Tips and Tricks

[anne]

I thought some of us Veterns could help out some of the new comers. So in the idea of sharing information;

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If you could pick one thing that you learned so far that has helped you out the most what would it be?

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[thebes]

Is this just for girls? Just for cam performers? Or for any webmaster who is also in their own amateur content? I will presume the later...

My biggest thing in my videos would be to play somewhat to the camera but don't look right at it.

A few others... you do not look fat to your fans... putting yourself on the internet is however a great way to make yourself loose weight... lighting matters more than the camera... composition matters almost as much as lighting, and more than your camera... take good care of your skin because acne shows up really well on hdv.

I hope I am not out of line posting here, but it would seem that amateur modeling and production share similarities regardless of model gender and content format.

[anne]

Originally Posted by thebes

Is this just for girls? Just for cam performers? Or for any webmaster who is also in their own amateur content? I will presume the later...

My biggest thing in my videos would be to play somewhat to the camera but don't look right at it.

A few others... you do not look fat to your fans... putting yourself on the internet is however a great way to make yourself loose weight... lighting matters more than the camera... composition matters almost as much as lighting, and more than your camera... take good care of your skin because acne shows up really well on hdv.

I hope I am not out of line posting here, but it would seem that amateur modeling and production share similarities regardless of model gender and content format.

Awesome post! For me I have learned that you cant do it all by yourself. I have gotten so much help from others. Whenever I get stuck there always seems to be someone to help point me in the right direction

I have also learned that design is an art form and sometimes the prettiest sites dont convert and the sites that I would think are ugly convert like gangbusters.

I love the internet and how its always changing

[KellyKayne]

If you're in it for the money you're going to fail, I believe to have to have an enjoyment in what you do as well, wither its taking care of your site or enjoying the people in the community. It's not like years ago where you could put up a picture of your boobs and watch the checks roll in... personality counts, being interested counts!

[anne]

Originally Posted by KellyKayne

If you're in it for the money you're going to fail, I believe to have to have an enjoyment in what you do as well, wither its taking care of your site or enjoying the people in the community. It's not like years ago where you could put up a picture of your boobs and watch the checks roll in... personality counts, being interested counts!

Yep that is exactly right. However i do think there is good money to be made if you are willing to work hard and be patient. Just have to keep plugging away at it and building the business up.

[markz08]

I'd share my Search Engine Optimization knowledge.

[anne]

Originally Posted by markz08

I'd share my Search Engine Optimization knowledge.

Like?? Got one tip you could share? How about the title being important to the page itself and relevant.

[Senwolf]

Funny that you mention that ugly sites often outsell pretty sites. Would you care to know one of the key reasons for this? Ill tell you all anyway.

Ugly sites for amateurs convert better than pretty sites for amateurs because you are in the amateur market. Make that site to pretty and you just gave the felling that its a professional site verses a amateur site. Sure you claim to be a amateur site the customer says. Yet your site is screaming to them professional. Hence you are not sending one clear message but two messages that negate each other.

The viewer says cant be that much of a amateur with professional grade site and photos that look like a professional photographer shot them. Then we could get into the set itself does it look like the ladies home or does it look like it was shot in a professionals studio?

If you want to play the amateur game I think you should really look at being yourself and being the amateur. Then you send a steady one theme message out and do not look like a professional trying to play amateur.

[anne]

Originally Posted by Senwolf

Funny that you mention that ugly sites often outsell pretty sites. Would you care to know one of the key reasons for this? Ill tell you all anyway.

Ugly sites for amateurs convert better than pretty sites for amateurs because you are in the amateur market. Make that site to pretty and you just gave the felling that its a professional site verses a amateur site. Sure you claim to be a amateur site the customer says. Yet your site is screaming to them professional. Hence you are not sending one clear message but two messages that negate each other.

The viewer says cant be that much of a amateur with professional grade site and photos that look like a professional photographer shot them. Then we could get into the set itself does it look like the ladies home or does it look like it was shot in a professionals studio?

If you want to play the amateur game I think you should really look at being yourself and being the amateur. Then you send a steady one theme message out and do not look like a professional trying to play amateur.

Yep that is exactly true In my opinion someone who does that well is DeepSabrina.com Here site is clean, easy to navigate, looks nice but not too professional. Also she has zero leaks We convert very well with the traffic we send to her.

[AWH]

Originally Posted by anne

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If you could pick one thing that you learned so far that has helped you out the most what would it be?

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Never share your best secrets with anyone else

[anne]

Originally Posted by AWH

Never share your best secrets with anyone else

LOL party pooper

[Senwolf]

I have just been setting here reading over things and then it hit me.

