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

[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]

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.

[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.

[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.