starting a paysite but need a few pointers

[Toby]

Most of the advice in this thread has been about preventing hackers. I just wanted to emphasize the most important piece of advice posted, as it had nothing to do with hackers.

Originally Posted by juggernaut

Don't start a paysite till you master getting traffic...

[furrygirl]

Originally Posted by Toby

Most of the advice in this thread has been about preventing hackers. I just wanted to emphasize the most important piece of advice posted, as it had nothing to do with hackers.

Not everyone does it in that order. I personally think that creating your own unique thing is a better bet financially than working to build someone else's empire. I wouldn't want to be dependent on a sponsor for my livlihood. If I screw up, it rests on my shoulders, but if I'm going great, I reap the reward, too.

Although, after two and a half years of paysites, I think that once I get my third one online this fall, I'm going to be brave and try making my first free site.

[Toby]

Originally Posted by furrygirl

Not everyone does it in that order. I personally think that creating your own unique thing is a better bet financially than working to build someone else's empire. I wouldn't want to be dependent on a sponsor for my livlihood. If I screw up, it rests on my shoulders, but if I'm going great, I reap the reward, too.

The same rules don't apply when you can create your own original content for the cost of your own time and equipment.

When you have to pay to buy content or pay models to shoot your own, the economics are far different.

Most of us are just homely old farts that no one would pay a dime to see nude on a web site.

(I apologize to everyone for that horrific visual, especially at the dinner hour.)

[furrygirl]

Originally Posted by Toby

The same rules don't apply when you can create your own original content for the cost of your own time and equipment.

When you have to pay to buy content or pay models to shoot your own, the economics are far different.

Just to clarify: of the three sites I currently run, one is a store with an inventory investment, one an "amateur" site of me ("free" content), and one is purchased content. My third paysite I'm working on is also purchased content.

Purchased content, in my opinion, is far simpler (and often cheaper) than making your own content. Content, even of oneself, doesn't just "happen" out of thin air. I invest money in clothes and lingerie, a dozen pairs of sheets and duvets, toys and props, hotel rooms, travel, sometimes paying photographers (and soon, a video guy), along with two digital cameras and a decent computer. Plus, my time is worth something, even if it's not a directly out-of-pocket expense.

Being able to just go shopping online for pic sets is actually a far easier and cost-effective way of making paysites.

[Toby]

Originally Posted by furrygirl

Just to clarify: of the three sites I currently run, one is a store with an inventory investment, one an "amateur" site of me ("free" content), and one is purchased content. My third paysite I'm working on is also purchased content.

But you learned your "webmaster lessons" on your own amateur site. Single girl sites where the girl alone or with a boyfriend/spouse are the owner, performer and webmaster are a unique entity, and the same rules simply don't apply. In fact my own very first adult site was just such a site in 1997. A whole lot more than just the rules have changed since then.

Originally Posted by furrygirl

Purchased content, in my opinion, is far simpler (and often cheaper) than making your own content. Content, even of oneself, doesn't just "happen" out of thin air. I invest money in clothes and lingerie, a dozen pairs of sheets and duvets, toys and props, hotel rooms, travel, sometimes paying photographers (and soon, a video guy), along with two digital cameras and a decent computer. Plus, my time is worth something, even if it's not a directly out-of-pocket expense.

Being able to just go shopping online for pic sets is actually a far easier and cost-effective way of making paysites.

Perhaps, but unless you pay premium dollar for purchased content, said content is neither original nor exclusive to your site. Which is one of the major selling points of amateur sites.

I'm not saying that building a successful paysite can't be done as a first adult site, but I'd guess the success rate increases drastically when the "webmaster lessons" are learned building non-pay sites first.

[Vink]

Originally Posted by furrygirl

Not everyone does it in that order. I personally think that creating your own unique thing is a better bet financially than working to build someone else's empire. I wouldn't want to be dependent on a sponsor for my livlihood. If I screw up, it rests on my shoulders, but if I'm going great, I reap the reward, too.

That's how I feel now. It's took me four years of making other people rich to decide I have to start my own paysite. You ever have a sponsor send you a pic of their new ferrari? I have, it made me feel like an ass. That was from a guy that I was one of his first affiliates and I busted my ass sending him traffic and in 3 1/2 years never sent me a Christmas card.