Business Thread....Why "community over profitability?"
 

Being involved in a relatively short time in this biz, I have noticed glaring differences between mainstream and adult. In adult, it seems as if many businesses seemingly work together or share information that helps the very people they daily compete with. Take for instance, those encouraging those businesses concerned about piracy to move to streaming/protected content format. Why in a bad economy would people give sound business advice that would only serve to keep their competition in business competing for the shrinking available dollars?

It would seem that basic business principles would take precedent in an ultra competitive market. What does community or "friendship" really offer in the terms of success outside of potential future work because someone is "cool" or a "good guy"?

Why wouldn't a company that wanted to dominate the adult market simply do a content grab to a point where other companies or solo ventures simply could not compete? I would think in a cut throat biz such as adult, you would want all of your competitors in your niche or in general to fail miserably leaving more of decreasing customers for your product.

In regards to piracy and illegal tubes, why would any company continue playing by the rules when some of their competitors market on these sites or even run some of these sites themselves? Did Brazzers get big because they profited solely from stolen content or did the stolen content merely help build an established brand? If illegal tubes are taking away potential profits and sales content owners, at what point do you say fuck it and conform to the game?

Many will be quick to say "sue the bastards" but honestly, that will only work in they are in your jurisdiction will it not?

But the question remains, what really is in it for you by helping a newbie get a start in adult or by helping a veteran who refuses to diversify by helping them protect their content? Like any business, a poor business plan or leadership could be the death of a company. Why help someone prolong their competitiveness with your company when you could be better served financially by crushing your competition every chance you get?

Discuss.

First you say this

" In adult, it seems as if many businesses seemingly work together or share information that helps the very people they daily compete with. "

Then you say this " I would think in a cut throat biz such as adult, you would want all of your competitors in your niche or in general to fail miserably leaving more of decreasing customers for your product. "

You've contradicted yourself.

To answer what I think is your question and speaking for myself, I've always conducted myself in a way that shows my best. I don't make myself look better by making someone else look worse. I do my own thing. I let them do their own thing. I let those that matter decide who is better based on our performance.

If done this way the BEST man truly wins.

Who doesn't want the BEST man for the job?

this isn't toastmasters dude.

I will help YOU right now! Check the URL in your sig?

?Oops! We are sorry, the website you are looking at is currently unavailable, Please check back soon!?

Actually, there is no contradiction. Adult is a cut-throat biz in reality but there are some that seem to focus on friendship and community that only helps increase and strengthen competition.

But why lend your experience and knowledge to help someone who would be the "lesser" man that can increase their skills to become closer in their abilities competing with you?

Stay on topic. I'm doing something else with the domain.

I'm a photographer. I often get asked how I did something and I always answer truthfully.

If that person takes my knowledge and ends up taking better pictures than me then so be it. He is the better photographer. There is one very successful photographer on the net that came to me without photography knowledge and a plan. I gave him both and he blew right past me to the top of glamour photographers. I wish I still had the email he first sent me :)

It's all for a greater good. In the end the world gets a better photographer. If he takes my philosophy and lends his knowledge to the next person we get another great photographer. It's the difference between being selfish and giving.

It should be noted that I'm a nice guy and I'm about to finish last. :winkwink:

I tried reading your thread, it makes no sense. I can see you are trying to be a smart ass in the community and your business is failing. Melissa you need to contact billing support on your site. It's suspended.

:1orglaugh:1orglaugh:1orglaugh:1orglaugh

:1orglaugh:1orglaugh:1orglaugh:1orglaugh

Read again Einstein, I am doing something else with the domain hence not needing that host anymore.

It makes perfect sense if you consider exactly what I asked. Why the fuck would you help anyone else if it is only going to strengthen your competition and potentially take away profits from your own business? I know reading comprehension is difficult for some but at least put forth some effort.

when you have something of value that question will answer itself.

Thats me to a "T" except for the finishing last and the people blowing past me.lol

Community is important. After all, the only reason some people make money is in order to have greater social inclusion.

For example, they buy a cool car - they feel more socially included.

The buy a big house, they feel more socially included.

Perhaps they can enter different social clubs in high society and get involved with artists, musicians, politicians and geniuses.

