By Carmen Greger
REINVENTION OF INTENTION
Starting a business is often a lifelong dream for many entrepreneurs. While some business owners plan on running their companies for years, others may choose to build a business with the intention of selling it at some point. This can be a smart strategy if done correctly, as it can offer a significant return on investment. In this article, we’ll explore the concept of building a business with the intention of selling it, and offer specific details to consider as well as strategies and best practices to help ensure your success.
Let’s take a look at building a website or WordPress blog as an example. While the principles of building a business with the intention of selling it can be applied to any type of company, building a website is a great starting point for many entrepreneurs.
Start with a solid business plan
The first step in building a website or blog with the intention of selling it is to create a solid business plan. Your business plan should include your company’s mission statement, your target market, your revenue streams, your marketing plan, and your exit strategy. It’s important to have a clear idea of how you plan to monetize your website or blog, and what your long-term goals are for the business.
Develop a strong brand
Once you have a solid business plan in place, it’s time to develop a strong brand for your website or blog. Your brand should be consistent across all of your marketing materials, including your website, social media channels, and email newsletters. It’s important to establish a clear and recognizable brand early on, as this can help build your website’s reputation and increase its value when it comes time to sell.
Focus on generating traffic
One of the most important factors in building a successful website or blog is generating traffic. Without traffic, your website or blog won’t be able to generate revenue, and it will be much harder to sell. There are a number of strategies you can use to generate traffic, including SEO, social media marketing, and paid advertising. It’s important to focus on building a sustainable traffic strategy that can continue to drive traffic even after you’ve sold the business.
Monetize your website or blog
Once you have traffic coming to your website or blog, it’s time to start monetizing it. There are a number of revenue streams you can use to generate income from your website or blog, including advertising, affiliate marketing, sponsored content, and digital products. It’s important to experiment with different revenue streams to see which ones work best for your business.
Create systems and processes
As your website or blog grows, it’s important to create systems and processes that can help you scale your business. This can include everything from content creation workflows to customer service protocols. By developing systems and processes, you can streamline your business and make it more attractive to potential buyers.
Build a team
As your ‘Built to Sell’ business grows, you may need to start building a team to help you manage it. This can include hiring writers, editors, social media managers, and customer service representatives. Building a strong team can help you scale your business and make it more valuable to potential buyers.
Consider outsourcing
In addition to building an in-house team, you may also want to consider outsourcing certain tasks to freelancers or agencies. This can include everything from content creation to SEO optimization. By outsourcing certain tasks, you can free up your time to focus on the strategic aspects of your business, to best grow and prepare it for the potential purchaser, aka new owner.
Keep detailed records
As you build and scale your organization, it’s important to keep detailed records of your revenue, expenses, and traffic. This can help you track your progress and make data-driven decisions about the future of your business. Keeping detailed records can also make it easier to sell your business, as potential buyers will want to see evidence of your business’s financial performance.
When it comes to creating content for your website or blog, it’s important to focus on topics that are currently trending. This will help ensure that your content is relevant and consumed.
As the internet continues to evolve, so do the trends for site content. As we move further into 2023, there are several key trends that are likely to shape the direction of content; the digital business developer must be aware of these trends and incorporate them into your content strategy.
Video Content, Personalization, AI, Interactive Content, Voice Search Optimization, Social Media Marketing are all key components to keep in mind when strategizing, building and launching your site with the intention of selling it. (These important elements will be further discussed in Built to Sell Part II).
Building a business with the intention of selling it can be a smart strategy for many entrepreneurs. It can offer a significant return on investment and provide an exit strategy that allows business owners to succeed, expand and move on to other ventures. Consider and apply the above details, strategies and best practices to help ensure both your short and long term success.
