What does it take to be lucrative in the freesite game nowadays?

[ponygirl]

where I live, $1000/wk is a decent living indeed
that's pretty inspiring coming from a couple of very respected & experienced folks here

guess I'll get back to work

[Bill]

C'mon, guys, it's not nice to taunt people.

I'd agree it's just barely possible a skilled businessperson could start with nothing and be making a kay a week in one year. But even that person, if they couldn't call on contacts for help, would be hard pressed.

For most people, that's just not possible anymore.

It was possible from the early days to about 2002. Now - not so much.

And by just _submitting_ freesites? I just don't see it. Where are all these people, if it's so easy?

I don't think anybody could do it from freesites alone, not from scratch, today.

[Linkster]

Bill - with perseverence and using good content, researching niches that convert as opposed to just doing general teen submits, I truly believe - and have seen proof of - that someone who worked their ass off for one year should be able to make that at least.
Granted it takes getting into posting on boards like this to do the networking thingie and getting some free help along the way (which also happens with the networking aspect) and researching the heck out of a niche - Ive seen it happen in the last year for some people - so its a reality in my mind

Your question about where these people are - they are few and far between - cause most people starting out just dont have the dedication to stick to it

[ponygirl]

Originally Posted by Linkster

Your question about where these people are - they are few and far between - cause most people starting out just dont have the dedication to stick to it

I think that's a very big part of it - people seem to think porn is easy money and it's quite discouraging when you have a terrible week or even longer. I didn't say I thought it was easy, I don't think I will be making 1k/wk anytime soon

What I do believe is that if you are persistent, determined and don't give up, you can make a living from any business that you put your mind and skills to, in this biz or any other.

At least that's what they taught us in business school

[Surfn]

Originally Posted by ponygirl

I think that's a very big part of it - people seem to think porn is easy money and it's quite discouraging when you have a terrible week or even longer. I didn't say I thought it was easy, I don't think I will be making 1k/wk anytime soon

What I do believe is that if you are persistent, determined and don't give up, you can make a living from any business that you put your mind and skills to, in this biz or any other.

At least that's what they taught us in business school

If it was easy girls would be doing it

[ponygirl]

Originally Posted by Surfn

If it was easy girls would be doing it

oooooh....someone's feeling brave tonite

[Surfn]

Originally Posted by ponygirl

oooooh....someone's feeling brave tonite

On a serious note, if you treat it like business, work at it everyday, learn to network, learn from your mistakes, ask questions. You will be there.

The only limits are the ones we place on ourselves. There is a ton of money to be made. Granted it isn't as easy as it once was, but then neither is life.

[tickler]

Originally Posted by Linkster

...researching niches that convert as opposed to just doing general teen submits, .... and researching the heck out of a niche

I would highly recommend checking out some of the TV shoes like Kink, if you can get access to it.

I found out more about latex and all the related products after watching a half hour show, then months of surfing SEs would have provided. Another one recently explained the difference between balloon fetish "players" and "poppers". And they really don't get along with each other.

I even started researching a couple of niches after seeing them on CSI. One show had Plushies & Furries, another episode had a Biting fetish character.

[Surfn]

I can tell by how often a person submits their level of commitment to making this a full time biz. And I can tell by the quality of their submits if they are going in the right direction to succeed.

This isn't rocket science. It's just plain hard work.

[Simon]

Originally Posted by tickler

I would highly recommend checking out some of the TV shoes like Kink, if you can get access to it.

I found out more about latex and all the related products after watching a half hour show, then months of surfing SEs would have provided. Another one recently explained the difference between balloon fetish "players" and "poppers". And they really don't get along with each other.

I even started researching a couple of niches after seeing them on CSI. One show had Plushies & Furries, another episode had a Biting fetish character.

This is most excellent advice for anyone looking to promote fetishes that they're not personally into.

Niche markets are one thing, fetish niches are something else. When you're selling to a need instead of a want/desire, then the whole platform you build your copy on is different. Having at least a basic understanding of what the fetish is, what drives people to it, how they explore and exploit their fetish, how it's portrayed publicly versus in private... all those things can be important if you want to have your marketing speak to the actual fetishists too and not just the curious newbies.

And yeah, you don't want the balloon players and poppers at the same party. Almost as bad as a group of weekend/bedroom-only bdsm players talking to a bunch of Gorean lifestylers.

Simon

[emmanuelle]

Originally Posted by tickler

I would highly recommend checking out some of the TV shoes like Kink, if you can get access to it.

I found out more about latex and all the related products after watching a half hour show, then months of surfing SEs would have provided. Another one recently explained the difference between balloon fetish "players" and "poppers". And they really don't get along with each other.

I even started researching a couple of niches after seeing them on CSI. One show had Plushies & Furries, another episode had a Biting fetish character.

