Beauty blogging: how to build your blog to sell it off
A number of you were surprised when I mentioned that I was negotiating to sell off this blog. Some of you are probably wondering how is it even possible. Well, anything is possible in the Internet world. I mean if women can auction off their chastity online, what’s selling a blog really? Anyway, it’s something that is already gaining momentum in recent years and in Internet lingo, it’s called website flipping. It’s good business because as a seller, you can get a tidy profit and for the buyer, they can gain an established site that brings them good money without having to build it from scratch. However, not every site can be sold and so with my first hand experience at having nearly sold off this blog, let me share with you why you should be building your blog to sell it off.
Contrary to general perception, it’s quite easy to get your blog sold. If you’re making like $1000 a month through your blog, it can already be sold for anything from 12x to 24x of that amount or even more. So yes, income is the key. But to me, it’s not the whole key. You can set up a real crappy blog and still make income if you know how and then have it sold off. There are people who will buy a crappy blog as long as it makes them money.
But what I think is better is to build a blog that is so good that you’ve got the upper hand in the negotiations. In fact, part of the negotiation may even be to keep you as a blogger after the deal goes through. So with this in mind, let’s talk about what makes a blog sellable.
1. The older your blog, the better it is
I was really surprised that the age of this blog came up as an advantage. It wasn’t an obvious advantage to me but according to expert sources, the longer you blog, the more valuable your site becomes because it is deemed as being established and hence, more reliable. So if your blog has been around for awhile, that’s great news to begin with!
2. A sizeable traffic from search engine is a big plus
Huge traffic number is a consideration but more importantly, the numbers must be consistent to show that your blog has survived the major Google updates like Penguin or Panda without losing too much ground. Potential buyers actually prefer that your main traffic comes from search engine rather than regular readers because in the event the ownership is completely transferred over, there is a high chance of losing your regular readers. So while your regular readership is a good thing, I’ll urge you to go learn something about SEO and social media marketing to boost up organic traffic if those numbers are currently low or if most of the search traffic are for images. In addition, make sure you have Google Analytics installed to monitor your traffic. Potential buyers would ask for access into your account to view your traffic.
3. Good content attracts interest
The reason why content is important is because it’ll help grow your traffic numbers. In addition, potential buyers will use your content to consider suitable affiliate programs they can run on the blog. So stop blogging just about hauls and free events. Spend more time writing serious quality content on tips, tutorials or reviews rather than useless stuff that few people want to read.
4. Quality branding scores some points
Branding helps if it can build the blog’s traffic numbers and income. So to some extent, awards, media exposure and industry recognition are useful but only in so far if it boosts your traffic numbers and earning potential. But if you do the rest right, chances of your blog being known will automatically be high.
5. A personal identity blog is unlikely to get offers
If your blog is named after you, the chances of being offered is probably lesser. So if your blog has a lot of FOTDs or OOTDs, it’s not going to generate too much interest only because it’ll be hard to replicate the content unless the buyer offers to keep you onboard as a blogger. Also, I doubt you’ll want to sell it off too. So be strategic when it comes to picking a name for your blog.
6. Must be a WordPress blog on a self-owned domain
Your blog must be running on WordPress. It should not be hosted on a free domain like blogger. The domain should also not be shared with another blog or site. Hosting should also be clean in the sense that it is easy for you to hand over your domain easily once it is sold.
7. Proper records of your blog data are important
Due diligence is a key part of getting your blog sold. So in this area, what would help is that you’ve always maintained a clean record of your blog income and blog expenses. Also, in anticipation of a blog takeover, do consider creating a list of all the user ID and passwords of the various networks your blog is involved with.
8. Clear copyright of content and images is critical
Make sure that you’re not copying content or stealing images elsewhere because you’ll be accountable for any legal disputes that arises due to the information on your blog prior to the sale. Stay clean and you will be safe.
9. Income earned should be transferable
Potential buyers want to be able to generate income once they take over. So make sure you have income that are transferable and are not tied to your services unless you’re selling the blog and your services too.
10. Configure your social media network accounts transferable
When you sell your blog, you’ll also release your social media accounts related to your blog. Hence, make sure the accounts can be transferred over to the buyer without issues. For example, if your Facebook page is tied to your personal Facebook account, it might be a bit troublesome when the time comes for it to be transferred.
Okay, that should be enough to keep you busy optimizing your blog for sale. My objective in writing this piece is really to give you some pointers on how to build a rock solid blog that is counted as a good asset. In fact, you can set selling your blog as an objective and I guarantee you that it’ll help you to established a great blog with good income. Whether or not you want to sell it off eventually, that’s another matter altogether. But you can’t deny that it’s a feather in the cap if someone makes a good offer for your blog somewhere along the way. And I say that goal definitely beats setting up a blog just to attend events and get freebies any time!
