Bang! The name says it all, on so many levels. Because when porn viewers want to get off and splash down with a truly orgasmic paysite, Bang.com rocks more than 116,000 videos, across 60-plus categories, with only full-length movies, from the very best studios in the biz (all available in 1080p HD and 4K, no less).
Through a highly effective combo of slick promotional campaigns, aggressive social media marketing and a bevy of beautiful Ambassador of the Month babes, Bang.com knows how to get the word out about their latest and greatest offerings.
In general, our customers tend to like content that is hardcore, reality-based and shot with models skewing toward the younger end of the spectrum (both fresh-faced amateurs, and well-known veterans).
That is why over 1.5 million users are tuning in to enjoy the perks of Bang.com, with around 18,000 performers just waiting to entertain across a variety of channels and compelling B! Originals productions. Leaning towards hardcore fare, as well as reality-based and teen-themed videos, Bang.com pays close attention to its internal metrics before greenlighting a pilot to become a series.
To load up on behind-the-scenes wisdom and kick this company profile off with a bang, XBIZ sat down with the brains behind the paysite operation, in this exclusive interview!
XBIZ: Take us back to the launch of Bang.com and how the site gained momentum in those early days.
Bang: Launching a new brand is always a challenge. We built Bang.com from scratch so we could take advantage of all of the latest technology and architectural strategies, along with modern design and usability. However, the hardest part is building brand awareness in our industry where there are so many products vying for the attention of our consumers. We attacked that challenge on multiple fronts with a massive advertising campaign, social media, affiliate promotions, content partnerships with tube sites, and communication with our user base from VideosZ.com. In the end, it mostly comes down to hard work and productive promotional investments.
XBIZ: What are the different kinds of content that Bang.com offers, given its variety of channels, B! Original Series and Prime Videos?
Bang: Our top focus is always quality. After that, we’re interested in testing out all sorts of ideas that could resonate with our customers. In general, our customers tend to like content that is hardcore, reality-based and shot with models skewing toward the younger end of the spectrum (both fresh-faced amateurs, and well-known veterans). Within those parameters, there is still a ton of room to experiment and try new things. We try to take a lean approach to development by testing the market with short runs in each new series so we can tweak as needed before making more significant investments.
XBIZ: Describe the most significant challenges in running a successful paysite and how Bang.com stays ahead of the game.
Bang: Differentiating Bang.com from our competitors and ensuring steady increases in the value our product delivers are the most challenging aspects of running our business. We need to be quick, concise and organized with our communications and sales approach, and we need to be making steady advances in our technology and content quality.
XBIZ: What is your approach to social media across the many platforms you use, ranging from Twitter to Reddit?
Bang: We tailor our social media strategy to each channel with the goal of creating a unified community with both performers and fans. We focus on increasing brand awareness and engagement on a long list of platforms, including Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, and more. Since professionalizing our approach to social media in 2015, we have built a steadily expanding community who share a passion for the Bang.com brand!
XBIZ: How does Bang.com handle video production, as far as contracting directors, casting and such? Take us through the typical process from pre-production to video distribution.
Bang: We source ideas from many essential stakeholders like our internal team, customers, current producers and even producers looking to work with us. We then compare our list of ideas to our current offerings to address gaps or perceived shortcomings, and we also look at the current marketplace for things we can improve and create value. After we agree on a short list of promising options, we’ll work within our network of producers and directors to develop pilot scenes that we can use to test sales and collect feedback. The best performing pilot gets turned into our next series, and then the process repeats.
XBIZ: Bang.com named Jessa Rhodes its first-ever Ambassador of the Month last summer, followed by top-notch stars like Honey Gold and Kayden Kross each month after that. How has this branding effort paid off?
Bang: Our Ambassador program certainly adds a bit to our branding efforts, but more importantly, it’s a way for us to show appreciation to the outstanding performers who are at the heart of our product. We want to help them grow their audience, and further develop their careers. Our Ambassadors get new eyes on their behind-the-scenes Snapchat takeovers and interact with a broader audience on a deeper level. Plus, it’s fun to develop more personal relationships with these special ladies that work with us.
XBIZ: What was it like winning the 2018 XBIZ Award for Paysite Affiliate Program of the Year? Talk about the benefits of your affiliate program.
Bang: We were thrilled to be nominated for the award, and then when we won, it was a full-on party here at the Bang office! It meant a lot to our team to be recognized for all of the hard work they have put into developing the Bang.com Affiliate Program over the past few years. We strive so hard to make all of our partners successful, and we are keenly aware of the many other amazing programs that are out there. Thank you again, XBIZ!
XBIZ: What’s next for the Bang.com brand this coming year?
Bang: You can expect steady improvements to the user experience, outstanding new content, and maybe even a few surprises! Stay tuned!
