300 horses led to water but not drinking...

Actually I was trying to help so sorry you don't see it that way. Broski-machoski.

And for the record, I have helped amateurs/newbs for years sending traffic, buying content, fighting law suits to protect everyone in the industry, and "teaching people to fish". Bromantic, I would be happy to help Josh. Hope he reads this and hits me up.

What have you done? No offense, Bromalicious, but besides failing twice and quitting and then coming and asking a question which was only really rhetorical, where have you contributed to the community?

How does a debate about the state of the industry for newbs turn into a "what if" scenario about me? Are we not allowed to have an intelligent "open" discussion on this topic without you guys trying to twist it into something else?

Now if you want to discuss me (or anyone else for that matter) in a hypothetical context that could be beneficial to the discussion in this thread, then go right ahead. But don't come on here and try and make it seem like this was titled as my personal help thread.

I'm not the one claiming to be the guru here, yet you want to question MY contributions?? Amazing...

This thread (which I started) could potentially help a lot of newbies considering entering the biz... at least until the point where a few of you didn't like the fact that you couldn't find a single success story that fit the startup profile, and thus decided to go on the offensive.

There's no shame in accepting the reality that we can't think of anyone with a total newbie profile that succeeded. Let's accept it, move forward, and work on trying to change it. Instead, (no offense to you either) all I hear from you "mr expert guru" is a lot of bitching and moaning in the absence of praise.

Let's put the bickering aside and get back to adding worthwhile/meaningful contributions to this thread.

Because it was never a debate in the first place for the reasons those on the "glass half full" side of the debate have pointed out.

Because folks on the "glass half empty" side of the discussion have assumed a presumption that it based on a pretty illogical premise, "newbs chances of becoming successful are slim to none in today's marketspace".

Because your experience is relevant obviously because that is where you formed your opinion.

Because you claimed you were out of the biz, but when offered advice on how to achieve success, "yeah I will have to take you up on that at the show" if I remember correctly so that means there is not a complete sync between your deeds and your posts - which is always going to turn the focus back on you.

I could go on but that seems to cover it, but let's get back to the intelligent discussion because at the end of the day there really isn't a "right or wrong" to this and it is good to have an open ended discussion/debate about it so I am still grateful you posed the question in the first place. :thumbsup

I don't know enough about other people's success or lack thereof so I can't comment sufficiently and I don't buy into the hype most people typically bluster here and elsewhere anyway so that is why I took the tact I took. Regardless though, I do know "newbs" that are on the right track and achieving "success" which this thread has defined in a way that is extremely relative. Also, the success they are achieving is not along the rigid lines of "affiliate paysite model" that you seem to think is the measure to judge that success by so by the ever changing limitations of that definition they wouldn't fit the mold anyway.

In any event, you need to chill. Bro-ma-lo-ma-ding-dong. :2 cents:

I tried to form my opinions as objectively as possible based on the evidence that was provided by the people in this thread.

I'm completely chill. Nothing wrong with a good discussion. And I've just extended the olive branch to you... it's up to you whether or not you choose to accept it. :drinkup

I have to step in and say here that you are talking with and being given free advice by some of the most successful, celebrated and published people in the business. Where else could you do that?

I'm nobody and you may be somebody, but these folks are SOMEBODY and are doling out real business acumen.

What benefit does it give them to lie to you, or to sugarcoat? None whatsoever. Perhaps if they were sitting on a gold mine and told you there was no gold .. but what they are telling you is that persistence, hard word, willingness to learn, and the ability to oh, say, LISTEN WHEN SMART PEOPLE GIVE YOU ADVICE will potentially bring you success.

If you had the astonishing foresight to buy DELL in 1993 you would have made "easy money". Not so in 2000. If you'd had the astonishing foresight to buy NYC real estate in late 2001 you'd have made "easy money". If you'd had the astonishing foresight and mechanism to bet against credit swaps you'd have made "easy money".

Easy money is everywhere. The common element is the astonishing foresight. The rest of us have to work, and learn, and listen.

Is this supposed to be directed at me?? I hope not because that would be yet another one who failed to READ what I've been saying all along.

Maybe I need to copy what I said in my sig...

some of this (a few pages back) is actually worth reading

Wait, wait, here he is - Shimmy you are the example, right? I can't remember, did you do any adult before your current work?

Olive branch accepted.

