_co_uk Website potentially for sale/Dropship

[MOVC]

Thanks for advice and support, this thread can now be closed

This post requested advice on selling a website which had been penalised.

 

[accelerator]

Try looking at old interviews at DomainSherpa.com as I think this might have been discussed.

Rgds

 

[Retired_Member38]

I think the value is probably zero, as unfortunately the tactics you've used in the past to promote the site would certainly be regarded as toxic in 2014. Look at all the junk back links you have added, and the fact you've already been penalised.

Even at a price of £0 your site isn't looking like a viable takeover, as with all that mess to clean up a potential buyer would be significantly better off building a new one from scratch. Cleaning up the 400+ linking domains showing in Majestic, is mission impossible.

 

[MOVC]

Try looking at old interviews at DomainSherpa.com as I think this might have been discussed.

Rgds

Thanks, will take a look.

I think the value is probably zero, as unfortunately the tactics you've used in the past to promote the site would certainly be regarded as toxic in 2014. Look at all the junk back links you have added, and the fact you've already been penalised.

Even at a price of £0 your site isn't looking like a viable takeover, as with all that mess to clean up a potential buyer would be significantly better off building a new one from scratch. Cleaning up the 400+ linking domains showing in Majestic, is mission impossible.

Thanks for your opinion

 

[Retired_Member38]

Have you considered trying to move the site onto the .uk domain and get rid of the penalty ?

 

[MOVC]

Have you considered trying to move the site onto the .uk domain and get rid of the penalty ?

We have considered many options including transferring site across to one of the many similar domains we have, really just lack of time to do this to be fair, hence why I considered a sale when approached and we are not SEO specialists at all. I personally believed the value was in the customer database and it still gets some natural sales.
In the right hands I am sure someone could do what you suggested, I am not aware of potential buyers background as it was over a telephone and very few details were discussed. I said I would call back with a guide price, hence posting here.

Thanks

 

[accelerator]

You can also looked for related sales, e.g. at domainprices.co.uk and various other reporting sites.

Rgds

 

[MOVC]

You can also looked for related sales, e.g. at domainprices.co.uk and various other reporting sites.

Rgds

Thanks, once again!

 

[accelerator]

You should also consider the question "How much is this domain really worth to the buyer?"

Once you have worked that out, providing you know the buyer is keen, I would offer the domain to the buyer for an amount significantly above what you think it's worth, this is a basic tactic of negotiation. Then let the buyer counterbid, and whatever they come back to you at, gives you info on their "real figure", i.e. how much they're actually prepared to spend. There's no point spending hours over assessing value when the buyer is likely to have a "figure" in mind. Then it's just a case of either accepting their figure if it works for you, counterbidding if you sense you can, or refusing on the basis that you think you can sell it for more to someone else.

Rgds

 

[Adam H]

Once you have worked that out, providing you know the buyer is keen, I would offer the domain to the buyer for an amount significantly above what you think it's worth, this is a basic tactic of negotiation. Then let the buyer counterbid, and whatever they come back to you at, gives you info on their "real figure", i.e. how much they're actually prepared to spend.

That doesnt always work and its terrible to go into a discussion or negotiation thinking like that. Yes prices can be inflated to account for cheap shot offers and get the ball rolling but every deal should be looked at differently and should be judged on who you are dealing with. With in the first couple of mins of talking on the phone or via email you should have a handle of how far you can push someone to get a price you are both happy with.

Personally if you came at me with a price i considered to be totally unrealistic i would simply walk away, look elsewhere and never reply to your correspondence ever again....even to counter offer, i would simply see it as a waste of my time. You have to be sensible and realistic and thinking that the buyer hasnt got a plan B is suicidal.

 

[Tricky1]

I would offer the domain to the buyer for an amount significantly above what you think it's worth, this is a basic tactic of negotiation.

Terrible advice...

 

[Retired_Member38]

You should also consider the question "How much is this domain really worth to the buyer?"