Anne most amateur ladies are part of networks and that said the network often has control over their sites. They cant make a link deal and have it up in 20 minutes. They really are at the mercy of their network on that aspect. Most of them dont know how to do html or build a website. So where does that leave them for building galleries to post on places like The Hun etc ? They either have to learn or find someone that will help them by building and hosting a page for them.

So for the most important thing I think a lady that is or is looking at becoming a amateur model that does not own her own site.

Network selection. Network selection is the biggest thing that a amateur model that does not want to or can not run her own site. For it is the network that she chooses that is ultimately going to determine more factors than anything else. ( with the exception of if she will only do soft core )

So What do I look for when looking for a network might be a better question for the amateur model. I will work on a list of those, and probably start a post on that.

[anne]

Originally Posted by Senwolf

I have just been setting here reading over things and then it hit me.

Anne most amateur ladies are part of networks and that said the network often has control over their sites. They cant make a link deal and have it up in 20 minutes. They really are at the mercy of their network on that aspect. Most of them dont know how to do html or build a website. So where does that leave them for building galleries to post on places like The Hun etc ? They either have to learn or find someone that will help them by building and hosting a page for them.

So for the most important thing I think a lady that is or is looking at becoming a amateur model that does not own her own site.

Network selection. Network selection is the biggest thing that a amateur model that does not want to or can not run her own site. For it is the network that she chooses that is ultimately going to determine more factors than anything else. ( with the exception of if she will only do soft core )

So What do I look for when looking for a network might be a better question for the amateur model. I will work on a list of those, and probably start a post on that.

You know what you are probably right. However I personally feel that you get more out of it being independent. If you really want to make it work and learn i would go with being on your own and probably joining a cam network. If you just want to do updates and cam, and dont have the time for the work then being part of a network is probably your way.

Unless you know something I don't Senwolf. I don't know much about the networks that are out there now a days for cam girls except SC.

[Senwolf]

Anne,

There are many different networks out there for the model that does not have the time or does not want to learn how to manage her own site. There are advantages and disadvantages to going either way.

If you go it alone I could say why bother with even getting on a cam network when there is software available out there that the model could in fact employ on her private site to offer cam shows.

Yet going alone while at first appearing to have many great advantages ( total control of the site, freedom to work with who you desire, the ability to have your site look exactly like you want it to etc etc. ) The model would have to remember that there are down sides to this option also. Take the following as a few that come off the top of my head, ( having to learn how to manage a web server, having to learn how to build and maintain the website, having to learn and do SEO. Starting from scratch with no traffic and no customer base if she never was a model before. having to setup and learn the system for accepting CC billing and if he/she is going to then the affiliate program stuff also.) those are just the ones that jump to mind at the time. I am sure others can come up with more.

I have already talked about some of the down sides to being on a network but there are also some up sides. Especially if the network is a flexible an willing to work with the models. Take the following as a sample (Established traffic.**dont trust the damn stat sites like alexa and all the others they are junk and work less and less each day** Less work for the model usually just upload their pictures/vids and a bit of text and the webmaster does the rest. No having to manage the back end of the server. No having to having to pay up front for the server. basically a zero cost investment except for the time and effort to shoot the pictures or videos and input some text into a computer and then upload them to the networks ftp.

So like I said strengths and weaknesses with both options. I guess good and bad is really in the eye of the beholder.

Now there are many networks out there and I am even working on a network of my own (that is something I will expound upon later). I provided a small list of networks in another thread.

Trinity even promotes Geek Girls which I believe is a network of those geeky girls that will kick your ass in HALO. I will let her toss her 2 cents in on that if she chooses too.

Some networks say hey you can only have your pictures on our network you grant us exclusive rights to publish your photos. Other networks do not.

Some networks require only 3 sets of photos with a minimum of 40 per set. While others require up to 50 sets prior to publishing.

Some networks charge for access to each models content while others charge a set rate to see all their models.

Some networks pay as much as 60% of the membership fee to the model while others as little as 45%.

Pricing for all varies greatly from as little as $10 per month to as much as $35 per month.

There are more differences in how each network is run and how each network deals with other networks.

I would predict that we are on the verge of seeing a very different way in which the networks interact with each other and even how those independent sites work with the networks. I hope that we will see more of a working together while at the same time providing different products based upon the models and networks attributes.

All in all the amateur adult entertainment world is a wonderful world yet at times a few bad apples can spoil it for many. I hope this has shed some light on things for the amateur models and those thinking of becoming an amateur model.

