Help! I've got a body, a brain, and not much else...

[missing]

So I'm a webmodel, a feature girl on a solo-girl fetish site and basically, I'm getting hosed by my webmaster. I still make some money, but I know I could be making more. Plus, I kind of want to be my own boss. I hate having to depend on someone else all the time. I know a lot of girls in the industry manage their own sites and I want to too. Thing is, I have no idea where to begin and my knowledge of the industry is somewhat limited. I have the option to buy my curent website, but it's crap and I think I'd rather just figure out how to start from scratch. I need to design, build, host, and manage traffic...but hey, at least I've got plenty of content, right?

I've been browsing this site, and people here seem really friendly so I'm hoping to get some advice. Any help or direction would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[Ramster]

Since you really do not know how to manage a site you'll likely need to partner with or hire someone that knows how to do that for you. Also you might want to join an existing program giving them a percentage, no different than hiring a partner money wise and then you'd have people ready to send your site traffic.

To get some response when you're serious you'll need to show people your site. And you're right it is not a good idea to buy your existing site if it needs a redesign, just use that money for the redesign and promo materials.

[HowlingWulf]

If your design and manage skills are limited then yes you'll have to hire/partner with someone. You could hire someone to design your site and affiliate program under a biller like CCbill, then hire an affiliate manager who recruits affiliates and caters to their needs and is paid a percentage. Then you could concentrate more on shooting content and other member goodies.

[missing]

I'm pretty determined to do this without a partner. As it stands right now, I provide content and get a split on the profits 70/30 (I get 30). However, I'm responsible for pormoting the site and as I understand it, my webmaster has one paid spot on a TGP. She manages a bunch of sites and I know a few other girls feel they aren't being treated fairly either.

I'm really paranoid about posting the link to my site, just because I don't want my webmaster to find out about the fact that I want to leave. I'd prefer she didn't pull the site in the meantime, I need the money.

I know a few girls who have started with no knowledge of design or management and through extensive research have built profitable sites on their own. I guess it's back to Google for me. I'll see what else I can find.

[LeRoy]

Originally Posted by missing

I'm pretty determined to do this without a partner. As it stands right now, I provide content and get a split on the profits 70/30 (I get 30). However, I'm responsible for pormoting the site and as I understand it, my webmaster has one paid spot on a TGP. She manages a bunch of sites and I know a few other girls feel they aren't being treated fairly either.

I'm really paranoid about posting the link to my site, just because I don't want my webmaster to find out about the fact that I want to leave. I'd prefer she didn't pull the site in the meantime, I need the money.

I know a few girls who have started with no knowledge of design or management and through extensive research have built profitable sites on their own. I guess it's back to Google for me. I'll see what else I can find.

70/30 is a great deal for the webmaster.IMO you can do better. You might want to just hire a designer. Set a monthly budget with the designer. After a while you'll pick up some skills to slowly decrease your design budget. Then you market the site via forums and freesite submissions.

Good Luck

[Toby]

Originally Posted by D2222

70/30 is a great deal for the webmaster...

If that is 70/30 after expenses, then yes it's a great deal for the webmaster. If on the other hand the webmaster is paying for hosting, cc processing, etc. out of their 70% then it's not so far out of line.

[Ramster]

I would not partner with anyone if you don't really need to or you;re willing to learn and do the work yourself. If anything I'd hire someone to help at the start with everything that needs to be done. You getting 30% is INSANE!!! Wow, I'll run your site and do everything and give you 40%.... just kidding.

You live in the US? Europe? You need processing is the only thing. CCbill is likely the best choice if in US or Europe.

Here's the basics to starting a site.
1. Content - you have it
2. Domain
3. Design - Hire a designer. $500-1500 will get you a profession design. I use AJ at http://www.templateempire.com/ and he is good and his prices are good. Simply give him photos of you and he will build a site with them. Designers know their shit so no knowledge needed on your part.
4. Promo materials - Have the designer make 10-15 banners to start and maybe 5-10 TGP templates. Then post here to have a webmaster make the TGP galleries for you. Cheap work to source out.

So now you have a domain, a nice professional design, a site full of content of you and promo materials for people to use to send traffic to your site. Now you need processing from ccbill, epoch or someone.

