How to start a webcam site?

[gdr1087]

I want to start my own webcam site. No, not for me, but I want to start a webcam site like webcams.com and cumtv.com, ect. I would like to know if anyone knows where I can go to get started with something like this. I have done quite a few searches and have not any luck in finding what I am looking for. Can anyone help me on this? I am lookling to put at least 100 or more models on my site. Thanks for any information that anyone can give me.

[Greenguy]

That's a pretty loaded question. What do you have so far? Models? Servers? Equipment? Programming? Billing? Designers?

[Surfn]

Dan could probably give you the numbers...I would say the startup cost, for a successful web cam site, is far steeper than most other adult endeavors.

[bestdutchrates]

haha just noticed this in your sig;

"Would bestdutchrates Like A Little Itty Bitty Piece Of Amateur Traffic?"

nah I got more then enough on my own little site called privatexxx.org

maybe a trade like we did back in the old days would do us both some good

[gdr1087]

After doing some more research I have seen that it is going to cost alot of cash. I found one site that is willing to write the program and set it all up at $20,000.00 I never knew it would cost that much to get one started, wow. I will keep looking and trying to figure it out. I will just have to keep searching, but thanks for the input.

[bestdutchrates]

we just build a cam concept from scratch for a client. Macromedia flash based. Scripting in php/mysql. We own the scripts so we can resell the concept for a reasonable price (around 8k euro). The cam concept is viewable on priveshow.nl (dutch). Hit me on my icq for screenshots of backend and admin tools etc.

[Useless]

Search for a guy here named juggernaut. He runs his own cam site and has a really hot wife. He could point you in the right direction.

[Toby]

Originally Posted by Useless Warrior

Search for a guy here named juggernaut. He runs his own cam site and has a really hot wife. He could point you in the right direction.

He's gonna say that you've lost your ever lovin' mind. Don't do it.

[Zuzana Designs]

it is not easy at all to start a cam site now with all the big ones out there to compete with. you have to have very very fast servers, a great programer, designer, equipment and most important the talent. i work on cam for Video Secrets and they are top notch. i really hate to see someone try and start up a cam site and relize it is alot more work then people think your best bet in my opinion is try and be a broadcaster for a site that already has traffic, servers and everything else you need

[gdr1087]

Originally Posted by Zuzana Designs

it is not easy at all to start a cam site now with all the big ones out there to compete with. you have to have very very fast servers, a great programer, designer, equipment and most important the talent. i work on cam for Video Secrets and they are top notch. i really hate to see someone try and start up a cam site and relize it is alot more work then people think your best bet in my opinion is try and be a broadcaster for a site that already has traffic, servers and everything else you need

I have been doing alot of searching and u are so right, it cost alot of money to start a webcam site. Now,what would I do to be a broadcaster for a site? Is there a certain site I should go to? Thanks for the help

[docholly]

If you have talent.. (like camgirls/guys) and can manage them.. you could become a 'studio' on one of the sites that has them like cams.com (aka legendarylars) or Ifriends *ducking from all the camgirls here gonna throw pillows at me*. It's quite a bit of work keeping them regulated but you might want to consider that..IF you have access to the talent and can keep them in line.

[gdr1087]

Originally Posted by docholly

If you have talent.. (like camgirls/guys) and can manage them.. you could become a 'studio' on one of the sites that has them like cams.com (aka legendarylars) or Ifriends *ducking from all the camgirls here gonna throw pillows at me*. It's quite a bit of work keeping them regulated but you might want to consider that..IF you have access to the talent and can keep them in line.

