What’s Happening in the World of Flipping
I have noticed that a lot of people are attempting to flip website these days. The sad part about it is that quite a huge number of these people do not have plans, outlines, or whatsoever to help them make the most out of their flips. In order to address this problem, I decided to create a website flipping checklist that you can refer to so that you may know if you’ve got everything you need to maximize the earnings for your website flips.
Things You Need To Maximize Your Website Flips
I have flipped more than a dozen websites already. From niche blogs to autopilot content sites, I’ve experienced creating them all and made a profit by selling them within a specific time frame. Through my experience, I managed to think and realize what people really need in order to have successful flips.
First, you have to have a budget plan. Website flipping must be treated as a business, not as a “random thing that you want to try”. I usually do this by creating an Excel spreadsheet and listing all the things that I need to spend on. Put the cost of domains, hosting, promotion costs, etc. in there. More often than not, I include “time” in the list, and put a value of $50 or something. I do it because I value my time, but it’s totally up to you if you want to do that. Then, calculate the total amount and there you go, you have a simple budget plan. This is important because you NEED to know how much you’re going to spend in order to know what price you’re going to sell the sites for!
A relevant and catchy domain name is a plus. Some people just buy $1.00 domains from others, and often they end up with completely unrelated domains like xc45545.org for a politics blog. When flipping websites, try to resist your inner “anti-expenditures being”! Trust me, when it’s time for you to sell your site, the returns would be great if you have a good domain.
A profitable and hot niche can bring in more money. While others prefer to work on sites that actually interest them, building sites in hot and lucrative niches can help you make the most out of your flips. Supposing that you spend the same amount of money in developing websites (for example, the same premium theme for blogs, the same price for header customization, etc.), then the only factor that can increase your net income is the selling price — and this is determined by how hot your site’s niche is.
A custom logo or mascot can add value to your website. Let me ask you, which one would sell for a higher price, supposing that they have the same content - a blog using the default Kubrick theme, or a blog using a free theme with a custom header? The latter, right? I have this technique of selling websites for a higher price just by getting a logo done for it. First, I find a logo designer. Not necessarily the ones which cost $100 for one draft! There are decent designers who are willing to do a logo for $10 or maybe less. Then, depending on the quality, I state in my salesletter that the logo cost me $50 (or more). Voila, instant increase on the site’s value!
Unique and timeless content helps a lot. I know that buying databases for website flipping can save you a lot of time — I have done it myself. Then again, if you have unique AND timeless content, your website’s value will significantly increase. Sure, some people are okay with buying a recipe website which has 10,000 recipes that can be found on hundreds of other sites, but it would definitely be better even if only had 5,000 unique recipes. It would be hard, yes, but you can just pay some people to rewrite or add a little bit of zest to the recipes that you had collected. At least your site would have the potentials of standing out and becoming an authority site - buyers would be willing to pay big bucks if your site has these potentials.
Having a very good salesletter will boost your site’s sale price! I have written about this before (Sort of, well, it was about creating good site auctions). Basically, the more attractive your salesletter is, the more people are going to be interested in buying your site. This will eventually yield a “bidding war” and you will end up selling your website for the highest price possible.
Summary
There are things that you need to do/get in order to maximize your website flipping efforts. Having a budget plan is very important in order to make the most out of your website flips. While it may sound silly to some, I like treating things like flipping as a business, and not just something that I’d do during my free time. Things like a good domain, a hot niche, and a custom logo can really boost the amount for which you will be selling your sites for. Unique and timeless content can attract more potential buyers into paying more for your website. Moreover, writing a good and creative salesletter will have the same effect. All the things that I mentioned are essential if you’re taking website flipping really seriously.
If you have any more things that you want to add here, feel free to leave a comment. I’m always open to your suggestions, insights, and arguments. 
P.S. The current contest will end tomorrow. Thanks to all those who joined! 
Good luck to everyone!
Readers have left 32 comments on "Website Flipping Checklist".
I hate to buy a domain name. I often spend an hour, YES, an hour to think of a domain name.
Desmond - DesmondBlog.com’s latest blog post… Easiest Way to Earn $10 - Just by Commenting
This is a great checklist and I am going to keep this handy whenever I do a site flip. However, I do not like site flipping as I feel the market is overcrowded. I like to build websites which bring in residual income over a long period of time.
Ryan McLean’s latest blog post… Constructive Criticism for DoubleOurMoney
Wow, that’s a lot of time, Desmond!
Yes, the market is overcrowded, but there is still money in it.
My really first problem is a budget. I know already how to succeed in blog flipping but I don’t really have a budget :)) Maybe I’ll invest some when I get my adsense earnings. I do really find it hard to chose a domain name
Hussein’s latest blog post… Make Money Online: When, How, What
…try to resist your inner “anti-expenditures being…
Well said, Lucas. Though I’m yet into this sort of business, it’s logical to balance the expenditure so as to yield more profit out of it.
