| Dear Website Owner,If you have an existing | | | | buyers want "proof" that your name is as special |
| website or domain name you no longer need and | | | | as you claim. In the end, it is an exceptionally |
| wish to sell it to an interested buyer for a | | | | valuable asset, available for a very small price.For |
| one-time profit, or if you're a speculator looking to | | | | information on UK Website for Sale's professional |
| build a steady source of revenue by buying and | | | | appraisal services, visit: We offer a 20+ page |
| reselling valuable domain names, this helpful guide | | | | Website Appraisal that can dramatically increase |
| will explain the steps you need to take to ensure | | | | the value of your website. No one on the Internet |
| a quick, easy, profitable sale.Step 1 - Establish a | | | | offers a more complete or cost effective |
| Reasonable Price for Your SiteHow Much Can I | | | | Website Appraisal, and certainly no one offers all |
| Get?Before you sell, it's a good idea to know how | | | | the extras we do that are included for FREE!Step |
| much the domain is worth. Market prices for | | | | 2 - Prepare your Business Information for the |
| domain names can run from a few dollars to | | | | SaleAfter you have decided to sell your business |
| thousands of dollars for premium names. The | | | | for whatever reason and chosen an asking price |
| domain name "Loans.com", for example, sold for | | | | that you can support (hopefully with some advice |
| $3,000,000 just a few years ago. The key to | | | | from research or, even better, through a |
| deciding whether or not to sell a domain name | | | | professional appraisal service), you are now ready |
| you own is to determine its worth to you if kept | | | | to talk to some potential buyers. Or are |
| and, alternatively, how much a buyer is willing to | | | | you?Much like the asking price, the art of |
| pay. You may have heard 'rags to riches' type | | | | preparing your business for sale is not that easy. |
| stories of cheap domain names resold for | | | | So, what do you need to successfully prepare the |
| hundreds of thousands of dollars. During the good | | | | business and information? The list and needs vary |
| old days of the Internet boom this was possible. | | | | greatly over business types, revenue sizes, |
| However, things have slowed down considerably | | | | verticals, and so on. For any business, the basic |
| since then and there it is very rare to hear of a | | | | requirements for what you will need are quite |
| domain name sold for more than $10,000. | | | | similar. At the very least, you should have the |
| However, while big deal domain sales do occur | | | | following items:1. Business Summary -- what it is |
| less often in today's domain market, selling domain | | | | and why you are selling2. Business Plan/Marketing |
| names can still be very profitable. Short, catchy, | | | | Plan -- if you have them3. Asset List -- both |
| top level domain names are selling for upwards of | | | | tangible and intangible4. Search Engine Rankings5. |
| $5,000 on the domain aftermarket. Other longer, | | | | Website Traffic Reports6. Any Technical details7. |
| but still usable, names may be worth hundreds of | | | | Financials (previous years and Current YTD |
| dollars.Pricing is relative. Relative to your desire to | | | | financials)8. Most recent completed year's Profit & |
| sell, the type and timeliness of bidder inquiries | | | | Loss or Income Statement report and Balance |
| (individual or corporate) and how well the sale | | | | Sheet -- if you have it9. Sales Forecasts10. |
| price is negotiated. Don't try to fit your domain | | | | Supporting documents for the Financials -- Tax, |
| name into some 'proprietary pricing model'. Every | | | | Bank, and/or Merchant StatementsThe previous |
| domain name is applicable to a different target | | | | items will give all potential buyers a good idea |
| market. Determine who your potential buyers are | | | | what is for sale and probably a good idea if they |
| before determining your asking price so you don't | | | | are interested in pursuing the sale or not. |
| over or under estimate that price. Most names | | | | However, that is usually just the beginning, so be |
| (~85%) sell for between 15%-40% of the asking | | | | prepared for many, many, many more |
| price. Exceptions to this trend:Fantastic names - | | | | questions.Also, please keep in mind that your |
| Truly great names can command what a seller | | | | materials, presentation, and responses will be |
| requests, unless that amount is unreasonable. | | | | graded as part of the business in a way. Why? |
| High asking prices - Names that have ridiculous or | | | | Because, how can your business be successful if |
| greedy asking prices rarely sell. Important! | | | | you are unorganized, not well presented, and not |
| Poor names - Names littered with hyphens, adult | | | | able to respond quickly and concisely? This is |
| names, "4"s for the number "four", "2"s for the | | | | what the buyer will be thinking. And in my |
| number "two", "U"s for the word "you", etc. Don't | | | | experience, this is pretty accurate.Step 3 - Market |
| waste your time listing names like these. They | | | | Your Website/Domain NameThere are various |
| rarely sell.How Do I Determine My Site's | | | | methods of putting your domain name up for sale. |
| Worth?Selling virtual real estate is a lot like selling | | | | Decide whether you would like to sell your domain |
| physical real estate. Just like with the housing | | | | by owner or simplify the process and significantly |
| market, website "homes" (also known as domain | | | | increase your chances of receiving the best offer |
