Want to get Motivated? Step Right In....

[Shap]

All I ever see anymore is people whining, crying and complaining about tubes and how shitty things are. I see guys who once thought they were invincible, rolling like pimps of the industry and now they are reduced to gfy crybabies. It's sad and pathetic. What good has ever come from complaining, crying and being negative? NONE! All you do is dig yourself into a deeper hole. If you've read my threads lately you'll notice a trend. Positive Threads! Threads about making money. Threads about kicking ass! That's because this industry still rocks. There still is a shitload of money to be made.

I don't know if it's my positive attitude, the fact that we've been kicking more ass than ever before or just good luck but I've been surrounded with people that are doing better than ever in this industry. That's right BETTER THAN EVER! With all change comes new opportunity. Our industry has been going through a number of changes and with each change there has been tremendous opportunity. Those opportunities are being seized by the people that are working harder and working smarter. Not the lazy one trick ponies who bitch and moan because their one way to make money stopped working so they spend all day on boards complaining how much tubes suck. For every post you make complaining about tubes, for every minute you spend thinking about that post, for every second you spend reloading your stats that just won't move other people are seizing the moment and KICKING MAJOR ASS! This industry rocks and there is still a shitload of money to be made. The question is do you want some of it or not? If you do and if you have half a brain you'll find a way to make money.

This isn't 2001. You can't do fuck all and get rich. But you can work your ass off and get rich. The problem is this industry is lazy and for the most part retarded. If you are smart and a hard worker there is a world of opportunity in our industry right now. It won't jump out at you. But it's there. You'll have to work and work hard to find it but it's there.

You have the choice. You can....
A...Think this industry has gone to hell, there is no money to be made and tubes have ruined it all. If that's the case what's the point of working hard? It's all going to hell anyway right?
or
B... Realize that times have changed. It's not as easy as it once was but there is still just as much money to be made. Luckily for you your competition prefers to spend their time reminiscing about how well banners farms converted in 1997 instead of working on the next big thing. It's going to be hard work but there is still just as much money as ever to be made with less people headed in the right direction to get it.

So which will you be?

[Shap]

Let's take a real world example. Iphones. Iphone came out and changed the old cell phone market. A number of companies took a huge hit thanks to the iphone. At the same time it opened the door for countless people to get rich off the iphone. Think about Iphone accessories and iphone apps. The people that bitched, moaned and complained about how bad the iphone hurt their sales are probably still sitting around doing nothing. The people that embraced the change and looked for the opportunities that this new change presented made a killing.

[kane]

Originally Posted by Shap

Let's take a real world example. Iphones. Iphone came out and changed the old cell phone market. A number of companies took a huge hit thanks to the iphone. At the same time it opened the door for countless people to get rich off the iphone. Think about Iphone accessories and iphone apps. The people that bitched, moaned and complained about how bad the iphone hurt their sales are probably still sitting around doing nothing. The people that embraced the change and looked for the opportunities that this new change presented made a killing.

I can give you a variation on that that pertains to me in this industry. The Iphone rocked the cell phone world. Many companies spent a lot of time and money trying to create an "Iphone killer" or at least a phone that could compete with the Iphone. Some have had some great success and others have not.

Other companies realized that there is still a huge market of people out there that don't want or need an Iphone and don't want the typical $100+ a month bill that goes with it. There are a lot of people that just want a cell phone they can talk on and send the occasional text message on. So they give away cheap phone and offer plans for those people. I decided to take that route with my business. I had no desire to try to create a tube site. I had no desire to try to fight to get my hands on a bunch of freeloaders and work my ass off to convert them. So I went out there and found other things and am working in those areas. The tube sites are Iphone. I'm the guy that gives away a basic phone and offers cheap basic service and there are plenty of customers in that world.

[Shap]

Originally Posted by kane

I can give you a variation on that that pertains to me in this industry. The Iphone rocked the cell phone world. Many companies spent a lot of time and money trying to create an "Iphone killer" or at least a phone that could compete with the Iphone. Some have had some great success and others have not.