Tickler, I apologize in advance for this.
The producers of Kink, (who I know personally) have no f&$%ing clue. I have never met anyone with their head shoved so high up their rectum.
summary: caveat emptor

If you are looking for a decent fetish reference, I would recommend Deviant Desires, written by Katherine Gates

http://www.booksamillion.com/ncom/bo...sbn=1890451037

It will really give you a good idea of what is going on inside the heads of your target market.
Television programs thrive on exploitation and drama to make themselves interesting rather than credible

[anteyes]

Just out of curiosity, with the bigger freesite submitters (people who have submitted over 300 or 400 freesites), how many sites do you actually have out there? Are they still bringing in substantial revenue?

[Bill]

I'm not trying to discourage anybody from anything. I just think there's a ton of bullshit that flies around in this business, and like I said, I don't think it's nice to taunt people.

If it's so easy to make 50k a year just from freesites, where are the people here in this community, here at GG&Js, that are doing it? All I ever hear is talk about how little money most people are making.

I guess all the 50k from freesites guys only post at gfy.

If you make 360 freesites a year, and get an average of 4 $35 sales per freesite, you can gross 50k. Both of those are unrealistic numbers.

I'm not saying you can't make 50k a year in this biz, absolutely you can.

But, 50k a year from freesites? After a year? Starting from scratch? I don't believe it.

People have a tendency to exaggerate how much money they are making.

How do you think this makes the folks who are only able to make 15k or 20k a year from freesites feel?

[sue-fl]

Thanks for the great thread everyone! I make money off of my free sites. Not a 1000 a week but make money. I don't ever expect to make 50k a year it would be nice but I don't have my expectations near that high.

What I have done in the year and a half since I started is spend money. Mostly in content so far. I invested in content and housing before I was making a dime. I have a fake tgp with galleries that I link to on all my free sites. I also have a link list which has all my free sites and my sponsors free sites, plus submits. I have noticed that I'm getting sales now from my tgp, not my link list yet.

So I have invested the money and certainly the time, as I feel like I live on my pc! I usually make four free sites a week, on average. My next step is to invest in some better programs for my pc to make better sites, logos etc.

So can you make a living off of free sites that I don't know. My husband is the income maker this is more or less spending money, and unexpected expensive money for us. So I'm happy with what I'm making a month at this point. Do I want to make more money? Shit yeah and I can tell you I would not be sitting here an average of a least 8 hours a day every day if I didn't.

I hope I'm on the right track with how I'm doing things and it will continue to pay off for me. The first week if ever I make 1000 dollars you'll all hear me celebrating from here.....

Great advice everyone and good luck to all of us!

[ArtWilliams]

Originally Posted by Bill

If you make 360 freesites a year, and get an average of 4 $35 sales per freesite, you can gross 50k. Both of those are unrealistic numbers.

But is the relationship straight line, as you suggest, or exponential? I don't know and maybe some of the more successful people can straighten me out but is there a threshold of sites and links at which you make more money than just a 1:1 ratio?

---art

[tickler]

Originally Posted by emmanuelle

Tickler, I apologize in advance for this.

Not required E. I was just trying to point out that there are other places besides the net to explore. And many other TV shows also.

[Linkster]

artwilliams - it is pretty much exponential if you are using the things I suggest like hubs and other traffic filtering devices. Which is why I stick to the basic notion that anyone that is willing to put the 12-14 hours a day that this would require into actually doing it - I know for a fact that those levels of money can be made - Ive seen it done first-hand, however Im kinda reluctant to point out any names without their permission.

Bill - as far as having to be an old-timer or not - I dont believe that has anything to do with it - the people I have watched do this exact thing have taken it upon themselves to network on this and other boards, go to the shows and build those relationships over that first year that get them a few extra bennies with LLs and other traffic sources. Im sorry but maybe this whole "plan" I am talking about is outside your definition of just making free sites - and you are correct - if someone just wants to spend 2 hours a day making and submitting free sites every day - they are going to be limited to the 10-15k or so a year. I have always considered making free sites a part of a complete free site package which is what I kinda base my thoughts on

[mrenaud]

I just got into doing Free sites full time about 4 weeks ago. I'm not up to building one a day yet, I'm getting about 5-6 a week done. I quit my job to do this full time also. I saw the 1000/week # tossed around in this thread, and that's actually my goal. A year from now I hope to be making 1K a week. I would be extremely happy with that result. 1K a week USD is not bad at all when you live in Canada and are 25 years old. That's just my goal though.

I should add that I'm going to be doing 2 galleries a day on top of my free site. I've been told by some very knowlegable people in this biz that's the formula too follow.

So hopefully I'll be here in a year saying "Fuck yeah, I'm finally making 1K a week!". Not that a year is a long time! Buidling a business, any business takes extreme hardwork and dedication and it takes many years for people to get where thay are today.