[freakdaddycyrix]

Be str8 up to YOUR members; show them what they are getting clearly and deliver on your promises. If you do what you say you will retain members and gain their trust = money.

[pam]

Originally Posted by freakdaddycyrix

Be str8 up to YOUR members; show them what they are getting clearly and deliver on your promises. If you do what you say you will retain members and gain their trust = money.

Whoa, talk about a voice from the past! I haven't seen you since the days of the AM board!

[anne]

Originally Posted by Senwolf

Anne,

There are many different networks out there for the model that does not have the time or does not want to learn how to manage her own site. There are advantages and disadvantages to going either way.

If you go it alone I could say why bother with even getting on a cam network when there is software available out there that the model could in fact employ on her private site to offer cam shows.

Yet going alone while at first appearing to have many great advantages ( total control of the site, freedom to work with who you desire, the ability to have your site look exactly like you want it to etc etc. ) The model would have to remember that there are down sides to this option also. Take the following as a few that come off the top of my head, ( having to learn how to manage a web server, having to learn how to build and maintain the website, having to learn and do SEO. Starting from scratch with no traffic and no customer base if she never was a model before. having to setup and learn the system for accepting CC billing and if he/she is going to then the affiliate program stuff also.) those are just the ones that jump to mind at the time. I am sure others can come up with more.

I have already talked about some of the down sides to being on a network but there are also some up sides. Especially if the network is a flexible an willing to work with the models. Take the following as a sample (Established traffic.**dont trust the damn stat sites like alexa and all the others they are junk and work less and less each day** Less work for the model usually just upload their pictures/vids and a bit of text and the webmaster does the rest. No having to manage the back end of the server. No having to having to pay up front for the server. basically a zero cost investment except for the time and effort to shoot the pictures or videos and input some text into a computer and then upload them to the networks ftp.

So like I said strengths and weaknesses with both options. I guess good and bad is really in the eye of the beholder.

Now there are many networks out there and I am even working on a network of my own (that is something I will expound upon later). I provided a small list of networks in another thread.

Trinity even promotes Geek Girls which I believe is a network of those geeky girls that will kick your ass in HALO. I will let her toss her 2 cents in on that if she chooses too.

Some networks say hey you can only have your pictures on our network you grant us exclusive rights to publish your photos. Other networks do not.

Some networks require only 3 sets of photos with a minimum of 40 per set. While others require up to 50 sets prior to publishing.

Some networks charge for access to each models content while others charge a set rate to see all their models.

Some networks pay as much as 60% of the membership fee to the model while others as little as 45%.

Pricing for all varies greatly from as little as $10 per month to as much as $35 per month.

There are more differences in how each network is run and how each network deals with other networks.

I would predict that we are on the verge of seeing a very different way in which the networks interact with each other and even how those independent sites work with the networks. I hope that we will see more of a working together while at the same time providing different products based upon the models and networks attributes.

All in all the amateur adult entertainment world is a wonderful world yet at times a few bad apples can spoil it for many. I hope this has shed some light on things for the amateur models and those thinking of becoming an amateur model.

Great post and very informative! I think your right in regards to a network it all comes down to traffic traffic traffic. If you join a network and they have none then you pretty much have to dig it all up on your own and then well you might as well have your own site.

For all the cam girls out there I really hope that if you are thinking of building your own site you give it a try. Sign up for the affiliate program for the site you are working under and build yourself a free site. Just a small page about yourself with banners linking to your page on the cam site. This way you can give it a try yourself before you jump on a network or get into building a big pay site. It also lets you build up some clientele so that when you do launch you have instant members

I'm really enjoying this thread. The amateur world is so interesting and has so many different aspects to it.

[kutiekeiko]

great post anne! i really enjoyed reading everyones comments so far.

for me, being a new amateur, ive learned many things but there are 2 things that have helped me out the most and they are trying not to take myself too seriously on cam(a perfectionist like many..) and having PATIENCE! that is so important. i must tell myself that everyday.

my site is many things to me. exciting.. overwhelming.. liberating.. down right scary sometimes. coming into all of this, i knew i wanted to have control of my site and i am very fortunate to have that. I am a control freak, but youre right, u cant do it all by yourself. infront on things, im learning how to relax more (the camera is not out to get me) and behind things, i have a wonderful webmaster who has confidence in me but is always there to help me whenever i screw up the coding or something

so, all this has helped me a lot.


now about network selection...

the one thing that has always worried me is the network i am in. i question that. i didnt know much about networks in the beginning, i never really thought about it. now, sometimes i want to be all on my own but that brings up alot of other things as senwolf mentioned. but on the otherhand, i do have control of my site, and that is so important to me.