You seems to have an army of freelancers at your disposal; from a logo design, theme, or even copywriting.. I might need some referral soon.
Yan
Yan Shall Blog’s latest blog post… The Day I was Hacked…
Cool. Just e-mail me when you need something.
Investing in flipping is really great, Hussein.
I have done now the first step.. http://www.niessuh.com/blog-flipping-budget-plan/ I’ll just wait to have some money in my paypal. Maybe after I get my money from adsense.
Hussein’s latest blog post… Blog Flipping Budget Plan
Looks great, Hussein! I just left a comment on that post of yours. Good luck with the flip.
I really would like to add something that is relevant here but the thing is the only flipping I have ever done is pancakes. You can flip a website? What’s with that.
Damn, now I am going to have to resort to Googling. Man I hate doing that.
Hey man, really good list you put there. I’v only flipped one website so far (well, almost, few hours to go) but I totally agree with you on those points. First thing I did when I started was look at how the ‘better selling’ auctions were doing than the others, and imitated some of it. I found that a lot of people were formatting terribly in their descriptions, and could have made a lot more just by presenting it a bit better! Good post
Dan’s latest blog post… Let’s Cut The Bullshit
@Desmond - DesmondBlog.com:
You’re lucky. I spent DAYS to WEEKS! LOL
Jasper’s latest blog post… Finding Money
sure, you guys can ride this train of flipping blogs but not in my case who blogs about random things.. hmn, perhaps i can flip mine too? just a thought
Haha, LOL. I hope Google gives you a good answer.
Thanks for visiting my blog. Well, what you’re doing is great - looking for auctions performing better than the others.
Wow… days to weeks? Isn’t that a little too “overkill”?
Well, I wouldn’t recommend flipping a personal blog. You can try creating new blogs though - I’d be happy to see you in the world of flipping!
I just dropped in to say, great looking blog. I got hear through Mattaw’s review on MoneyBites and subscribing
Dennis Edell’s latest blog post… New Feature! Link Love For Your Thoughts
I really like to try website flipping but it takes me lots of time. I don’t have enough time to flip websites and manage my blogs
Weblog Engineering’s latest blog post… Chapter 6. Benefit of Linking
Oh. Maybe you can try building simple sites, like a niche site with 10 articles only. (PLR works wonders!)
Thanks a lot Dennis!
Actually i dont like to flip sites, then you will miss your regular customers
vishal’s latest blog post… 15 reasons why you should avoid worry
Lucas,
Thanks for the list. It should help me out a lot as I venture further and further into the flipping world. I have done one flip successfully, but have had another stall out on me.
Hi Lucas - This is the first article I’ve read on flipping websites, It’s an interesting concept. Sounds like you’ve done great at it. Congrats!
This is definitely a great resource, one question I must ask is why are alot of MMO bloggers, moving onto site flipping at the moment?
Nice list Lucas.
Website flipping is quite the task I find. Lot’s of hard work is involved in building websites.
I don’t know, maybe it’s just another “MMO trend” or something. Hehe. Nonetheless, it is a great method to make money from…
Well that is the downside of it.
No problem. Good luck on your future flips!
Thanks, Barbara.
Yup, but if you do it well you would reap great rewards.
You could of told be that to flip a website was to sell it. Damn, I supposed I could have worked that out but it’s all just too much effort. Nope, I ain’t flipped any yet, maybe one day.
I like the reading here….lot’s of good information and insight!
I would have to say the biggest factor that will get u the best price u can is a professional, good looking template - I noticed that from Bryan’s one day flipping challenge
i have one domain and currently developing on it. I have a partner to do it with me though and hopefully i can sell it for higher profit. thanks for the checklist though.
i wonder why everyone is moving to website flipping, it seems to be the in thing now
Money from blogs seem to dry up..Site flipping is fast money if done strategically
Hi, Lucas:
A few quick questions for you. Where do you tend to get your PLR articles from? And about ready made sites, where do you get these from?
Good checklist. I’ve sold blogs before, but not ready made sites. I’m also trying to sell an image host, among other sites. Let me know about the questions above.
Using a Revolution theme (or any other premium theme) can increase the selling price of a site by nearly $100. I think it is best to have a developer license to premium themes so that they can be used on many sites.
I had a nice read here. Do you have resources for a step by step procedures for a complete newbie? I also wanted to venture with website flipping, and this is a great source for it. thanks for the tip.s
@1st post: yeah, its quite time consuming to find a good domain name
Love the list! I’d have to add “Read SiteFlipU.com Daily” to that list though…
And Danny, I think it’s becoming more popular because you have average Joe’s like me making over 100k a year by doing it. People are starting to realize that it’s a great way to make some quick and easy money. No matter who you are, you can do this!
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