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Top Tips When Selling Your Business Online

Guest post by: John Ryan

Article Overview: Unlike selling your business through advertising in a print based medium, online advertising is a lot more interactive and dynamic. Not just that, but the potential pool of purchasers is wider. The following article outlines how to maximise your experience online when selling your business, and how to avoid potential pitfalls that may hinder your listing.

Top Tips When Selling Your Business Online

* The web has universal access, so if in doubt about who may be reading the advertisement (such as staff, competitors, suppliers etc.) keep your anonymity. Do not give the name of the business. Give a location such as county name but do not give address or indeed a phone number. Use a non company based email, or use the websites enquiry form provided.

* Give as much detail as possible. The more information you give, the less time wasting enquiries you will receive. State how many years you are in business and how many employees are employed. Explain exactly what is involved in the business. If it is a niche market say so (can often prove attractive). If there has being press coverage, mention titles (or better still provide web links). If the business has won awards or industry certifications mention them. If you had stands at trade fairs, mention what ones you attended.

* Make your business information as attractive as possible. Talk about the growth rate of the business, or the sector you are in. If you do not mind letting people know who is selling, publish photographs of the company logo or product, the building, sales stands etc. There may be many businesses such as yours for sale, which are relatively easy to locate on the Internet.

* Make your advertisement title as striking but as concise as possible. The first sentence of the ad is also critical. Both of these elements will be the 1st thing people will see if searching either a website’s internal search engine or a general search facility. You want to encourage the maximum amount of people to click into your business opportunity.

* List the reasons for selling your business. If you have such a fantastic business opportunity, then why are you selling it? This is one of the first things that people ask. So again be honest. From experience we have seen everything from health ailments to retirements to other businesses needing attention to divorce.

* When people reply, be prompt in getting back to them. If they are using the web then they can easily go elsewhere.

* The advantages of listing approximate asking price is that you will screen out quite a number of people who may not be able to afford the business. The disadvantages are that you may turn away people who would be interested in the business if they heard more about it from a direct meeting or phone conversation.

* Lastly, treat the advertisement as a living changing entity. Often ads are unrecognisable at the end from when they were first listed. This is due to feedback from enquirers, the seller often realises they need to tweak the ad or include more information. So keep on top of it and don’t be afraid to change it, unlike print mediums, you can do this as often and as freely as you wish.

For more information contact: johnryan@thebusinessshop.ie

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