opinion

Connecting the Dots

This month's Trend Watch will examine the increasing use of advanced analytics tools to develop a more robust understanding of the factors influencing adult business operations.

While a mainstay of the mainstream business world, such in-depth analysis within the adult industry has been typically limited to larger corporations that can devote many of the required resources, including staffing and infrastructure, to the task.

It has also been the province of some of the most tightly run "one man band" operations where data security and sharing access to competitive intelligence are less of an issue.

But it wasn't porn, per se, that got me thinking about this — it was a manhunt.

While delving deep into a Google Analytics report the other day, I heard a CNN story on a "secret war" being conducted in Iran, where U.S. special operations personnel are now spying on Iran's nuclear facilities; purportedly gaining intelligence prior to a preemptive strike against the country's WMD capabilities.

"Big deal," I thought to myself: there's nothing new about spying and every country has intelligence gathering assets that contribute their individual bits of information into the big picture that is only revealed by analysts who can connect the dots.

The thought reminded me of "The Death Star" — as it was known by those that were involved with it — a three-dimensional, global, graphical representation of the links between Saddam Hussein and his known associates; with the former Iraqi leader at the center of the sphere and every tie to him located somewhere on the chart. The closer the connection to Hussein, the closer the data point to the center, which was as you might have guessed, the bull's eye.

It was as serious a graph as you'll ever come across…

Data was fed into The Death Star by countless sources around the world: from basic street-level intelligence gathered in Baghdad and elsewhere within Iraq, to tips from foreign agencies; and it was then chewed upon by banks of computers and analysts united in a common goal — to kill or capture the world's most wanted man.

Without The Death Star, processing this much material in a meaningful way would have been a far more daunting task than it already was; but through the advanced visualization of complex datasets, Hussein's hunters were able to gain insights and conclusions they might not otherwise have come to in regards to the leader on the lam's whereabouts.

While I'm not suggesting that adult operators are engaged in such a literal life-or-death struggle, or that they have the resources to duplicate the combined efforts of the free world's most innovative thinkers; but that we all can benefit from drilling more deeply into the data that we have, or can acquire, and visualize it in more meaningful ways.

One easy example of this is the aforementioned Google Analytics, which provide a vast number of ways in which website performance data can be visualized and evaluated; such as the goal funnel visualizations which I find do a great job of "bringing home" the impact of design changes on a website's traffic flow.

Sure, knowing whether 90 percent or 70 percent of a page's traffic makes it through the next link is easy enough to see as a simple text representation; but graphically showing the sizes, percentages, paths and other aspects of traffic flow, can unite a viewer's "left and right brain" to deliver a more creative and comprehensive view of the data — and the more complicated that dataset, the more beneficial advanced visualization is.

Of course, it is the depth and breadth of the underlying information that makes the data useful, so gathering it in the first place is the foundation to any program of analysis and this collection of information comes in increasingly useful and accessible ways.

For example, many operators study the search engine keywords that lead surfers to their site, but do they as diligently study what visitors that actually use their site are seeking?

Personally, I'll be installing an internal search engine on one of my text link-based TGPs — not just because I want to make it easier for my site's visitors to get off on the free porn they desire, but because I want to analyze the search logs to see what they were after, in hopes that it will help me to fine-tune my approach by making more relevant offers.

While the resulting dataset from this effort will likely never be displayed as more than a long list of search terms, it will provide many more dots for me to connect and give more insight to other datasets that I am evaluating — developing a fuller picture of where the site is today — and where it is likely to go in the future.

Regardless of the size of your operation, the gathering of information and the advanced visualization of datasets is a vital component of continued growth and a necessary step in your efforts to "connect the dots" — and the development of the technology behind these processes is a trend worth watching.

Copyright © 2025 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

Cat Meyer Reflects on Goals, Triumphs of Indie Lube Brand Head South

“I loved the storytelling aspect — how products weren’t just about hair but confidence, self-expression and identity,” she says. Today, she uses the same skills as the CEO and owner of Head South, a sexual wellness brand that focuses on minimalism through its design, messaging and refillable packaging.

Nishka Dhawan ·
opinion

Rebranding Sexual Wellness Through a Self-Care Approach

As most of us in the industry already know, sexual wellness remains the black sheep of self-care. Discussions about wellness glorify meditation apps, skincare routines and workout regimens — but mention masturbation or using a sex toy, and most people shy away from the topic.

Hail Groo ·
profile

WIA Profile: Leah Koons

If you’ve been to an industry event lately, odds are you’ve heard Leah Koons even before you’ve seen her. As Fansly’s director of marketing, Koons helps steer one of the fastest-growing creator platforms on the web.

Women in Adult ·
opinion

Why Sex Toy Innovation Isn't What Shoppers Want Right Now

During my first year in the industry, the luxury vibrator on shelves was LELO’s Gigi, priced at $109. It was made with high-quality silicone, boasted an ergonomic design, a travel lock and a warranty. Soon after, Je Joue released its first product, SaSi, which employed “rolling ball” movements to simulate oral sex.

Sarah Tomchesson ·
opinion

What France's New Law Means for Age Verification Worldwide

When France implemented its Security and Regulation of the Digital Space (SREN) law on April 11, it marked a pivotal moment in the ongoing global debate surrounding online safety and access to adult content.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

How Adult Retailers Can Enhance Sales With Supplements

The supplement industry is big business. In 2024, Future Market Insights estimated it to be valued at $74.3 billion, and other market research firms anticipate that number will grow to upwards of $170 billion in just 10 years.

Rick Magana ·
opinion

From Tariffs to Trends: Staying Resilient in a Shaky Online Adult Market

Whenever I check in with clients these days, I encounter the same concerns. For many, business has not quite bounced back after the typical post-holiday-season slowdown. Instead, consumers have been holding back due to the economic uncertainty around the Trump administration’s new tariffs and their impact on prices.

Cathy Beardsley ·
opinion

Why It's Time the Pleasure Industry Got Serious About IPX Waterproof Ratings

As someone who regularly communicates with manufacturers, retailers and consumers, I’ve seen how this ambiguity can do a disservice to both the customers who use these products and the businesses that sell them.

Alicia Sinclair Rosen ·
opinion

Optimizing Payment Strategies for High Ticket Sales

Payment processing for more expensive items, such as those exceeding $1,000 per order, can create unique challenges. For adult businesses, those challenges are magnified. Increased fraud risk, elevated chargeback ratios and heavier scrutiny from banks and processors are only the beginning.

Jonathan Corona ·
opinion

Tips for Sexual Wellness Brands to Win Over Gen Z This Summer

As summer rolls around, the excitement in the air is palpable, especially for one particular demographic: Gen Z. College and university classes are over, vacations are booked and it’s time to let loose.

Naima Karp ·
Show More