Comments on: How much money is a blog Worth?

By: Dave Starr

Dave Starr — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 04:31:27 +0000

Whatever methodology is used for an estimated value, the biggest problem I currently see is the wide differences in traffic estimates between the various common stats tools.

I actually see this as a short-term business opportunity … since the principles of HTTP are pretty well known, why, oh why hasn’t someone come put with a tool that actually produced consistent results.

I’ll hold up Performancing’s stats system as an example. It frequently is significantly different in its counts of Google ad clicks than is Google itself. I have no idea who’s right … and both of them vary widely from the three different statitics systems my host provides (which never count the same number of visitors, either). Since Google pays me I’ll accept their count, but to be able to present evidence that shows they are right? can’t do it. At at present the nascent science of blog valuation resembles a real estate appraisal firm who can’t accurately measure the square footage (or meters) of a property … all the more complex formulas are out the window if you can’t determine the size of the pie to begin with.

By: jente

jente — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 18:31:19 +0000

a blog is only worth how much the highest bidder pays… And I think a lot of blogs aren’t for sale at all, so why bother about the value…

By: Chad

Chad — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 11:56:48 +0000

I checked my blog and I ended up OWING money…

By: Ray Dotson

Ray Dotson — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 11:17:59 +0000

It seems that the monetary value of a blog would necessarily depend on it’s current and potential income. Other than that, if it is a personally branded blog that will lose it’s blogger in the transfer, then value will obviously be lost. If it keeps the blogger or bloggers, then most value would logically be retained.

By: Tez

Tez — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 00:48:08 +0000

Whilst having a rough idea of what your blog might be worth is great in theory, but unless there is another party willing to pay that amount then the whole exercise is largely a waste of time.

By: Wieviel ist dein Weblog wirklich wert? | nanoblogs[.de]

Wieviel ist dein Weblog wirklich wert? | nanoblogs[.de] — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 14:05:31 +0000

[...] Gefunden beim ProBlogger. [...]

By: Stephen W.

Stephen W. — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 13:21:01 +0000

Maybe I’m just a sentimental fool, but I’ve always believed that a blog often has much more value to the one who writes it than anyone would ever be willing to pay. I’d be lucky if my blog earned enough to pay my electric bill each month. Still, if someone shoved a $10,000 check under my nose, I’d probably turn them down. It’s my work, and it’s worth more to me than any figure a financial analyst might tag on it. Just my two cents.

By: Technology Slice

Technology Slice — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 12:45:01 +0000

Each blog would have to evaluated on their own merits so it would be pointless to standardize it.

By: Bryan Fleming

Bryan Fleming — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 12:42:21 +0000

I’d value it off the monthly profiits. I agree with Jon 8-24 months would be about right.

- Bryan
http://www.BryanCFleming.com

By: John Evans (Syntagma)

John Evans (Syntagma) — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 11:37:12 +0000

The problem lies with the word “blog”. Blogs are evaluated largely by specialist blogging tools and outfits which are technology-related. Once you break out of the vice-like grip of the blogosphere, you’re valued in a different marketplace. For example :

* how does it look to general shoppers;
* is the material marketable by other means, say, print;
* is your archive a “resource” that’s usable by researchers;
* what is the quality of the content;
* what is the value of the small but unusual demographic attracted to your ultra-niche site?

There are many more differences. The “blog” branding is a casing that restricts your freedom, your choice and your growth prospects in an infinitely variable world.

By: Jim

Jim — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 11:32:52 +0000

My 4 week old blog is worth $1,693.62. not bad since it cost me $9 but I really dont think anybody is going to pay me that much for it…yet!!

By: Ann Handley

Ann Handley — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 10:55:49 +0000

Funny that Simon’s formula values gossip/movie/television blog almost four times more than blogs on literature/books/art/poetry/or a publishing-industry blog..you know, the ones likely written by actual *writers*…. Ah well. Story of our culture, I guess.

By: Jon

Jon — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 03:17:49 +0000

Blogs should be valuated like any other business. Anywhere from 8 – 24 times monthly profit is a good ballpark number.

The range would be adjusted with various considerations, in the case of blogs the biggest factor would be the “cost” of having a different blogger. In the case of ProBlogger, losing Darren would be considered a big blow to the ProBlogger “brand” and therefore lower the valuation. If a blog has a more generic blogger, then it is worth more at sale.

Other factors would only influence the price slightly: growth in topic potential, technicals [site platform] and missed monetization oppurtunities on the site.

By: Adam Graham

Adam Graham — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 03:00:41 +0000

My blog is worth $12,106.32 according to this formulate. Not bad. However, you have to be careful on this. Because if someone figure out what blogs are worth or an accurate measure of valuing them, before long someone will be taxing them. :)

By: brem

brem — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 02:45:26 +0000

I would have to sell my blog to someone who bears the same name as I. The market is pretty small ;)

By: Nick

Nick — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 02:30:16 +0000

That’s an interesting way to value blogs. I like this valuation better than business oppurtunity’s. I was questioning the system until I read

“5. If you have less than a hundred people linking to you, your blog probably isn’t worth anything yet from a buyer’s standpoint.”

But I don’t think the art of putting a value on blogs will never be mastered.

By: B Green

B Green — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 02:20:30 +0000

I wouldnt even consider buying a blog that is identified by the blogger. If they have a strong personality, it is probably the reason that a lot of readers keep coming back. If they leave, the blog loses it’s reason for being.
I no longer read some popular blogs that were bought and lost the blogger.

By: Pierre Cutler

Pierre Cutler — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 02:02:51 +0000

There are several standard and acceptable ways to value companies. Blogs should be no exception. Ultimately, valuations come down to profit contribution and the acceptable return on your investment.

Should blogs be valued any differently?

Pierre Cutler