Want to Invest in Digital Real Estate? How to Start

As the digital market grows and changes, more people are looking to invest in digital real estate. Unlike traditional real estate, this type of investment doesn’t need a large upfront cost or carry the same high risks.

If you’re considering entering this market, here’s what you should know and how you can get started.

What is the digital real estate?

Digital real estate is similar to traditional real estate but exists online. Just like you can buy a house to rent or sell for profit, you can do the same with domain names, websites, and blogs. These are all considered internet property.

Many people make a living by buying and selling domain names and websites. Some domain names sell for millions, and websites can also be acquired for large sums. It’s possible to make money with digital real estate as well.

How to invest in the digital real estate

Investing in digital real estate, like websites, doesn’t require advanced technical skills or web design experience. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.

Setting up a website and investing in digital real estate is now easier than ever, thanks to technologies like WordPress. You can create a website with just one click, even if you’re a beginner.

There are two main ways to invest in digital real estate: building a website from scratch or buying an established website.

Building a website from scratch is affordable but requires a lot of effort to make it successful. It also takes time before you can sell it for profit. On the other hand, buying an established website costs more upfront, but since it’s already generating income, you can see returns sooner.

Where to Find Established Websites

If you’re ready to invest in an established website, there are several marketplaces where you can find them for sale.

One popular option is Flippa, which features website auctions. Here, you can browse websites that are already profitable. Listings on Flippa include details about a site’s monthly earnings and its revenue generation methods.

However, it’s crucial to do your own research before purchasing. Not all listings may be completely accurate. Tools like ahrefs can help you analyze a website’s SEO, backlinks, visitor count, and other statistics to verify its value. Alternatively, you can use a website brokerage firm like FE International to handle the research for you and find a suitable investment.

How to Establish Your Own Website

Building your own website is a great way to invest in digital real estate. It does require more upfront work, but you’ll have full control over the domain and its content.

To build a website from scratch, you can use one of the following website builders:

Wix

Wix offers over 800 responsive, industry-specific templates and customizable tools, making it easy to design a website regardless of your experience level. Beginners can take advantage of the easy setup wizard and drag-and-drop tools, while those with advanced technical skills can use Wix’s Dev Mode for custom coding.

• Cost: Wix offers free and paid plans. The free plan includes advertisements, while paid plans (ranging from $16 to $45 per month) are ad-free and include website analytics to help you track your page’s performance.

Hibu

Hibu is a full-service web design agency that specializes in creating “smart” websites tailored to search engines and targeted audiences. They offer additional services for managing listings, online reviews, reputation, and e-commerce sales.

• Cost: Since Hibu is a service, costs depend on the project. You’ll need to schedule a consultation for a custom price quote. Hibu’s services are more affordable, focusing on supporting small and midsize businesses.

Weebly

Weebly’s intuitive interface and comprehensive features make it easy to build a website that meets your needs. They offer 50+ website templates organized by categories, drag-and-drop design, and an HTML editor for custom coding. Additional features include analytics, e-commerce, and marketing applications.

• Cost: Weebly offers free and paid plans, ranging from $6 to $26 per month billed annually. All paid plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee and a free professional domain for one year.

Duda

Duda allows you to build a mobile-responsive website and edit it based on the access device. The platform is easy to use, with drag-and-drop elements and templates designed for mobile. Multiple users can collaborate on a single site, making it great for teams.

• Cost: Duda’s Basic plan starts at $14 per month billed annually, the Team plan is $22 per month billed annually, and the Agency plan is $44 per month billed annually. You can sign up for Duda with a 14-day free trial, which includes all the features of the Team plan.

How to earn from digital real estate?

After acquiring or creating your website, the key to profiting from digital real estate is to consistently produce content that attracts visitors and generates traffic. Use Google’s Keyword Planner to come up with blog ideas based on popular search terms.

If you’re too busy to create content, consider hiring freelancers from sites like Upwork to write for you at affordable rates. Once your website starts receiving sufficient traffic, you can monetize it in several ways:

• Advertising: Sell ad space on your website or use ad networks like AdSense. You earn money whenever visitors click on ads.
• Affiliate marketing: Promote and sell other businesses’ products. Earn a commission for every sale made through your affiliate link.
• Selling products: Create and sell your own products such as e-books, online courses, or software on your website.
• Sponsored content: Advertisers may pay you to write blog posts promoting their brands or products.

As your website becomes profitable, you can decide whether to sell it for a profit or continue growing it as a source of income. Unlike traditional investments like stocks or real estate, the value of your digital real estate won’t increase over time unless you actively work on improving it. Be prepared to invest time and effort into making your website successful to see financial returns.