Help with promoting Gay sites
 

As a straight guy I'm a bit unsure of how to do my ad copy.

My best friend is gay (but not queer) and is a bottom.

All I know is from what he tells me.

He likes 'bears'. I sorta have an understanding of bears, twinks and cubs....but if I'm promoting a site with muscular, bigger guys do I presume my target audience to be 'bottoms'?

So, they'd be the ones taking it in the ass and giving the BJ's.

If it's a twink site then it's marketed towards 'tops' and they'd be doing the fuckin' and tend to be the more dominant in general.

Guess I'll look at ad copy on the paysites to get a feel for it.

Er...I dunno if I can look at naked dudes though. :(

Maybe I'll start with shemales and work my way to gay. |jester|

yeah I've been debating to start making some gay freesites myself, it converts well . But since Im not gay and dont have the faintest idea how anyone could find a man attractive Im not sure how I should proceed with it:) I dont have any gay friends to ask either, I've been wondering if I perhaps should get a deal with a gay webmaster that I make him some straight sites and he make me some gay sites, there's no chance in hell Im staring at nekkid guys all day long thats for sure!:)

Guess you caught my post on pimprollers?

PR's Gay stuff converts REALLY well.

I want some of that cash.

I have like zero sense of what good looking guys are though.

I bet there are some threads on a gay webmaster's board to help us straight guys out.

Hey bro - hit me up on ICQ and I will see what I can help ya with. Been a straight gay webmaster for 2 years now . . . and yes you need to get some of that money!

I won't have time today. I *may* make a gay freesite best I can then hit you up for your opinion though. :)

Hey- FireFox finally forwarded me after the post. It's working again! :)

Ok Im a gay webmaster and I have been doing gay sites for 5 years. Personally I wish you guys would stay out of it and leave all the money to those of us already doing it but since thats not going to happen I'll answer some of your questions.
First of all you dont push your sites towards tops or bottoms. There are twink tops and twink bottoms. bear tops and bear bottoms. Really makes no difference. There are gay webmaster boards that help with newbies in the gay market and in fact I run one but I dont want to spam my board here. Not to hard to find though:)

Yeah- looks liek I won't get a gay FS done today.

I am pretty sure which board is yours. :)

You have taken a step in the right direction, Alpha Wolf. I can't even count how many times I've heard straight guys say they can't do gay content cuz it turns their stomachs. Do you think female webmasters like to do cumshots content? Do guys really think women want them to cum on their faces? |jester|

Anyway I'm getting off topic. The point is, just because you're building gay sites, it doesn't make you gay. One thing it will make you though: rich. |bananna|

It's a huge niche that many guys won't touch for dumbass reasons.

jen,

Yeah. But it really is like "Euw" to me. I'll just ignore it like I do most of the pics I use for my sites.

Never thought I could be over porned. LOL.

Yeah I've seen that their black gay sites converts like mad, but I'll pause of promoting pimproll for a while now due to their bitchy conversions lately...testing out some new sponsors

Anyone getting ready to take the plunge -- or unsure if they're going in the right direction within the Gay market . . . help is available. Take some time reading and learning within the boards, tutorials and other information sources presented in our Gay Webmaster Reference Tools. Actually you'll find sources for content, sponsors and other income sources, plus many more links -- all tied to the Gay market in other sections of the Gay Empire: The Gay Webmaster Resource.

Note the use of the term 'market'! Gay isn't a niche but a full range market with extensive niches of its own. Take time to cruise through some of the sites in our Liting of Gay Directories/Search Engines and you'll get a general overview of what the market is all ab out. You'll also find some good impressions by reviewing paysites that are gay owned and operated (ie: ones that know what they are selling and who they are selling). In our Direcory of Gay Sponsor/Income Sites these sites stand out -- with a big green G.

I too have considered making an attempt at the Gay market, but have not due to my ignorance in that arena. I've considered asking my gay neighbors for advice, but they would probably laugh me out of the room and call me bad names. These guys are not the stereotypical gays you see on sitcoms. You'd never ever know that they're gay.

As far as dealing with gay content, I don't see that as a problem, other than that it would probably make me want to go on a diet and get back in shape. I hate seeing attractive bodies when I feel dumpy.

Here here! IMHO, it's like baking cookies..if you don't like cookies then it's going to be difficult to make cookies that people just can't put down - besides, how many successful cooks do you know that don't taste their own cooking?