| names) can be purchased for a low cost, | | | | in the shortest amount of time by listing your |
| remodeled and decorated to look very attractive | | | | domain name with a third party, such as if I Want |
| to potential buyers, and sold for a considerable | | | | to Market My Site On My Own?There are 101 |
| profit. To understand how this works, first | | | | different ways to promote your domain name. |
| consider that you were in fact selling an actual | | | | One way we don't recommend is blanketing |
| house built on land instead of an abstract entity | | | | companies with unsolicited email. Writing mail to |
| on the web. It would be impossible to price your | | | | 200 banks asking if they want to buy is not likely |
| home without doing extensive research to | | | | to win you many friends, nor make you any |
| determine its worth. You'd need to take many | | | | deals. Your time would be better employed using |
| factors into consideration, such as: size, landscape, | | | | the methods listed below:a) Update the domain |
| curb appeal, the value of other properties in the | | | | name registration informationMany potential |
| area, the current buying market, and - perhaps | | | | buyers will look at the information in the WHOIS |
| the biggest factor - location, location, location! | | | | database as a first step when investigating a |
| You'd never dream of arbitrarily assigning a sale | | | | name that they are considering buying. So make |
| price to your home without having some idea of | | | | it perfectly clear that the name is for sale. Update |
| its worth and what buyers might be willing to pay. | | | | the owner's name to include (This name is for |
| If you underprice your home, you could be | | | | sale) after your own name. Make sure all your |
| missing out on a substantial profit opportunity. | | | | contact information is current and accurate. |
| However, if you overprice your home, you might | | | | Contact your domain name registrar to update |
| not be able to sell it at all. That's why it's so | | | | your WHOIS listing.b) Put a promotional website |
| important to have all the facts before putting | | | | upThe other obvious way for a potential buyer to |
| your home on the market - and the same holds | | | | find out if a domain name is for sale is to visit the |
| true for selling your virtual home on the | | | | website. Don't disappoint them. If you don't have |
| web.When determining your site's value, you may | | | | an existing website, get some web space from a |
| need to do some research online. It is often a | | | | decent host provider and put a simple, one-page |
| good idea to compare different websites on the | | | | site up, showing that the name is for sale. Include |
| Internet and to see which sites catch your eye. | | | | a form or at least an email address so that |
| You can make a mental note of the methods | | | | interested parties can submit offers.c) Get the |
| used on websites that were appealing to you; | | | | Word OutThere are two different types of |
| then you can use those ideas when creating or | | | | e-marketing strategies that may help increase |
| updating your own website. The design of a | | | | your sales.Direct Marketing: Identify and Address |
| website is very important when you are trying to | | | | Your Audience. What types of businesses or |
| sell an existing site online. The design should be | | | | individuals would be interested in your name? |
| bold and colorful, but should not be too busy. You | | | | When you have identified your specific audience, |
| may want to use colors that relate to the theme | | | | you can take the next steps:1. Visit newsgroups |
| of the site as well. For instance, if you are selling | | | | related to domain names and the nature of your |
| bottled water, it would be logical to use shades of | | | | name for sale. Post messages and begin |
| blue on your website. However, no matter how | | | | discussions.2. Subscribe to ezines related to the |
| brilliant the website design is, the purpose of the | | | | topic and find out where these people are on the |
| site must also be useful for the website to sell. A | | | | web, and how you can contact them.3. Once you |
| good website will revolve around an interesting | | | | have contacts, you can send out emails to |
| idea or useful type of business. To reflect the | | | | potential customers.Mass Marketing: Address |
| purpose of your website, you should include clear, | | | | Many. As opposed to direct marketing, mass |
| informative content that is easy to understand. A | | | | marketing targets a large amount of people, |
| website with a clear and interesting purpose is | | | | hoping for a small response. Some ways to do |
| very likely to sell on the Internet.What Makes a | | | | this are:4. Participate in domain forums, ask |
| Site Valuable to Buyers?These days most | | | | questions and seek out domain resellers or people |
| websites are valued by the number of visitors | | | | who may be able to offer you more tips.5. Use |
| they attract. One common yard stick is your | | | | search engines. Although search engines differ in |
| domain name is valued at $10 to $30 per hit per | | | | their methods of operation and website |
| day. If 1,000 people land on your front page each | | | | submission, you can often submit your site for no |
| day, your domain could be worth $10,000 to | | | | cost. To find out more information about different |
| $30,000. Another optimistic way of looking at | | | | search engines and how they work, visit are the |
| domain values is each unique visitor you get over | | | | Benefits to Registering My Site With a Third |
| the course of a month is worth $250. If the | | | | Party?For a small fee, you can list your site with |
