Originally Posted by CyberAge-Dave (Post 17366924)

Very well said here. Maybe we should work on a book. :thumbsup

Originally Posted by CyberAge-Dave (Post 17366565)

With Economy the way it is, with porn sales lower than it's ever been. You would think people would be more motivated to making money. These are the times you would think people would be hungry for success, and making money.

I've been working in this business straight for 15 years now, never took a break. Day in Day out. Yes, Retirement would be an easy out, but why. There is so much more money to be made in this business and I enjoy it.

This last few weeks, I've been reaching out to a few Big Sponsors to put together some High Volume Sales Deals together in a certain niche that has been golden. Hand Picking the people I want to work with to monetize what I have and can be profitable for everyone, including our webmasters.

It seems harder and harder to get replies, I leave messages, emails, to get a reply nowadays is almost impossible.

How hard is it to make a phone call, to add skype to your computer. It's so frustrating that companies can look like a 100 Million Dollar company with all their branding, but to get on the phone for a few minutes is impossible.

3 out of the last 5 big companies have the worst support. I won't mention names. But they are THE BIG GUYS.

What is it with these people? Do you think everyone is Burned out? Over it? Or they just don't give a shit any more?

Originally Posted by DirtyWhiteBoy (Post 17367140)

I feel you Dave. I've been slowly gathering beta testers for a very unique site, a first of it's kind, all exclusive content, and mofos who otherwise should be jumping all over this site, don't respond to any method used to contact them.

Maybe everyone is just so rich they don't care anymore.

Originally Posted by Varius (Post 17366816)

For the reps out there, here are a few bits of advice:

- If someone requests something, give them a reasonable deadline. The easiest example is a banner; don't say "right away, you'll have it in 15 minutes" - then vanish for 10 days. I guarantee the affiliate would rather hear "Honestly, our designers are overloaded right now, but I've added it to their list and we'll try to squeeze it out by friday".

- Don't string people along. If someone presents you an idea, or is trying to sell you something, be direct in your answer. Instead of "we'll think about it, meet on it, sleep on it" and then never get back to the person (when you had no intentions to actually think about it for a second), simply say "we don't think we have any interest at this time, but thanks for considering us". Don't make people keep chasing you, wasting their time and yours.

- Answer ALL emails in a timely fashion. Even if you are too busy, sending a reply of "I got your email, but am really busy and will reply to it within the next few days" is a LOT better than no reply at all. Of course, if you reply that, make a note to actually follow-through.

- Don't give out your IM info if you are never online. It frustrates people for no reason to always see you as offline.

Bottom line, while it's true that 95% of people who contact you at shows or via emails are going to waste your time and never deliver on their promises, it's your job to take each case as if it could be a winner. You never know if the email you disregarded fell into the 5% and could have been big money, to both your company and yourself.

I think these reps get away with such a poor performance, mostly, because the owners aren't hands-on enough. How many times do you see the same people circle around, jumping from company to company, always "mutually parting" and getting quickly scooped up again based on the fact they worked for "x" big company in the past; so they must rock.

The truth is, most of those who "part mutually" got fired when the owner finally notices they have brought nothing to the bottom line, and they ask around and beg for a new position, citing they will bring over their rolodex/contacts and usher in tons of new business and they left the old job because their owner was an asshole, or wouldn't pay them their worth, etc...; the new program buys this and months later, sees they were full of shit and they are on to the next sucker.

Originally Posted by CyberAge-Dave (Post 17366565)

It seems harder and harder to get replies, I leave messages, emails, to get a reply nowadays is almost impossible.

Originally Posted by CyberAge-Dave (Post 17367214)

I think you nailed it with..."Maybe everyone is just so rich they don't care anymore"

Originally Posted by Ethersync (Post 17367271)

Maybe they do not want to work with you?

Originally Posted by michael.kickass (Post 17367282)

I totally agree with the fact that there are a lot of big companies out there with the worst customer support ever and I don't mean in this biz alone.

Originally Posted by CyberAge-Dave (Post 17367298)

Or maybe it's the Negativity from people in this business why we don't have more business going around.

Originally Posted by Ethersync (Post 17367312)

Maybe you are right, but in my experience if you are chasing a deal and not getting a reply they either did not get the message, your deal is a very low priority for them or they simply do not want to work with you.

Originally Posted by Ethersync (Post 17367312)

Maybe you are right, but in my experience if you are chasing a deal and not getting a reply they either did not get the message, your deal is a very low priority for them or they simply do not want to work with you.

