How Selling a Site is Like Getting a Divorce

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In the United States today, 45.8% of all marriages end in divorce. Marriage has become something that is treated casually and is done without proper thought or planning. It’s really no wonder why the divorce rate is so high. In the same way, webmasters are now selling their sites at a faster pace than ever before. Reasons for selling a site and cashing in vary but I’ve found that there are many parallels to the reasons why couples get divorced.

Gold diggers

• Getting a divorce: Some people marry for money. Once they are legally entitled to the 50% or have whatever it is they want, the con artists will quickly leave with the goods. It’s a pretty horrible thing to do, but it does happen.
• Selling a site: Similarly, webmasters will create websites for the sole purpose of flipping them for some quick cash. Not as horrible of course, but you get the idea.

Financial troubles

• Getting a divorce: Nothing breaks up relationships more than financial troubles. Who would want to stay with a lazy deadbeat loser who smells bad and has no income?
• Selling a site: Site owners may be forced to sell if they are low on cash and need money to pay the bills.

No love

• Getting a divorce: What happened to the passion, the love, and the zeal in the relationship? Couples break up because there just isn’t anything there anymore.
• Selling a site: In the same way, webmasters sell because they no longer have the drive and passion that they once had to maintain and grow their sites.

Cheating

• Getting a divorce: Marital unfaithfulness breaks hearts, shatters trust, and ruins lives. It’s not long before a spouse finds out about infidelity that he or she quickly decides to file for divorce.
• Selling a site: If a webmaster “cheats” on a site to go work on another, it’s not long before it’s time to sell the site to focus time and attention.

Workaholism

• Getting a divorce: Many professionals work long hours and just don’t have the time or energy to work on their marriages. Hello career and goodbye marriage.
• Selling a site: Many webmasters work long hours on their sites to the point of exhaustion. At a certain time they will get burnt out and be forced to sell it all away.

Family strains

• Getting a divorce: Family issues and differences are always tough to deal with but in many cases are causes for divorce.
• Selling a site: Partners or companies who own web properties may be sell because of differences in goals, visions, or strategies. Also, a bad reputation or stress related to community-based sites can cause webmasters to call it quits.

Abuse

• Getting a divorce: People stay in abusive relationships because they are either delusional or know no other way. Divorce is inevitable.
• Selling a site: Webmasters who neglect or treat their sites badly will oftentimes have their sites bought out by a more caring owner who can see potential.

Mid-life crisis

• Getting a divorce: During a mid-life crisis, people need change. To them, divorce may seem like the answer.
• Selling a site: Webmasters may need new projects to bring the excitement back. Selling their sites and doing something new is a viable option.

Addictions

• Getting a divorce: Drug habits and gambling are huge threats to any marriage.
• Selling a site: Addictive TV series, obsessive Adsense stats checking, and constant email and IM chatting can waste valuable time and cause webmasters to sell sites.

Long distance

• Getting a divorce: Tender love and care is required for a thriving marriage. Not providing a spouse with regular attention causes tension and is cause for divorce.
• Selling a site: Sites are often created with high expectations, only to be left alone for months at a time. It’s better to sell than to neglect.

What about the kids?
As you can see, going through a divorce and selling a site have many things in common. Looking on the bright side, many married couples with children try to work things out and stay together for the kids. In the same way, unless the initial goal is to sell, webmasters should try to manage and keep up with their sites before giving up. You owe it to the loyal readers!