Branden Schmidt On How To Flip Websites To Make Money

“If one stream dries up, you’re not drying up the entire lake.” 💧

At Nomad Summit 2020 in Chiang Mai, I talked with Branden Schmidt, content specialist at Empire Flippers, about how buying and selling online businesses really works. 🎙️

📊 In this episode, we unpacked:

• 🛤️ From SEO agency to Empire Flippers
• 🔒 How a sale is vetted and protected
• 🛒 What businesses sell
• 📊 What the content site data showed
• 🌴 Why Chiang Mai

🎥 Watch the full episode:

🛤️ From SEO Agency to Empire Flippers

About three or four years earlier, Branden started his own SEO agency in Los Angeles. Tired of the client relationship side, he moved to freelance graphic and web design, then digital marketing for resorts in the Philippines. 🛤️

He joined Empire Flippers for a predictable schedule instead of chasing clients week to week, and because their podcast had got him into the online space in the first place. For the founders’ side, read Justin Cooke’s interview. 🔗

🔒 How a Sale Is Vetted and Protected

A vetting team checks that the analytics, traffic and revenue are legitimate, not photoshopped. Then the business is listed on their marketplace, which had just launched a new platform where buyers filter by monetization, monthly profit or price. 🔒

After a sale, a dedicated migrations team transfers the accounts and back-end. The money is held in escrow until everything is complete, so if false information slips through, the deal can be reversed. That protects both buyer and seller.

🛒 What Businesses Sell

Listings cover SaaS, Amazon FBA, content sites, dropshipping, print-on-demand and KDP. Personal brands only work if the business keeps its traffic once the person steps away. 🛒

Buyers come from a large email list, plus blogs, case studies and podcasts that people find through Google. For a site flipper’s view, read Mushfiq’s website flipping interview. 🔗

📊 What the Content Site Data Showed

Branden had just finished a data study on content sites (monetized by affiliate links, display ads or info products) owned for six months to two years after purchase. Buyers whose sites declined had focused only on content. 📊

The lesson: after buying, add other revenue, like display ads or an email list if the previous owner didn’t build one. An email list gives you an addressable audience you can promote other offers to. Empire Flippers was also starting a podcast series interviewing recent buyers. For more on authority sites, read Gael Breton’s interview. 🔗

🌴 Why Chiang Mai

Branden had lived in Asia since he was 19. Compared to the party vibe of the islands, Chiang Mai felt relaxed, with a strong digital community working in coffee shops, and more passion than he’d seen even in Los Angeles. 🌴

For another nomad story, read Julia Jerg’s interview. If you want to buy or sell an online business, 👉 check out Empire Flippers. 🔗

📝 Key Takeaways From the Branden Schmidt Interview

• 🔍 Vetting and escrow protect both sides
• 🛒 Many business models can be sold
• 👤 Personal brands must be transferable
• 📧 Build an email list after you buy
• 💧 Diversify revenue streams

❓ FAQs About Branden Schmidt

Who is Branden Schmidt?

A content specialist at Empire Flippers who previously ran an SEO agency in Los Angeles.

How does Empire Flippers protect buyers and sellers?

With a vetting team, a migrations team and escrow until the transfer is complete.

Why do some content sites decline after purchase?

Branden’s data showed declining sites relied only on content. Adding revenue streams like an email list helps.

🎙️ More Inside A Hustler’s Brain Interviews You’ll Love

• Chris Tzitzis On Selling His 7-Figure Agency, Life Regrets, and Missing His Mom 👇
• How Darrel Wilson Makes 6-Figures With WordPress + Affiliate Marketing
• Niels Zee On Building a 7-Figure Affiliate Business with Google Ads 🤑
• Jay Yap’s Guide to SEO Success and Wealth Building 🔥

Would you rather build a website from scratch or buy one? Tell me in the comments. 💬

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