Stick to straight stuff if that's where your heart is. my $0.02

|gaycheer|

And I remember reading on another board that a Str8 WM likes building gay sites because he dosn't get preoccupied with the models.

First... >>> hits shelmal with cold water to chill him down.
I know the correspondence hit a nerve.


Next, Gay is surely a devoted realm.
Don't try to market it unless you understand it.

Stop encouraging everyone into promoting gay.
Let's keep it all for ourselves.

|jester|

Hmm funny I thought I hid my annoyance pretty well but apparently not. Ok I admit I dont mind if straight guys do well with gay. I have many straight pals I do biz with who run gay sites but I dont like the idea of guys who say they are grossed out about it and make all kinds of remarks making money with it. Ok damn you threw cold water on me but your comment hit a nerve again..lol sorry|couch|

It's silly for gay webmasters to be annoyed if straight webmasters tap into the gay niche. Straight webmasters don't get all catty and petty when gays promote the straight niche.

I promote a lot of fetishes......my biggest being foot fetish. I am not a foot fetishist - in fact feet gross me out! However I make really good money with it because I took the time to understand exactly what appeals to them about it. Same thing with a straight webmaster doing gay.....and it's silly for gays to be peeved by that.

Ok I knew I shouldnt have made that last post. Ok I didnt say I dont like straights to do gay sites. I said I hate it when straight guys who dont respect gay men do gay sites and make money of of people they find disgusting or gross. There is a difference. Of course straight guys wont be turned on by gay men but you dont have to make all kinds of comments about how gross it is to look at a naked man. Thats all Im saying and again im sure ill get slammed for that .

You've never appeared hetro-phobic to me Shelmal |jackinthe


I've had a gay link list for years and asked you if it was worth bothering before I started it actually. (he said yes btw) Have to say I am still unsure if I get the wording right often... and webmasters in general are hopeless at writing descriptions that don't sound like they are describing some other species.. rather than something they actually think is attractive or worth buying |jester|

I think you might assume too much of the average str8 webmaster, in terms of having a real understanding of what attracts gay men to men.

I'm surprised more female webmasters dont seem to submit gay sites, I think they would do better on average than straight male webmasters.

Re: Help with promoting Gay sites
 

To be perfectly honest with you, gay ad copy is not much different [in the basics] than straight ad copy.

For the most part, you can change the gender specifics and get some good text, this is always the best method that i recommend to those webmasters wanting to start out in the gay market so far as promotional text goes.

Another really good method to get some decent gay ad copy is to take a look at some of the larger gay programs sites as well as see what other webmasters are using on link lists such as http://www.gaylinxxx.com or on tgps such as http://www.cumsoda.com that will at least give you an idea on which to base your own marketing on.

Not necessarily (sp?) as with the straight market, gay men can take a range of roles as with the women and men in straight. For example, just because a woman is blonde, does that mean she is automatically a 'top' or likes sex 'doggy style' ?

Again see my reply above, so far as sexual preferences, there is no 'stereotype' when it comes to a specific type of model.

That is also a great place to start getting a feel for gay marketing text just be cautious of the sites you use as a reference point is all i would say.

So dont, just look at the marketing text ;)

For the most part, 'shemales' are considered a straight niche, whilst the GLBT community stands side-by-side with transgendered individuals when it comes to what gay men and women like compared to transgendered people, there is a difference. In fact, most customers for tranny sites are actually middle-aged straight men (think of your typical wall-street banker types).

If you need any more help feel free to contact me by email lee@gaywidewebmasters.com or head across to the domain in my emai address and you'll find a wide range of individuals currently working the gay market who will be more than happy to help you out, irrespective of whether you are gay, straight, black, white or martian ;)

Hope this post has helped you somewhat :)

Regards,

Lee

I don't think it's necessarily about being peeved by str8 WM's doing gay sites. I think the frustration is more directed towards st8 WM's who unlike yourself do NOT take the time to understand what appeals to the market they try and sell in only in the name of making a buck. IMHO, knowing the market doesn't guarantee success but does give you a headstart.

Hey opti havent seen ya in wahile:) Thanks for getting what I was trying to say. IcQ me when you get a chance be nice to chat again.

Good thread and info here. :)

Just to be clear, when I mentioned I'd start with shemales and work my way to gay I meant as far as looking at dick - it may be easier to start with shemale content. That's all. Don't freak out. I know shemale sites generally target str8t guys.

Will digest this all when I get back home.

