Thoughts from a Newbie

[sensualdomina]

Hi guys, new to the forum! Anyway, I had to chime in firstly because I've been with ImLive only for a month or so and already I'm just not impressed. I see the voices of discontent on here about how they deal with grievances from hosts, and I mirror your cries of foul! I've learned rather quick not to depend on any one service for your income in this industry, even though I've only been at this for about 4 solid months now. I do have the luck to have 2 close friends who are more established in this industry - one gal for 7 years now, one for about 2, both have successful businesses, so the tips and help I receive from them have helped prepare me to avoid pitfalls, which I'm eternally grateful for.

So I wanted to talk about my observations on the industry in general and what I've learned so far about not just chat hosting, but other aspects of the industry.

I have not yet gotten to a point where I get my income exclusively from my adult business. I'm working pretty much on developing my presence and personality, building an intelligent and loyal fanbase, and keeping my website looking sharp. I still work a part-time job, which sucks because it would be great if I could afford to work completely from home, but at this point I do want to ensure my bills will still be paid while I work on this business. (incidentally I did "escape" a very bad job I had at a restaurant by having some reserve money to work with for a month or so to build my business up even more, but have found another part-time job to work a few days a week now that the business is established - another restaurant, blah, but one benefit of that kind of work is flexibility in scheduling...).

From what I see, it is dangerous to work only with one chathost service, or even to depend entirely on one kind of work to sustain you. I think any person going into the adult industry as an independent needs to save up a bit of money first to invest in your own, personal domain and website. Not a free site or simply a blog, mind you, but one you actually pay for, so you can control everything on it.

I was starting my website and such at the time when Niteflirt had their big debauchle and were down for a long time, seeing the forums on there of women who said it was their only source of income. That taught me from the get-go that you really should have multiple ways to make money in this industry, and that being creative really pays off. I think it's wise to attack the market from all sides, offering web chat opportunities, videos (clips4sale is pretty good), mp3's of erotic talk of some kind whether it's just dirty talk or a story you write (it's amazing how many guys love to just hear a sexy voice), phone sex, and photos. I'm even thinking of branching into the dirty panty/stockings market as I've had a few people ask me if I sell these (to me there is a bit of an "ick" factor to it, but at the same time if some guy wants to buy my pantyhose that are too worn out to wear, why not?). It pays to be creative, and to be a good writer. It also pays to have an equally creative friend or partner to help you. I'm lucky enough that my best friend is a great photographer and has video editing savvy. He is my business partner - I do the creative thinking/customer relations/etc. and he shoots my photos and videos and then takes care of polishing up my content and making it presentable. I couldn't do this as well as I am now on my own.

Also, it pays to get your personality out there on social sites (not being overtly sexual or doing anything that violates their TOS, mind you). I've had success getting fans from MySpace, Livejournal, Experience Project, Twitter, and Youtube (I put my teasers/promos on the Tube, and since I keep my ads very "clean" yet enticing to my audience I have never had a video flagged). I am also about to open an X-tube account for my business as they now have options for people like me to be able to make some money from it.

It's also good to join adult communities which offer advertising space or incentive for having a premium membership. I am on one for my fetish genre which if you join as a premium member, they allow you all sorts of advertising options. It's also a good place to meet potential fans and have exposure I would not have had otherwise.

I'm still rather new, as I've been at this for about 4 months now (creating the personality, the blogging/web presence, the web space, making content to sell - videos, photo sets, stories, etc.). Since my business is based around a sub-genre/fetish niche, it has great potential to become profitable in the long haul, but it's also something which takes time to build up. So I don't expect to make a viable living from it for quite some time. I'm just glad to make any money at all from it, or even to gain new fans!

To keep my sanity intact I'm treating anything I get from it now as pure pleasure and fun, while continuing to work part time for bill-paying. I feel the the energy for it is much more positive that way if I'm not actually depending on it to pay my bills. I think it helped me tremendously that my two, seasoned friends are offering their insight and perspective on the industry and their experiences with it. It's been hard work, and it takes up most if not all of my free time these days. But I'm also treating it like my artistic baby, and it has become that.

So I'm hoping for profits in the long run, but not putting all my eggs in one basket either. Trying to stay focused yet realistic, and hope that in a year's time maybe my business WILL make enough to pay the bills....and by "pay the bills" I mean just that. I'm really at my heart a person who is content to live below my means. I don't require luxury to be happy. As long as I have a decent place to live with a roof on it, food, water, and my utilities paid for (gas, phone/net, electric is what I have to pay for at my apartment) then I'm content. I think a lot of people dangerously assume that the adult industry can promise big bucks and a plush lifestyle. In an economy like this, even the adult industry is suffering to an extent. I think entertainment of any kind will always be at least somewhat safe, because even when poor, people want escape from their stress, so they will always patronize us to some extent. But I do not expect to get rich, either.

Also I think it's healthy for anyone's definition of "rich" to not just include how much money they have but also include their non-material blessings (love, friendships, family, self-worth, talent, etc.). To me, I've never been big on "lots of money" - I honestly just want to make a living, and be self employed to the point where I can have what I deem to be a decent living (again, enough to eat and pay the bills on). Because honestly, a person should stay humble enough to realize that it can all get taken away at any moment...your house can be swept away by a tornado or hurricane, you can get robbed, etc. So I decided when going into this business not to get too tempted by all the flashy promises of big money. In my world, all that matters is being happy and sane.

So that's my little intro. I hope everyone is well today!

[Hony]

Thanks for that amazing post! It sounds as you have really got your plan together and I've no doubt you are going to do fabulously.


Hony

[melanieoncam]

Sounds like you are off to a good start, and I heartily agree - never ever put all your eggs in one basket! Even if you have your own site, payment method and clients, your host could go down, your payment processor could go under, any number of things could happen. If you have several backups elsewhere with established clientele, even 2 days a week to keep your profile out there, it will make you so much more financially secure in the long run. Welcome and good luck

[travler1]

As newbies looking to get sterted, we really appreciate this. It's great advice that we will surely use.

Thanks,

Steve and Angela