new to this board and this industry

[altartprisoner]

Hi,
I'm really, really new to all of this.
Here is the work I started:
http://www.altartnudes.com
a free site with my own softcore erotica photography and some others.
http://tgp.altartnudes.com - fresh alternative TGP. (obviously the crux of my post here, wanting feedback on my TGP. _
and
http://www.prettycreepy.com
crEpy gothic, bondage AVS site.

So, I'm getting traffic from various banner exchanges, link partners and TGP's to which I've submitted my own and sponsor galleries.
But I'm not getting sales...just spending money on bandwidth.
Am I giving up too much free stuff to get a sale?

tony
|bat|

[selena]

Hey and welcome, Tony

I'm not the site review specialist by any means. But here are a couple of things that come to mind when I look at your tgp.

I do not mean this harshly, but it is near chaotic to my eye. Almost like an assault of too many choices, if that makes sense. Everything from the warning to toplist banners are all on the same page.

And speaking of pages, you've got a sidewise scroll on 800x600.

As I scroll down, I see alot of free hosted goth galleries. Nothing really wrong with that, except you are going to see the same goth galleries on every site that has a goth category. That aside, them having top spot on your site confuses me. I'm assuming since you are a photographer that you and your parter have shot content. Where are the galleries that are advertising your pay area? Those would, I think, tend to make you more sales than all the sponsor stuff.

I also think on the altarnude page (free site??) you are giving way, way too much stuff away. Tease them, then make them pay to see that stuff.

The huge plus is that your work is beautiful. The lighting on the batch with the chick with the blade is incredible!!!

As has been pointed out in another thread, there are some tgp'ers here, and most all of them have more knowledge than I do. I'm sure some of them will give you some good advice.

[universalpass]

[DangerDave]

altartprisoner,

As Selena said there are a few basic problems with your site/s, and she outlined the main ones.

My advice would be pick one site.. TGP or the Free or.. and get it right .. and then move on to the next one.

Some other little probs...

http://www.altartnudes.com/members/kailyn.shtml

The images at the bottom...
http://www.altartnudes.com/members/i...ilynwall13.jpg
http://www.altartnudes.com/members/images/kwall167.jpg

both are "squashed" full images.. and are too big ... 200K+ and 100K + This uses up your bandwidth and gives the free surfer too much quality.


Keep asking questions...

DD

[altartprisoner]

Thanks for your input.
I've been thinking about making the TGP in to separate pages.
Of course, you're right, it's all affiliate content and FHG's right now, but that's because I',m just starting out and have received no submissions from other webmasters.

Yeah, I think I'll weed down what's on altartnudes.com and move what I take out over to prettycreepy.com, too.

I'd like prettycreepy to be a pyasite, but I faxed my CCBill agreement about three weeks ago and haven't heard a word from them, and sexkey was right on the ball in reviewing, ,approving and assisting me in setting up .htacess, etc.
I know there are other billing companies, but I don't know them well enough to trust them. 90% of sites I've looked at and appreciated use CCBill.

[altartprisoner]

Thanks danger dave
for your input

Those large imags on the kailyn page are supposed to be free wallpapers, but, I think I'll move them to the paystie too, now that you mention it.

[selena]

It wasn't so much the affliate content or the fhg's I was talking about, Tony. Ideally you will have galleries submitted, and I know that takes time.

It was more...well, I've done alot of reading on tgp's, and most of the stuff I have read will say that you have to get surfer trust for bookmarkers and repeat visits.

It says one of the ways you go towards building that trust is no ads until you build a substantial amount of traffic. Now, I don't mean you can't link to a paysite in a favorites money bar or anything like that. But if you bombard them with ads they are likely just going to hit the X and not return.

Take that for whatever you will, it just sums up what I've read in different resources.

[altartprisoner]

so I should reduce the number of ads.
I can do that.
The only thing is, those are what's supposed to make me money, and, some of the banners are recips from link trades or gallery submissions to other sites.
It seems that to get traffic, you have to trade and reciprocate, then your site gets overloaded with banner exchanges, recips, trades, etc., and then it looks like shite.
This sure isn't easy money, ,that's for sure.
Lots to learn, lots to do.
I sure appreciate your input.
I really do want to learn how to do this well, becuase I'm tired of being poor ( a single parent and, formerly a school teacher).
I also want to run a completely honest and fair business, of course, too.

thanks

[selena]

Hey, don't just take what I say. Hang around and get some more input. I could be *way* off base, because I'm pretty new at this myself.

It isn't easy, I can tell you that much, and be almost positive I am right. It is doable though, but it takes patience, and lots of time.

From one single parent to another, I wish you lots of luck.

[altartprisoner]

Well, I just went and did it.
I split the TGP into 5 different pages, although I question whether the SCIFI and Horror pages will receive significant attention, at least as far as submissions, so they may end up being rather static.
But the goth/punk category, the BDSM/Fetish category and the BBW page are all pretty niche specific, so I think I can use them to market specific sponsors and attack the specific niche genres. I think it was a good idea. I've seen other large TGPs split into categories like this. I thank you for the idea.
Also, I did post a few of my galleries on my own TGP.
Probably tomorrow I am going to go back and rearrange some of the ad/links a bit, because I didn't get all the recips I owe back on the main page when I was moving stuff around. the again, some of those on the front page are pretty niche specific, and I could probably get away with leaving them on their specific niche pages.
Also, I am going to go back and adjust how much I'm giving away at altartnudes.com, probably only two amariah galleries, two of kailyn.
I've had enough for tonight, though. I waited talbes from 10am to 8pm, came home and gorged on turkey then stayed up til...shite, it's almost 3am, working on this.
Tomorrow's anothe day.
Once again, thanks for your input.
I think I've put it to good use.
Say, just for helping me out, I'd be glad to give you a link on any of my pages you see fit.
Let me know.

[selena]

Hey there

I really appreciate the offer of the link. I've kind of got my site closed right now because I need to re-do it to make it easier to update. I have been doing it all by hand, and that is nuts.

However, when I get things going again, I would love if you would send me some of your galleries.

I'll drop you a pm when I've got things good to go again.