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Not sure if this belongs in the business section or the computers one, but since it's more business related, I'll try here first.
Anyway here's my question. I own a small website that's basically a forum and literature/information index on a specialized nostalgia topic. I am basically burned out on running it and having the responsibility. I don't want to just shut it down because it gets a decent amount of traffic and people who use it regularly and enjoy it. So how would I go about A) having its worth appraised and B) finding someone willing to buy it and take over all ownership, operations, upkeep, etc?
Would this even be a feasible idea? Or is the painful truth that with a site like that, while fun and informative, it's largely worthless and if I wanted to divest it, the best and most honest answer would be to simply turn over all the password information to whomever expressed interest?
I figure that a lot of real cost, time, and effort went into setting it up and building it to what it is. To replicate it would be both timely and expensive. So I would think it HAS to be worth something, even if only a couple or few thousand. But I don't know. Again, that's why I'm asking.
You can sell your website on Flippa . com
Not sure of the value as most forums generate income from advertising.. typical value of a web site is 10x monthly revenue.. but that's not set in stone... a lot has to do with the domain name itself which could have more value than the content itself..
aside from flippa, there are other sites that you can sell your site and or domain name as well as sites that can appraise your site.
Flippa is highly recommended, you will need to post all the info such as earnings, traffic etc.
It really depending on how much traffic you are getting, some people think 100 visitors per day is a lot of traffic while others think 10,000 visitors are peanuts.
What is your number, visitors and page views if you don't mind me asking.
I checked out Flippa and it really wasn't much help. I attempted to search completed listings using parameters that were similar to my site. Completed results showed nothing and active listings were all over the map, ranging from a low of $1500 to a high of $80,000. I would think that my site falls somewhere in between those extremes, but that's a LOT of gray area. I need to get it narrowed down better than that.
Anyway, you are right. When one says "a lot of traffic", by itself, that doesn't mean much. Comparisons have to be made. Compared to most blogs and many forums? I'd say yes. I get a lot of traffic. When compared to some "major" sites such as Yahoo, Ebay, and the CD forum? It's a drop in the bucket. It's all relative.
Anyway, here's a screenshot of my traffic counts year to date. You will see that summertime tends to take a dip but based on the last four years' history, a summer seasonal dip is the norm and traffic again rebounds between September and April.
One person has expressed some interest and has asked for a number for sale price. Maybe someone else can offer some guidance.
Your traffic report is interesting, but what a potential buyer look is not really the volume of traffic but it is more the income generated by it. How do you monetize your forum? That's what really counts in order to estimate your site value.
Your traffic report is interesting, but what a potential buyer look is not really the volume of traffic but it is more the income generated by it. How do you monetize your forum? That's what really counts in order to estimate your site value.
Member supported. As I stated previously, I currently do not have any programs such as AdSense or links to other companies for monetary support. Consequently I cannot establish any other income. Absent that one metric, are you telling me that the site is essentially worthless? I've already received two offers to buy it but I'm not really crazy about either one. I still think that the site has some money making potential if someone were to actively pursue that. Also, this site would make a good investment for someone who not only wants to pursue ad revenues, but also to take over ownership of a well established and solid traffic base. To that end, it would have to be someone who both knows how to run a web site and has a good working knowledge of the subject matter. In this case, the core traffic base consists of hobbyists of cassette and reel to reel tapes, vinyl LP's, and so forth. These mediums may never again appear at your local Best Buy but the second hand (Ebay) market, the service and repair side, and overall enthusiasts side has gotten HUGE over the last couple of years. Several mainstream media such as Yahoo and CNN have written several articles acknowledging this trend. That is where my site comes in. It provides a venue and place to call home for all these people who, because they dismiss and eschew Ipod's and I-Pads, would otherwise have no online community. That's where I would think it would be better for someone to take it over. With the amount of information, pictures, and documents I have archived, it would simply not be practical, quick, easy, or cheap for someone make an attempt at replicating it from scratch.
Now granted I'm not the only web group that caters to "Old School" stereo systems and music. But I AM arguably the leading one for cassette tapes and players and big reel to reel machines.
To that end, it would have to be someone who both knows how to run a web site and has a good working knowledge of the subject matter.
Here your thinking is definitely correct. I wouldn't expect getting a remotely realistic price on some general website marketplace. Maybe offer it to your customers?
P.S. Ignore prices in active listings - virtually all of them will never sell.
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