So as a matter of curiosity, would you sell your blog if you’re a blogger? And if you’re a reader, would you continue reading a blog knowing it was sold?
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I guess it will depend on whether am i still interested to read that blog content anymore ?
in the view of a reader
Interesting tips, Sesame and valid. Anything can be bought and sold. Personally, whether I continue reading depends a lot on how the blog develops after the sale and what the intention of the buyer was in building it. I haven’t seen many successful blogs being sold to become even more successful though.
Some very good points on blogs and resell value. At the end of the day if you monetize your blog correctly and start to receive frequent monthly income you can sell it for upwards of 15-20 times your monthly income return.
Like Paris, it depends on how the blog develops after that. I may be demotivated for a while because I’m used to the ‘voice and persona’ of the previous owner but if the quality remains to be good and sincere, I wouldn’t mind coming back.
Eco Beauty last post is: Rocking it out with Honeybee Garden’s Smokey Eye Palette
Yeah, I guess it really depends on the quality of the content.
That’s true. Unless they keep the original blogger, content would slip somewhat. But I imagine bloggers that choose this route might feel frustrated with the lack of editorial control.
Sometimes depending on the quality of the blog, it can go as high as 36x more!
It’s really hard to tell. I think it also depends on who takes over after the sale.
Thanks for the tips! I think it depends… but if the buyer has sufficient capital, they might be able to do more improvements, build editorial team and provide more content and value to the readers which might not be a bad thing?
Agree. If the buyer has the right focus, it can actually be better.
These are great blogging tips, Sesame. I’m planning to make a beauty blog but I’m not really sure if I can sustain it. I have to set my long term goal. Anyway, you just inspired me to create my own beauty blog. Thanks a lot! ?
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Glad that the info helped inspire you. All the best to create your beauty blog! ?
Hey, really interesting how you mentioned these tips. I never thought of it like that. Thanks for opening my eyes.
You’re welcome!
I have known many people sell there blogs for crazy money. If you have a great following then I guess you could make some money from it.
There are many things to remember and I don’t have that kind of memory power. Although, I just need to outline the most highlights points to understand them better. Thanks for posting this one and I am glad that I bump into this.
You don’t have to try to remember all. ?
A great following translated into email databases is quite an asset too.
Hi Sesame! Long time no see! I am trying to build my Chinese Beauty Blog: nodeadlineplayground.blogspot.sg, and appreciate more helpful tips from you. Do visit my blog and give me your comments. ?
oh…are you selling the blog?? I didn’t know! haven’t been around the blogging sphere for a long time!!
those are very good pointer above but it is very difficult to maintain the quality of the blog after its sold…the one who is buying it will only be interested in the money as opposed to keeping the same content quality!
Swati last post is: How long and how often should henna be for? {Hair Care}
Lee Ann, I’m so sorry I didn’t reply to your email. I’d meant to but got distracted. I’ll try to send you an email these two days.
Have you stopped blogging for awhile too? I guess the quality might drop but in some cases, it might become better. It really depends.
These are very effective suggestions on how to build a blog and sell it off. Although it takes a long time and a complicated process is used to establish a website, it will all pay off in time and all the effort will be worth it. I for one have been a blogger for about 4 years now can attest that if a website is campaigned well without using any black hat techniques and it is receiving a high amount of traffic, it is has bigger chances of getting sold. Advertisers will notice it and it will rank high in search engines. This post has been really helpful to me and all the first time bloggers out there. Keep up the good work on your site!
Mirriam Winchester last post is: Krill Oil vs Fish Oil: Is Krill Oil Really Better?
i have been just on and off from the blog and did not read what all others are posting so was missing all the news!!
yeah, actually, you are right. it really depends on who buys the blog and for what purposes!
Swati last post is: My Hair Diary – May 2013
Thank you. Glad you find the post helpful. Building a blog to sell is quite profitable but it’ll mean a blogger should not be emotionally attached to the blog. Otherwise, letting go is tough even if the money is good.
Great post Sesame. Wish I had the number 1 blog in the world. I could be rich ha ha.
Di Jones last post is: What Is the Best Weight Loss Supplement?
Oh yeah, that’s a great wish. ?
I was looking at your recipe for rice powder skin brightener and stumbled across this post! You have provided some useful information for people who might be interested in selling their blog. It is very do-able but will people need to have the patience to keep blogging and adding value.
I think I would keep reading a blog if it was “sold” as long as the content was interesting and the style of the blog was the same. I guess a lot of the “style” comes from it’s creator so I was wondering if it would be hard for a new owner to replicate that?
Angie C last post is: How To Lighten Skin Naturally
Probably quite tough so those with a heavy personal identity may find it hard to sell off. Or if sold off, the founder will be kept for the identity sake.
Thanks, mam for sharing all the ideas, I was searching for these on google. Really helpful and amazing. Keep supporting and writing for us.