opinion

A New Beginning

I recently blogged here about the many challenges facing adult webmasters today and the often drastic measures that some of these operators have been forced to take in order to remain in business – let alone grow and prosper. Just as a limb must sometimes be sacrificed to save a life, sometimes a website must be sacrificed in order to save a company – and it’s now time to do some pruning.

For my own part, good ideas are a dime a dozen; it’s the execution and follow-up that prove problematic given the number of hours in a day, let alone the many other factors that weigh on lone adult operators, circa 2007; many of which I’ve already discussed.

After my lovely wife and partner Dawn and I carefully evaluated our existing business and marketing plans with an eye on not only where the current market is today but where it will be in five years and beyond, a few problem areas emerged where it became really obvious that some changes needed to be made. Not making any changes, while leaving open the opportunity for further profits from existing properties, would do so at a point where the return on investment and risk-to-reward ratio were both unacceptable for us.

Beyond the market pressures, the legal ones have also taken a toll; 2257 presents ongoing challenges to many small operators, especially the home-based ones such as us that must reveal their physical location to all and sundry. It’s not just the disclosure that’s an issue, it’s the ongoing changes: for example, the latest 2257 revisions, if enacted, would require that I (once again) re-encode all our video clips to feature the new statement, adding more time and money to our investment; of course, such problems are the tip of the iceberg…

These burdens have become too much to deal with or worry about; so going forward, we will not publish any sexually-explicit material, as either primary or secondary producers, that is covered by 18 USC 2256 / 2257; initiating immediate cut-backs in our online adult offerings – measures that also guarantee us freedom from obscenity prosecutions or other headaches that are easily predictable in the run-up to the U.S. presidential election cycle.

For us, “producing and publishing porn” is a thing of the past; our remaining properties sanitized of covered materials; the two gallery post sites set to auto-pilot, “cron jobs” automatically updating the submitted text links they list on a daily basis – providing a temporary reprieve for these “hands off” sites that require no further attention but that will still provide us with affiliate payouts.

While this wholesale elimination of risk and responsibility is welcome on some fronts, my personality won’t let me rest; I need the challenge of learning new technologies and the ‘enjoyment’ of having a website to work on. As I’ve said before: being a Webmaster isn’t a job, it’s a lifestyle – and with that in mind, I’ve turned back to my mountain of good ideas, looking for something new that meets my current and future market needs, profit requirements and safety level. I’ve chosen an idea that I previously did not have the time to implement; but it’s the best idea of the bunch, IMHO, and one whose time is finally here – after spending over a year on the “how about we…” pile.

So I’m trying not to focus on the huge amount of time, money, love and effort that I’ve invested in my previous programs; and instead, I’m focusing on bringing something new, unique and potentially very big to life. It’s no longer “business as usual, circa 1996” but the culmination of everything that I’ve learned in adult and where I see the market headed; fueling a project uniquely suited to my talents.

Stay tuned to see what I’ve come up with…

Copyright © 2024 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

opinion

To Cloud or Not to Cloud, That Is the Question

Let’s be honest. It just sounds way cooler to say your business is “in the cloud,” right? Buzzwords make everything sound chic and relevant. In fact, someone uninformed might even assume that any hosting that is not in the cloud is inferior. So what’s the truth?

Brad Mitchell ·
opinion

Tips for Boosting Ecommerce Revenue With Behavioral Insights

At our marketing agency, we focus on using real data to make better decisions for our clients. We believe every action a visitor takes on a website can tell us something important. This helps us shape our strategies and assist our clients in turning casual website visitors into loyal customers.

Lauren Bailey ·
opinion

Upcoming Visa Price Changes to Registration, Transaction Fees

Visa is updating its fee structure. Effective April 1, both the card brand’s initial nonrefundable application fee and annual renewal fee will increase from $500 to $950. Visa is also introducing a fee of 10 cents for each transaction, and 10 basis points — 0.1% — on the payment volume of certain merchant accounts.

Jonathan Corona ·
opinion

Unpacking the New Digital Services Act

Do you hear the word “regulation” and get nervous? When it comes to the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), you shouldn’t worry. If you’re complying with the most up-to-date card brand regulations, you can breathe a sigh of relief.

Cathy Beardsley ·
opinion

A Look at the Do's and Don'ts of Gift-With-Purchase Promos

Imagine you’re at a store, deciding between two products with similar packaging, features and pricing. You’re not predisposed toward either brand and you haven’t seen any reviews — but one of them offers, “Free gift with purchase!” Does that win you over?

Vanessa Rose ·
opinion

The Perils of Relying on ChatGPT for Legal Advice

It surprised me how many people admitted that they had used ChatGPT or similar services either to draft legal documents or to provide legal advice. “Surprised” is probably an understatement of my reaction to learning about this, as “horrified” more accurately describes my emotional response.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

Tips for Navigating a Completely Remote Job in Sexual Wellness

Anyone working in the sexual wellness and pleasure sector has at some point had to deal with issues like bias against the industry, as well as limited marketing and advertising options.

Bryony Lees ·
opinion

Free Agent Auteur: Casey Calvert Expands Her Directing Horizon

Now, having brought that highly-awarded polyamory trilogy to a close, Calvert is concluding the exclusive Lust Cinema directing chapter of her career and charting a new course out into open creative waters as a free agent.

Alejandro Freixes ·
profile

Marina Valmont: From Beauty Queen to Naked News Anchor

Marina Valmont grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, spending a lot of time walking in nature and enjoying Canada’s beautiful parks and lakes. She describes her younger self as an avid reader who spent a lot of time at the library, as well as a girly girl with a deep love for Disney, fantasy movies and Barbie.

Alejandro Freixes ·
trends

Meet the 2024 Class of Up-and-Coming Pleasure Brands to Watch

With each new year that rolls in, new pleasure brands emerge, and 2024 is no exception. Already this year, a slew of new entrants are rapidly gaining traction and recognition via social media, among retailers and distributors — and most importantly, end consumers.

Show More