Each month, industry news media organization XBIZ spotlights the career accomplishments and outstanding contributions of Women in Adult. WIA profiles offer an intimate look at the professional lives of the industry's most influential female executives.
Long before she took a deep dive into the adult biz, Ashley Jacobs once navigated the gaming industry and mastered the challenges of cultivating an engaging community for users.
I am blessed to have such a great team of account managers and coaches who go out of their way to support our broadcasters.
When she sank her teeth into the realm of camming, initially as a part-time payment coordinator for CAM4, Jacobs soon realized she felt very much at home.
Over the past decade, she has expanded her role within the company, now taking close care of cam models and coordinating a diverse team of account managers and coaches.
By creating training materials, communicating transparently with talent, strategizing about broadcaster tools and features, plus offering loads of training, she seeks to equip the hard-working CAM4 streamers under the company’s care.
Welcoming open feedback and encouraging both newcomers and veterans alike, Jacobs strives to be ever-attentive to the shifting needs of talent and the platform she serves.
To discover her outlook on the market, as well as get to know such a crucial behind-the-scenes part of CAM4’s success, XBIZ sat down with the February 2021 XBIZ Woman of the Month for this interview.
XBIZ: Tell us about your professional background prior to adult.
Jacobs: After obtaining a diploma in advertising and graphic design, I spent a decade working for innovative design companies in Toronto. During that time, I found a passion for gaming and ended up leading a client care team that would communicate directly with the players in chat rooms. I loved the challenge of engaging players (“roomies”) and designed games that would encourage engagement and spending in the rooms I was in.
XBIZ: What led you to join this industry?
Jacobs: You know what they say – timing is everything. It was 2011, and I was just about to complete maternity leave. I was doing freelance design work from home but knew I needed to bring in more income – especially with a one-year-old. I began seeking part-time work and was offered a position on CAM4’s payments team doing daily payments part-time. I didn’t really have an opinion about the industry I was joining at the time because I was working behind the scenes. As my role expanded to other areas of the company, the reality of working in the adult industry really presented itself, and I was pleasantly surprised with how comfortable I am here.
XBIZ: Discuss your role at CAM4.
Jacobs: I manage a team of account managers and coaches. Together, we focus on the development of our broadcasters through on-boarding, education, coaching and training. I create training materials and communications to support improving the understanding and use of our platform and services. I work with my team to make strategic decisions about improvements to broadcaster tools and features, curation, niches and new opportunities. Finally, I create incentive programs to motivate broadcasters from all niches to achieve success within the CAM4 community.
XBIZ: How have your responsibilities grown during your time with the company?
Jacobs: I have been with CAM4 for nearly a decade and have had the opportunity to grow from a part-time payments coordinator to having a pivotal role in the success of our North American broadcasters. I have always had a passion for helping people bring out the best in themselves and I’m so thankful to spend my days finding ways to connect with and support our broadcasters.
XBIZ: What are the biggest challenges in executing your job effectively?
Jacobs: Time – or lack thereof, especially in 2020. I have three kids and, like most people right now, I am working remotely due to COVID-19. My husband is essential, and the kids are at home in virtual learning. Juggling their needs with mine has really made managing my time a challenge since March. It’s hard to tell for how long this will be my new normal.
This pandemic has brought some positive as well. It shed light on the importance of mental health and emotional support. Yes, this industry is thriving with content creators, but we are also seeing a much stronger need for support systems. Partnerships with companies like Pineapple Support are a really great way to let our broadcasters know that we are there for them, but there is also so much more we can do within our platform. I’ll certainly be exploring some of those options within our training content in 2021.
XBIZ: As someone who interfaces frequently with cam models, what are their most commonly asked questions?
Jacobs: How do I get paid? How do I get on the front page? How do I get people to tip more? Do I have to show my face? How do I make a private show memorable for a viewer?
XBIZ: Given your insight into behind-the-scenes analytics, any major tips for models on how to increase earnings?
Jacobs: The most important thing we teach our broadcasters is if you want to make money in this industry, you need to treat it like a job. You build your audience by making it easy for them to find you; go online as much as you can and for a minimum of 2.5 to 3 hours per show.
A lot of people make the mistake of logging off after an hour or two, and we find that the ones that stay on for longer are the ones who earn the most. Schedule your shows in your CAM4 calendar so your viewers know exactly when you will be on, use your social accounts to promote those shows and make sure to tag #cam4 so our marketing team can promote them across CAM4’s social channels.
Private shows are also a great way to maximize and monetize your time on cam with viewers who spend tokens. Create appointment times and invite your loyal viewers to book a time with you during your next show. Doing this will cut back on the time you spend waiting for someone to request a private show, and will strengthen the connections you have already built with your fans.
XBIZ: When a model is having difficulties, how do you go about encouraging them?
Jacobs: I am blessed to have such a great team of account managers and coaches who go out of their way to support our broadcasters. They work together to identify where someone is struggling and offer unique support to each broadcaster based on their individual needs.
Your account manager can offer you variety of programs based on your needs that are designed for you to achieve success on CAM4. Our “Start Up” bonus program rewards new broadcasters for camming more, connecting with our coaches, building a profile and incorporating privates into their show. It also encourages continued success, for the structure of the first four weeks. For those loyal broadcasters who have been with us for awhile, we offer a loyalty bonus that encourages them to increase their earning potential by broadcasting during high traffic times.
If you are looking for 1-on-1 assistance, our seasoned coaches have been through it all and will not only meet with you but will also tune into your show to get a clear understanding of how to help you improve. If you are shy and would rather get to know our coaches in a more social setting, we invite you to attend a live coaching session every Monday at 3 p.m. (EST) with Vanna Faye as well as Tuesday at 3 p.m. and Fridays at 2 p.m. with Kinky Fuckeri.
Over the last year, I also introduced our viewers to the Happy Hour Show. This multicam show is designed to celebrate all the amazing talent that we have on CAM4. The show broadcasts every Friday at 4 p.m. from our “CAM4happyhour” profile and is hosted by Naked News legend Laura Desiree and tech coach BusymanTM. Our account managers Johnny Diamond and Vicki Gray comb the site to find four authentic North American broadcasters weekly to showcase to a new audience of viewers. Anyone can sign up to be considered as a guest for the show from your broadcaster dashboard and by contacting Johnny or Vicki directly.
XBIZ: If a performer were to ask why they should join CAM4, what top three reasons would you give them?
Jacobs: We put a heavy focus on connecting with and supporting our broadcasters. We back this up by offering three tiers of support. Our amazing customer service team who is available 24/7, our coaching team who is made up of broadcasters who have not only been in the industry for years but found success themselves and our account managers who you can connect with in person at the shows we attend and contact through DMs, email and social if you are looking for promotion and opportunities on CAM4.
We have always offered daily payments to our broadcasters and we do not take a percent of their payout. What they earn on CAM4 is theirs to keep. We are the site with “No Limits.” We celebrate all broadcasters and their niches and fetishes, allowing more on our site than other platforms. Our viewers can find the content that they are craving no matter what they are into.
XBIZ: What are your goals for 2021?
Jacobs: Our objectives this year are focused on successfully navigating the lockdowns and closures that we are still working through due to COVID. My team and I are really missing the personal connections that are made during the events that we traditionally attended in the past. In 2021, I really want to focus on elevating the opportunities we give our broadcasters by providing them with more ways to connect with their viewers, feel supported by CAM4 and gain visibility into their shows. I’m very interested to see what 2021 holds and the new possibilities that lie in store.
