DMV.org make $11.5 million per year

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Laura

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We got a new car the other day and I needed to get some information about temp plates. As with every other time I have searched for DMV info online, I kept ending up on DMV.org - which says it's the "Unofficial Guide to the DMV." Maybe it's just my state, but their rankings are insane.

I have always thought their monetizing was clever (ie. they ask you about getting car insurance before they pass you to the real DMV site you are looking for, but it looks very official.) I was wondering what kind of money the site makes given the traffic they must get.

So this morning I was reading about the coolest entrepreneurs in America under 30, and saw the site listed.

#9: Raj Lahoti, ONLINE GURU
Age: 25
Location: San Diego
2006 Revenue: $11.5 million
Employees: 15
Year founded: 2003
What it does: After a few years dabbling in Internet domain acquisition and traffic brokering, Raj Lahoti set out to build up one of his brother's domains in order to provide meaningful content in an area that, well, generally lacks it. DMV.ORG, the "Online Unofficial Guide to the DMV," aggregates information from the (often dreaded) Department of Motor Vehicles in each state -- all in one place. Users can access information on everything from applying for a license to ordering a driving record, without the aggravation of standing in the DMV's endless lines.
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I love it when the universe answers my random questions. Haha. Either that, or I love my feedreader that always has good stuff to read in it. :D It's a cool article - I love this business. :)
 


That is one rich son of a bitch.

How much did he buy DMV.ORG for in 2003?

Good investment, anyway you look at it.
 
He has put so much time and effort in that site and I have gone on there like its a reg DMV site and all the info is right on.

A big gamble that paid huge dividends. Thanks Laura for sharing that inspirational story.

I love this business too!
 
A great example of how you can approach a high profit market indirectly.
 
I was researching titling fees and taxes for my car the other day and ended up there. I remember thinking to myself that the site was genius. Wouldn't have guessed it made that much, but it doesn't suprise me.
 
So is "aggregates" just a euphemism for "scrapes"? ;)

I wonder how much he spends on the PPC ads. Regardless, it seems like they're doing pretty well with the site -- another example of the SEO + domainer combo making a killing.
 
haha i was just at the site yesterday trying to get to the dmv site for my brothers liscense...

i must say i quit dmv.gov and just went there... the content is crystal clear...

small world...


:)
 
arz said:
I wonder how much he spends on the PPC ads.
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Not sure how accurate it is (that's a wee bit of a daily budget range ;)), but this is what SpyFu says:

Daily Ad Budget: $832.55 - $21.67k

​
Total Clicks/Day: 3.45k - 7.14k
Avg. Ad Position: 8.6
Avg. Cost/Click: $0.26 - $8.00
Avg. Ad Competitors: 16.5
Avg. Clicks/Day: 7.56 - 19.8
Avg. Ad Percentile: 48.27 %
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Raj is a great guy, very VERY sharp when it comes to SEO & adspend management, and actually a pretty nice guy too.

And to make a long story short, he has spent damned near every waking moment for the last 3-4 years putting DMV.org where it is today - but I assure you he's not resting on his laurels either.
 
DaveEMG said:
Raj is a great guy, very VERY sharp when it comes to SEO & adspend management, and actually a pretty nice guy too.

And to make a long story short, he has spent damned near every waking moment for the last 3-4 years putting DMV.org where it is today - but I assure you he's not resting on his laurels either.
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if you know him, hook us up and get him in here! :)
 
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