7 Lessons Learned from Buying and Selling Blogs

It’s been about one and a half years since I first started selling my blogs. Since then, I’ve sold a dozen more blogs, acquired a few more, and had a few listings flop. Looking back, although I have failed and succeeded in many ways, I’ve learned a lot about the process of buying and selling blogs. So, if you’re curious about this world, here are seven lessons I’ve learned along the way.

What Is the Idea of Buying and Selling Blogs?

If you’re unfamiliar with the concept, buying and selling blogs is a (relatively) new way to create an income stream, and it’s often referred to as blog flipping. Now, with the word “flipping,” you can easily relate it to real estate, where someone buys a house, fixes it up, and then sells it for more than they paid. Blog flipping works the same way—you buy an existing blog or website, fix it up, add some value and then sell it off for profit.

By purchasing existing websites, you can take advantage of their traffic and monetization opportunities. You can then sell them for more than what you paid for them, making a profit in the process.

However, blog flipping doesn’t mean just buying but the other way around as well. You can also create your own blog, monetize it and then sell it for a higher price. It’s an interesting way to generate income, especially if you’re in a hurry and don’t have all that time to wait for your blog to start making money.

Long story short, the idea of blog flipping is to acquire an existing blog or website, add value to it, and then resell it for more than you paid. It’s a great way to make money quickly while also learning the ins and outs of blogging along the way.

So, what have I learned from my experience over the past year and a half? Let’s take a look!

Lesson #1: Start Small

The first lesson I learned is to start small, especially if you don’t have any first-hand experience with blog flipping. Don’t go for the higher priced blogs right away and hope you can make a quick profit. Start with something that is more affordable and build your skills and confidence as you go. This way, you can test the waters without risking too much money or getting overwhelmed.

By starting small, you can also minimize your risk of losing money in case things don’t turn out as expected. Once you get a feel for the process, it will be much easier to move on to bigger projects.

I know it can be really tempting to go big and buy a site that is making money and having traffic. But the workload to keep everything going can be too much for a beginner. So, don’t get ahead of yourself! Start small, and you’ll be able to gain experience and confidence as you go.

Lesson #2: Do Your Research

Once you’ve decided to buy a blog or website, the next step is to do your research. You need to know as much as possible about the blog before you make a purchase. Check out the traffic stats, revenue potential, and any other important information that will help you decide if it’s worth buying.

Do not be afraid to ask the seller questions or even request a trial period if possible.

This is important because you don’t want to end up buying something that won’t be profitable in the long run. Doing your research beforehand will help you make an informed decision and avoid any costly surprises down the line.

As a seller, I like it when potential buyers came to me and asked questions about the site I was selling. It showed me that they were serious about making an informed decision and not just taking a chance. And then, as a buyer, I also made sure to do my due diligence before making a purchase. This will save both parties a lot of time and money in the future.

At the end of the day, you want to make sure you’re getting what you pay for, so don’t be afraid to ask questions or do your due diligence before making any big decisions.

Lesson #3: Don’t Fall for Shiny Objects

When it comes to blog flipping, there’s a lot of competition and everyone is trying to get the best deals. It can be tempting to buy whatever looks good on the surface, but it’s important to remember that you need something that will both generate traffic and make money.

Don’t be fooled by the flashy design or impressive stats on a blog—dig deeper and look for signs that it won’t perform as expected in the long run. If something looks too good to be true, there might be underlying issues you don’t know about yet.

It’s also important to think about what comes next after you acquire the blog. You need to be able to add value and make it profitable, so make sure you have a plan in place before making a purchase.

Lesson #4: Have a Plan

As I mentioned before, you need to have a plan in place before you buy any blog or website. You should know exactly what your goals are and how you’re going to achieve them. This will help keep you focused and make it easier to track your progress along the way.

Having a plan also helps with setting realistic expectations. You need to be realistic about how much time and effort it will take to get the blog up and running. Don’t expect results overnight—it takes time, dedication, and hard work to make a blog profitable.

Finally, don’t forget to factor in any additional expenses that might come up along the way. This could include marketing costs, hosting fees, or even hiring help. Having a concrete, clear plan will ensure that you are prepared for any unexpected costs and can make adjustments accordingly.

Lesson #5: Invest in Your Business

There’s no way you can run a business without making any investment. This doesn’t mean that you have to break the bank—you can start small with just a few hundred dollars for hosting or advertising costs. But if you want to make your blog profitable, then you need to be willing to invest in it.

This could be anything from hiring a web designer or content writer, to investing in SEO or paid advertising. Anything that will help you reach more people and get more eyes on your blog is worth considering. Also, don’t forget the importance of networking—connecting with other bloggers can open up new opportunities and lead to more success.

Lesson #6: Diversify Your Income Streams

A blog with various sources of income is much more likely to become profitable than one with just one stream only. This means that you should consider adding affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, or even an online store to your blog. By diversifying your income streams, you will be able to make more money from different sources and also minimize the risk of relying on any single source of income.

From the buyer’s point of view, a blog with multiple income streams is a much safer investment, as it has more potential for generating revenue in many ways.

Lesson #7: Make It Easy to Understand Your Blog

If a potential buyer cannot understand what your blog is actually about, how to navigate it, or why it would be a good investment for them, then they will not be interested. You need to make sure that your blog is easy to understand and navigate from the get-go.

You should have clear navigation menus and labels, as well as concise descriptions of what each page contains. First and foremost, it’s for your readers, but it also makes a big difference when it comes to selling your blog. When people can get the gist of what it’s all about, they are more likely to make a purchase.

And the Final Words

For me, blog flipping has been a great and excited journey so far. I genuinely enjoy the process of researching, finding, and selling or buying blogs that have potential. It’s also incredibly satisfying to see the results of my hard work when I manage to turn a blog into a profitable business.

Overall, there are many important lessons that you can learn from buying and selling online blogs—from having a plan in place before investing to diversifying your income streams and making it easy to understand. If you’re looking for a unique way to make money online, then blog flipping is definitely worth considering!