Originally Posted by Loch (Post 17367361)

None of those reasons make them professional business people.
There are people in this business that run 3-7 different businesses and you "by not answering" may be passing something great up you never had the chance to talk about.

Not answering emails is just plain unprofessional

Originally Posted by CyberAge-Dave (Post 17367358)

How can they not want to work with someone if they don't even know what I'm offering?

Originally Posted by PR_Glen (Post 17367410)

isn't it so easy to take cheap shots at reps?

if we had an open phone line i would be taking calls all day long from one crackpot or another and our support system would be a mess. Email.. this IS the internet after all...

Originally Posted by PR_Glen (Post 17367410)

isn't it so easy to take cheap shots at reps?

if we had an open phone line i would be taking calls all day long from one crackpot or another and our support system would be a mess. Email.. this IS the internet after all...

Originally Posted by PR_Glen (Post 17367410)

isn't it so easy to take cheap shots at reps?

if we had an open phone line i would be taking calls all day long from one crackpot or another and our support system would be a mess. Email.. this IS the internet after all...

Originally Posted by CyberAge-Dave (Post 17366565)

With Economy the way it is, with porn sales lower than it's ever been. You would think people would be more motivated to making money. These are the times you would think people would be hungry for success, and making money.

I've been working in this business straight for 15 years now, never took a break. Day in Day out. Yes, Retirement would be an easy out, but why. There is so much more money to be made in this business and I enjoy it.

This last few weeks, I've been reaching out to a few Big Sponsors to put together some High Volume Sales Deals together in a certain niche that has been golden. Hand Picking the people I want to work with to monetize what I have and can be profitable for everyone, including our webmasters.

It seems harder and harder to get replies, I leave messages, emails, to get a reply nowadays is almost impossible.

How hard is it to make a phone call, to add skype to your computer. It's so frustrating that companies can look like a 100 Million Dollar company with all their branding, but to get on the phone for a few minutes is impossible.

3 out of the last 5 big companies have the worst support. I won't mention names. But they are THE BIG GUYS.

What is it with these people? Do you think everyone is Burned out? Over it? Or they just don't give a shit any more?

Originally Posted by JustDaveXxx (Post 17367277)

Everyone seems to think that copying everyone else and waiting to see what everyone else is going to do next, is the right answer.

Way less hard workers and even less innovators.:2 cents:

I see it everywhere. Those people are my favorite people to compete with.:thumbsup

Originally Posted by PR_Glen (Post 17367410)

isn't it so easy to take cheap shots at reps?

if we had an open phone line i would be taking calls all day long from one crackpot or another and our support system would be a mess. Email.. this IS the internet after all...

Originally Posted by CyberAge-Dave (Post 17367589)

How did we handle support before the internet? Our phone rings all day long, even though a member can email us at any time. People want something, they want it now. Especially in this business when they have their dick in one hand and a credit card in the other. :2 cents:

Originally Posted by CyberAge-Dave (Post 17367589)

How did we handle support before the internet? Our phone rings all day long, even though a member can email us at any time. People want something, they want it now. Especially in this business when they have their dick in one hand and a credit card in the other. :2 cents:

Originally Posted by PR_Glen (Post 17368971)

How did we get around town before cars? Horses? Feet? Bike? Sure we can do it but we can surely get a lot more done in a day with a car.


My point is if we called back everyone who wanted to 'chat' we would get nothing done. We have phones that ring all day more than anyone else i'm sure, but it's all for cs calls and vital office day to day stuff. If you have a good idea a great way to let someone know is have a short and sweet email explaining what you are about. I would then either respond or get it to the right people who may be interested in that or not.

What I get usually, and i'm not saying this is what you are doing, is either emails that go on for 3 pages listing out their entire life story and somewhere by the end of the email they explain what they are proposing. Or I get an icq saying 'give me you's guys's phone number i want to call someone there' Or emails saying 'hey we should do business together soon we can make some serious $$$' What am I supposed to do with those?


...and as for bosses not getting involved enough. Do you know many big companies out there where their VP or owner is readily available on the phone? I don't. Yet we have an industry that has an open forum where they do come in and have their say, speak back and forth when they can despite being just as busy as any successful business owner would be.

I still think we get it right around here, we just need to work on our communications skills a bit.

Originally Posted by pornguy (Post 17369521)

well Dave. If you need to contact someone from our company I am always around.