Other companies realized that there is still a huge market of people out there that don't want or need an Iphone and don't want the typical $100+ a month bill that goes with it. There are a lot of people that just want a cell phone they can talk on and send the occasional text message on. So they give away cheap phone and offer plans for those people. I decided to take that route with my business. I had no desire to try to create a tube site. I had no desire to try to fight to get my hands on a bunch of freeloaders and work my ass off to convert them. So I went out there and found other things and am working in those areas. The tube sites are Iphone. I'm the guy that gives away a basic phone and offers cheap basic service and there are plenty of customers in that world.

Smart man! Great example. And by the sounds of it it's working for you right?

[kane]

Originally Posted by Shap

Smart man! Great example. And by the sounds of it it's working for you right?

So far so good. I have a lot of room for growth and am working my ass off. It is summer and this month has been my best month of the year so far.

I used to just submit tgp galleries and make the occasional free site. I still do a little of that, but as I started seeing traffic and ratios drop I decided to focus my attention on other things and it is starting to work well for me.

[natkejs]

Can't but agree ... been saying this for a long time.

Stop bitching and start figuring out how to monetize the new site models and content distribution channels cause god knows someone else is going to.

That being said I doubt most people in this industry could do that even if they wanted to.
It's been so easy to get in to the adult industry that people have been taking it for granted and now when shit changes and it actually becomes a challenge they are left stranded.

[Shap]

Originally Posted by kane

So far so good. I have a lot of room for growth and am working my ass off. It is summer and this month has been my best month of the year so far.

I used to just submit tgp galleries and make the occasional free site. I still do a little of that, but as I started seeing traffic and ratios drop I decided to focus my attention on other things and it is starting to work well for me.

This is exactly what I'm talking about. I've heard storied like this almost daily this month. It seems everybody I'm surrounded by is kicking major ass right now. I love it

[Shap]

Originally Posted by natkejs

Can't but agree ... been saying this for a long time.

Stop bitching and start figuring out how to monetize the new site models and content distribution channels cause god knows someone else is going to.

That being said I doubt most people in this industry could do that even if they wanted to.
It's been so easy to get in to the adult industry that people have been taking it for granted and now when shit changes and it actually becomes a challenge they are left stranded.

I agree 100%. Like I said most people in this industry are lazy and stupid. They have the creativity of a rusted door knob. They've been spoiled by easy money. I've been around for 10+ years now. I've seen what easy money does to people and it's not pretty.

[fujiko]

guys like u have entrenched urself.
the fact is,.. this industry is choking out the newbies... but still a good post & nice to see someone spreading a positive vibe.

[Shap]

Originally Posted by fujiko

guys like u have entrenched urself.
the fact is,.. this industry is choking out the newbies... but still a good post & nice to see someone spreading a positive vibe.

Consolidation was bound to happen. I actually expected it to happen much more agressively 3 or 4 years ago. It didn't. I think mainly because there are not enough companies will to re-invest heavily in the industry. So instead of re-investing and taking over the competition many of the larger companies took profits. Not a bad move

And Thanks

[fuzebox]

I've been having a great couple of months... I just keep building new sites and trying out new traffic sources and I grow every month.

I didn't start making decent sales until 2006 though so I don't have anything to compare to... I always had to work hard to make my sales, and the harder I work the more I make.

[Adam_M]

Stop it!!!! Your making me read

[kane]

Originally Posted by Shap

This is exactly what I'm talking about. I've heard storied like this almost daily this month. It seems everybody I'm surrounded by is kicking major ass right now. I love it

GFY's favorite motto is "adapt or die" to me adapt is to either figure out how to take on the big guys or figure out how to carve out something else. There are a lot of people out there looking for a lot of different types of porn. The hard part is figuring out what they want and then getting it to them. once you figure out what they want you can figure out the best way to get them to you and off to a paysite. Adapt doesn't mean you have to push a million visitors through your site every day. you can do well with a lot less if they are targeted and you provide them with exactly what they are looking for.

[Shap]

Originally Posted by fuzebox

I've been having a great couple of months... I just keep building new sites and trying out new traffic sources and I grow every month.

