Although I try to share revolutionary ideas on here when I come across them, the best tips to make more money are usually the simplest ones. And here’s a simple one that can make you a lot more if you do it right.
I’ve been focusing on here about website flipping a lot over the last few weeks, as it’s definitely a profitable thing to do if you look at it as a longish term business model.
Here’s a real simple tip, but if you’re flipping websites and NOT doing this – you’re an idiot.
What’s the tip?
Keep Hold Of Your Buyers
You see, the key aspect of sales is that a happy customer once is a happy customer for life, as long as you fulfill their needs. This is in all types of sales that are not one off – so if you can keep hold of your buyers, you can get recurring customers.
For example, for everyone that buys a website from me, I try and get their contact details. Not an email, but actual instant messenger details. When I have a similar website for sale again, I can hit them up and ask if they’re interested. Two things, though:
1. Don’t be a dick. Everyone hates people that only spam their lists, every day. Keep your proposals to once a week or less, and if the person doesn’t want to buy something, don’t try and force them to.
2. Offer a discount. The thing about site flipping is that there is a decent amount of work involved in the sale – listing it up, taking bids, negotiating with buyers; you get the idea. What if you could close a sale in less than ten minutes?
If someone buys say – a content website about football in America for $100, and you offer them a similar one (with unique content etc, of course) about a related topic for say $75, they’re going to be interested.
I’ve managed to turn one off deals – not just with website flipping, but also with say – content writing, by offering a discount should they return. It works.
Keeping track of previous buyers is important.
If you’re selling something like an information product, have your buyers sign up to an ‘updates’ email – one that you can send them offers every time you have something up for grabs. Remember rules one and two though – don’t be spammy or annoying, and offer discounts to loyal customers as they’ll keep coming back. Obviously don’t forget to keep up the quality of the content!
Simple really, but you’d be surprised how few people are doing this. Are you?
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
July 24th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Nice post Jason. Your last post resparked my interest in starting to flip websites, and I’m very serious about doing it now, so thanks. I hope you make more posts about these, maybe outlining your step by step process or something : D .
Ralph’s last blog post..Free, Easy, Efficient Way To Get Visitors
[Reply]
July 24th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
I was looking forward to this post, and it is very important you keep hold of your buyers. But this can be done for many things, not just site flipping.
I know some people that don’t hold off, and these are the free logo people. They ask me everyday, or every night I should say, for when they contact me it is midnight for me. They are always pressuring and asking me to buy, and do not seem to offer a discount. Their prices are extremely high and I get annoyed a lot. They should read this post. (But not my comment)
Nathaniel’s last blog post..When Discouragement Takes Over
[Reply]
July 24th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
very true.tracking your buyers and offering them value is always a good way to get more work.I did this when I was a writer and as a result 80% of my customers where repeat ones.
[Reply]
July 24th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Interesting advice – but this seems to assume that people are looking to own a fair number of websites, and if they are that web-savvy, how come they are not just doing their own?
I’ve found your advice and info about website flipping fascinating, but one thing has been puzzling me – why don’t the buyers just create their own sites if it’s that easy? So then I thought, maybe the buyers are people that just don’t know how to create a website, which to me seems to suggest someone that might just want one or two sites. But if, as you suggest, some people are repeat buyers, how come they don’t make their own sites?
Obviously, the proof of the pudding is that website flipping works in terms of making money, but it surprises me that it does.
Carol Ferndale’s last blog post..Enjoy summer in the city with directline-citybreaks
[Reply]
July 24th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Great post, Jason. I’m trying to break into website flipping and I’m looking for all the help I can get. In my opinion, you’re the most underrated blogger I’ve ever heard of, and I see your subscriber count resembling that chump’s (John Cow) sometime in the future.
Seriously, if you compare your subscriber counts to his, you’re the best kept secret. People will start to realize where they can find the most helpful information that isn’t complete BS in this niche. They will. Thank you, Jason! I look forward to all of your posts and hopefully further communication!
Rob’s last blog post..Don’t Buy Google Nemesis
[Reply]
July 24th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
@carol:I buy such sites and these are the few reasons why i do buy them:
i think its a waste of time to create such sites and deal with designers,writers etc.I can earn from then the site price in that time.
i get ready sites and dont have to wait.
i buy sites which even if i try then also cannot create for example sites containing slide shows and other such special features.
[Reply]
July 24th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
Exactly right. I am currently flipping my first site for $500 and I added his contact info to my customer list so I can email him on other deals. I know he would buy from me again. It’s an easy followup sale.
CreatingRevenueOnline.com’s last blog post..Flipping BANS Websites
[Reply]
July 24th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
giving discount to repeat customer is my thing and boy does it really work!!
[Reply]
July 24th, 2008 at 11:26 pm
I actually prefer pissing my customers off as much as possible.
I figure, hey, I’m the one providing the goods… why should I be a nice guy too, they aren’t paying me to smile!
The Net Fool’s last blog post..Blogging Questions Answered, Again – Q&A Session with The Net Fool
[Reply]
July 25th, 2008 at 1:23 am
Rob’s right. I think your the only source where we can get pure no-nonsense make money online content. Keep giving the good content and we’ll make sure your blog becomes an A-lister.
Ganesh’s last blog post..Why a Paid Hosted blog is better than a free hosted blog
[Reply]
July 25th, 2008 at 5:31 am
Repeat buyers are definitely key and treating them right is what will keep them buying from you. And I think you touched on a good point, you shouldn’t start spamming someone just because they have bought from you in the past and have given you their contact information. Nice Post.
[Reply]
July 25th, 2008 at 7:18 am
Sounds like a great idea. I am looking at selling affiliate products soon through an email list and I will try and keep my once off happy customers happy customers for life
Ryan McLean’s last blog post..Why I Don’t Want To Work For a Church Just Yet
[Reply]
July 25th, 2008 at 9:55 am
@ Data Recovery – Thanks for your insights!
Another thought – wouldn’t it be more lucrative to create custom sites for people with a specific idea of what they already want, rather than just put together a site, and hope that somebody will want to buy it?
And another question for Jason, our University Kid, what are the exact processes that you have to go through to transfer a site over to someone else. I know this is a really ignorant question …
Carol Ferndale’s last blog post..Enjoy summer in the city with directline-citybreaks
[Reply]
July 25th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Great point. So many times I make the one and done mistake.
Sell Porn Make Money’s last blog post..Friday Freebie – Free Porn Video – Take 2
[Reply]
July 25th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
@Jim – why piss off your customers? I know you aren’t paid to smile (I would have a lot of money if that were in effect:)) but don’t you want the customers to be happy? I know what it’s like to be a pissed of customer, so if I come to you I will find no surprise!
Nathaniel’s last blog post..When Discouragement Takes Over
[Reply]