Tired of making chump change

[Porn Junkie]

So I’ve been in this business for 6 months now and I’m starting to reflect on what I’ve been doing, what I’ve done, and what I want to accomplish. So far to this date it’s been a huge learning curve but a wicked fun one I must say but one thing that is bugging me is the fact that I’m still making chump change in sales.

I started with a couple blogs but that really didn’t suit my style, been doing mostly free sites and thanks to the wonderful SheepGuy, been doing AVS sites lately. I know the AVS stuff is too new to judge and I’m really loving it. Nice change of pace. I am in the process of getting a LL up and running, I got 1 TGP going and starting another.

I guess my point is I’m tired of making chump change. I am happy to see a cheque with 2 sales on it. … sad I know but that’s about the best I can do. I've evaluated my sponsors and tried changing them up. Haven’t seen a cheque in a month now and sometimes It gets me bummed to think I’m not doing something right.

I don’t know what I’m asking here right now, perhaps any tips, tricks, strategies, ideas, help, knowledge, advise, etc.. on how to get the cash coming in a bit more. Just a little bummed today I guess.

[Maj. Stress]

6 months is not enough time to build up solid traffic or judge anything these days, especially this time of year when some folks experience a slowdown in sales.

Are you building and submitting a free site a day?
Do you have a hub in place to send your wayward traffic so that you can filter them?

I would also suggest not spreading yourself to thin right. Work one thing at a time and get that going well. Then work some other things like tgp, link list or whatever into your routine.

[SheepGuy]

I'm really not that wonderful a guy
I help people a bit, but only if they know what they're doing in a basic way, and have some talent. We've made a few deals that are better for you than me short term. But I'm thinking longterm. If you stick it out and do well I'm sure some benefits will come my way. If you don't, well, we had a gesture that didn't cost me anything more than a bit of time.

I'm on a comeback that started almost exactly a year ago. I knew it wasn't going to be a quick comeback because times have changed, it ain't as easy as it was. I'm making more than I was a year ago, next year I'll be making more than I was 4 years ago, and the year after that I'll be making more than I was in the golden years of '98-01, after that, I'll be making more than I ever made. At least that what my goals are, and I don't think they are unrealistic given the amount of work I'm willing to do to get there.

You're working smarter now than you were when you first started, 6 months from now you'll be working smarter than you are now.
Point is, it's not a get rich quick thing anymore, and six months is fuckall.

[Porn Junkie]

I think you hit on a good point Stress, I might have taken on too much at once right now. I really want to devote most of my time to learning and putting out AVS sites while keeping up on doing free sites. Right now, it seems like I can’t do it all which might be what’s getting me down. I don’t think I’ve put out a new free site this week. I think I’ll work on the other projects slowly but make my top priorities my AVS and free sites. Thanks for the suggestion

SheepGuy, your too modest I really like the way you think and to be honest, I try to model your ideals. The help your giving me with AVS is something I can take away and return to somebody else down the line. Again, thanks!

I realize that this industry is not a get rich quick type, but without a manual it’s hard to know when you’re on the right path and doing things right. I guess that one post here somewhere about getting a sale a day with free sites just stuck in my head and set false expectations. But nothing comes without hard work and finding what works best for you. Something I’m still working on.

But having a place like this to vent and ask for advice is invaluable.

[ronnie]

Guess the big question is, are you getting enough traffic to the sponsors? Maybe too many sponsors? Sending to little to too many?

[docholly]

If you don't already.. try attending OTB (which starts in 30 minutes) .. it's a great source of information.

[oldbrad]

I'm starting over, been back 8 months or so. So far i make enough to pay hosting, internet and cable bill. Being that i have only 15 sites or so i am happy with it.

If you can make a site a day, you will be way ahead. If you spend some extra time to really make the site sell, make your own banners or whatever you have to and use trial and error on sponsors, you'll start growing fast.

Every site i have done has gotten me sales. Most have multiple sales and continue to sell each month on lower traffic. I'm definately no expert, but be sure to not just rush a site out because you need 1 a day. Spend some time and make good text and use ads or ad text links that pull the best for you.

Brad

[msanchez]

Well maybe this will make you sad or maybe you will have more hope, but I didnt really start to make any substatial amounts of money until my third year.

And even what I consider substantial is chump change to alot of others.