I didn't start making decent sales until 2006 though so I don't have anything to compare to... I always had to work hard to make my sales, and the harder I work the more I make.

HELL YEAH! That's what I'm talking about! The success stories are there. There is still a SHITLOAD of money to be made!

[kane]

Originally Posted by fuzebox

I've been having a great couple of months... I just keep building new sites and trying out new traffic sources and I grow every month.

I didn't start making decent sales until 2006 though so I don't have anything to compare to... I always had to work hard to make my sales, and the harder I work the more I make.

I've been around long enough to have seen a few different shifts in the business. When I first started in 1998 altavista was the big search engine and I figured out that you could build a page that had a few pictures and just spam your keyword over and over on the page then submit it. They would list you within 48 hours. After a little tweaking I figured out how to get into the top 20 for a bunch of different keywords. Sometimes the listing would last a day sometimes a week then it would disappear from the index or fall so low it was useless. That was no worry, I just made 50 of these a day and hammered altavista with them. After about a year and a half of that they changed how they accepted submits and killed that off so the gravy train dried up. So I had to change and started doing TGP galleries and free sites. That is still something that can make money, but you have to be good at it because now you need to buy submit passes to just about anywhere that has any decent amount of traffic. So things changed again. Now we have the tubes and while I am still convinced that the tubes will eventually eat themselves and be forced into some major changes they are taking away a lot of traffic from some sites. So it is time to change again.

The only constant in this business is change. So you are doing the exact correct things. Experiment and see how it works. When you find something that works duplicate it. Eventually that may stop working so don't panic, just go back to the drawing board.

[Sausage]

Fucking spot on. I couldn't have said it any better myself.

There is still a pretty decent 200k a year anyone can make, more with a bit of luck or smart work, and just because the industry is changing doesn't mean its time to cry on the boards all day. Get on with work and still make a fairly easy income.

Ok so TGP or LL submits, or running your picpost isn't generating mad cash, newsflash .. its not 2002 anymore. Things change, surfers habits change, and crying all day long because you aren't making mad $ doing the same thing you did 10 years ago isn't going to help.

[WiredGuy]

Originally Posted by Shap

There is still a SHITLOAD of money to be made!

You should put that in your sig
WG

[Adam_M]

All jokes aside I couldn't agree more! Our industry has been full of easy money for many years and times are changing, people need to work hard and smart . For years to come will be a great thing for all those who seek the opportunities of the times and surround them selfs with the right people. This is the times you really learn and grow, submitting a gallery to thehun.com and getting 20 sales didn't teach anyone a dam thing!

If you are doing it tough then get busy, up skill and look for the opportunities. Plenty of them if you keep your eyes open and work for it!

[amacontent]

Id be motivated simply by an I Love You Joe from you and Beth.

[digitaldivas]

True words, and good advice!

[SleazyDream]

Shap's right.

I've made mistakes, but there is HUGE opportunity in this biz, still. I see it. I'm chasing it. I'm online again every day 8-12 hours a day - weird hours, not 9-5 but hey I LIKE it like that....and that's it. I LIKE IT. scratch that, I LOVE it!

I've always said, I'd do this job for $30K a year cause I LOVE it. Do what you LOVE and money will pour in, and even if it doesn't, hey - you're doing what you LOVE.

[natron]

thanks Shap

[San]

Shap is a grade A+++ asshole.

Funny how soon everyone forgets.

[bdld]

i change with every major google algorithm change.. so for 10+ years now there's never been a time to rest (or whine or complain).

[Ron2k1]

Originally Posted by natkejs

That being said I doubt most people in this industry could do that even if they wanted to.
It's been so easy to get in to the adult industry that people have been taking it for granted and now when shit changes and it actually becomes a challenge they are left stranded.

This is a very good point.

A huge part of the old skool webmasters who used to act like 'big players' a few years ago, barely have any serious IT knowledge.

Nowadays, most people can't build a succesful online business anymore with only some basic HTML skill, you actually need some serious programming/css/server etc knowledge to build a modern 2009 site...

