With My Mind on My Money and My Money on My Mind
|
With My Mind on My Money and My Money on My Mind
|
|
|
|
 Main PagesCategories
Archive
My NetworkMy Sites |
I recently received an offer to buy www.mcpmedia.com for 65k. It was my first REAL website, and the site that got me into SEO, web design, and all things web. It does have sentimental value, but I have not monetized the site for almost a year… with hundreds of leads not being sold or worked. It’s a shame really, but there’s more to it.
This domain, registered in 2002, has 51k backlinks according to Yahoo. Most of those are pretty darn old. It has a few DMOZ listings, and ranks really well for a ton of terms (mostly web design, dev, and SEO terms with the local modifiers AZ, Arizona, and Phoenix).
The site also recently spent almost 6 months at #1 on Yahoo! for the phrase “web design” (with no quotes) and at that time I was trying to overcharge and sell the domain for a million (dude’s gotta try!). It is ranking first page on Google for phrases like “web design quotes” which has to be worth something to somebody.
All of my email addresses for logins are mcpmedia.com. My IM handles are all mcpmedia. There are a few pages with really old links to other sites that I am interested in. If I sell it, I’ll lose some strong links, some history, and I’ll have a TON of work ahead of me…. screwing around with a ton of my online accounts. Also, my little brother sometimes grabs some of these leads to get his feet wet with project management and monetization of the web. It’s great learning for my little bro, which alone could make me want to hold on to this thing.
I dunno, what would you do? I don’t need the money, and I have been squatting on this thing for quite some time. For 250k it would be an easy decision for me, but I think the offer the guy made was pretty scientific. Somehow he made the offer just barely high enough for me to think about it…
I guess this is some REAL ThinkBait. Can anybody help sell me either way on why I SHOULD or SHOULD NOT sell this website? If so, I need some solid guidance.
Tags: Buy-Domain, Buy-Website, Chris Hooley, MCP-Media, mcpmedia, Personal, Professional, Website-Sale
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Chris Hooley’s -ThinkBait- is powered by WordPress This is copyrighted stuff. You can't steal it unless you are a jerk. If you like it, send traffic to it. |
Leave YOUR Comments!
Nate Whitehill Says:
February 9th, 2007 at 12:11 am
Hey, this is pretty interesting. I just moved to Scottsdale 6 months ago and I am a web designer also with a business I am trying to run… woud you be interested in chatting over skype or AIM?
Chris Hooley Says:
February 9th, 2007 at 12:51 am
Of course man. My AIM handle is mcpmedia lol
TheMadHat Says:
February 9th, 2007 at 1:16 am
65k for something you don’t even mess with and doesn’t really bring you any regular income seems like a good deal. Changing all of your accounts might suck it, but take the cash and run with something else you’re a little more interested in. My opinion anyway, but I got an offer for $7600 for one of mine the other day and I was pretty pumped up so I might not be the authority on the subject :)
Pete Wailes Says:
February 9th, 2007 at 3:17 am
For me, the math is simple:
How much will I make off it in the future - how much will I make if I sell it now = IF (+) post yes ELSE post no
:)
Cygnus Says:
February 9th, 2007 at 8:27 am
I would not sell it at that price; it would be far easier to develop a system of lead aggregation to flip to bidding web designers.
For sentimental reasons too, anything less than the $250k isn’t going to change your lifestyle much. In 3 years it’ll be 3 years older, and still probably ranking for stuff. :)
Chris Hooley Says:
February 9th, 2007 at 9:27 am
lol- I already have a system of lead aggregation / distribution. I’m just too lazy to go sell the leads and collect checks.
This is killing me. If I was not lazy, I could make a bunch of loot. Since I am lazy, I could take a check and build up my home recording studio.
Decisions decisions…
David Wallace Says:
February 9th, 2007 at 10:18 am
Well if you are not using it and will not manage a plan to monetize it, because you are too lazy ;), I’d take the money and run. Just make sure they don’t make you sign any non-compete agreements so should you decide to build another site like this, your hands won’t be tied. If they do want you to sign a non-compete, then I’d say the price would have to be much higher. Just my opinion.
Jeff Dempsey Says:
February 9th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
Just sell it and buy me some lunch at work
PPC Guy Says:
February 9th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
Have you considered hiring someone to manage it, collect the checks, distribute the leads etc?
Rae Says:
February 9th, 2007 at 5:42 pm
Fucking bastard - I’m all responding on facebook and the shit is on your blog… I’m not repeating my entire response - see it at FB, but, I will repeat the last line…
52K links, most 4 to 5 years old? Um, he’s offerering you like 1.25 per link. Yeaaaaaa… think about THAT for a second.
Bruce Sutherland Says:
February 9th, 2007 at 11:46 pm
Hooley,
Take the money and run dude! Cash in the bank is better than sentiment especially over a web site with no income. Put that cash in the bank for your kid’s college and if she doesn’t go…you get a new Benz S600! Sweet! :)
Dave Bascom Says:
February 10th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
Based on how little you’re doing with the site, it makes sense to sell. The price is the real question. If this was this guy’s initial offer, try upping the ante and see if he’ll go for it. With all those links, history, rankings, etc, it’s worth at least double that offer.
Dustin Says:
February 12th, 2007 at 3:25 pm
A couple questions for you to think about:
1) Could you build the success again?
2) How much do you estimate you’ll make on the site over the next 5 years?
If your site is a cash cow and the offer isn’t enough to make you excited, you should probably hold it.
However, don’t fall into the overestimation trap:
Back in ‘98 I talked to some folks who had a generic domain that they thought was worth millions. They received an offer for $1 million, but turned it down. Two years later, they ended up selling it for $20,000.
Best of luck to you!
Jeremy Weiss Says:
February 12th, 2007 at 6:50 pm
First off, never accept the first offer.
Considering all the factors mentioned, I’d try to negotiate something around $150K, no non-compete clause, and a clause that allows you to keep your email addresses. Remember, everything negotiable. Heck, you could even negotiate a deal where they’ll still throw your lil’ bro a bone every month or so.
Jeremy Weiss Says:
February 12th, 2007 at 6:51 pm
Or you could lease it to them for something like $10K a month. ;)
Keith Says:
February 12th, 2007 at 7:43 pm
Ill run your site and sell your leads! ; ) I know you love me, and what better way to show some your love this February 14th than to let him run your site!!!
Keith Says:
February 12th, 2007 at 7:52 pm
O yeah BTW thanks for thinking about me! Should show everyone the type of person you are! ; )
“Also, my little brother sometimes grabs some of these leads to get his feet wet with project management and monetization of the web. It’s great learning for my little bro, which alone could make me want to hold on to this thing.”
p.s. pay no attention to my typo in the previous post!
Clint Lenard Says:
February 12th, 2007 at 8:10 pm
I think the song goes “sell now cry later…” or maybe that’s smile. Either way, I’d wait it out and think more clearly on that one.
Chris Hooley Says:
February 12th, 2007 at 10:03 pm
Hey Keith, grab as many leads as you want bro. It’s open season (unless I sell the site lol) - get the biz while the getting’s good!
Micheal Says:
February 15th, 2007 at 11:27 am
So how about we just skip this contest and I get on a plane and come out there anyway? :)
Fun idea Chris, really fun. I’ll be keeping up with this one.
AJ Says:
December 11th, 2007 at 9:46 pm
Wonderful problem to have. I take it you did not sell mpcmedia.com? Have you owned or sold other internet businesses for similar amounts? I’m developing a couple new online systems myself and am really curious to see how things went for you. Anyway, thanks for sharing!