Update: WDFS is up for Auction on Flippa, ends August 24, 2017
Okay, I have finally taken the plunge and have decided to sell WebDesignFromScratch.com.
I know it could do a lot of good for some people out there. I know that because, when I was in the web design business, that site generated all the leads I could handle. I was able to run a six figure web agency with very little marketing effort or spend.
The truth is, this site really was one of the first tutorial sites in the industry, and has been very influential for a lot of people. But my interests and business have moved on from “web design” into broader marketing and green issues, so sadly I have not found very much to talk about around that topic.
This is an incredible resource, and it would be a huge shame to see it go to waste, so I’m looking for someone who will be able to profit from the site.
The result is that, lacking fresh new content, the traffic has very slowly died off over the years.
WDFS traffic erosion over nine years
For several years, while I was more active, WDFS was getting 100,000 monthly visits or more, hitting a peak of 229,000 in September 2011. Now, we’re looking at just 20,000 visits each month.
That can be reversed! All it needs is someone who cares and is active in the web design space. Could that be you?
The site still has plenty of page-1 rankings, and will have a MASSIVE ability to rank for any new terms related to web design.
Here’s today’s Open Site Explorer snapshot, showing the very respectable domain authority of 54!
OSE summary
Here’s a summary from Analytics of the most popular search terms (2017).
Top search terms
Aside from HTML/CSS reference terms, I still have pages ranking very highly for phrases around “best websites in the world”, which is clearly a massive opportunity for anyone in the website delivery business (designers, producers, or theme vendors).
And clearly anyone who wants to sell courses in website production (HTML / CSS) will find it very easy with the traffic this site gets (197,046 visits from organic search terms that include “HTML” since January 1st).
I’m open to selling the domain and all the website content. (If it’s feasible, I can even transfer the Moz Pro property, so you can use the historical data.) I don’t have a price, will probably take the best offer I get in the next two weeks.
Alternatively, you may prefer to lease the site! If so, just let me know.
In addition to individuals or businesses, perhaps you may like to go into a coalition with others? If so, I’ve set up a temporary Facebook group where you can post your ideas and invitations, or look for other people who might have compatible goals.
I have some ideas for who the ideal new owner of WDFS might be. These include…
If you’re interested, please feel free to comment here, or email me (ben@benhunt.com) with any thoughts, suggestions, or offers. But my advice is to move fast! Even if you don’t have a firm offer, let me know if you’re interested, as I don’t want you to be disappointed.
The WDFS Facebook page is also included, obviously. It currently has 2770 likes.
Also feel free to ask me if you’d like any more data from Analytics, list building etc.
Thanks,
Ben
At the end of today (February 29th, 2016), I’m removing the early-bird 50% discount on Web Design from Scratch Premium.
Tomorrow, the price will double to $19 per month.
It’s a growing library of tutorials on a range of topics. Basically, I want to give you everything you need to do web design and online marketing the right way in 2016 and beyond.
If you’ve read “Web Design is Dead” you’ll know that a lot has changed in the past few years. Publishing a great-looking website that works across browsers, works on mobile, is accessible, and SEO-friendly is no longer something that only an expert can do.
Today, anyone can get a basically great website quickly and cheaply. Fact!
So the bar has lowered, and that simply changes the problem we’re faced with. If anyone can get a good website, what do we need to do to compete?
Well, that’s what WDFS+ is all about…
So that’s what I want to give you with WDFS+. All those core skills, plus whatever else you’ll need to travel light and fast in this new era (see below).
I want to train you to be lean and mean, to be highly efficient, so that you can out-meneuver your competitors.
Someone asked me this on email today, and quite rightly.
First, let me say I am going to continue to develop Open Source Marketing, and that will always be free. The Pro Web Design Course and Ultimate Web Design material will also stay free.
There are a few good reasons why I’m charging for this new material…
Well, I’ve got a pretty good idea about some of what’s needed. And a LOT of that is going to be around strategy. (In fact, I’m planning to create a new agency model that delivers marketing strategy exclusively! So that’s going to help me really accelerate the learning process in this area.)
And… we have a blank sheet, so we can create whatever we want!
So I’d like you to tell me what your biggest issues are. Let’s make this collaborative!
When you sign up for Web Design from Scratch Premium, I would love for you to tell me your questions and challenges. And I’ll see how I can use those real-life problems to create new guidance to help everyone.
In fact, I’ll commit to responding to every single feasible request.
Would you be interested in having a private, secret Facebook group exclusively for WDFS+ subscribers? We can use that to ask quick questions, discuss issues, get support, and help out each others’ businesses!
If YOU want a secret group, with direct access to me and other experts, let me know and we’ll make it happen!
Web Design from Scratch Premium is happening. It has some great content NOW, and it’s going to get a lot more great content. Every month, it’s going to get better and better and better.
You may choose to be part of it today, or you may choose to be part of it in the future.
The difference is, if you join after today, you’ll pay an extra $9.50 per month. Hey, at $19/month it will still be great value! But it’s still $114 each year that you could use for other things.
I hope you’ll join us, and be an active part of the next generation of online marketers. We’re the ones who’ll outperform the competition because we’ll out-evolve the competition. We’re fast, we’re lean, we’re smart, we’re not wasteful, but we’re also real, and honest, and (perhaps most importantly) love doing what we do.
50% Lifetime Discount Expires at the end of February!
Grab the Early-Bird Discount Here!
The filling of the sandwich, the rubber meeting the road… However you phrase it, marketing is all about Propositions: promising to solve problems.