[Nicky]

Originally Posted by Ron2k1

This is a very good point.

A huge part of the old skool webmasters who used to act like 'big players' a few years ago, barely have any serious IT knowledge.

Nowadays, most people can't build a succesful online business anymore with only some basic HTML skill, you actually need some serious programming/css/server etc knowledge to build a modern 2009 site...

This can be solved through both money or partnerships. I am not good with programming or even CSS but I have no problem with that.

[georgeyw]

what is the best way to contact you?

have been meaning to contact you about an idea i have

[Sausage]

Originally Posted by Ron2k1

This is a very good point.

A huge part of the old skool webmasters who used to act like 'big players' a few years ago, barely have any serious IT knowledge.

Nowadays, most people can't build a succesful online business anymore with only some basic HTML skill, you actually need some serious programming/css/server etc knowledge to build a modern 2009 site...

That is simply not true.

You can grasp basic SEO concepts and create a 1-3 page website or blog then you can be on 100k+ within 1-2 years. Very few other industries can boast that. Doesn't even need to be adult, same can be said for mainstream.

[Dirty Lord]

true words, for sure o.o

[sexyelisha]

Very good post Shap Things have been a bit rough for me on the paysite / affiliate side of things for a while now, but I have re-thought everything I am doing and hopefully making the right steps to recovery

[Manowar]

great post shap, so true

[Shap]

Originally Posted by WiredGuy

You should put that in your sig
WG

Great Idea

[Shap]

Originally Posted by Sausage

Fucking spot on. I couldn't have said it any better myself.

There is still a pretty decent 200k a year anyone can make, more with a bit of luck or smart work, and just because the industry is changing doesn't mean its time to cry on the boards all day. Get on with work and still make a fairly easy income.

Ok so TGP or LL submits, or running your picpost isn't generating mad cash, newsflash .. its not 2002 anymore. Things change, surfers habits change, and crying all day long because you aren't making mad $ doing the same thing you did 10 years ago isn't going to help.

[Shap]

Originally Posted by sexyelisha

Very good post Shap Things have been a bit rough for me on the paysite / affiliate side of things for a while now, but I have re-thought everything I am doing and hopefully making the right steps to recovery

As a solo model I think it's important you concentrate your time and efforts on how you can connect with the surfer. I noticed a lot of the pics you take look staged. I've found with twitter a lot of industry girls are letting down their guard and connecting with the surfers by posting real candid pics. I'm not sure how comfortable you are with it but I truly believe the future of solo girl sites is really letting the surfer into your life. If you do that you'll probably hook them for life. Just think of big brother and all these reality shows. Or even Twitter. Everybody loves to post (and to read) what everyone is doing all day long. If you do that there is huge potential.

[CaptainHowdy]

Good read, Shap... Thanks!

[montel]

Good post. There was a thread here a while back posting Alexa graphs of tube sites and comparing their rising traffic to the falling traffic of the big TGPs. I don't post often any more but I had to mention that this may be because many of these tgps have not innovated or changed in any way since 1999. Do people think they have a god given right to their traffic?!!? I know there are piracy issues with tube sites (just as there has been at some stage on almost every tgp), but unfortunately the surfer just doesnt give a shit where the content is from, they just want to jack off.

Be happy with the ride you have had... a lot of money has been made. But cmon, did you really expect it would last forever with no further effort?

[Barefootsies]

[Roald]

Thank god finally someone says it.

The saying "never change a winning team" only holds up for so long. Too many people still think like this though.

[Barefootsies]

Originally Posted by kane

I can give you a variation on that that pertains to me in this industry. The Iphone rocked the cell phone world. Many companies spent a lot of time and money trying to create an "Iphone killer" or at least a phone that could compete with the Iphone. Some have had some great success and others have not.

Other companies realized that there is still a huge market of people out there that don't want or need an Iphone and don't want the typical $100+ a month bill that goes with it. There are a lot of people that just want a cell phone they can talk on and send the occasional text message on. So they give away cheap phone and offer plans for those people. I decided to take that route with my business. I had no desire to try to create a tube site. I had no desire to try to fight to get my hands on a bunch of freeloaders and work my ass off to convert them. So I went out there and found other things and am working in those areas. The tube sites are Iphone. I'm the guy that gives away a basic phone and offers cheap basic service and there are plenty of customers in that world.

