Thanks DWB.

The backend is custom. Our original was custom built roughly 8 years ago. It was a work in progress. This year we rebuilt it from the ground up. I believe it took about 6 months and is still being worked on. It's a constant work in progress.

cool posts

how is twistyshard doing compare to twistys?

do you find it much harder to sell hardcore stuff compare to softcore?

1. How much money do you make a year, personally?
2. Can I have some of it?

:) Here's to a successful 10th year.

Bump because I am so fucking tired of epass/sknanb threads.

Thanks I really appreciate the kinds words :thumbsup

Thanks Paul! Next time I'm in London we definitely have to get together and talk :winkwink:

I'm a big Facebook guy and I spent a lot of time understanding Twitter this year. Facebook is interesting because of the personal nature. A lot of people I know have their parents on facebook. That really changes the porn aspect of it. Facebook has clearly stated one of their goals is to make sure everybody uses a real name and has one identity. That imo does not lead well to porn. Plus they are real fast to delete anything even close to porn.

Twitter is another thing all together. Most people use it as a spam source. From everything I've learned that's the worst possible use for Twitter. Twitter provides you with a few things. One it allows you to be a fly in a wall and observe multiple conversations. The other is it allows you to engage with fans/surfers etc. That's is the angle I'm going for on Twitter. I'm using it to communicate with people. There are a few links posted but that's by staff who still aren't "GETTING" twitter. Whenever I use it I use it to engage with people and let them know what myself and my brands are all about.

LOL Knetgolf.com best golf ball site on earth. I prefer Nike :thumbsup

Hi Paul.

You definitely have to offer it in a format that will be played on iphone. We currently offer wmv (a must for pc users), mov (a must for apple users), m4v. Our movs play on an iphone. I may be wrong I believe encoding in mp4 allows you to hit the iphone and quicktime market. We are adding a flash/html5 player. Why? Because so many people are used to YouTube i think it's a must to have that function on Twistys.

YouTube has become the norm for watching videos. You have to have a similar user interface if you want to reach the broadest market and get people using your product quickly. You don't want to get so fancy that there is a learning curve to using your site. Remove all barriers and make sure you site is as easy and familiar to users as possible. Having a learning curve to use your product is a big mistake. The big boys (youtube, facebook etc) are setting the standard for us. Go with it instead of trying to create something better.

Thanks :)

By all means people fire away. Sorry it took awhile to reply. Yesterday was family day :thumbsup

Do you think it is possible to start a 'Twistys' type site in this day and age with non exclusive content to start with?

what cms do you use to run the members area of twistys

Some great tips, thanks for sharing

He already said it's a custom cms they have been building for 6 months...

The problem today is their isn't as much non exclusive content as there once was. You have guys like matrix going out of business. When it comes to photos there are very few companies that can provide you with current updated sets. That's key.

The other option is dvd content. The problem with that is good luck competing with Videosz and guys like that. You'd have to find a way to carve your own little niche and do your own thing. It's doable but a lot of work.

Pushing Aria Giovanni now vs pushing the hottest new starlet is a big difference. With tubes people have been seriously over exposed to older girls. You have to be up on the fresh faces.

As fuzebox said it's custom. We've always run Twistys on a custom cms. I've seen the cms' out there. They could never handle Twistys. No disrespect. Just being honest.

HAHAHAHA You can join me at Yankee stadium to watch the Yankees go for #28

i know there are many variables to my question, but in general, what is considered an average or decent conversion ratio on tube traffic? i've heard anything from 1:1000 -1:3000 depending on the offer. i've found that 1:1000 seems to be where "good" ratios fall for me. for some reason no one ever wants to commit to an answer for me and i can't be a very good affiliate if i don't know what numbers suck and don't suck. :helpme

1:1000 is good. Some niches will do better but generally speaking your 1:1000 to 1:3000 is very acceptable. The key question is are you profitable at those ratios? Can you buy more traffic and if you convert at that ratio will you remain profitable? If you can you are doing well.

My 3000th post is to congratulate you both on 9 years and a job very well done.

One Question, when I am going to have the pleasure to see you guys in Australia? If not soon I will make sure I get over to catch up with you, been to long between good chats :)

Thanks for the reply Shap.

Starting on a tight budget means that the latest sets are also not within reach. I have what I think is a good domain - 6 letter and easily remembered. Content at present is non-exclusive and have managed to gather 500+ members with a free to join model - that's to join not to see all the content. About to change it to a paid and see what the results are.

Hi Shap.