The only advice I can give is what works for me, and thats to find 4-5 niches that your good at selling even if you dont understand them personally. Once you have your good niches go hog wild on building up the traffic. CCbill is my friend. Quality traffic in small amounts is way better than loads of shit traffic.

Just keep on learning and building and if I can make more than chump change so can you so keep on truckin.

[[BV]]

Here's a tip for ya.

Try to stay away from the BIG over saturated PPS sponsors.

Concentrate on using niched out CCBill sponsors with exclusive content. That way you will probably be accepted more places with your free sites as well as exposing your potential customers with something they have not seen before.

The reason I say CCBill sponsors is mainly so you can merge all your ccbill affiliate accounts under one and get all your earnings on 1 check.

That way you don't leave any money sitting around in the sponsors bank waiting to meet your minimum payout.

[Porn Junkie]

Thanks all for the encouraging words. I'm taking away something from everyones posts.

It's just hard to know when your on the right track or way off course. Would hate to waste time with projects that won't do shit for me.

I spent all night tonight looking at other peoples work in the hopes of sparking some new ideas and how to improve my sites.

[Streamray Elli]

It's hard to stay focussed when there are so many different avenues to choose. Pick one that appeals to you most and stick with it. I agree though, it's hard to know when enough data is enough to decide you should change your course of action.

[Torn Rose]

Originally Posted by Streamray Elli

It's hard to stay focussed when there are so many different avenues to choose. Pick one that appeals to you most and stick with it. I agree though, it's hard to know when enough data is enough to decide you should change your course of action.

YOU!

[ronnie]

Well, if you've been doing what you've been doing for some time, and it's only making chump change, seems a change is in order?

Many people seem to think the adult section of the net is where it is at. It's not for every one and does not work for every one. Sure there is alot of money and traffic involved, but it is also VERY competitive and hard to get that traffic and money.

[LowryBigwood]

Originally Posted by ronnie

Well, if you've been doing what you've been doing for some time, and it's only making chump change, seems a change is in order?

Many people seem to think the adult section of the net is where it is at. It's not for every one and does not work for every one. Sure there is alot of money and traffic involved, but it is also VERY competitive and hard to get that traffic and money.

I think Ronnie pretty much nailed it. If something is not working for you, don't be afraid to try other things. That being said, I would not stop submitting free/avs sites, but rather expand on your duties.

Getting traffic is pretty easy. Getting traffic that converts for you can be hard. Look for other ways to gain quality targeted traffic.

Also, don't forget there is an entirely different industry in the form of mainstream info/products you can promote. Just be careful not to spread yourself too thin. .02

[JustRobert]

I am sure you are aware of this but I will throw it out just in case. Not all places take your avs but will take freesites. Build freesites that also link back to your avs with one of your 3 outgoing links. Treat it like its your own pay site especially if its a premium avs. Something different than just sending to a hub. Just a thought

[Porn Junkie]

Awesome stuff people, seriously motivating. I won't give up the freesites/AVS sites but I need to figure out other projects that I can fit into my schedule that will let me grow.

I got a new domain sitting here and coming up with ideas on what to do with it.

[SexxxySadie]

All these helpful points are also appreciated here.

It is definitely a competitive field, and takes a lot of work and time.
Hopefully my efforts will start to payout better soon.

[Allfetish]

Originally Posted by Porn Junkie

So I’ve been in this business for 6 months now and I’m starting to reflect on what I’ve been doing, what I’ve done, and what I want to accomplish. So far to this date it’s been a huge learning curve but a wicked fun one I must say but one thing that is bugging me is the fact that I’m still making chump change in sales.

I started with a couple blogs but that really didn’t suit my style, been doing mostly free sites and thanks to the wonderful SheepGuy, been doing AVS sites lately. I know the AVS stuff is too new to judge and I’m really loving it. Nice change of pace. I am in the process of getting a LL up and running, I got 1 TGP going and starting another.

I guess my point is I’m tired of making chump change. I am happy to see a cheque with 2 sales on it. … sad I know but that’s about the best I can do. I've evaluated my sponsors and tried changing them up. Haven’t seen a cheque in a month now and sometimes It gets me bummed to think I’m not doing something right.

I don’t know what I’m asking here right now, perhaps any tips, tricks, strategies, ideas, help, knowledge, advise, etc.. on how to get the cash coming in a bit more. Just a little bummed today I guess.