Great example, and true to me personally.

I want a phone that rings, and holds a charge. Also I can send the occasional text. That is about it. I do not need all the rest of the shit. If I used it, I can only imagine just how much faster the battery would die. Which is already fucking annoying.

[Barefootsies]

Originally Posted by Ron2k1

Nowadays, most people can't build a succesful online business anymore with only some basic HTML skill, you actually need some serious programming/css/server etc knowledge to build a modern 2009 site...

Very true.

[ExLust]

^ Exactly. Surfers/ potential online buyer won't trust cheap design sites in some cases.

[Grapesoda]

If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right.
Henry Ford

[sexyelisha]

As a solo model I think it's important you concentrate your time and efforts on how you can connect with the surfer. I noticed a lot of the pics you take look staged. I've found with twitter a lot of industry girls are letting down their guard and connecting with the surfers by posting real candid pics. I'm not sure how comfortable you are with it but I truly believe the future of solo girl sites is really letting the surfer into your life. If you do that you'll probably hook them for life. Just think of big brother and all these reality shows. Or even Twitter. Everybody loves to post (and to read) what everyone is doing all day long. If you do that there is huge potential.

Oh i'm up for candid pics definately I want to pick up a cheap tiny camera to take with me out and about as my iphone camera isn't really good enough... i guess it's okay for twitter though Going to upload one now Follow me: elishajade

hehe ;)

[kristin]

One reason people are in trouble now is their practices from the past. Let's take you Shap for example. When you left Canada and saved all that cash on taxes, where did you put it? BACK into the company and produced MORE high quality content.

What would have a bunch of others done? Cashed out, bought yachts, houses, etc ... all but what they should have done, re-invest back into the company. So when making money got harder, the surfers and webmasters started to pay the price. Less updates for sites, fewer tools, companies closing shop owing WMs money, no new sites, etc.

Now without those surfers and those webmasters, programs just started to lose even more money. They then found themselves scrambling to find ways to generate money and keep their webmasters. Unfortunately for many it was too late.

TopBucks has always tried to stay ahead of the trends because we know that normal paysites have declined. We went the route of mobile over other avenues and we found it to be quite successful. People just need to innovate. Sadly, I think if the industry was as competitive as it is today back in 2000, more than half wouldn't have succeeded because they couldn't innovate.

[PRO$PECTOR]

Great post

[LoveSandra]

some bad ass advices !

[Pleasurepays]

Originally Posted by kane

GFY's favorite motto is "adapt or die" to me adapt is to either figure out how to take on the big guys or figure out how to carve out something else. There are a lot of people out there looking for a lot of different types of porn. The hard part is figuring out what they want and then getting it to them. once you figure out what they want you can figure out the best way to get them to you and off to a paysite. Adapt doesn't mean you have to push a million visitors through your site every day. you can do well with a lot less if they are targeted and you provide them with exactly what they are looking for.

except when they say "adapt or die" they simply mean "copy what everyone else is doing right now"

this industry is full of people who flow to the path of least resistance and then as they gather in a puddle of fail at the bottom of the hill, they figure out what to blame.

[kane]

Originally Posted by Pleasurepays

except when they say "adapt or die" they simply mean "copy what everyone else is doing right now"

this industry is full of people who flow to the path of least resistance and then as they gather in a puddle of fail at the bottom of the hill, they figure out what to blame.

That is very true. Basically it is an industry where a few people do something different then a bunch of people copy it and hope to be successful at it.

[Imortyl Pussycat]

i chose B and will not be spending any more of my time defending myself against that decision

Originally Posted by Shap

Want to get Motivated? Step Right In....

I thought you were going to show your stats. Seeing numbers would motivate people more than a pep talk.

As for me, I diversified into mainstream, so my business is now half mainstream and half adult and so far this year has been my best ever.