As flipping websites has become infinitely more profitable, more and more people have joined in on the bandwagon. Sadly, not all of them are selling legitimate web sites. Some may simply be stolen, others may be completely fraudulent. Simply paying money for a website may not even guarantee that it’s yours! So to ensure your absolute safety whilst buying or selling flipped sites, make sure to follow our guidelines below.
Google is Your Friend – The golden rule when conducting any sort of online transaction is to check the person out online first. This could involve searching for their name or e-mail address on Google; it’s surprising how much it can reveal. Make sure to do your research so that you know the person you’re selling to or buying from is legitimate.
Check WHOIS Information Thoroughly – If you’re buying the site make sure to get the URL off of the seller before you go through with the transaction. Visit a site such as http://www.who.is and double check that the registrant is the person who is selling. If it’s not then you may be buying nothing but thin air.
Always Use an Escrow Service – When it comes down to the final transaction, if you sell without an escrow service you always run risk of being stolen from. Whether it’s your site or your money that gets stolen, PayPal do little to help, and in the case of bank transfer it’s next to impossible to get them reversed, so use a reputable online escrow service to give both parties piece of mind.
Traffic Can Lie – A common scam that happens just before a sale is that visitor figures are artificially inflated by sellers who purchase traffic at a very cheap rate. As soon as they’ve sold the site, the traffic disappears and you’re effectively left with nothing but a dysfunctional site. Make sure that you have access to full statistics so you can check traffic and make sure there is a natural looking growth pattern. If there is not, chances are it’s a scam.
Check The Domain Name – Did you know that if you bought a domain name such as Microsoftsoftware.com you’d be at Microsoft’s mercy as to whether or not you’d be allowed to keep it? If you’re thinking of buying a flipped site that features a possible copyrighted or trademarked domain name, then don’t because it’s only a matter of time before it could be subpoenaed and subsequently deleted, along with the website.
Sign a Contract – Before completing the transaction make sure to have some form of written contract which states what’s been transferred and what you’re giving or receiving. That way both parties are protected and you can rest assured knowing that whatever’s been agreed on is also in writing.
Flipping websites is filled with all sorts of problems to be aware of, but given appropriate care, this is a highly lucrative industry where you can make fortunes in just a short period of time. However, the golden rule of life is always if it seems too good to be true, it ordinarily is!
Don’t ever believe anything on faith, and especially when it comes to online transactions, make sure you know exactly what’s happening at all times. The Internet really can be the Wild West, so be careful out there!
Another good tip is to deal with reputable sellers! There are many sellers out there that are normal hard working people that would never scam others!
Always check the feedback!
Ian