Once you have worked that out, providing you know the buyer is keen, I would offer the domain to the buyer for an amount significantly above what you think it's worth, this is a basic tactic of negotiation. Then let the buyer counterbid, and whatever they come back to you at, gives you info on their "real figure", i.e. how much they're actually prepared to spend. There's no point spending hours over assessing value when the buyer is likely to have a "figure" in mind. Then it's just a case of either accepting their figure if it works for you, counterbidding if you sense you can, or refusing on the basis that you think you can sell it for more to someone else.

Rgds

Or, rather than deliberately embark on a game of utter bullshit, you could tell the buyer "this is what I think its worth. Rather than waste my time or yours, its not negotiable"

As a buyer i'd far rather you done that, than try and play the silly game of you starting at 2x your valuation and me then forced to offer 50% of mines... only to meet in the middle dozens of emails later :lol:

 

[accelerator]

Terrible advice...

You missed out quoting the bit before, where I said "providing you know the buyer is keen ..." which is important. There is perhaps an element of danger that the buyer will walk away, but usually they won't if they are keen, and you should word it to encourage the counter offer.

An alternative is to insist they make the first offer.

My opinion is though, that a seller should be able to give a price if asked, and if you're going to do that, you must go high in order to make sure you don't lose any money by accidentally giving the buyer a price much lower than they would have paid. I'm saying protect yourself by quoting high. If the buyer is keen, they will counterbid. If they don't counterbid, they weren't that keen.

Rgds

 

[Retired_Member38]

If the buyer is keen, they will counterbid. If they don't counterbid, they weren't that keen.

Or, your domain was one on a short list of potential buys, and one of the others actually (and this bit might be shocking to some domainers!) quoted a sale price in line with what he expected to get for it. So the buyer takes the easy option and goes with the sensible seller rather than play your silly games?

 

[accelerator]

rather than play your silly games?

Personally, I don't view making maximum return as "silly".

Rgds

 

[MOVC]

Thanks for opinions and discussion. I have bought and sold a couple of domains in passed and to be fair I had not really considered selling the website until I was approached so I gather this person must be interested They were also aware it was penalised which says to me they have been watching or looking into it for a period of time and they seemed to know a little about our platform which all said to me they were pretty keen. I was just caught off guard because I had no idea of value. Asked me 3 years ago and I would have took nothing less than six figures.

If I do sell, the selling price needs to be fair for both and this is how it would only sell I Imagine.

£3000 sale price and then the investment would be paid back in 6 months maximum and they get 19k customers Free. That to me seems unfair selling price for me
Exceeding Double this then that possibly interests me and would mean they would get back the investment potentially in 12 months plus still get 19k customers for free. Anything less than this then I would feel slightly robbed.

I am not desperate or was prepared to sell as I still believe there is potential. However we will see what happens.

Once again thanks for all opinions!

Mark

 

[orchardapple]

..........and they get 19k customers Free.

Lots to consider here for the buyer, how old is this customer list, did they opt in to recieve emails, how accurate are the email addresses, what did they initially purchase, how many had repeat purchases etc etc

 

[scottmccloud]

You should also consider the question "How much is this domain really worth to the buyer?"

Once you have worked that out, providing you know the buyer is keen, I would offer the domain to the buyer for an amount significantly above what you think it's worth, this is a basic tactic of negotiation. Then let the buyer counterbid, and whatever they come back to you at, gives you info on their "real figure", i.e. how much they're actually prepared to spend. There's no point spending hours over assessing value when the buyer is likely to have a "figure" in mind. Then it's just a case of either accepting their figure if it works for you, counterbidding if you sense you can, or refusing on the basis that you think you can sell it for more to someone else.

Rgds

It's this kind of thinking that leaves some domainers with piles of domains that they are never going to sell.

 

[MOVC]

Lots to consider here for the buyer, how old is this customer list, did they opt in to recieve emails, how accurate are the email addresses, what did they initially purchase, how many had repeat purchases etc etc

Sure and the 19k customers are orders placed through the website and does not include any B2B orders invoiced outside of site and of course the mugs which sit on the desks of judges on X Factor and Britains Got Talent haha

Lots for both parties to consider if sold. Thanks

 

[accelerator]

It's a good domain in a sector with good business potential. I would imagine it is very competitive though, all the more reason for having a good domain like this.

Rgds