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

YourVids' Gino on Listening, Learning and Putting Creators First

Get Gino talking about the work creators pour into their careers, and his passion quickly becomes contagious. He deeply appreciates the people powering the business and has firm ideas about what they deserve in return.

Jackie Backman ·
profile

Vendo CEO Mitch Platt Reflects on 20 Years of Lessons and Evolution

More than 20 years ago, three entrepreneurs in Barcelona began gathering over beers to pitch, dissect and routinely destroy one another's business ideas. The ritual was simple: One person arrived with a concept, while the other two tried to expose every weakness. Any proposal that survived earned another look. Most did not.

Jackie Backman ·
profile

Abby Rose on Camming, Connection and Creative Chaos

Abby Rose has mastered the art of viewing life through rose-colored glasses, finding the good in even the most challenging circumstances. With the bubbly charm of Elle Woods and the steely determination of G.I. Jane, she pairs a resilient spirit with a deep love for bringing people together.

Jackie Backman ·
opinion

How to Avoid the Hidden Risks of AI-Generated Legal Documents

Artificial intelligence can write a contract in seconds, but that does not mean it can write the contract your business actually needs. Across the adult industry, operators, creators and producers are increasingly using generative AI to prepare model releases, performer agreements, privacy policies, takedown notices, employment documents and responses to regulators. The appeal is obvious: Legal work is expensive, AI is fast and the resulting document often looks impressively professional. That polished appearance is exactly what makes the practice dangerous.

Corey Silverstein ·
profile

Anastasia's Bedroom Founder Chelsea Mani Bridges Ecommerce With Local Events

Chelsea Mani spends her weekends at local markets, where she displays an assortment of lingerie ranging from new lace bodysuits and silky robes to carefully sourced, cleaned and pressed vintage pieces. Passersby stop to examine the fabrics, ask questions and sometimes find themselves opening up unexpectedly.

Jackie Backman ·
profile

Karla Lane Talks Curves, Confidence and Career Longevity

With her killer curves poured into a slinky silver dress, longtime performer Karla Lane swept onto the XMAs stage in Miami earlier this year to claim the trophy for BBW Premium Social Media Star. As she ascended the steps, presenter and fellow performer Vicki Chase purred, "Come on, big mama," in a playful nod to Latto's viral anthem.

Jackie Backman ·
opinion

How Rolling Reserves Affect Cash Flow and Merchant Stability

You log in to your payment processor’s dashboard, discover they are withholding 10% of your sales, and immediately assume something has gone wrong. In reality, everything is working exactly as intended.

Jonathan Corona ·
opinion

Creator Tips for Turning AI Prompts Into Effective Promos

Creating great content is only half the job. Every photo set, clip, custom video, pay-per-view message, bundle and subscription offer still needs to be marketed, and finding fresh ways to promote the same material can become just as exhausting as creating it.

Megan Stokes ·
profile

Protecting Your Reputation, Privacy and Peace as a Creator

As an adult creator, your online reputation can directly affect bookings, brand partnerships, fan relationships and future opportunities. A leaked post, a troll campaign, an out-of-context screenshot, or a hostile interaction can damage the brand you have built and disrupt your peace of mind. People say this business requires thick skin, but what you really need is steel with a Teflon coating: strong enough to take the hits and slick enough to keep the nonsense from sticking.

Lana Del Bae ·
opinion

What Federal Age Verification Could Mean for Adult Websites

Our industry has grappled with a patchwork of confusing and burdensome state age verification laws for the past couple of years. But that landscape could change quickly after the House passed the Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act (H.R. 7757) by a vote of 267-117, marking a significant federal step into this space.

Lawrence G. Walters ·
Show More