I just listed one of my websites for sale and because I’ve been talking about buying and selling websites on my blog so much lately I thought it’d be a good real life example to cover. I have sold websites in the past (example), but generally I do not sell many websites as I prefer to buy websites. I like the process of improving an existing website and then keeping the easy additional income stream. I’ll get to why I’m selling the website but first let me cover what it is.
Table Of Contents
What Is The Website I Am Selling?
The website I’m selling is Coupon Code Plugin – the first WordPress plugin that I ever released. I had the idea for this plugin last year as a way to help make sure I was getting credit for all the coupons I would be using for Black Friday, Cyber Monday etc. that I’d be using on my various product focused blogs. I partnered with my buddy Hyder from Weborithm to have the plugin developed. In this instance we decided to do an income split where he would handle development work and I would handle the marketing and selling of the plugin. I’ve done a partnerships like this in the past on various ventures and I’m a big believer in focusing on what you do best and only focusing on those things. It’s worked well for me so far and that’s why I’ve never learned how to code myself and why I just partner with others who are good at that (or hire them to help me out).
Where Am I Selling This Website And For How Much?
Unfortunately, this website is not even close to being big enough to sell with the help of a broker and although I’ve said before that Flippa is not always the best place to buy and sell websites I do believe they are one of the best places to SELL websites under the $100,000 mark. I have only listed one other website for sale on Flippa years ago that didn’t sell back when I was still a noob. Since that time I’ve been involved in numerous other private sales, but I’m retrying Flippa for this website in part as another public case study for you to follow along with and also because I think it’s an inexpensive starter website property that you might like to pick up on the cheap.
I started the auction for this website for only $1 and the reserve is set at only $1,000. I also set a buy it now option at $4,000.
Why Am I Selling This Website?
Unfortunately the plugin never really took off in a huge way like some of the other projects I’ve done, but sometimes that happens. I think the blame falls on me as I could have done a better job marketing the plugin to a different demographic of potential buyers – like the hundreds (thousands?) of coupon bloggers that crop up every month. The primary reason why I’m selling though is that I’m trying to just have one less thing on my plate to think about and the monthly income stream could be improved on by doing more marketing / partnering with other plugin sellers etc.
When compared to most of the other inexpensive listings I believe this is actually a pretty solid website for the price.
So who wants to buy my website?
See the auction listing here ๐
The $1,000 reserve doesn’t even cover the development hours in this plugin so I really do think it’s a good deal (yes I’m of course bias) I’ll see you in the comments below and perhaps as a bidder on the listing ๐
Note: If you did purchase this plugin from me last year (or even recently) I will of course still help with any support issues you may have.
Good luck on the sale, buddy. I’ll definitely be watching and tweet your auction page for ya!
Thanks!
A premium WP plugin always has its attractions because of the huge user-base that self hosted WP blogs have. All the best for your sale, and do let us know the price at which this site sells.
BTW, you have the biggest submit comment button I have seen ๐
Hey Raj,
Yah I think it will sell, it’s just a matter of what for. We shall see… lol @ the submit comment button.
Chris
Perfect example, it really helps me getting an idea on what I need to do when selling a website. You gave a lot of details in that action, really professional touch and I got to say I’ve learned a couple of things. Keep it up and good luck with the sale!
Plug ins are in and are popular. I read about site flipping and checklist before buying a website. I think your website fits the bill and may be sold soon. Will recommend to my friends. Best of luck!
Hey Leo,
Thanks – just got the first bid for $250 yesterday. I’m sure we’ll sell it – my estimate is between $2k – $3k.
Hi Chris,
It’s kinda funny how I got here. I was looking into the backlinks of a loyal reader of mine who has dropped out of my community for some unknown reason. I found you as one of those links.
In reading about your site for sale, I thought I would run it down and take a look as I use to derive most of my income from selling sites myself.
