Hosting Affiliate Site, $6,727.06 Revenue over 4.5 months

URL: http://www.websitebay.net

Age of site (months): 4.5

Monthly revenue: $1,494.90

Revenue details:
Profits for last year (from the 21st of Novemeber on):
$1,567.50 CJ commissions

Profits for this year:
$4,000 CJ commissions
109.41 Domain Sales

Total PayPal Payments:
$1,050.15

Total 4.5 Month Profit: $6,727.06
Average Monthly Income: $1,494.90

CJ Screenshot (last year)
CJ Screenshot (this year)
PayPal Screen Shot 1 (both last and this year)
PayPal Screen Shot 2 (both last and this year)

Monthly page views: 150,000

Traffic details:
Traffic comes mainly from free listings and a $30 advertisment (to be disclosed to winning bidder, as 85% of sales come from this)

Description:
Users sign up for hosting via my affiliate hosting provider (previously has been StartLogic, Easy CGI, and now HostGator) and in exchange I give them a script for free from a number of choices. All of the scripts are leased through an independent provider (I will provide information to the winning bidder) and are automatically installed via a web-based interface (takes less then 5 minutes to install a script). You just fill in the FTP information and some basic site information (like the URL to the installation) and it's all installed and setup for you.

The provider has 69 different scripts with over 600 different templates for you to offer your users. I picked the 5 I thought would sell best and marketed them (as seen on the site). You get unlimited installations and use of their software for $79 per quarter or $149 per year. You are of course welcome to try and sell as many as you would like instead of just 5 like I do.

I host this site on my dedicated machine, all though it doesn't require much bandwidth. Recently to use the Auracle Support system I split it into two domains (auracle support required php5, the scripts are made for php4 and might have encountered problems in a php5 environment). The license for Auracle is included in this sale. Due to this move cPanel only has stats since the middle of last month. I have an analytics account that I have used spiratically since I got it back in January (I didn't use it for a solid month in the middle) that has stats as well, and I can provide more screenshots to those truely interested in the number of visitors.

EVERYTHING is outsourced. Hosting support is handled by the current provider (affiliated through CJ) at HostGator. The provider of the scripts answers all support questions within 12-24 hours, so if your customers have questions you just act as a middleman for the support. The script provider also corrects problems with the script as long as you provide FTP information. All the new owner does is get an installation request, go to the online form, and install the website. Then forward questions asked by the customers to the script tech support, and reply with what they reply with.

The site has gone through 4 phases. At first I sold the sites through StartLogic, but their hosting plans are significantly more expensive, and I only sold 3. Then I partnered with EasyCGI, but they only provided Windows hosting which caused a number of technical problems (sold 15), then I partnered with HostGator because they provided both an inexpensive plan and Unix hosting (sold 40). I have sold them to individuals when I needed fast cash via PayPal (mostly at their request, after they contact me and find out they need to host with me)

I also was at first partnered with Godaddy (about $67 in commissions, included at the top of the post), and then purchased a Godaddy reseller plan which has made me $109.41 thus far in domain sales (each hosting plan needs a domain).

In the start of December (before I found out about the HostGator affiliate program) I got fed up with EasyCGI and started just selling installations of the scripts via PayPal. In Feb. I started my relationship with HostGator, which has been the most profitable thus far. Recently I have also taken custom orders this way ($100 minimum to have it installed on something other then the affiliated hosting, unless they are a previous customer. I usually do it on a case by case basis as I talk to them)

This site could easily be affiliated with others for a greater revenue stream. The vast majority of the customers are new to webmastering, and would be great for things like signing up to link vault, coop, adsense, etc.

I spend $30 per month in advertising (I can provide details on how to use this to the buyer). About 85% of all sales come via this avenue.
There are also two hosting plans to keep up with (you must have your own PHP5 host if you wish to use Auracle to support customers. If not I might suggest InverseFlow as I have used them with other projects). I use this mainly for supporting the customers after installations are complete. Anyone with a dedicated server should be just fine on this one, otherwise you'll need 2 shared hosting accounts (via HostGator just $9.95 per month ). I moved the site to my new dedicated machine last month (for Auracle), and only have traffic stats back that far for the site .

Included is both websitebay.net (the main site) and websitebay.info (where the demo scripts are).
The site takes me between 1 and 2 hours per day to maintain, about 8 hours per week I would estimate. As long as you can use FTP and fill in domain names, you can run this site.

I am selling the site because I plan on buying a house next month, and honestly really need every penny I can get for a down payment. This site has been a constant project of mine for months now and I hate to see it go, but life requires it.

