Alec Helmy - 2010: A Forcast For The Online Adult Industry

[Barefootsies]

In this episode of the SiN2.0 Adult Webmaster Podcast we bring you Alec Helmy, CEO and founder of Adnet Media which includes XBIZ.com. Being one of the top dogs in the adult industry today, Alec, drops by to forecast 2010 and what it means to the online adult industry. The conversation covers; the emerging technologies such as mobile platforms and search engines; tube sites as a decreasing trend in the coming years; affiliate business models; niche marketing for superior customer service and other marketing strategies. Most importantly, Alec, discusses 2010 as being the year of consolidation.

http://www.sin20.com/podcast/020110-...adult-industry

[notime]

But whatever consolidates and/or emerges, Alec can market

[AdPatron]

I've already consolidated my sites, but that was 2009.

[Barefootsies]

Originally Posted by JoesTraffic

I've already consolidated my sites, but that was 2009.

Doing the same myself. Selling off old unwanted assets, or working out management deals or strategic partnerships. This is better for both parts in regards to my own interests. Focusing on strengths, and making more money collectively.

I have went from 50+ sites way down to a more management and profitable number of sites over the past two years. It simply is better all the way around. Especially if you are a smaller company.

As the cliche goes.. "Do one thing really well, or 100 things half assed".

[AdPatron]

It will click for more people probably in 2010. One thing that helped me consolidate is finding a domain better suited for my business. They were getting out of the industry and I saw opportunity... which is paying off already.

[jay23]

Very good interview. Alec know a lot about this biz and its always a pleasure to listen to his views.

Jay
objectcube.com

[Barefootsies]

Originally Posted by JoesTraffic

One thing that helped me consolidate is finding a domain better suited for my business. They were getting out of the industry and I saw opportunity... which is paying off already.

Good to hear. For me, it simply is about efficiency.

There are things I need to be focused on to stay ahead of the curve. In the meantime, I have all these assets that can be better served by someone with the marketing and promotion drive. So I am willing to take a percentage on them in exchange for someone 'buy in' and pushing the bar.

Secondly, I am have been modifying the scripts to do more of the work via automation. One example would be updating one site's main DB and through a series of qualifiers, and via CRON job, three sites get updated. Which saves in insane amount of time when you start adding up all these cost and time savings. It really is worth investing in infrastructure.

Which this shit out of the way, it leaves me free to work on new projects.

[sweetcuties]

bump, will listen later

[AdPatron]

Originally Posted by Barefootsies

Secondly, I am have been modifying the scripts to do more of the work via automation. One example would be updating one site's main DB and through a series of qualifiers, and via CRON job, three sites get updated. Which saves in insane amount of time when you start adding up all these cost and time savings. It really is worth investing in infrastructure.

I'm more of a web developer than anything else (Quote.com, Big Charts, Fidelity Investments, etc), so I started with automation since the beginning. My problem has been on the business end. I've never used a sales staff, or did any real promotion of my services. That's where my change is coming.

[Caligari]

very interesting stuff, will be listening tonight- thanks for the heads up!

[Bossman]

Helmy knows adult

They did touch on cam sex, which I think will be the winner when the dust settles.

Not only are the cam networks able to successful bill per minute, but they are also getting better and better at the subscription side of the business. So soon they will have the best of all worlds - lots of traffic from the "free" tube sites, gigantic diversified talent pool with little to no content production costs, and multiple successful income/billing models (plus they already pay the affiliates less than paysites programs, which makes their business alot more profitable).

Paysite programs should take note

[AdPatron]

Originally Posted by Bossman

Helmy knows adult

They did touch on cam sex, which I think will be the winner when the dust settles.

Not only are the cam networks able to successful bill per minute, but they are also getting better and better at the subscription side of the business. So soon they will have the best of all worlds - lots of traffic from the "free" tube sites, gigantic diversified talent pool with little to no content production costs, and multiple successful income/billing models (plus they already pay the affiliates less than paysites programs, which makes their business alot more profitable).

Paysite programs should take note

I agree with this.

[Bossman]

Originally Posted by JoesTraffic

I agree with this.

Thank you

Some of the bigger paysite programs are taking notes, and as consequence getting ready to diversify into the cam sex business. Trying to prosper by downsizing and refocus on old tried business models will only work for a while, before there is no more to downsize and the old tried business have eroded away.

Cam sex on the hand is new frontier land, constantly evolving with the spread of technology and fast user growth (in the near future almost every communication device - pcs, smartphones, tvs etc. -will come with cams attached). Also there is a higher price to enter, which limits competition, and secure against someone with no real investement rotting the industry.

Paysite programs should remember they are in the "entertainment business", and not in the paysite business. The slow in paysite sales does not mean people are using less entertainment, but they are using different forms/format of entertainment... the old saying "If you're not growing, you're dying" applies - someone, somewhere is growing their business this minute, and more often its someone in the business of cam sex entertainment

[Barefootsies]

Originally Posted by Bossman

Paysite programs should remember they are in the "entertainment business", and not in the paysite business. The slow in paysite sales does not mean people are using less entertainment, but they are using different forms/format of entertainment... the old saying "If you're not growing, you're dying" applies - someone, somewhere is growing their business this minute, and more often its someone in the business of cam sex entertainment

[Lassitor]

Thanks for posting the link to Sin 2.0. Consolidation is a business buzz word for down-sizing, retraction and shrinkage. Already I am seeing lots of little websites go 404, and I am seeing the big name producers push more in to the niches to become more inclusive for all types of visitors.

Those that win will be the people who keep their overhead very low and who are not running a 'one trick pony' sites.

I also forsee that the real pornstars will continue to do well, as well as the companies that work with them, but the amateur pornstars, home-made and self-shot porn will fade away as the flood of that stuff it hits the internet.

Mobile porn? 3D porn? Perhaps, but then it is going to take someone with a lot of capital to get that moving. I really think that more web 2.0 and end user experience is the key. Porn interactive sites, MMORG type of sites will be the future.

[Bossman]

Agreed - no one ever got flithy rich by downsizing

Protectionism is a natural instinct, when you are threaten, but companies/individuals got to remember that this is the internet - its a global network with opportunities that reaches well beyond ones city limits.

I´m personally puzzled why people that make money on the internet are treating it like a local brink and mortar store. The entire planet is your marketplace.

Ex. as some of you may have noticed, then we have an international cam domain for sale (see sig) - a cam slang/term understood all over the globe, even by people that don´t speak english. Now yesterday I was hit up by someone who gave a lowball offer based on "todays economy" refering to US numbers. Not that the US is unimportant, but come on - this is the internet, you are not trapped in some national border system. You product is crossing all over the planet, penetrating physical borders, languages and cultural differences. Its the emergence of a global culture, where some dude in Germany, Pakistan, and Idaho is wanking to the same content on the same website.

The internet is the most awesome media power ever! Reaching every cornor on the planet and destroying all obstacles. All this awesome power is at your finger tips, just wanting for you to take control of it, while you forget that short sighted protectionism, which is holding you back.

[Nicky]

Effective focus on main sites is my game plan this year. That still leaves time for developing new sites though but It should not come in the way of working on the main ones.