If you’re interested in selling a blog for profit, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll explain the process of how to sell a blog in its entirety. Blogs are valuable digital assets, so when you’re ready to move on from your blog and make some money, let’s get started. Here’s your ultimate guide to selling a blog.
Preparing Your Blog For Sale
Before you try to sell a website, there are few key steps you should take to make sure the blog is ready to go. Depending on your specific situation, you can have your blog ready to sell in as quickly as a few weeks or months.
- Clean Up Your Content
Audit your existing blog content and update or delete any content that’s outdated. Additionally, double-check that your content is in line with your blog’s mission statement, and resolve any errors.
- Increase Your Social Media Presence
If your blog doesn’t already have one, create a presence on active social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Use the power of each platform to increase your blog’s engagement.
- Create Descriptive Policies
Blogs should have specific written policies such as moderation policies for comments, privacy policies for data collection, and deprecation policies for content updates.
- Make Yourself Visible
Make sure that the blog’s author (you) is listed as a contact so that potential buyers can easily contact you with questions. You can also add a contact form on the blog and make sure to respond promptly.
- Optimize Your SEO
To get the most out of your blog sale, you should optimize the SEO of your blog by researching popular keywords and using meta tags to capitalize on them. This will help you rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs) and garner more attention.
- Set Up a Newsletter
Create a newsletter using services like MailChimp or ConvertKit to increase engagement. This will also bolster your blog’s value because buyers will know they can monetize their new blog quickly by marketing to a group of already interested people.
How to Find Buyers for Your Blog
Now that your blog is prepared for sale, it’s time to start looking for buyers. Here are some tips for finding potential buyers.
- Contact Interested Parties Personally
Find out who’s interested in blogs in your niche. There are many outlets to help you do this, including social media platforms and industry forums. Reach out directly and explain your services and give pricing information.
- Harness Online Marketplaces
List your blog for sale on online marketplaces such as Flippa and Empire Flippers. There are both free and paid options, depending on your budget.
- Post on Industry Websites
Utilize sites such as Digital Point, Quora, and Reddit to post classified ads showcasing your blog. You can also post in relevant Slack and Discord channels and reach a large amount of potential buyers.
- Issue Press Releases
You can spread the news that your blog is up for sale by issuing press releases. This will give you a large amount of exposure and you’ll likely receive significant inquiries.
- Join Facebook Groups
Facebook groups are a great way to directly market to people who are interested in a similar topic. Join groups relevant to your blog’s niche and post about your blog for sale.
Negotiating with Buyers
Negotiating with buyers can be one of the more difficult parts of selling a blog. Whether you’re negotiating via email or in person, you need to know how to get the best price.
- Present Your Valuation Figures
Explain to the buyer why your blog is worth the asking price and provide evidence in the form of traffic statistics, earnings reports, and other evidence. You can also provide comparisons of similar sites that were sold for similar prices.
- Consider the Nature of the Buyer
The buyer’s attitude and level of understanding of the blog market will determine the type of negotiation. If the buyer is experienced, they’ll want to negotiate a lower price. If the buyer is a relative newcomer to blogging, you may be able to get more money by focusing on future potential.
- Keep Emotions Out
When negotiating, it’s important to stay calm, professional, and friendly. Even if the buyer’s approach isn’t what you would like, don’t take it personally and remain courteous at all times.
- Know When to Walk Away
If the buyer starts making ridiculous requests, such as making long-term changes or agreements that aren’t feasible, politely walk away. You’re in control and don’t have to make any decisions that don’t benefit you.
- Set an Effective Deadline
Deadlines have a way of focusing the buyer on making a final decision. Offer the buyer an ultimatum by setting a reasonable deadline. This will help expedite the process and pressure the buyer into making a purchasing decision.
Documentation Requirements When Selling Your Blog
When selling a blog, the buyer will likely want to ensure that the blog isn’t subject to any legal issues. The buyer will likely require a few documents to review prior to purchase, such as the Terms of Service document, a Privacy Policy, and a Buy/Sell Agreement.
- Terms of Service
The Terms of Service should lay out the terms that users agree to when they visit the blog. This should include general house keeping rules, such as agreeing to not post offensive material.
- Privacy Policy
The Privacy Policy should explain to the user how their collected data is treated. It should clearly spell out the types of data collected, how it’s used, and how the data is protected.
- Buy/Sell Agreement
The Buy/Sell Agreement is a document that both parties agree to outlining the terms of the purchase agreement. It should include the agreed upon purchase price, the date of transfer, and any other terms.
Closing the Sale
Once you’ve reached an agreement with the buyer, it’s time to close the sale. Here’s a checklist for everything you should do before closing the sale.
- Make Final Changes
You should make sure to make any changes required by the buyer prior to selling the blog. This can include minor changes to the design, content, layout etc.
- Prepare Transfer Documentation
Prepare all the necessary documents for the sale to ensure that the transfer of the blog is smooth and legal. This can include preparing the sale agreement, transferring any required licenses and copyrights, etc.
- Create an Escrow Account
Create an online escrow account to ensure the buyer’s money is safely handled until the sale is completed. After the sale, you’ll be able to transfer the money to a bank account or other form of payment.
- Transfer the Blog
Transfer the blog, domain name, and any associated files to the new owner. You’ll need to provide the buyer with credentials to the hosting account and database to facilitate the transfer.
- Ensure User Data Has Been Transferred
Make sure that all user data, such as comments and messages, have been transferred successfully to the new owner. Once all information has been transferred without issue, then your sale is complete.
Selling a blog can be a lengthy process but it’s well worth it in the end. It’s best to take the time to prepare your blog for sale, ensure that you’re getting the most money for it, and ensure the transfer goes smoothly for both parties. If you follow our guide, we’re sure that your blog sale will be successful.
