A lot of you have asked how the auction has been going… I’ll be honest, not too well. At the moment, the highest bid is around $4,500 – now, normally I would have sold for this price, however with the fact that I sold a 30 day old site for $4,000 a little more than a week ago, my expectations were raised a little bit 
The market seems to be bad now – credit crunch, recession, all that. I also presume the blog is fetching less bids because I haven’t promoted it at all for the last 3-5 months in a row so traffic is at smaller levels than it was at its peak.
Anyways, here’s the deal.
Today or tomorrow, I will be listing this blog under Premium Sites for Sale, since that area is frequented (generally) by buyers with larger pockets and a better eye for a valuable brand. It will be a seven day auction, probably with the same reserve, buy it now etc.
If it sells for more than the reserve, I will no longer be the blogger that runs this site.
If it does not sell for more than the reserve, I will take on a paid writer to update and manage this blog while I am away, and continue running or sell in the new year.
So… I am looking for paid writers. Even if the site is sold, it’s likely that the new buyer will want to hire some paid writers.
I’m posting about this here first, to give a chance to anyone that reads this blog – I’d prefer someone that’s seen this blog before as you’ll know about how posts flow et cetera.
The job:
The pay will be $150 – $300 per month (if only one writer is employed).
Collectively, 10 – 25 posts per month need to be written. Each post will be around 500 – 1,000 words.
If you’re up for this, send me an email at admin@theuniversitykid.com letting me know your topics of interest, how many posts you can contribute and what you charge per post.
I may take on more than one writer, to provide people with variation… however, I do not want 50 guest posts going out in the time I’m away so would prefer to hire 1-3 constant writers that can put out decent posts. The topic will be anything related to this niche – internet marketing, entrepreneurship, making money online, blogging etc. You will also need to do some light marketing.
You will be allowed to promote a blog of your own but NOT a product / affiliate links. So basically you are getting paid to post on a 1,000+ RSS subscriber blog for an extended period of time. The pay is not spectacular, but it is decent.
Again, if interested send me an email at admin@theuniversitykid.com
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
December 9th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Sounds like a good deal for the writer, I wish I had more time. You have a huge subscriber base that will make someone very happy.
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December 9th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Interesting idea Jason, If I had more time I would definitely try and become one of the writers, but I’m having some of the same issues you are with time. Is there anyway I could submit a guest post every now and then? Like would you accept infrequent posts?
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December 9th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Hi Jason,
First of all, hope you get to sell TUK at a good price, especially one that at least reaches your reserve (and the BIN, of course!).
I am interested to be a paid writer for TUK but I am afraid my IM experience is insufficient to satisfy your regular readers. Maybe you should still be there to advise on topics and content to your paid writers so that the posts do not look too random and out of place?
Lastly, I noticed that the number of your subscribers have dropped dramatically since you announced the sale of TUK (from 1000+ to now 750++). This must be a testimony that you alone are making a difference here, the readers want to read your posts, they unsubscribe because they think you will no longer be around. I suppose if you promise to stay on as a writer, there will be people in Premium Sites for Sale who would buy TUK at the BIN price
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Jay (131 comments) Reply:
December 9th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
It probably dropped simply because Feedburner is inconsistent. They don’t always include e-mail subscribers, Google Reader, etc. Happens to me all the time and I doubt many people unsubscribed in such a short period of time.
I would probably do a couple of guest posts if you need. But I won’t take on the full-time job or anything.
Jay
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the Blogoholic (18 comments) Reply:
December 20th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Ya, I think publishing guest posts is better than hiring a write. That way you’ll have bloggers that aren’t writing just to make money.
the Blogoholic’s last blog post..Killer Posts & Updates From Around the Blogosphere
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December 9th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
I think I would be interested in writing for your blog, I think I have a pretty unique blog voice…but I really think that the amount you are offering to pay is a little low. $150-$300 seems a little low for writing a moth’s worth of posts.
Especially since I have trouble finding time to write at my blog.
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Dennis Edell (56 comments) Reply:
December 10th, 2008 at 2:11 am
I must agree, especially at 500-1000 words EACH?
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December 9th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Well, it would definitely be cool if you didn’t sell your blog. I would definitely write for your blog for free. I’m sure there’s people that would love to write for you and help you out. It’s just a thought though.
Blog Expert’s last blog post..19 Ways to Make Money Blogging
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December 9th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Paid writing hmm…I suppose It’s great if you decide not to sell though.