Just don't call me "bro" please because that just sets off an immediate defensive reaction on my part. I apologize.

It's all good. No worries. :thumbsup

Now let's get back to people throwing in more helpful strategies for those noobs who come looking for useful info in this thread.

Agreed. Catching up on it now

Shimmy has been around for a little while.

Hello,

Just to let you know my website is ready :) only a couple of text to do and then I send it to ccbill scan.

If you could take 1 min to check it up and give a little bit of feedback that would be really nice.

www.cosplay-mate.com

Thanks!

1. Your 2257 notice appears to be protected in your members area. Probably should fix that -- http://www.cosplay-mate.com/members/2257.php

2. Your landing page META description field isn't filled out. It doesn't carry much weight from an SEO perspective, but people will likely see that result if you get organic searchers locating your site.
<meta name="description" content="Add Your Description Here">

3. Why do you have a DMCA notice? Are you accepting user uploads? Not sure what use that is to you unless you're not sure about the legitimacy of your content.

4. The teaser trailer on your home page is rather large. 70.9MB, 1920x1080, ~4500bps throughput for two minutes of video. You could probably embed it on the screen and reduce the side. However, if you're selling your site based on high-resolution and high definition then this is probably not a real issue. Some of your video is a bit shakey and I recommend putting it through stabilization software (Adobe CS6 has it built in). One last thing on the topic of the video, the very last words on the video are "BECOME MEMBER" and I'm pretty sure it should say "BECOME A MEMBER."

5. The domain of your site without the hyphen -- http://cosplaymate.com/ -- is owned by a domain reseller. That's going to cost you some members who may hear about your site through some means where they couldn't write it down. Granted, it may not be a lot, but that's something to think about if someone creates a competing site using the same theme.

S

Thanks a lot for all the feedback!

nop I dont allow user content so it true that I dont need it at all. must be a reflex from my webmaster :)

Gonna have the trailer embed since some friend report to me their player have to download it all before it start to play. Yep I have 2 shakey videos from my first incompetant camera guy that didnt know how to work, didnt know cs6 have a build in stabilization, I look that right away. Gonna also correct the Become A Member spelling.

Yes the domain reseller is greedy and want 3000$ for a domain name that worth nothing except for me. There is no way I pay that much for a domain name since I'm starting alone on a low budjet

I think there is a ccbill requirement to have at least 20 vids or so. Can't see how they approve the site to bill with 5 vids. If you have more then 5 vids... the tour (errr... 1 page index site) does not elude to that.

What is the site about again?

Lorem ipsum? ok, i'm in.

I wish you the best of luck with the site. Please keep us updated on your progress!

And with that... this thread is closed [/thread]

ahaha there is a reason i dont post much on here.. its cuz fucking noobs that derail threads.

Too funny :)

This is definitely the best post I have read in this forum

Can't believe I missed this, thread of the year so far!

I saw Theo talking about tours and was wondering if some of the more experienced guys would share the tours that worked for them and what kind of traffic they convert on them?

http://www.nomoneyinporn.com/logo.gif

Great thread...lots of good posts, with insights, ideas, debate and discussion. :thumbsup

In 1999, when I first plunged into the adult industry as a content producer for my own paysite, I had a still camera and a video camera, a model, some shop lights, and a few software programs (Adobe Photoshop, Adobe GoLive, and iMovie):

Circa 2000/2001:
http://www.johnnypearl.com/pictures/amy02/002.jpg

Prior to starting, I created a spreadsheet, and was convinced that I would be America's next millionaire within a year. :error :helpme

The barrier to entry back then was very low, since almost no one had video (dial-up 56k modems were the norm), and everything was new. While I made pretty decent money from the get-go, I was nowhere near becoming a millionaire, plus I plowed almost all of the earnings back into the site and new production.

The barrier to entry is much more steep now. The tools are still relatively inexpensive for low-end hardware/software, however the skill sets required, and the market we are operating in is extremely competitive, and the problems are further multiplied and exacerbated by massive piracy/corruption in the industry (don't get me started on porn money-laundering operations, where porn is just a front/vehicle for moving dirty money).

I lost quite a bit of money for a few years while retooling everything and mapping out new strategies. I was only recently able to get back into the black, but I'm still a long way from where I want and need to be in order to implement my full business plan. Nonetheless, I am more optimistic than I have been in several years.

Thread bookmarked... :)

:stoned

ADG