Another option is to join an existing program. They usually handle processing and have lots of webmasters that will send you traffic. You handle adding the content to your site and you'd usually make 60-70% of the income (not 30%).

[Ramster]

Originally Posted by Toby

If that is 70/30 after expenses, then yes it's a great deal for the webmaster. If on the other hand the webmaster is paying for hosting, cc processing, etc. out of their 70% then it's not so far out of line.

I don't know Toby. Processing is 15% so he is still getting 55%. Hosting on a paysite is very very very cheap. Even a server for galleries is a 200-300 hundred a month tops unless this person is submitting galleries every single day and movies too.

The ONLY thing is if she is getting 30% of total sales and there are affilates to pay out ect. Need to know more details but I think 30% is WRONG somehow for sure.

[LD]

Originally Posted by missing

I know a few girls who have started with no knowledge of design or management and through extensive research have built profitable sites on their own.

If you know them, as in you can pick up the phone and talk to them about their business, then you've got an excellent resource right there.

[Toby]

Originally Posted by Ramster

I don't know Toby. Processing is 15% so he is still getting 55%. Hosting on a paysite is very very very cheap. Even a server for galleries is a 200-300 hundred a month tops unless this person is submitting galleries every single day and movies too.

The ONLY thing is if she is getting 30% of total sales and there are affilates to pay out ect. Need to know more details but I think 30% is WRONG somehow for sure.

I hadn't considered the affiliate payouts. Add that into the equation and it could quickly be a 30/30 situation.

She did however say "split of the profits" which would mean after expenses. If that is indeed the case then 70/30 is very unfair.

The one other asset that the webmaster brings to the table is an existing network of traffic resources. Building traffic is the single largest problem for most independent amateurs.

[soapbox]
IMO indie sites should use an affiliate program to suppliment income, not to build a traffic base. Learning to build traffic, especially traffic that you don't have to pay 50% off the top of each sale to get, is a far healthier long term business plan.

Launch that affiliate program after the site is established, some content has been built up, and the site tours have been tweeked and are converting well.

I've seen way too many indie sites launch, open an affiliate program right out of the gate or within just a few months, and a year or more later they're still not making enough to quit their day jobs.
[/soapbox]

[missing]

Originally Posted by Toby

If that is 70/30 after expenses, then yes it's a great deal for the webmaster. If on the other hand the webmaster is paying for hosting, cc processing, etc. out of their 70% then it's not so far out of line.

Okay, it breaks down like this: I cover CCBill processing out of my cut and my webmaster did the design, hosting and "traffic." I provide content, but it's not like I just sit around looking cute. I take my own photos, recruit guest models, edit photos and take care of customer service issues. Further to that, I have a fairly large fanbase that I developed before I had a paysite, so I'm sure that helps, too.

[missing]

Thanks for all the input. You have all pretty much confirmed what I already knew...I'm getting screwed. Big time.

I have some graphic design background, it's just a matter of knowing how to apply it to a website and then managing trafiic and things of that nature.

Baby steps, I suppose.

[Toby]

Originally Posted by missing

...I'm getting screwed. Big time.

Based on what you've just posted above, "Big time" would be a huge understatement.

Going it alone is usually the toughest road, but also the most rewarding. Good luck to you, and keep asking questions, it's the best way to learn.

[leftysJ]

Missing, if doing all of the work by yourself is too overwhelming, you should partner up with people who are team players. Team players look out for the best interest of all people involved in their team which tends to create the best long-term income. ie. - I tend to think that D2222 and I make a great team. I bring in a lot of the financing / some executive decisions for our operations and D2222 works on the technical side of our company.

[Ramster]

Partnering with anyone is a BAD idea. YOU are the talent! YOU are the site. Do NOT partner with anyone. Why partner with someone when all you really need to do is pay someone to do simple tasks IF you need them. If the site starting making $20,000 a month you're gonna split that with a partner that just handles the site and other webmaster tasks. I think not.

I still think you should pay a designer to create your site. Do it yourself sites usually do not work out too well. Talk to AJ at template empire and tell him I sent you and to give you a rock bottom price. He may be able to do something.

Good Luck!