A friendly debate on what is amateur .

[Amy Lockheart]

This is a very fascinating discussion. I've been struggling over this very question for a while. I just finished my site design, and I'm afraid it might look too flashy to be an amateur site, run and built by me. I want to communicate that I'm approachable and "attainable" as was mentioned earlier in this post. Anyone care to give me an opinion on this? My URL is:
http://www.amylockheart.com

Furrygirl... I hear your argument completely about the "militant amateur" folk. I think it's gonna be really tough to be polished enough to compete in a very glossy industry, but 'down-home' enough to appeal to guys who thrive on getting to know the girl on the other side.

[Surfn]

Originally Posted by Amy Lockheart

This is a very fascinating discussion. I've been struggling over this very question for a while. I just finished my site design, and I'm afraid it might look too flashy to be an amateur site, run and built by me. I want to communicate that I'm approachable and "attainable" as was mentioned earlier in this post. Anyone care to give me an opinion on this? My URL is:
http://www.amylockheart.com

It has an amateur feel to me, the vid loads fine on the tour which is a plus. It looks to me like you have a winner on your hands. Good luck

[Halfdeck]

Originally Posted by Amy Lockheart

I just finished my site design, and I'm afraid it might look too flashy to be an amateur site, run and built by me. I want to communicate that I'm approachable and "attainable" as was mentioned earlier in this post. Anyone care to give me an opinion on this? My URL is:
http://www.amylockheart.com

Nice looking site The title graphix gives it a glam twist but the site looks like an authentic "amateur" solo site. The cap you wear on one of the tour pages is a nice touch.

I know I'm going off topic, but just a quick couple minor things I noticed is you have the bottom thumbs and side area with live cam schedules that repeat on every tour page which may train visitors to ignore parts of your page that repeat. Also, I like the video in the tour, although it would be also cool to have a short sample video of you looking into the camera talking directly to the visitors. Finally, I'm not sure if the phrase "Fan Club" fits with the "attainable" fantasy you're going for.

[Trixie]

It seems like this issue really only effects people who run sites with bought content, and have no hope in hell of seeming "real" to surfers.

Those of us who actually produce our own homemade self-shot content and interact with our members don't need to worry about not seeming "amateur" or "attainable" enough because our members actually get to talk with us, see us on cam, and can tell we're real people at home, not in a studio. We don't need to litter our photos with piles of dirty laundry, moldy dishes, and/or the dregs of our latest white trash party remnants to seem "real" to our members.

Do I really need to look like I'm cooking meth on the side to convince people I'm real? I don't think so.

[sbm4latinaz]

Originally Posted by Trixie

It seems like this issue really only effects people who run sites with bought content, and have no hope in hell of seeming "real" to surfers.

Those of us who actually produce our own homemade self-shot content and interact with our members don't need to worry about not seeming "amateur" or "attainable" enough because our members actually get to talk with us, see us on cam, and can tell we're real people at home, not in a studio. We don't need to litter our photos with piles of dirty laundry, moldy dishes, and/or the dregs of our latest white trash party remnants to seem "real" to our members.

Do I really need to look like I'm cooking meth on the side to convince people I'm real? I don't think so.

I will agree with you to a point, yes if you interact with your members it does remove some doubt , unfortunatly many web mistresses can be bothered to answer their e-mail , and not all webgirls have streaming vid .
But that being said I apload you, if you are one of the few that actually listen to your members.

[DannyCox]

Originally Posted by Trixie

Do I really need to look like I'm cooking meth on the side to convince people I'm real? I don't think so.

Again, I will say that what any of us thinks about the term "Amateur" doesn't really matter. All that matters is what the Surfer will buy. We make money, and our affiliates make money, so it still all works for us.

[sbm4latinaz]

Originally Posted by Amy Lockheart

This is a very fascinating discussion. I've been struggling over this very question for a while. I just finished my site design, and I'm afraid it might look too flashy to be an amateur site, run and built by me. I want to communicate that I'm approachable and "attainable" as was mentioned earlier in this post. Anyone care to give me an opinion on this? My URL is:
http://www.amylockheart.com

Furrygirl... I hear your argument completely about the "militant amateur" folk. I think it's gonna be really tough to be polished enough to compete in a very glossy industry, but 'down-home' enough to appeal to guys who thrive on getting to know the girl on the other side.

Well I viewed your site and tested it on 3 computers and it loaded in a reasonable amount of time (thats good)
I took your tour and must say I only saw 3 pics that looked amateur (one of the pics on the bottom row).
your free pics section was very small (I would suggest 3 - 4 free galleries regulerly updated).
But all in all the look and feel of your site is pleaseing.
A good thing you have going for you is the fact that your site loads fast , too many girls get a website and go flash crazy which slows down their site, many surfers will give up and move on before the page loads.
I wish you good luck .

[furrygirl]

Originally Posted by Amy Lockheart

I just finished my site design, and I'm afraid it might look too flashy to be an amateur site, run and built by me. I want to communicate that I'm approachable and "attainable" as was mentioned earlier in this post. Anyone care to give me an opinion on this? My URL is:
http://www.amylockheart.com

I think it looks "real" without being "too slick". I don't know how the average horny guy thinks, but I tend to look not for bad designs as an indication of a site being independent, I look to see if it's not a cookie-cutter template.