Starting a website from scratch? or buying an established website?
by Derek on October 12, 2008
If you make a visit to those popular webmaster forums like digitalpoint, sitepoint, namepros, you will most probably see a buy/sell/trade section. And that’s good! Webmasters like us love those sections because it is very possible to earn an income from there. Of course, by selling and buying websites. If you have been into “webmastering” for some period, there will be a time where you have to make a choice whether is it wise to start a website from scatch or to buy a website that is already established with income monthly. And that’s is the main point that i will be sharing my experiences in this particular post.
Like any developers and webdesigners out there, i always have the same mentality as them. Why buy a website while i can develop it myself? Why spend the unneccessary money? However, think about again. I could develop a similar website, but can i make sure that it makes the same amount of income? The point that i am trying to emphasize is webmastering is not just about being able to develop out the website. There are also many factors such as being able to monetize the website, being able to market it effectively etc. For me, there are certain circumstances where i would make my decision whether to start a website from scratch or to buy an established one.
Times where i buy an established website.
- When the website is making a stable flow of income monthly.
- When the website got all the features that i want.
- Where metrics of the website is good.
- Mostly importantly, when i have the budget.
Times where i start a website from scratch.
- When i have a unique idea where none other websites are in the similar niche.
- That’s all!
So as you can see, i would recommend you to buy an established website that is already making money than to start a website from scratch. What is the point of starting it from zero while you can start it at maybe “two” or “three”? For example, you wanted to start a tutorial website to earn money from it as you see most of your friends are earning from that niche. You surfed sitepoint and you came across a thread whereby a seller is selling his already established tutorial website ( making $100 monthly ). The price is within your budget. So, why not buy it? Save you the time from developing it while you can spent the time to do other things to probably doubled your income?
Many people don’t buy websites because they are afraid not being able to recoup their purchase expenses. Do not think that way! Recently, about 2 months ago, i just bought a neglected blog for $260 usd. Metrics of that blog are considered normal. I take couple of hours to improve the look of the blog, to do some seo tweaking, and to monetize it. Currently, that blog earns around $60 usd monthly. ( $20 passive income from link sales + remaining $30 from reviews, blogpost + $10 from adsense ) I bought the blog at $260, which means i already make back around 50% of what i invested in 2 months. And if i were to sell that blog now, i am pretty sure i can get $600 for it. ( 10 months income). Do your maths, is it profiting?
If you are interested in knowing the url of the blog, you can email me. Yeah, suggestions and comments for this blog is greatly welcomed and encouraged.
To boost the particpation level of this post, i will be giving away free $10 paypal to the best comment reply relating to this post. ( Input your paypal email when submitting a reply ) You can give your views about today’s topic, what you agree or disagree? Add on information blah blah blah. This will end at 16th October 2008. Hurray.
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Starting a website from scratch? or buying an establish
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
There does appear to be some benefits to purchasing a site that is already running, as far as time saved and freed up to use towards adding features. One has to think about whether they can continue a site based on its current status.
reminds me a bit of persons who flip real estate. some people find that after buying a house, all they need to do is a bit of cleaning, maybe slap on some new paint, that sort of thing, and already the resale value has increased. cool that online a similar thing is possible.
Shd we follow any kind of strategy to maintain e commerce site..I am just opening it so if u can help me i am very thank full to u
Andrew
@ Andrew Green : i will be glad to help, email me the details..
Nice article. Thanks.
Eugene
I always like to start from scratch so I know everything about the site
Hi Derek, your blog is showing errors in Firefox 3… I hope you can fix it.
@Popular Technology: thanks for it.. will check it out.. is it the sidebar?
Yup, the 125 x 125 ads are overlapping… your RSS icon is actually hidden now.
- Tyrone
@: Popular Technology: Yea, thanks, i solved it..