opinion

Marketing the Midway

I’ll be heading up to the Siskiyou Golden Fair this weekend; the largest country fair in Northern California. A popular annual event featuring country crafts, good food, entertainment, livestock exhibits, a demolition derby and even a rodeo – it’s always a summertime favorite.

Sounds like fun, you say, but what does this have to do with online porn? It’s the pricing structure.

Not only do I have to pay to get into the fairgrounds, but if I want to watch the demolition derby (and I do), that costs extra. Want to see a giant horse? What about a huge pig with by far the biggest balls you’ll ever see, or perhaps a truly enormous bull or alligator? Each will add another dollar to the cost of the show. Care for a tasty Polish Kielbasa smothered in fried onions and an ice-cold beer? Perhaps a ride on the Tilt-A-Whirl? That’s an additional cost as well…

With the fair, as with well thought-out online adult entertainment offerings, “upsell” is the name of the game. Charge ‘em for a subscription to your paysite, then offer a cross-sell before they enter and premium, one-on-one video chat once they’re inside. Add an offer for some toys or DVDs and you’ll maximize the number of sales you make to each of your customers and increase your profits.

Oh, and the reason why someone would pay a buck to see a giant horse or other oddity? Because it’s hidden inside of a tent, where you can’t see it for free – and a dollar is a cheap price to satisfy one’s curiosity. Think about that the next time you’re giving away your content...

Copyright © 2026 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

profile

SantanaXXL on Breaking Barriers and Making Room for Plus-Size Creators

SantanaXXL doesn’t do subtle. There’s his loud, contagious laugh. The oversized, impossibly cool Louis Vuitton shades perched effortlessly on his face during his chat with XBIZ. The ensemble he casually describes as a “lounge outfit.”

Jackie Backman ·
profile

Ricci Levy on Standing Up for the Right to Be Heard

When Ricci Levy speaks about human rights, she does not use detached, academic language. She speaks with urgency, emotion and the kind of passion that immediately makes it clear just how deeply personal this work is for her.

Women In Adult ·
opinion

Lessons From Decades of Building the Adult Internet

After my first year of college, I needed a job. So I did what people did back then: I opened the newspaper and started scanning the classifieds. One listing stood out: “Image Librarian.” I had no idea what that meant, but I applied, and got the job.

Tanguy ·
opinion

Tips for Building a Pleasure Brand That Lasts

Each year, promising new indie brands enter the pleasure industry with fresh, creative designs meant to enhance intimacy, wellness and self-discovery. Some are embraced by retailers and shoppers, while others fade quietly.

Ian Kulp ·
opinion

How to Build a Cross-Border Payment Strategy

Pull up your analytics and you’ll likely find that international traffic is already on your site. Some of those visitors convert, but a lot more bounced at checkout — and a meaningful chunk tried to pay but were declined.

Joe Fredricks ·
opinion

Why Brand Loyalty Starts With Adult Retail Staff Values

Brand loyalty is often discussed in terms of customers, but rarely in terms of the people working behind the counter or deciding what makes it onto the shelves.

Loretta Goodling ·
opinion

The KPIs That Keep Payment Processing Humming While You're Away

I always look forward to the summer as my kids are home and I can plan little trips with them to reconnect and have some fun. If you’re like me, however, you probably never go on vacation without your laptop, so you can check in or lurk in the background to make sure all systems remain go.

Cathy Beardsley ·
opinion

Building an Ecommerce Engine That Bridges Online and Retail Sales

Most independent retailers couldn't afford to build, host and manage a real ecommerce site well, so we leaned on the distributor's site and accepted the friction.

Zondre Watson ·
opinion

What Utah's SB 73 Means for Compliance Requirements

Utah has once again positioned itself at the center of the national battle over online age verification and adult-content regulation.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
Show More