Karl hadwen’s last blog post..Make Money Online with a 16 Year Old
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December 10th, 2008 at 4:15 am
Great offer Jason. I shall think on it. But I hope you’ll continue writing on this blog
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December 10th, 2008 at 4:23 am
I would love to have a take on this. Check your email!
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December 10th, 2008 at 10:31 am
I have been following your sale on your blog and I hope that you sell for your asking price. I think it’s definitely worth for the new owner.
Although I don’t think buyers aren’t catching because the recession, I think it’s because of Christmas. People are buying material goods this month, and don’t want to to spend thousands online. But as always there are some big-fish buyers hunting all the time.
I definitely see the new year being big for sitepoints marketplace, so even if you get paid writers and increase your traffic, revenue, etc – you’ll definitely have no trouble getting your asking price.
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December 10th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Well, i guess the sale is going not so good because, MMO market got saturated, and competition is much wider. Anyway good luck. Even if you don’t sell, i am sure that the plan to hire writer is also good, and will bring results.
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December 10th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Please check out my blog and let me know if you think it is a good fit.
Best,
TAM
The Almost Millionaire’s last blog post..Natural Gas in Michigan
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December 10th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
With this blog post, I think you are not going to sell your site unless there is someone who pay the BIN.
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December 10th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
The problem with you selling this is that (and this is just an assumption) someone much older than a university student (kid) will buy this. This then gives the new owner two options.
1) Continue to pay you to blog once in a while or find another college kid blogger to blog it up in here.
2) Take the domain and use it for some completely different project.
These reasons are perhaps also why people are reluctant to just do the BIN…
I would love to buy this from you as it already has good exposure and a much better name than my blog does at this point, but I definitely don’t have $1000s to throw at it! As for writing here – I would love to, but I am just to busy with my own stuff and with final exams to even consider it at this point.
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December 11th, 2008 at 2:09 am
This is a great option I think to hire writers for your blog; this way you can resume writing for your blog if and when you want as well.
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December 11th, 2008 at 3:19 am
I hope you get the BIN, it would be an awesome investment considering the asset this blog is.
If you don’t get the BIN, I, personally, do not think you should sell this blog. A couple of reasons might be going in disfavor of the blog.
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December 11th, 2008 at 7:25 am
I was quite surprised that no one bid over $4,500, but I could’ve sworn you had the listing in the “PREMIUM” section. It’s much better listing it there from my experience. You get a lot more commotion
-Mike
p.s. What site did you sell for $4,000?
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Jay (131 comments) Reply:
December 11th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Mike,
I think he sold FlipNoobs.com or something like that. His eBook product site…
Jay
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the Blogoholic (18 comments) Reply:
December 20th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Ya, I’m surprised that a site only a few weeks old was more in demand than a blog that’s been around for over 1 year.
the Blogoholic’s last blog post..Killer Posts & Updates From Around the Blogosphere
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December 11th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
You sticking around is bad for you
, good for us 
, because we appreciate your insights!
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December 12th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
I placed another bid, Jason. I’m interested in this blog, but I couldn’t afford the BIN at this point in time. I bid somewhere around $4k, just to get things heated up.
Then again the maximum I could bid would just be barely your reserve price… Anyways, good luck with the auction – I hope you get a BIN.
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Jason (702 comments) Reply:
December 12th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Lucas – thanks for the bid.
Just for info, the reserve is exactly that – a reserve. If it is matched, even if the bid is one dollar above it, this blog would be sold. You’d be a decent person to take over, too.
I should probably add that about the reserve to the auction, hmm.
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December 13th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
[...] The University Kid’s auction over at sitepoint didn’t seem to be going well so in an attempt to hit the bigger pockets the site has been relisted over at the premium section and has hit a $5000 bid. Though if YOU want to earn another $150-$300 a month writing for the blog check out this post. [...]
December 16th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
I would be really happy to write for this blog. give me a chance. I hope this blog gets SOLD Asap!
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December 17th, 2008 at 2:40 am
I can write for this blog at any cost. I just want to write and help you Jason.
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December 17th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Just wondering if you are a looking a writer or writers?
Thanks.
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December 21st, 2008 at 2:10 pm
If only I have the luxury of time I’d love to take up this challenge. In the meantime I’m still enjoying every post of yours, old and new here.
Peter Lee
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December 22nd, 2008 at 12:15 am
This could be a great opportunity for a writer. If I had more time I’d apply for sure.
It’s a nice alternative to selling too.
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December 26th, 2008 at 7:00 am
Have you gotten any writers yet? The pay does seem a bit low for the amount of work.
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January 3rd, 2009 at 12:14 pm
I am ready to write for your blog, If you still are hiring writers..
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