How many webmasters disappeared in the last 12 to 18 months?
 

Browsing the various forums, both mainstream and adult, it appears that many people have decided that being a webmaster wasn't for them.

I'm basing this on my own observations but all forums seem less active, programs seem less responsive and there just seem to be less serious webmasters all around.

Before everyone jumps in with Alexa graphs, I am not talking about traffic. I don't care how many page views a site gets if there are less active members keeping it going. GFY is still pretty fast and so are the big mainstream boards but there just doesn't seem to be as much business going on.

Just me or is the industry having a major crisis?

Traffic means nothing, its all about sales and its pretty obvious whats been happening to sales the last few months.
WG

the sky is falling....

Still here, still making money.

Are you sure? Every program that posts on the boards claims sales are at all time highs? ;)

The sky has been falling since I've been online. This has nothing to do with how much money you do or can make, I'm asking if anyone else noticed a drop in the number of people attempting to make a go of it as webmasters.

Me too and luckily I have many backup plans. I just find it odd that there would be less people posting on webmaster forums when you'd think high unemployment would mean more people looking for "easy" money. :upsidedow

Placing my sig here.. this is as good time as any.....

Yep, that all sounds accurate to me. I'd say the number of active webmasters has probably dropped by somewhere between 25 - 50% in the past 12 months.

I think I drink too much coffee. I've thought this for quite some time now.

I am pretty much sure at least 40% of the webmasters worked harder to make up the looses last year, could this explain why they are not on the forums so much anymore knowing they are not booming their business with a high post count.

That sounds about right.

I have noticed the same on most forums. Mainstream and adult. I have also noticed people's payments being pushed back. Around 12 months ago, it was not that hard to close small or big dollar deals. Now you have more people being cautious, or having to wait for their one big pay check at the beginning of the month. Whether clips4sale wire, or sponsor, or whatever.

I noticed some of the more recognized board names disappearing as well. I am sure they have not opted for the paper hat like 90% of the others. However, some have said they are working harder and have less time for the boards. Others say the boards are dying, and they are investing in other things. Whether off line, or online.

They admit to still reading the boards, but just not posting. Same thing when you go to shows. A lot of bigger fish will reference something on the board, and then go on to tell you how they more a less lurk, and not post.

Seems to be more of a current trend for the various reasons.

There's still those of us into the 'lifestyle' aspect of what we do - not just for the income and revenues. And although the economy and various trends have an impact for us...you can't eliminate a lifestyle way-of-thinking.

We'd still be producing what we do even if we were close to barely breaking even (thankfully not the case at this point).

But I have to agree - we've seen a lot of colleagues in the bdsm/fetish niche close shop in the past year or so. Whether they're still producing content and just not choosing to run a paysite any longer...I don't know for sure.

But the herd is definitely thinning somewhat.

Define webmaster

That's one I left out, it seems a lot of programs either sold out or closed up shop. Several people seem to have had some really great foresight and sold out at the peak as well.

They are just resting

if gfy is any indication about 50% of the people moved on. And then when think of how few show your ferrari or rolex threads there are now. So many, myself included are making a lot less cash and don't have the time to post all the time.

Agreed.

Most of the other foot providers I liked, and that had inspired me, to go into the content game 6 years back are now either all the way out of business, or barely doing updates. A lot of my favorites have just vanished, and the army of replacements are so far off the market it is not funny.

While they may be HD, and big budget produced. I can see most of them are not even close to what most tickling, or foot fetish folk, prefer in their clips. From my own feedback, and experience from members and patrons. As well as reading the forums and boards.

I also agree with you that lifestyle mom and pops will produce regardless of this economy, and will weather the storm as long as they are in it for the enjoyment. Basically filming their personal lives, or fetish, for their enjoyment and share with others.

the sheep have been slaughtered, next time they will understand not to do what everyone else does if they want a chance to survive

People have to work harder and if it takes time away from message boards so be it. In times like these though only the strong will survive.

:1orglaugh

You got that right.

yes allot harder and smarter, I mean seriously im not complaining because I do stand better than most and I thank god for that (whatever god you choose) but I dont think I spent this much time working a day since the late 90's

Now is the time NOT to wrok harder - working 12 hours a day, so you can make half what you use to? It just doesn't make sense.... with that said, I'm going to the beach in half an hour and intend to spend most of my day there ...

im still here balin

I would disagree with this. Working harder in a downturn allows you to ride it out and be ready for the next wave. Sure it is always smaller but you are there and hopefully a lot of competition went to the beach to often.

:2 cents:

PostBot 1.0V

working on new projects new stuff and I enjoy every minute enjoy the beach

indeed

Well at least he has a life and enjoys it when the value of life and the earnings are not in balance. Have a great day at the beach

Porn is not the number one easy way to make money anymore - not for me anyway

Bang on the nail there. :2 cents:

A lot have left. Thinning of the herd is a natural process.

Im still here ..sadly... You are right about webmasters along with some good websites that had some decent traffic have just dissapeared. Iv had a traffic dip over the past couple of months because of sites that I traded traffic with just disapearing.

a lot more interest in black hat right now, the quick money

there is no money in porn

Situation is very simple-if ratio drops to 1:2000 from 1:1000,increase your traffic 2x time and problem solved.

This happened far longer than 12 months ago... It "started" to happen when the new 2257 rules came out.

This is why I have said piracy, ect... is needed by our industry if we want to survive.

When you take out webmasters (or piracy) our "global exposure on the Internet" drops. Less webmasters, less pages, less unique sources of traffic, less cycled traffic through the Industry.

Thus we each now fight harder to get back the slice of pie we had. But if we keep all fighting for the same slices (like 99% of this industry does) then it will dry up and die, like it is.

hearing the same here
many of the webmasters i know are nose to the grindstone less time posting - weathering the summer

:2 cents:

Still here, will always be here and continuing to bring in a nice amount of sales. :thumbsup

We went back to retool our program for a new relaunch but have not gone away. That meant months of not being on Forums or "visible" online....

As we get ready to relaunch we will be everywhere :)

Exactly!

i am still around

It will get less and less easy for most, if not all people... afterall, in what other business do you have so many people trying to sell... what so many other people are giving away free.

:1orglaugh nicely summed up