1. Clearly explain why you are selling your website
Potential buyers always want to know why you are selling your online business. Providing information like;
- I've lost interest in the website.
- I no longer have time to run the business.
- I don't have the knowledge to continue growing this business.
Can all help convince the potential buyer that they have the ability to increase traffic and profit from buying your online business.
2. List your website on Ackwired.com
You obviously need to be listed on marketplace websites to sell your business. Here are a few to look at
Ackwired (that's us)
We are an aggregator of many of the online the market places, and provide a curated experience to only list the highest quality websites for sale. It's also free to list your website for sale.
www.ackwired.com
Flippa
One of the largest market places to buy and sell websites.
www.flippa.com
Afternic
One of the largest sites for buying and selling domains. Very well established.
www.afternic.com
3. Provide proof of traffic
Outline the traffic you are currently receiving;
- Monthly page views.
- Monthly unique users.
- Signups per month (optional but can be helpful).
Remember, without proof though (screen shots etc..) your statistics won't mean much to any potential buyer.
4. Detail revenue and profit and have proof
The primary reason most websites sell is their potential of revenue/profit to the new owner. Making this information easily accessible to them is crucial for them to make an informed decision about purchasing your website.
5. Outline running costs
Most people always miss this one out. By being upfront about the running costs allows your potential buyers to determine if they can first of all afford to purchase and run your website, but also if they can improve its revenue/profit.
6. Provide an attractive description of your business, but don't write a novel
Provide useful, and to the point information about your online business. You don't need to write paragraphs upon paragraphs. Simple dot points about your business can be sufficient.
7. Use an eye catching subject/title
Most of the time all you will have to attract the user is a row listing the title and image of your website. You have about 5-10 words to convince the user to click through and read more. Make this count!
8. Use screenshots of your website that really promote it
Premium quality screenshots seem to be an after thought when selling a website. There are most likely hundreds of pages to your website, including user/admin restricted areas. If a potential buyer needs to source credentials just to have a look at the functionality it may be too late. Provide good quality screen shots of the core components of your site - including brief annotations about each section can also help. However, remember they still need access to view and play around with these features - so have them prepared in advance.
One of our better websites for sale.
9. Outline where you could see this business going in the next 1-3 years
Being able to give potential buyers ideas on where you would see the business in 1-3 years from now can give them the confidence that you had a real vision in mind when you started this business.
10. Be prompt about answering questions from potential buyers.
Finally, be prompt. If a potential buyer asks questions about your business get back to them as soon as possible - remember they are customers too.
