than a hundred bucks. After he put some time into it, he sold it for $1,000! That wasn’t pure luck however, as he had to learn some strategies for buying and selling established domains such as ensuring the good PR of the site, handling 301 redirects, and preserving the link quality, but in the end it paid off.
He is a huge supporter of Word Press when it comes to blogging platforms. As proof, he uses Word Press themes for all of his sites, and said that they are “easy to setup and transfer and the admin section is a breeze to navigate”. And that’s true even for those new to website flipping.
He also gave cool tips on auctioning sites on Flippa.com. He suggested that the seller let the auction run for around 5 to 7 days to give everyone a chance to take a look at all of your listings. We know that people have different habits when it comes to surfing and working times. Another useful tip he gave was to make use of the BIN option if the right opportunity revealed itself.
It was a lengthy and informative interview, and well worth the time. One of the most important website flipping advice he gave was about aiming for quality. Don’t build a site simply for the sake of having something to sell. Get some traffic and revenue flowing, and apply SEO prior to attempting to sell it. Buyers these days are a great deal smarter, and they are searching for a business, not just a great looking website.
Lastly, be honest about your site — what it is and what it offers. Don’t put your reputation at risk by making false claims, or else you may damage your future sales. It is simply wrong to promote your site as something it isn’t. It could really end your site flipping business before you know it.