Marc Andre

Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Marc Andre and I've been building websites and online businesses since 2007, and full-time since 2008. Over the years, I've worked on a number of different projects. My typical approach is to work on a website for 3-5 and then sell it.

I've had 6 different six-figure exits, with the first one coming in 2013. In 2023, I started https://flipmysite.com, a blog about growing, buying, and selling websites and online businesses. Earlier in 2023, I had sold a few sites and when I was looking for a new project, I thought it would be appropriate to start a blog where I could use my experience and share the stories of others having success with their own businesses and exits.

Personally, I love the approach of working on a business for a few years and then selling it. It allows me to start new projects and work on something different every few years, which keeps things fun and interesting. Of course, getting a lump sum of money is also nice. Most websites and online businesses sell for a few years' worth of profit, so there's excellent potential.

What did it take/how did you get started?

Initially, I started my business just to make some extra money. I had a full-time job and just wanted to work on my business on the side. But once I started to see some results, I got hooked. Within a few months, my plans and goals had changed, and I knew I wanted to do it full-time. It took about a year and a half before I was able to leave my full-time job.

During that time I was working about 30 hours each week on my business, which included most evenings and weekends. Most of my experience is with blogs and content websites, and the blogging world was much different in 2007 than it is now. But what hasn't changed is the need to create great content that interests your readers. I was able to grow my first blog pretty quickly thanks to social media and networking with other bloggers. I also did some freelance work (mostly writing) to make money, which allowed me to leave my full-time job while my own blog was still growing.

That first blog that I started in 2007 as a little side project became a good source of income for several years until I sold it in 2013. Exiting that business showed me what was possible, and since then, every website or business that I've started has been with the intention of eventually selling and taking a lump sum payout.

What does the future look like for you and your business?

The future is a bit unknown. The last year or two have been filled with significant changes in the industry, including the rise of AI and massive Google algorithm updates that have mostly been unfavorable to small publishers. Thankfully, I sold my sites before Google's Helpful Content Update (HCU) in September 2023 which crushed so many websites and blogs.

Since then, I've been doing a combination of client work and starting new projects. Currently, I'm working on some traffic-generation strategies that don't depend on Google, like social media and email marketing. My results have been encouraging so far, but I still have a ways to go. Over the last five years or so, I really focused on SEO and growing organic search traffic to my sites, so I've had to pivot since Google is sending so much less traffic to most blogs and content sites these days. I'm kind of shifting back to what I did earlier in my career, which was social media marketing, email, and selling digital products.

What drives / motivates you on a daily basis?

My motivation has changed and evolved over the years. Early on, I was primarily motivated by the possibility of leaving my job. At that time, my wife and I were recently married and we didn't have kids yet. Now, I have two kids and my biggest motivation is providing for my family. I hope to be able to continue my business for a long time, but my providing for my family is what drives me.

If I have to change what I do or go back to a full-time job, I'm fine with that. I'm also motivated by freedom and flexibility. One of the things I love about what I do is being able to choose the websites and projects I work on. Most of my blogs and websites have covered topics that interest me, like web design, photography, travel, and personal finance. And the flexibility has been huge for our family.

What advice would you give someone interested in doing what you do?

Be ready and willing to adapt. The industry changes very quickly and you have to be able to change with it. What works today may not work two years from now, so you can't get stuck in your ways. You also can't assume that just because you're successful right now that you'll continue to succeed in the future. You need to continue learning and be ready to change.

You also have to be prepared for ups and downs. There's very little consistency or predictability to it. This has been especially true for me selling multiple websites/businesses and starting over each time, compared to someone who's worked on the same business for many years. The lump sum you get from selling a business is great, but starting over can be stressful.

What has been the hardest part of your business journey?

Two things stand out to me: 1 - Time management. There's no one to tell you what you should be working on or how you should use your time. You have to figure it out yourself. There's endless things you could be doing and many different ways to grow a business, but you have to determine which is the best use of your time. I constantly struggle to fight off distractions and stay focused on the most urgent and important tasks.

2 - Change. As I mentioned already, things change very quickly. While that does help to keep things interesting, it's also a constant grind. You can't really ever get comfortable because as soon as you do, something changes and you need to adapt.

How have you managed burnout thus far?

I try to keep a healthy work-life balance. Early on, I worked much longer hours than I do know. Today, I work 40-50 hours per week and make sure I have plenty of time for family activities. Working 50 hours a week may seem like a lot, but having no commute definitely helps. I make sure I'm done by 5:00 each day so I can have the evening with my family, and I'm also available on the weekends for my kids's sports and other things. That's helped to keep things in perspective and avoid burnout.

What are a few resources that you'd recommend?

I enjoy entrepreneurial success stories, so I'm a big fan of websites and podcasts like Side Hustle Nation and Niche Pursuits. That's also one of the reasons I started FlipMySite.com. I publish interviews and stories that show the behind-the-scenes details on online entrepreneurs.

The STATS

List the Founders

Marc Andre

How many hours a week do you work on this hustle?

40-50

# of Employees?

1 full-time (me) and 1 part-time (my wife)

When did you start?

2007

How much did it cost to launch?

$100

What were your funding methods and ballpark amount raised?

Bootstrapped

Annual revenue?

It's varied a lot depending on the project at the time, but typically low six figures

Projected revenue?

Unsure, but I'd guess things continue mostly as they have been (low six figures)

What's the #1 thing you need right now?

Mastering traffic sources other than Google