I wanted to mention that recently I have seen several directories sold for x,xxx and one for xx,xxx! Keeping good records of traffic, payments and profit can be very important to being able to sell your directory. I wanted to start this thread about ways you can be sure to have a good resale value for your directory. What are your thoughts?
Good points. I agree that good recordkeeping is essential with directories, or any website for that matter. I'm not suprised they are selling for those prices, building a directory to that level take an enormous amount of hard work. Personally, I have no plans to sell my directories though
I too have seen a few sold in recent months that were purchased for these amounts. Not surprising really, if you have a site that has a track record of making money over a period of several months. These are the kinds of sites people are looking to buy after all. What's interesting is I see people put a directory with one of the various free template designs, get a couple weeks worth of submissions, then try to sell. I must be missing something.
Well, the short answer for me when I put together a directory and then sell it is very simple. A lot of people do not want to get a domain name, then upload a script, get a template. Then a category, then have to put it all together. There are many services here on the forum that will do that for people, I do it myself. So selling a quickie directory helps these people get a directory ready to go.
I understand you, iowadawg. Setting up a domain and directory and selling it for a reasonable price to those unable or unwilling to do it themsleves. I have seen some do similar things and think they are actually going to sell their new site that's been up just a couple weeks (and therefore has no real track record of income) for $XXX. These are the people that confuse me.
Yeah, I see that all the time here, on sitepoint and a few other forums. Boy, if I could do it, I would do it in a heartbeat! But I am not here or there to rape people on a plain site like so many do by putting up turnkeys and cookie cutters and wanting a fortune for them. I have been to sites that charge from $49 to name the figure for uploading simple scripts like phpld. Have a new game directory just went up earlier today when I finished it out. Now, that one, I will sell off for $xxx or more once I have had it long enough to get pr4 or better. My other main directories that I have had for some time, will never sell.
I think like many other people, I grow "attached" to my sites, and don't want to sell them either, but I figure a long time from now they will still be valuable should I ever need to sell them.