LOL.. I just went looking for your icq in my list.

last time spoke the conversaation started with

********
Date : 19/04/2001 Time : 3:50 PM
From : shelmal
hey long time no icq how are ya?
***********


At least we are consistant :p

I just have to put my 2 cents in here.
Gay is my number one niche by far. I've learned a lot from the board Lee mentioned (I lurk there all the time)

For me, well, personally I just LOVE men. and my sites must reflect that both from a female point of view as well as a gay male point of view. But I pick my niches well for me. I don't care for twinks at all but there is a market. Kind of like 18 plus girls or coeds if you will.

My thing is bears and jocks (muscle hunks!! YUMMY) I myself find that type attractive and this comes thru when I design a site and describe them. Gay dom/sub is another good niche as well as twink/daddy. I know shemales target str8 guys , but the str8 guys I talk to have no interest in looking at penis so who knows..I myself am fascinated with that niche..

Lee was right on the money with what he said in terms of gender specifics, etc. They are really marketed in similar ways. You just have to test the waters, read about the lifestyle and get relatively comfortable with it and then go with it. After all, you are in the adult business. IMHO, that means both tits and dick..right? am I wrong?

|lightsabe

I have to say most of what I promote doesn't turn me on and some of it pretty much grosses me out not to mention that I have pretty much complete disdain for most trannies which is my number one money maker.

That being said I try to climb into the skin of my target audience. I use Google a lot to get an idea of what it is that they find arousing and what terms to stay away from so that I don't insult anyone.

Basically it is about getting educated about what it is you are trying to sell. Doesn't matter if it is appliances, cars, maintenance contracts, burly men who love other men or men who live as woman who like to fuck other men in the ass.

When dealing with sexual desires and fetishes you need to put yourself into their mind set and try to see things as they do.

Another good way to learn about your target audience is to find Boards or Blogs where they hang out.

IMHO, both respectable attitudes from Amber438 and Cleo. Know your market...my sentiments exactly.

On a personal note, bears don't do much for me and jocks only if they're not too pumped (and I'm not referring to those vaccuum pumpers). |couch|

I'm not really fond of the Michelin man myself, but some of them...well...hehe

AMEN to that. I envision a whole generation of males who think cum goes on the face not in the mouth.

|raygun|

I have 3 signs above my desk:

Build Submit Build again

Breathe

and

$$'s are in the pics.

cuz 98% of the content isn't what i'd prefer to look at.

The other 2% is when i build sites for houseboy!!

Amber: Remember our pic exchanging days?? Ohh Look at this one!! Yummy..
|jester|

You know this thread could be applied to most any niche. That's why some webmasters are more successful at selling BBW because they know surfers who really like bbw don't want them called Sloppy Whales etc.

|rasta|

As a gay WM I have to just say I find this all very funny, or point in fact, how str8 ones feel about doing gay sites I often feel about doing str8 ones. But I'll give you str8 boys a suggestion for dealing with the nude dudes. Just use solo guys, tastefully done. Then you're not seeing any more then you would in say a hardcore site. Plus think of the ad copy as you would for a female, just change the gender. example- horny blonde woman (guy) first time experiences caught on film.

PS we so hate being listed as a fetish or with tranny sites

If I built for what gets me excited then I would be doing series pics of shopping malls.

On a side note I'm getting a little concerned about the fact that hardware stores are starting to do something for me. |jester|

hey cleo, I'm with you...I always thought that shoe fetish WAS a "for women" category |jester|

although, I have found it's funny just what niche you can end up doing well with...as a str8 female, for some reason I find those trannys quite facinating...and do well there so far so ya never know! ;)

Ponygirl

LMAO |jester|

Must be all those shiny tools hahaha

Well said Cleo! |roses|

A lot of the "discussion" and "feelings" between straight and gay webmasters on this topic (which has been going on and on over the years) has its roots in R-E-S-P-E-C-T. This goes for both sides. I've met disrespectful as hell straight webmasters who put down the gay community yet boast about all the $$ they are making from gay sites... then again I've had run-ins with gay webmasters who were downright mean when asked simple lingo/etiquette questions about promoting gay sites by a straight webmaster.

I think the best advice is to learn as much as you can, find a source - like an online community or a friend who is active in the lifestyle pertaining to the market, genre or niche you are wanting to promote - and then use that advice & knowledge to build a quality, solid site.

You'll never be able to please all of the people all of the time - but having a good attitude and remembering to have respect for people who have different interests than you can really go a long way toward building a site that will sell.

|shake|