GoFuckYourself.com - Adult Webmaster Forum - View Single Post - *Feedback: How to make money in the adult industry (yet another article)

eroticsexxx · 02-15-2011, 10:10 AM

The following article is my attempt to summarize what I've learned thus far from being part-time in the industry. I need some feedback from persons with more experience. Please add your recommendations and suggestions.

(I originally posted this here....)
___________________________

If you asked ten persons what to do to make money in this industry as a web designer/affiliate/content pusher, they likely would give you ten different answers. Here are a few basics of the trade that are more feasible than just jumping blindly into the fray.

- Do you have a plan? With domain and hosting costs being so inexpensive, anyone can start up a pornsite in less than a few hours (using affiliate programs). Not surprisingly, many have done exactly that. The defining parameters that will set your business (yes, your business) apart from everyone else is the validity and depth of your Business Plan. For starters, do you have one? If not, that's okay - There is nothing wrong with not having one as you still can make some money even without it. However, a solid, well-written plan of action is the core of many long term successful ventures. Don't know where to start? Here's a website that offers a free template: http://web.sba.gov/busplantemplate/BizPlanStart.cfm

- Your content is king or at least should be considered as such. Whether it is your exclusive content or someone else's that you are promoting, it needs to appeal specifically to the market that you are selling it to. If you are selling blowjob content to traffic that is looking for foot fetish content, then your site will not make very much money, no matter how many people visit it.

- Know your audience. There are many ways to get targeted traffic. Link exchanges, niche blogs, traffic brokers and keyword bids are just a few ways to bring focused traffic to your site. Get creative with how you perform your marketing though. Not every marketing campaign has to utilize the latest technology. For example, a mildly, suggestive advertisement hinting to a niche (Mature, ample-chested, redhead looking for a good time) in the personals section of a newspaper could be pointed to the voicemail of a phone number that gives a sexy recording of a web address. There are certain things that attract the fans of different niches. The more you know about what they like, the easier it will be to give them what they want.

-Interact with your customers. Cam sites are a perfect example of a product that grew in popularity due to its interactive nature. Viewers sometimes want more than just a canned scene and often are thrilled to actually talk to a pornstar. Even if you don't integrate cams into your business plan, a simple script that allows instant feedback as to what visitors want to see next can go a long way in differentiating one site from the other. And yes, social networking on twitter and facebook does work. There are fans out there who clamor to get closer to their pornstar of choice. Discounts, special offers, contests and even special favors also work pretty well in terms of rewarding clients for their loyalty. The key is to find your "superfollowers/friends", the ones who will not hesitate to share content that you specifically have given them access to. Empower your fans and they will empower you.

- Network, Network, Network. This is one of the most important things to do in this industry, especially when you're a full-timer. Seeing what works for others in the industry and sharing ideas can spark a campaign that proves to be very successful or sometimes can clue you into what you should not be doing. Although they might be your competition, there are persons out there who have some great ideas and are willing to help...(at times for a fee). Industry events, Swing clubs and Sex Toy parties are other options that may end up with persons searching for more information about a star, booking future scenes and even sharing their experience with others. Just be sure to abide by any Swing Club/Sex Toy party's rules regarding recruiting or blatant advertising. (Remember that some people are there for nothing more than fucking or being fucked.)

- Partner up. Some may find that there are never enough hours in the day to handle all of the work that is involved running your own business in this industry. Developing a relationship with another person (or persons) who can share some of the load can prove beneficial to to all parties. Remember that having "a portion of something is always better than having all of nothing". Be sure to discuss and document (legally) all expectations, as well as an exit strategy. A short term contract that is subject to renewal can make such ventures more attractive and less risky.

- Make your success automatic. There is a plethora of technologies that make life easier as a webmaster/content provider, if you don't want to partner up with another person. RSS feeds, automated tweets/blog entries, tube site/theater generators and other technologies do automate the process of content delivery. Find what works for you and mix things up based on what your users ask for.

- Go foreign. Marketing to a foreign audience sometimes can be the very thing that gives your success a boost. While there is a lot of traffic from English-speaking countries, do not neglect the fact that many persons all over the world are porn enthusiasts. If you are multi-lingual, this is an easy process. Otherwise, you might have to get someone who is more familiar with a certain culture and language. Always be aware of regulations and laws in any foreign nation you target. AEBN.net is perfect for webmasters who implement this strategy (Link). They have French, Italian, Portuguese, German, Japanese and Spanish versions of their content provisions.

- Be patient. Rome wasn't built in a day. Neither were some of the top porn empires. This is why a business plan is so important. In that document you should have all of the expectations for the company and a clear road map of what the next step along the line should be.

- Know when to quit. Find yourself in a state that seems stagnant or find that things do not appear to be going according to plan? Well, the best thing to do is to review all aspects of the tasks at hand. If things definitely are not working, then quit what you are doing long enough to come up with a revised strategy that is better suited to what you wish to accomplish. Remember that a business plan is a living document - It should be changed periodically. Knowing when to adjust one's sails, so to speak, can mean the difference between a wasted investment of time/money and one that reaps serious benefits due to proper planning and foresight. When in doubt, get help.