Great thread and thanks for some awesome answers to the many questions us "little guys" have. My question is one of a different kind than the above ones. See I am a solo girl website, that has been on the net for over five years (see info below), and wants to join a larger network like yours. I notice that you have other solo girls on your network (Nicole Graves & Anette Dawn) and I wanted to know, how did your company go about choosing these girls over others, and are you looking to add another one?

My other question is this: How might I go about getting a larger network of solo girl sites to add mine to their network? How do you structure the solo girl's partnership? Do you believe the single site, solo-girl website model is going to give way to only large networks with a number of solo-girl websites?

I believe I have a website that would make an excellent addition to some large networks. It's successful, exclusive, has a hard working model... me ;) and the weekly updates can be turned in fully edited. My husband is the photographer/videographer/editor, making the updates cost effective (as no need to pay for those services), not to mention if instructed by the program manager, we can even upload (ftp) all the updates ourselves. For that matter, I have never paid any male or female performers who partake in any of my naughty adventures. What I need is a larger network to do the promotion and selling of the site, and I be responsible for all updates to the site (one video and one to two photo sets each week). I will be hands on as for the fan/member interaction, including a daily diary, weekly live camshow, twitter, trade shows, etc, etc.

Facts:

I have been on the net for over five years (since 2005).
Have well over 30,000 photos = 430 sets.
Over 210 exclusive full length videos (over half in HD).
Huge amount of archived camshows.
Over 125 original erotic stories written by either myself or husband.
Both my husband and I work on the site for our full-time job and DO make a good living at it (however we DO work on average 120 - 160 hours a week combined).
I have an affiliate program - BarbiBucks.com

Some may question why I want to join a larger network, but truth be told, I need a life! That and my husband has been told by his doctor to reduce his stress. My site is very profitable, but if my husband and I can't enjoy the fruits of our hardwork, why make it?

Thanks in advance for any help you may reply with,
Kisses,
Barbi Sinclair

If by chance any larger networks see this thread and may be interested in having my solo-girl site join your network, please send me an email at [email protected]

Thank you for taking the time to answer this for me, much appreciated. Hopefully we can do some work together in the near future.

bump for Shap's answers!

Midgets love shap too

LOL :) Nice program btw

Thanks mate!

Assume you had to clone your website under another domain and name. A totally new one without the brand recognition that Twistys currently enjoys.

How much (% wise) do you think your sales ratio would be affected?

Shap, I know you can't say which sites specifically to buy banner spots on, to drive traffic directly to a paysite, but, in general, what TYPE of sites should a paysite owner look for?

The #1 biggest problem in attempting to buy traffic from guys like Choker or ProTraffic (no offense to those guys at all) is the kind of traffic they sell does shit if sent directly to a paysite. So, okay, instead of buying 5k hits from the UK buy a banner spot. But where? Give some general direction and I can probably sniff out the cheese (the sites worth contacting).

Thanks Shap!!

Been doing it for years, but for free. http://www.paulmarkhamteens.com/memb...ll=1&orderby=7

Like most things was told it would never work. LOL

As Shap didn't answer here's a few tips.

What ever niche/niches you're doing, there's a good chance there are dozens if not 100s of other site offering the same niche. Getting a surfer to get aroused about your site is tough. So;

Know your niche as well as the buyer.
Love your niche as well as the buyer.

AND. Don't fill your site with cheap repetitive content, thinking it's a numbers game. Adding 5 poor new scenes a day isn't cutting it today. Members aren't fools they know there are a 100 other sites out there with a fresh look on the niche. They will cancel after a month or two and come back in a year to see if you updated with anything worth another $30.

And in any micro niche there are only so many people who want to see it. They search for it and will soon learn of you're sites.

The only problem is paying for it.

I doubt if many of the big boys would succeed today. Many of them are trying hang on to what they have. Have you seen all the threads with support staff moving on? That's just the ones with a board presence.

What's the quickest way to get approved for your program? I've sent a couple of emails with my details and I have to get a response. I'd like to promote you asap.

To shoot Twistys type content costs a lot of money. Top shooters, models, make up, clothing, location extras like travel, equipment, refreshments. Non exclusive just for the Internet will never bring in the sales to support it. It needs the sales of magazines and DVD to train the shooters and fund the productions. You can't shoot top end on a budget of anything less than $1,500 a scene.

Before anyone flames me. Costs are approx and not including agents, admin, correction, editing, etc.

Model = $1,000
Make up = $500
Clothing = $200
Location = $1,000
Top shooter = $1,000
Extras = $300

Try shooting more than 3 scenes a day and the whole thing is filler content full of basic mistakes.

