World Wide Content co-founder Raffi Vartanian led a discussion among four online adult professionals that included a variety of sound advice for webmasters, as well as a few sneak-peeks at what some of the biggest online companies have planned for 2009.
Club Jenna's Reena Patel noted a trend among paysites toward more single-model sites that offer fans a comprehensive experience with a specific performer. Patel, who acts as Club Jenna's head of product development, said that focusing on one girl at a time helps strengthen a company's brand.
"You need to differentiate yourself from all the free content out there," she said. "We really focus on brand and on the fact that our sites are personality-driven sites."
Patel said that despite the abundance of free content online, most of it is a "free-for-all" of lower-quality movies and images. She added that fans actively prefer certain performers – and the brands they bring with them – over others.
In additon, the panelists agreed that paysites, especially when they're single-girl sites, are moving away from being simple porn sites and toward more interactive, social-networking-style experiences.
Glamour model and affiliate program owner Jelena Jensen noted that her own site, JelenaJensen.com, includes loads of exclusive content, as well as a wide selection of interactive features, including a message board, live chats and cam shows, as well as a feature where Jensen answers viewer mail on camera.
"I pride myself on my interaction with fans," said Jensen, who last month launched a new affiliate program, JelenaDollars.com.
Making paysites more like TV emerged as another theme. Jimmy Rock, head of sales for Worldwide Feeds, said that the addition of Internet TV to his company's arsenal of services marked a major step forward.
At the same time, CamZ Head of Sales and Marketing Jill Taylor said that her company is experiencing brisk sales because of the unique interactive experience they offer.
"Once people get involved with a feed, and once they understand how it works, they'll come back time and again," she said.
Jensen agreed, adding that she started to archive her own live cam sessions at the behest of her fans, and that she switched to CamZ to make it happen. Patel noted that Club Jenna's live cam features run on the CamZ platform, and she said that fans enjoy archived cam shows.
Looking ahead, the panelists revealed some of the next steps for their companies.
- Club Jenna plans to ramp up its stats analysis to better advise webmasters on how to route their traffic. The company also has plans to unveil a new feeds service, Club Jenna Feeds.
Patel also said that Club Jenna plans to expand its viral promotions by adding more PG-rated content to sites like YouTube to help with brand recognition. - Jensen said that she plans to keep offering custom content to webmasters who ask for it, while also producing exclusive content in a variety of niches.
- Taylor said that CamZ plans to launch a new affiliate program, CamZCash, which will give webmasters the power to add their own, branded CamZ feed to their sites.
In addition, fans will be able to interact with fans during live group shows with actual sex toys.
CamZ will also host a live, free, non-nude chat with Jenna Jameson on Dec. 8. - World Wide Feeds will, like CamZ, offer webmasters the option to embed a branded media player on their sites.