It is probably going to be rough. You are going to be working 12 - 15 hours a day for about $2 an hour. More than likely this is how it is going to be. Are you willing to keep that up for a while to build up your business? Not everyone is or can.

Find what works and then repeat it as much as you can. Look at what you are doing right now. Is it working? Are things getting better each day. They should be. If not, something is wrong.

Remember if you can increase the amount of hits you send a sponsor by just 20 each day after one month you will be sending 600 hits a day to your sponsor. After two months, 1200 hits per day to your sponsor and so on. The whole key then is to find what works like that where you can build in this way and to realize that as they say "slow and steady wins the race". Find that momentum and hit it with everything you got.

Try some new stuff. See what happens. "You can't steal second when your foot is still on first." Use all your available time and maximize it. You learn to maximize it by watching your stats and takign note of what is doing what. I know with free sites you can often only submit one a day. So do that and then use your other time to try soemthing new. Already using all your time? Then you might have to change what you do a little bit in favor of something else that is mroe effective. Find out what is working, do that, but leave a little more time for experimentation in addition to that. Otherwise if what you are doing now isn't working and you do nothing else, nothing is probably going to change all that much. You must change something.

Best of luck.

[Porn Junkie]

I really think thats my biggest issue right now. My time is limited. Full time day job, wife, kids, so I usually get about 3hrs a day to go hardcore. I can do some things from my day job remoted into my home PC. I watch traffic trades, go through my emails, stuff like that.

I do most nights fire up the laptop and get a head start in front of the TV with the wife. She's very cool with it since I make sure I don't ignore her while im working and she's very supportive.

I am trying new stuff right now but sticking with my freesites and AVS sites and bringing in maybe 1 project at a time till I know whats going on.

I really can't complain lately. Had a couple family emergencies that basically ate up a week of doing jack shit but it was fairly serious and family does come first.

Great support here and I can't thank you all enough. Now that my family life is back in control, its time to make up for a weeks worth of missing out.

[LD]

Thanks for starting this thread. I'm coming up on only three months now, and feel some frustration. The amount of time invested vs the payout puts my hourly rate at somewhere slightly above slave labor in in some God forsaken third world country.

But it's fun, and I'm learning a lot. I don't mean to bitch....(well, maybe a little.. )

Sheep Dude has been very helpful to me as well, and his listings have generated some great traffic for me. It seems my biggest hurdle is conversion...selling it. I see all the hits and zero sales and know something ain't right. If my sites were complete shit I doubt I would get listed by some of the big list like Greenie's and Sheepguy's..but I seem to be missing something in the marketing department. I want to take a few computer courses to strengthen my technical abilities (my background is not IT), but really, I don't know if I should focus more on the basics: getting horny people to whip out their credit cards.

Looking at my first sites and the more recent ones, I think I'm moving in the right direction, and I am getting a few more scattered sales here and there...but my ratio still needs a kick in the ass...I'm thinking "staying the course" might not be the best policy right now...

Hope I didn't hijack the thread...I think some of my concerns are in line with the topic at hand...

[Useless]

I hardly ever talk about this because I'm not a huge fan of sharing 'secrets', but a major part of my success in this business has been my ability to continuously surf the board while checking my stats every 10 minutes or so.

[Allfetish]

Originally Posted by Useless Warrior

I hardly ever talk about this because I'm not a huge fan of sharing 'secrets', but a major part of my success in this business has been my ability to continuously surf the board while checking my stats every 10 minutes or so.

Unified Stats saved my ass. I think I was a mild OCD case burning four hours a day checking my stats before.

For the newbies:

http://www.unifiedstats.com/ (FREE)

Now it does not list everything and has some issues with many programs and lack of updates lately. But it is basically the poor mans statsremote.

[plateman]

certain niches are dead for sales right now imo, and certain webmasters are doing shitty in the sales department. just keep going and soon it will pickup soon

[Porn Junkie]

i've heard different things from different people and I know its not the same for everybody but is there like a standard "slow" period and a "OMFG IM RICH" period?

[tickler]

Originally Posted by plateman

certain niches are dead for sales right now imo, and certain webmasters are doing shitty in the sales department.

A lot of micro-niches are pretty constant all the time. Guess you just can't find them on a nice day at the beach.