Is that 1:1000 hitting your site or 1:1000 viewing your content/promo on a Tube?

Any idea how many see your promo and don't click the link?

email minnie at twistys she'll hook you up today

Terrible. It hasn't been done right. From the content to the sales pitch. I don't think hardcore is tougher to sell but you have to be careful. If you are trying to sell a hardcore girl that has been on every site and every tube then good luck because you'll need it. Over exposure is a problem with models imo

Thanks for the post. Btw I've checked out your site in detail. You've done a really great job building up your site and fan base. :thumbsup:thumbsup I'll be in touch by email :winkwink:

:) I think a few years. Going to wait until my boy is a little older for the long haul flights :thumbsup

Good luck. Hopefully it does well :thumbsup

Shap this is a great thread, been enjoying reading your answers & congrats on the 9 successful years.

I thought of you last night, I was in a Rapide (you are one of the only people I know with an Aston) and wow, those cars are meant to be coups, sitting in the front is simply amazing, but sitting in the rear bucket seats your knees are in your chest.

Hey Markham please stop answering questions, you've been a round a long time and you know everything, we get it.

Wow that's a good question. To be honest I think we'd lose 75% of sales.

It's funny because I remember when we started Twistys my wife, myself and my buddy Dameian had a huge debate about brands in adult. Back then there were almost no online brands. Everything was generic. We didn't set out to create a brand but it happened.

:thumbsup How was it?

:thumbsup

I think he confused me asking Shap for advice with me asking for advice.

so are you saying 75 percent of your sales are typein sales?

Stay away from anything blind. Get your domain name out there. Get the brand out there. Not knowing what you sell best at I'd look at the following.

TGP gallery spots. The bigger tgps are dropping in size. Negotiate the price down and you should be able to get some really good spots for a good price. If the broker refuses to negotiate go straight to the site owner. Tell them you are interested but want a better price and if month 1 works well you'll commit for 3 months up front. Something like that. These guys want $$$. Use that to your advantage.

Tube videos. I think a lot of your stuff is real amateur content right? I'm sure a lot of tubes would love to have you listed on it and would do it as an affiliate. If not look for the ones that have amateur content and try to get listed there or buy a spot there.

Remember anytime you are unsure you can ask for a non refundable 3,5 or 7 day test. Unless someone is sold out the only time they'll deny you a test is if their traffic is shit. We've bought traffic that was 10% of what was advertised and did nothing for us.

I'm saying 75% of our sales are a result of our brand. Type in has always been around 50% for us.

I know he mentioned I failed to answer your question. I thought I answered it. let me know if i didn't ;)

I'd offer a little more to this.

If you are doing a general niche I don't think it's as important to really be into the niche. If you are doing a micro niche I think it's a must that you love the niche and REALLY get it. If you don't you risk losing and alienating the true core fans of the niche.

Regardless of whether you love the niche or not I'm a firm believer you can't shove your wants down their throats. You have to listen to your members and get a feel for what they want. I think my greatest strength in this industry has always been my ability to relate to the surfer. I may not agree with them but I can relate and get into the mindset they are in. And this is where being humble is so important. Most people have trouble taking negative feedback and turning it into something positive. For example most photographers feel everything they shoot is right and the customer/surfers are wrong for not liking it. I disagree. The customer is always right. They may not be articulating themselves properly but if they are unhappy they probably have a good reason for it.

That would be hitting your site.

One of the most important thing to watch when pushing on tubes is your type in traffic.

Do you reuse content across your sites?

For example, same vid can be found on twistyshard.com & twistys.com.
If so, do you randomize the publish date of the content?

Also, do you offer networkaccess (twistys members can log into twistyshard) as some sort of bonus? Or to beef up newly started paysites?

If you don't offer networkaccess, care to explain why?

Thanks :)

We never re-update or re-use content on the same site. I know some people like to rotate content in and out. Once it goes live it stays live on the site.

When someone joins Twistys they get access to all sites in the Twistys network (Nicole Graves, Anette Dawn, Blue Fantasies, Twistys Hard, Nerd Hard, etc). We aren't pushing the network side because it never really worked well for us. Instead we are making sure all content is available on Twistys. Twistys is the mega site and the only site they should ever have to log in to (right now Nicole, Anette and Blue Fantasies content is not on Twistys but their membership gets them access to it).

So Twistys Hard and Twistys. All updates go live at the same time. They are added to Twistys and tagged in our CMS as Twistys Hard so they also get published to Twistys Hard. But they are all Twistys content.

TeenPinkVideos and the NextDoorCash sites have been kept separate from the time we bought them.