Chicken and Egg

[Hony]

Here's a poll prompted by some discussion with a new cam site owner who is suffering the classing chicken-and-egg issue. Not enough viewers so the hosts won't stay around, and so not enough hosts so the viewers don't stay around.

This poll addresses hosts -- what can a website do in order to keep hosts online?

Hony

[Crazy Jose]

You need to add one more option, "All the Above." Everyone of the choices sounds good and seem like they could combined. 60% payout is probably too much if there's going to be a $100-$200 bonus to sit on cam unless it were done as a guaranteed minimum. Top preformer bonuses, gifts for one reason or another are all very nice but the bottom line remains...gotta have traffic/paying customers. Hard as hell to start a new site from scratch. Perhaps the only way is to actually get a location, put in a dozen computers and pay girls to sit there and smile 24/7 for at least 6 months. Customers are found and converted 1 by 1 just like any other business. Trouble is to set up an operation like that would take very deep pockets or some 'high-risk' investors. I wish your friend the very best of luck and hope he can hang in there till his ship arrives.

[Hony]

Good thoughts, it is very similar to starting a new magazine -- you can't sell advertising until you have readership, and you can't get readership until you have a mgazine available, and it's hard to afford to produce a magazine unless you haev advertising.

The answer is basically having cash-in-hand to run for 6 months to a year with zero income before y ou earn your first cent.

Hony