Flippa? “Good luck with the sale” indeed. I’ve since moved on to other Online pursuits, as I have seen a steady decline in my income and an increase in fees from Flippa. My last sale I pulled out all the stops as I really just needed to clear my domains out. My sale came complete with mulitiple sites, landing pages, videos, all the bells and whistles. I’ve been at this for well over 10 years. My sites are smokin’ hot. All work is custom and done by me and me alone. I guess I had about 1000 hours into the auction. I did cross over a bit on the work as I have other projects that I do for others as well as myself. However, I had a ton of time involved with building sites built on premium domain names, writing sales copy, doing solid sales videos.
At the end of my 10 day listing ………. $1.00
Like a bad poker game ……… I’m out!!!
Hey Jeffrey,
That’s part of why I’m running this auction anyway – just testing out Flippa again. I will say that as a buyer I’d never buy a site that isn’t already making money / has a history of traffic / earnings so if your auction was for a done for you website but wasn’t already making money I’d sort of expect that outcome of it not selling. (just my 2 cents though)
Chris
Thanks for doing this is sort of a case study. I like how you are open and above board with everything. Keep it up. You’re in my rss and always look forward to new posts about the selling/buying of websites. There’s not a lot of truthful or sincere content out there about this part of the Internet Marketing world.
Hi Chris with the money stats it looks like your site is starting to take off and if you kept it a extra 4 months you could possibly get a whole lot more then 4,000 but hope it sells ๐
Paul
Good auction copy, Chris.
I think it hurts a little that you don’t have any history on Flippa, but the fact that you link to yourself and are clearly putting yourself out there passes the “Is this a real person” sniff check.
I think your reserve is QUITE reasonable. I’d buy it for 1K if it didn’t get there. In fact, with a reserve that low, you might have been better off not putting a reserve at all. (Although, mixed with the fact you don’t have history on Flippa…a reserve might be a good idea)
On my watchlist!
Hey Justin,
Yah I thought that if I didn’t have a reserve and people didn’t bid that I didn’t want to sell it for nothing since I have no feedback on Flippa. I haven’t sent an email to anyone on my email list about it yet either which could drive some more bids.
Chris
I tried selling my blog on flippa on a 9 day listing and today it feel $300 short of what I was wanting to let it go for. What I don’t understand about your site for sale is that it made $850 last month but yet you’re willing t let it go for so little? Mine only earning $200 per month and it made it to $1900 in the bidding.
Though I didn’t have good copy and messed up the financials and had to add a comment. What’s your advice to do with my listing: http://bit.ly/vVpolD
Thanks.
Check out the auction details and you’ll see more of why I’m selling ๐
It’s interesting to see this from the seller’s side. I also feel that plugins are hot right now. I have to get around to learning how to code!
Chris,
My google search led me to this post. I am really looking for serious buyers to buy my blog. The reason why I am selling is to raise fund for my next project (online store!).
Are there any particular steps I need to take to prepare the blog before the sale process?
In case anyone is interested, blog is ProductivityBits.com
I’d also want to know how to determine the selling price.
Thanks!
Read this: ๐
http://www.makemoneyontheinternet.com/how-to-sell-a-website/
Hello I am selling an online store called Charlies treasures. monthly profit between ๏ฟฝ17,000 – ๏ฟฝ23,000 at the highest. I am only selling for ๏ฟฝ1300 because I want a quick sale as I am setting up a tortoise breeding business and will need all the time I can get, at my price it is a steal, I am selling on ebay Item number: 280782947694
You should take a look if you are interested in paying little for mass profit
NO TIME WASTERS.
thank-you
Chris, I really like the layout and theme of couponcodeplugin.com
May I know which theme you were using? Or it’s a customized one?
Congrats on your auction! It’s a nice deal and sale.
Customized one – don’t think I can give it out as it’s owned by someone else ๐
I’m wondering has anyone posted the success they have had with this program. I haven’t seen testimonies that say that Chris’s tips really work.
Maybe someone can point me in the direction of these type of posts.
Just Google whatever I’m selling and then “reviews” I have a guest blog post that I’ll be publishing shortly.