I am all for people development but does it make sense to develop others who will end up being your competition in the end? Talent by definition should always be rewarded but if you helped someone else further their talent and you have not assumed a mentor type leadership role, why create a bigger obstacle for you and your business?

Community would appear to be more important for those without that success level, correct? In a heavily competitive market competing for the same limited dollar amount, why help someone else and increase their advantage while increasing yours though? Taking your examples, why would you help a newbie out? So the newbie could gain all of those items and perks you listed? What's in it for you and how does that help your business?

Here's why:

If I help that person and they succeed, there's a VERY GOOD chance that they would have succeeded without me. When they are successful, they will give ME advice that I might have missed out on. It's a win-win for both parties.

Plus I like helping others. The pie is big enough for people who know each other to share.

:1orglaugh

Melissa as you're new to the business I'm going to let you into the crux of why people in this business are not competing with each and consider themselves as "In the same business together."

The porn consumer is like a bee flying from site to site, joining one this month and another next time. We can't stop him and anything that drives up the quality of the product we sell keeps him buying.

Stop thinking of competitors and start thinking as people who supply a similar product to customers.

Is it really? I would think differently considering one of the "bros" is fucking Shoehorn out of $350 and ratios are way down compared to where they once were.

I use it as motivation. I know how people are. Motivated for a short time then they do other things. I help out a lot of people and a lot of my friends are photogs and directors.


But nobody will put the time in that i put in when it comes to working. I put 12 hour days in 6 days a week. Refining what i do, marketing, researching things for my self, etc.


I used to teach people BJJ and they would get good. They would 4 years later come and try to submit me. When we would actually start to wrestle, it would become very apparent to me and to them that they were not putting the time in, that i was putting in to becoming that much better.

My opponent was training 3 times a week for and hour and a half per training session. I would train twice a day 2+ hours per session 5 days a week and once on Sunday.


In short everything i do, i work it as if im going into a competition. And as i noticed nobody really puts that kind of time into things.


So helping people out in turn helps me out. I use my competition getting good as a motivational tool to keep working hard.:2 cents:

small people stomp on others.
short term gain

true leaders elevate others
long term gain

Dave, that makes excellent sense and the best response I have heard yet. Thanks for sharing. :thumbsup

I do agree with this leadership comparison but one has to stop and look at companies like Microsoft and Brazzers and all of the stepping on people on their way to the top and wonder if your comparison is the way it should be or if that is the way it truly is?

Less porn on the tubes might also be helping them sell memberships. it is not as selfless as it appears.

Yeah. Really. Some people are making a shitload of money in the background, without mouthing off about it on GFY.

Mentality has changed, porn consumer has changed, the approach has changed, but the money is still there. Not as much as in the hayday, but the business is still profitable.

Some niche production houses, including several local to me, are killing it right now.

Like Dave said, most people don't do anything with the advice. And if they ever do, they are the type of friend that WILL help you in the long run, no matter how shit the business is. 'Cause if the business is shit, they will find a different business and tell you about it because you helped them out in the past.

that's only your perception if you believe those companies ARE on top...

there are many ways to rank something/someone

Shoehorn fucked DirtyD out of more money now and in the future than he will ever know.

he closed many opportunities for DirtyD by his post that DirtyD will never know about. :2 cents:

Another excellent response. Much appreciated.

why is FLMTube.com not loading?

We are doing something different with the domain. We are moving away from a web based tube site and developing one in Adobe Air that pulls not only videos and ads from our servers but other news worthy items while providing the viewers ways to truly interact with other members. Apps is where we believe its going. Plus it makes it easier to control content.

We should be done late Jan-early Feb 2010.

i like free porn

This reminds me of something the late singer Nat " King " Cole said when he was asked how he would like to be remembered.

He said " I'd like to be remembered as someone that has achieved all that I've done in my life and not having to step on someone to get it "

For me that's a very powerful statement. To do so, especially in these times would be extremely exceptional. How a person chooses to conduct their business or personal life speaks of their character.

Melissa, I still think you are a fake nick, so I'm not going to give the long answer on this, but here are a few points.

#1. I can succeed without others failing.

#2. Specifically, in online adult, I make more money if I can sell my sites and also upsell "competitor" sites. Companies which take an overly competitive stance leave affiliate money on the table, both coming and going.

#3. Where do you get the idea that adult is somehow more cutthroat than business in general?