(Oh yeah, disclaimer: YMMV)

02-15-2011, 10:10 AM
eroticsexxx Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nassau, Bahamas Posts: 3,133	Feedback: How to make money in the adult industry (yet another article) The following article is my attempt to summarize what I've learned thus far from being part-time in the industry. I need some feedback from persons with more experience. Please add your recommendations and suggestions. (I originally posted this here....) ___________________________ If you asked ten persons what to do to make money in this industry as a web designer/affiliate/content pusher, they likely would give you ten different answers. Here are a few basics of the trade that are more feasible than just jumping blindly into the fray. - Do you have a plan?* With domain and hosting costs being so inexpensive, anyone can start up a pornsite in less than a few hours (using affiliate programs). Not surprisingly, many have done exactly that. The defining parameters that will set your business (yes, your business) apart from everyone else is the validity and depth of your Business Plan. For starters, do you have one? If not, that's okay - There is nothing wrong with not having one as you still can make some money even without it. However, a solid, well-written plan of action is the core of many long term successful ventures. Don't know where to start? Here's a website that offers a free template: http://web.sba.gov/busplantemplate/BizPlanStart.cfm - Your content is king or at least should be considered as such. Whether it is your exclusive content or someone else's that you are promoting, it needs to appeal specifically to the market that you are selling it to. If you are selling blowjob content to traffic that is looking for foot fetish content, then your site will not make very much money, no matter how many people visit it. - Know your audience. There are many ways to get targeted traffic. Link exchanges, niche blogs, traffic brokers and keyword bids are just a few ways to bring focused traffic to your site. Get creative with how you perform your marketing though. Not every marketing campaign has to utilize the latest technology. For example, a mildly, suggestive advertisement hinting to a niche (Mature, ample-chested, redhead looking for a good time) in the personals section of a newspaper could be pointed to the voicemail of a phone number that gives a sexy recording of a web address. There are certain things that attract the fans of different niches. The more you know about what they like, the easier it will be to give them what they want. -Interact with your customers. Cam sites are a perfect example of a product that grew in popularity due to its interactive nature. Viewers sometimes want more than just a canned scene and often are thrilled to actually talk to a pornstar. Even if you don't integrate cams into your business plan, a simple script that allows instant feedback as to what visitors want to see next can go a long way in differentiating one site from the other. And yes, social networking on twitter and facebook does work. There are fans out there who clamor to get closer to their pornstar of choice. Discounts, special offers, contests and even special favors also work pretty well in terms of rewarding clients for their loyalty. The key is to find your "superfollowers/friends", the ones who will not hesitate to share content that you specifically have given them access to. Empower your fans and they will empower you. - Network, Network, Network. This is one of the most important things to do in this industry, especially when you're a full-timer. Seeing what works for others in the industry and sharing ideas can spark a campaign that proves to be very successful or sometimes can clue you into what you should not be doing. Although they might be your competition, there are persons out there who have some great ideas and are willing to help...(at times for a fee). Industry events, Swing clubs and Sex Toy parties are other options that may end up with persons searching for more information about a star, booking future scenes and even sharing their experience with others. Just be sure to abide by any Swing Club/Sex Toy party's rules regarding recruiting or blatant advertising. (Remember that some people are there for nothing more than fucking or being fucked.) - Partner up. Some may find that there are never enough hours in the day to handle all of the work that is involved running your own business in this industry. Developing a relationship with another person (or persons) who can share some of the load can prove beneficial to to all parties. Remember that having "a portion of something is always better than having all of nothing". Be sure to discuss and document (legally) all expectations, as well as an exit strategy. A short term contract that is subject to renewal can make such ventures more attractive and less risky. - Make your success automatic. There is a plethora of technologies that make life easier as a webmaster/content provider, if you don't want to partner up with another person. RSS feeds, automated tweets/blog entries, tube site/theater generators and other technologies do automate the process of content delivery. Find what works for you and mix things up based on what your users ask for. - Go foreign. Marketing to a foreign audience sometimes can be the very thing that gives your success a boost. While there is a lot of traffic from English-speaking countries, do not neglect the fact that many persons all over the world are porn enthusiasts. If you are multi-lingual, this is an easy process. Otherwise, you might have to get someone who is more familiar with a certain culture and language. Always be aware of regulations and laws in any foreign nation you target. AEBN.net is perfect for webmasters who implement this strategy (Link). They have French, Italian, Portuguese, German, Japanese and Spanish versions of their content provisions. - Be patient. Rome wasn't built in a day. Neither were some of the top porn empires. This is why a business plan is so important. In that document you should have all of the expectations for the company and a clear road map of what the next step along the line should be. - Know when to quit. Find yourself in a state that seems stagnant or find that things do not appear to be going according to plan? Well, the best thing to do is to review all aspects of the tasks at hand. If things definitely are not working, then quit what you are doing long enough to come up with a revised strategy that is better suited to what you wish to accomplish. Remember that a business plan is a living document - It should be changed periodically. Knowing when to adjust one's sails, so to speak, can mean the difference between a wasted investment of time/money and one that reaps serious benefits due to proper planning and foresight. When in doubt, get help. (Oh yeah, disclaimer: YMMV) __________________ Last edited by eroticsexxx; 02-15-2011 at 10:14 AM..