As mentioned previously Website Flipping is the process of either developing a new website or purchasing a previously developed website with the intention of selling it within a time frame for a profit. Within this article the development of a new website shall be covered.

- Developing a new website

In order to develop a new site it is necessary to decide upon the subject matter for the website then purchase a domain name, design the site then finally host the created site so it is available on the World Wide Web (WWW).

Website Subject

This is the first step in the process of developing a website. The subject matter of the website should be chosen carefully with in-depth analysis and planning prior to any designing commencing. It is recommended to choose a website subject that is of interest to you and it is preferential to choose a field in which you have some knowledge.

Domain Name

it is necessary to register a domain name, if you don’t already have the domain name, related to the site which is to be built. The domain name should be memorable and should have a relevance to the website. When starting out with website flipping it is recommended to register an available domain name for the website and not pay a premium for a previously registered domain as the return after development e.t.c. may not compensate for the costs of the domain name. Over time, as you become more proficient and confident in website flipping, paying a premium for a previously registered domain name could prove a positive choice with a greater than proportional return financially.

Designing the website

If you have prior web design/programming knowledge this will obviously prove very beneficial and can keep the costs of developing a new website minimal thus allowing for an increased profit upon flipping the website.

If you have zero or very little web design/programming knowledge then it is necessary to hire someone to complete this task. It is possible to find countless web design companies via Google but quality and competitive pricing should be your two main goals when searching for a web design company and it is advisable to ask for a quotation from multiple web design companies that have a high quality portfolio of previous work. Browsing various web design forums and posting your requirements on one of the many freelance sites could also prove very beneficial in finding a web designer.

It is possible to install a forum, blog or CMS (Content Management System) with little effort and sometimes at a click of a button if your host supports this (e.g. Fantastico). Combined with the many templates and skins available, your site could look professional and visually appealing for free.

Hosting the website

In order to allow your website to be readily available on the World Wide Web (WWW) it is necessary to host the website with a web host. Web Hosts are companies that provide web space on a server which is connected to the Internet via high speed redundant data communications connections. Web hosting can be split into free web hosting, shared web hosting, reseller hosting, virtual dedicated server, dedicated servers and co-location. This list outlines the main choices and is not a complete list of the types of web hosting available.

It is necessary to select the right type of web hosting that suites your needs and requirements and it is necessary to ensure you do not overspend on a service that you do not need. A small site that receives a few hundred visitors a month does not require a dedicated server or, alternatively, a video site that utilises hundreds of Gigabytes of data transfer per month which includes a resource intensive database would not be suited to a shared environment but would require a dedicated server.  

When choosing a web host it is a necessity to partake in research prior to committing and read as many reviews on a particular web host as possible. WebHostingTalk is a good starting point for this and the forums are frequented by many major web hosts from around the world.

In the follow-up to this article the second part to website flipping shall be discussed which is the purchasing of a previously developed website with the intention of selling for a profit.