When it comes to the art of camming, private messages offer huge earning potential when leveraged wisely. They give you direct access to your customers in a quick 1-on-1 interaction that can present opportunities to entice them into private shows or to tip more in public chat from sheer excitement.
There are even some models who use private messages to spam users into visiting their room, but while this might work for some in the short-term, it’s not the best way to approach users; this is especially true when it comes to users who have never interacted with you before.
Instead, here are some tips on how you can use messaging to connect with your fans in a more efficient and meaningful way.
APPEAL TO THEIR EMOTIONS
If what you’re trying to do is recruit new customers, you don’t want to come across as spammy or even desperate by sending them a “Hey baby, come visit my room” type of message. That won’t awaken any interest. On the other hand, a simple hello might fall short.
The sweet spot is contacting them in a spontaneous-looking way, and here’s where your wit comes into play. Try to look for common ground. For example, if they state in their profile that they like a certain TV show, you could drop a line saying “I just found your profile and saw that you’re into [insert name] just like me. Didn’t expect to find other fans here!”
Yeah, I know what you’re thinking; this is unlikely to happen as most users don’t fill out their profiles, let alone include their likes in the description. But it’s about making it look casual and hitting close to home. Research shows that when we are texting, our brain is firing up emotional regions, and that’s the part of a user you want to target. If you see that they’re from France, greet them in their language and say something like “I hope I said that right. I always wanted to learn French.”
Needless to say, messaging new users without a curated and eye-catching profile to lead them to, is ineffective. So before you reach out, make sure your profile is complete and looking amazing, so it can pique their interest.
SEND FOLLOW-UP MESSAGES AFTER A SHOW
If you had users tipping you during your show, even if it wasn’t much, contact them afterwards and thank them for attending your show. A thoughtful message can go a long way and the end result will be a stronger connection with your fans. What you do during your streams is important, but nourishing those interactions even when you’re not on cam is vital.
ASK FOR FEEDBACK
You could also ask members for their feedback after a show, inquiring whether they liked the show or would like to see something different next time. This way, you show them that you care and value their opinion, making them feel special. And, of course, it’s also just a good excuse to chat with them and engage them further. However, don’t overdo it. Asking each user once will be enough.
USE VISUAL CONTENT IN DIRECT MESSAGES
Messages are OK, but photos and emojis can connect with fans in a way that resembles how they communicate with friends. This can be the real icing on the cake, in your direct messaging recipe. They say that an image is worth a thousand words for a reason, so what better way to engage your users than exchanging visual content with them?
Some sites, such as Strip chat, even have specialized messaging tools to monetize direct chat interactions, enabling models to send photos and videos to users for a price. Users, in turn, receive special footage from their favorite model. Integrated camera functionality for chat can even allow more candid content to be produced on the spot, while users can also send photos in return (an act which you can also monetize). Regardless, you should always encourage passionate fans to engage with you privately, monetizing the interactions as many crafty ways as you can.
Eva is a passionate insider with industry experience whose mission is to pave the way for performers to make money on their own terms. When she’s not writing a blog post, poking around online or networking, she is practicing yoga or doing Netflix marathons. She’s addicted to coffee, which is what keeps her going through the day. Contact her at eva@stripchat.com.