I can give cPanel access to both domains to the new buyer, and help with the move to other hosting if required. I can gladly leave the site on it's current hosting for a few weeks while you get setup.

One domain at Godaddy (.net), the other at BoldDomain.com (.info). Free push for both.

Bank wire welcome, PayPal welcome, and Escrow.com is welcome (at the buyers expense).

Questions also welcome, ask away. Don't think I missed anything but theres lots of writing..so please ask if you aren't sure of something.

Also listed on SitePoint for sale.


Type of site:
Established and functional website with traffic

Price (or starting bid): 500

Is an auction?: Yes

Indexed pages (Google): 247

Google page rank: 2

Alexa site rank: 161,175

 

Recieved a few questions via PM, figured I would post them in case someone else had the same questions...

-The customers do not pay me, they pay my affiliated hosting provider (HostGAtor). They, in turn, pay me a $100 commission for referring a customer to them.
-The new owner will need to signup with CJ, then just edit one file to use their affiliate ID instead of mine to get credit for future sales. CJ accepts almost everyone instantly, pays via ACH transfers right to your Bank account (for US at least, I imagine checks to everyone else)
-They pay via PayPal or credit card (also handled by HostGator, not me)
-The details for what they get are contained on websitebay.net. Just read any of the script descriptions.
-All of the customers are English speaking, most from the United States.

 

Hi very nice idea.. I am very much interested..

Also its somewhat similar to incentivized marketing right? You give an incentive to achieve a sale? Do HostGator and CJ accept this?

 

This site is circumventing DotComBuilder's terms of service. You are not allowed to give away the sites for free. "As with your username and password, the websites may not be distributed for free."

 

iggypopscript - you seem to be stalking iBold, as you posted the same message on SL

Good luck with the sale iBOLD

 

Yes.. I agree..He has the same message in SP on IBold's thread..

 

I do not give them away for free. You must buy a domain name, and hosting. EACH website must come with a domain name and hosting, as per their terms of service.

Yes, in CJ my account is labeled that I include 'script setup and website templates install with new hosting accounts', under the incentivized traffic.

Please read before putting down what I'm offering here iggy. Thx.

Current High Bid (at SP) $750

 

Hi, why are you selling if you are making $1,400 a month?

 

Most sites go for 10x monthly revenue. I want to put a down payment on a house next month, and I need $20,000. This will hopefully be a good start. I won't sell it unless the reserve I have in mind is met.

 

Do you have any traffic stats?

BTW... Good Luck on the Home Buying

 

am i reading this right
you want $20,000 for a site that you have sold on the customers for ??

 

your starting bid should be your reserve If not then we could start at $500 which is your starting bid and never get to your "reserve in mind". I would buy for $500 but not anywhere close to $20,000

 

No, not at all. I'm trying to get to that number in total, not just with this site / sale.

My reserve is 2x monthly revenue, I won't sell it for any less then that. Sorry, I thought in my infinate wisdom that a low starting price would drum up more bids then it has here. I seem to have been wrong, future autioners take note

I have traffic stats for this month / last month / January. I moved the site in the middle of last month so I don't have many of the server side stats, I do have a Google Analytics traffic that I had on there for every month but Feb. I believe. Drop me a PM if you would like the detailed stats.


BIN Set to 5x Monthly Revenue (approx.) at $7500.

 

Sorry but why do you sell a site for $500 if it brings in average $1,494.90 per month ? Strange...

 

That was the starting bid, I was hoping to generate lots of bids and keep my post towards the top.

The high bid (at SP) is $750. The BIN is set at $7500. The reserve is 2x monthly revenue, at $3000.


As per the ongoing auction at SitePoint, I am modifying the order in which things are done at the site to ensure that I am fully in compliance with DCBs terms.

This will be done for the new buyer, as soon as possible by myself.

 

The site has been modified to meet the needs of DCB. A script now costs $7.99, and comes with a free domain name. The order system has been changed to meet all of these needs now.

 

I'm interested, but how do you verify that the person that requests the script is the person that placed an affiliate order with HostGator? Do you ask them what time the order was placed and then match it up in your CJ report?

 

Actually I require them to copy / paste their HostGator Setup email into a setup form. Here is the URL to the setup forms:
http://www.websitebay.net/forms/

 

New Bids on SP...

High Bid $1000
BIN: $7500

 

I plan on ending this auction Monday night, assuming the reserve is met. I will annouce a time tomorrow night. Thanks for looking