| visitor clicks to a second page on your site, her | | | | a reputable third party, such as and greatly |
| presence is worth $500. By this measure, a site | | | | enhance your site's exposure to qualified buyers |
| getting only 10 hits per day could go for $15,000. | | | | and ultimate profit potential. Among the many |
| This strategy is a lot like the way traditional | | | | benefits you'll receive by registering with |
| businesses have always been sold. The more | | | | ukwebsiteforsale are:· High visibility - Reach |
| customers a store has, the more it is worth to a | | | | 1000s of qualified buyers every month· FREE |
| buyer. That is a pretty solid way to value | | | | 3-Month Featured Listing with purchase of |
| domains. It is a model that is likely to be around | | | | professional appraisal· Professionally written |
| for a long time to come.Here are some of the | | | | ads· FREE email newsletter· A |
| main questions a typical buyer will ask him or | | | | professional appraisal to accurately determine |
| herself when considering whether or not a | | | | your sites worth and increase your chances of |
| website is worth purchasing - and at what price: | | | | selling - ready in three to five business days· |
| Is the site making any money? Is there proof? | | | | The security of working with a trusted, |
| What is the potential for future profits? | | | | experienced and highly recommended |
| Does the site have traffic? Is there proof? | | | | company· The opportunity to connect with a |
| Is the site attractive/well designed? Is it | | | | recommended site broker, who will further |
| functional and user friendly? | | | | simplify the process by handling payment, escrow, |
| When was the domain name registered? | | | | and domain and registrar transfer.Visit to learn |
| How is the site ranked with the major search | | | | more.Step #4 - Make The DealYou could get |
| engines? | | | | lucky, and receive an offer just days after listing |
| What does is take to maintain the site? i.e. | | | | your name. Typically, though, names are listed for |
| hosting fees, content addition, promotion, etc. | | | | months before any offers arrive. The key here is |
| Why does the owner want to sell the website?If | | | | to be patient. Think about it - a party needs to |
| you've purchased a unique domain name with a | | | | come along who believes that the name is right, |
| great deal of potential value, it may not be | | | | even essential, for their new Web site. The only |
| necessary for you to have an existing website in | | | | other offers you will get will be from domain |
| order for you to sell your domain name for a | | | | resellers, who will typically offer you 20-25% of a |
| profit. Typically, domain names will sell based on its | | | | name's potential value. Unless you really need the |
| performance in four key categories:1. Commercial | | | | money, turn down these offers, but note them |
| Development Potential - The ability of your | | | | anyway, as they are external confirmation that |
| domain name to be used as a brand, redirect, | | | | your name has resale value.Once you have |
| campaign address, etc.2. Recognition - The | | | | agreed a deal with the buyer, then you will have |
| relevance of your name to the market and how | | | | to complete the deal. They send you payment, |
| easy it is to remember.3. Length - In most cases, | | | | and you transfer the name to them. It's best to |
| shorter is better. However, a longer more obvious | | | | use an escrow service here. It protects both |
| name can sometimes be more valuable than a | | | | parties, but adds to the cost, so make sure you |
| short classified-ad contraction style domain.4. | | | | have agreed beforehand who will pay for it. |
| Extension Value - This refers to the .COM part of | | | | Normally the buyer pays, but sometimes the cost |
| your domain name. Currently .COM names still | | | | is shared. Please note: to sell a domain name by |
| command the highest values followed by .NET, | | | | owner, through a private transaction rather than a |
| some national domains (such as .UK) and .ORG | | | | trusted third party, is risky business unless you |
| names.How Can I Guarantee I've Priced My Site | | | | completely trust the buyer.There will be some |
| Correctly?Unless you are a true domain name | | | | wait time as money switches hands and the |
| expert, we strongly recommend having your site | | | | domain name ownership is transferred. Unless you |
| professionally appraised. In fact, this is probably | | | | are selling your domain to your mother or selling it |
| one of the most important steps you can take | | | | for a very low price, we recommend using an |
| towards ensuring a successful sale of your site. | | | | escrow service to take care of the money |
| Appraisers are professionals and experts in their | | | | transaction.Copyright 2004-Good luck! |
| field, and they have the means and methods to | | | | Manny Avedissian |
| conclude what your domain name is worth. As we | | | | Avedissian has earned his degree in Business |
| mentioned earlier, if you place an exaggerated | | | | Administration. Mr. Avedissian has over 20 years |
| price on your name, potential buyers will be | | | | of professional business experience ranging from |
| scared away from making a reasonable offer. If | | | | private corporations to governmental agencies. Mr. |
| you undervalue your name, you may end up | | | | Avedissian has owned and operated previous |
| kicking yourself when your newly sold name | | | | internet businesses. Mr. Avedissisan is also a |
| rakes in millions - for someone else. Furthermore, | | | | member in good standing with the prestigious |
| an appraisal is a very handy thing to have when | | | | International Webmasters Association ( IWA ). |