One more thing and then I will ask no more First, I want to say thanks to all that have helped me Do I sign up with a studio with one of these sites and then find models to work on the site? Just how does this work? I am very interested in this, I just need alittle more information Thats it, I promise Thanks to all again

[docholly]

Originally Posted by gdr1087

One more thing and then I will ask no more First, I want to say thanks to all that have helped me Do I sign up with a studio with one of these sites and then find models to work on the site? Just how does this work? I am very interested in this, I just need alittle more information Thats it, I promise Thanks to all again

Ok i'm really confused.. if you don't have the models already why were you going to start a webcam site? Most people have models first then the site.. not the site and try to recruit models. |confused|

[Zuzana Designs]

models are top priority for sure. and don't think you can just go to a local strip bar and grab them : those girls are use to cash in hand everynight. on cam you have to manage your money as most sites I have ever worked for pay every 2 weeks ... Where are you located ?? that may be a big factor in the market. some places already have a studio that runs ads in the papers and hs a big rep with some great sites ..

[juggernaut]

I have no problems with telling anyone about a camsite and what it might cost you. Heck I had to learn the hard way and if not for a couple of boards I would have given up a long time ago. Dude 20K is just crazy. You will find out next year after spending it that you got either ripped off, or could have had it done allot cheaper. Save 75% of your money for WM programs. I'm not saying that cause this is a WM forum where many people promo cam sites. I'm just saying that cause it's true. Like any site traffic is king but with a cam site the worste part about it is you have to have live hosts. And if they are not getting people to chat with them let alone sales then they are not going to work your site. Then when you finnally get traffic they will be gone. You can pay them, etc. But still over time they will stop working your site. I can go into a whole thing here, but if you want to get me offline send me a PM. I'll point you in a good direction. Jugg..

[GunnCat]

It's easy to start a cam site... most of what you need has been developed for free. You need a good programmer, billing and talent. Good luck!

[DJilla]

I don't know, maybe I'm missing something but IMHO its not a big deal, like anything start out small. Put a modest studio together and work with one of the big guys for a cut, like was said above if you don't have the ready made traffic you are dead in the water before you get started. After you got the studio going and have the talent showing up (like herding cats into a closet) if your models are generating good revenue take those stats and negotiate a better cut with another provider. Pay the models less than normal if they want their money up front (many will). Begin to make your own site on the side and develop traffic. Wait for the right model (s) to come along who is perfect for a solo paysite and begin to develop her/him/them. A few more twists and turns and you should be rocking in money in oh... 3 years or so! No problem go for it!

Q: How do you know when you are truly an adult webmaster?
A: When all your friends ask you if you can introduce them to the brunette on your Blowjob page?

[Kenny B!]

You need 5to do a lot more research and put together a solid plan of what it will cost you to start up, how you plan to make your money back and then some. The cam business can be very lucrative but it's a very large investment of time and money.

What is it you do now?

[JohnWebcams.com]

People have no idea how hard webcam sites are to run until they actually run one... it is infinitely more harder than running a standard paysite where you just update content. Here are some basics:

1) $4500 -- Macromedia Flash Server 100 connection license
2) $5000 - $10000 -- Programming the flash software
3) $5000 - $10000 -- Programming the MySQL/PHP backend
4) At least three boxes at first -- one for MySQL, one for web server,and one for FlashComm server

Ok, that's just the initial coding... and the coding will HAVE to have all the bells and whistled for fraud protection, model/studio management, content management, customer service

Fraud prevention is VERY important.. you will have to be able to pay 24/7 fraud staff to monitor every transaction...

we have three people per shift, 24/7 who look at EVERY SINGLE CHAT and every single video to make sure there is no fraud because fraud is a SERIOUS issue with webcam sites. You have to have good programming to auto-detect most fraud with geo-ip targeting and other important factors, but in addition to this, you must have staff looking at chat logs, because despite the best programming, a lot of fraud is subjective

Then, you have to be able to get traffic.. it's sort of the chicken and the egg with webcam site traffic because no studios are going to work on your site if you don't have traffic.. you will have to give them a guarantee to do so until you get built up enough

I think the initial outlay is at least $50k and you better hope you don't get hit by fraud w/o good staff because you will lose your merchant account before you even get started

[mpahlca]

Great post John it is very true Cam sites are much more expensive to start up and run than most people think but oh well I think this guy is more on the newer to the industry side and needs a lot more info than costs as I don't think he realizes how to make it a profitable business IE traffic affiliates etc.