There are an estimated 4.62 billion people globally using social media. With approximately 400 million new users yearly, and an average of 2.5 hours spent online daily per user, it is safe to say no business should be without a strong presence on socials. Whether searching for new job opportunities, exploring a creative outlet, keeping a public diary or just general networking, it is more important now than ever to elevate your brand, make your online imprint and start mixing your pleasure with business.
Twitter and Instagram are the most common tools for sex workers to connect with other sex workers. Whether you tweet directly to other models, comment on their posts, send direct messages or participate in a group chat, building relationships and trust with the sex worker community will expand your loyal fanbase of followers through cross-promotion.
Creating or joining retweet/promo group chats with other like-minded broadcasters can be a quick way to magnify your brand presence on social media.
Being Open and Respectful
Try providing a window into a deeper look at your daily life, expressing yourself more openly while showcasing your “naughtier” side. Since Twitter is quite fast-paced, with new tweets and content posted every second, it can actually keep you and fans informed quicker than regular news, with posts going viral in minutes. So maintaining a robust and constant presence is key, even if that requires commitment. The more frequently you update and provide current content, the less likely you will be lost amongst other more active sex workers and the more you’ll draw their attention. Once they interact with your content, you’ll show up more often at the top of their feed, creating a feedback loop.
Creating or joining retweet/promo group chats with other like-minded broadcasters can be a quick way to magnify your brand presence on social media. While engaging with other sex workers in real time, you can share tips and tricks and build relationships with others in the industry — which is another great way of being introduced to a potential new audience, since sharing is caring after all.
And lest your newfound bonds with fellow creators result in account suspension/deletion, always be sure to mark your account as “sensitive,” which will issue a warning message prompt stating that your tweets contain “sensitive media.” That way, the likelihood of having your account reported or suspended is far less, as full and partial nudity puts you at risk of being banned, despite it being allowed for the most part. If you’re on Instagram, just avoid anything remotely sexual, as their terms of service and subsequent enforcement can be draconian and unfair.
Last but not least, always think before you tweet. Steer clear of controversy or public spats with others in those 280 characters. Keep it cute and friendly, even in the DMs; otherwise you could be a screenshot away from being canceled. Same goes for Instagram story posts, DMs and regular posts.
Treat Your Bio Like a Business Card
Provide contact info such as a work email, what platforms you are on, broadcast dates for your upcoming shows, your Venmo/CashApp link, etc. As much as using Linktree or other similar link hub services like Hoo.Be, ContactInBio and LinkInBio can seem like a quick solution, links that direct to sexually explicit content are against most provider rules and guidelines. Be sure to check periodically for removed links in case you are flagged. If a link leads to an OnlyFans, consider setting your page to “private” and keeping the background photo on it SFW.
Resizing and Tagging Photos for Optimal Posting
When adding images to your tweets, try to stick to standard photos or edit images to a scale of 9-by-16, as this is the proper dimension where you will be able to see the image in full. Although sometimes an awkward shape for a regular photo, you can combine multiple images into one using one of the many free framing apps, most of which have a built-in option for photo sizing.
Also, cut the spam. Instead of tagging many promo accounts in a text tweet, tag your photos instead. An uploaded image on Twitter allows you to tag up to 10 additional accounts and helps keep the tweet clean and concise. Avoid spamming your IG story posts too, even if a handle here and there is useful for enabling others to regram your story.
Ideal Visual Content for the Gram
It goes without saying that Instagram is predominately used to post visual content. A small portion of users and followers actually read the caption or comment, leaving the majority of engagement coming from double-tap likes. The issue with Instagram is that it is entirely SFW and prohibits any content that may be deemed explicit; even images featuring clothing similar to a model’s flesh tone can be flagged as “contains nudity.”
As a sex worker, your image is a big part of your brand, so you would think Instagram would be an ideal platform for your business, right? Despite its high traffic levels, not quite, and so consider anything you post as a “sneak peek” alluding to something racier or more explicit elsewhere. The easiest way to achieve this organic cross-platform traffic growth is keeping your username consistent across all platforms to enable discoverability. By simply captioning your post with “Follow me on Twitter for more,” you can easily cross-promote your NSFW content, quench the viewer’s thirst and most likely gain a follower on both platforms in the end.
Unlike other social platforms, Instagram doesn’t allow users to download photos, so use this to your advantage. Did you know a third of Instagram users have used the app to purchase products or subscription-based services online? This means their wallets aren’t far away. And it should be noted that the idea of selling access to your “private account” through payment apps is becoming more common. Once the transaction has been made, utilize your direct messages. Provide additional payment details to unlock full photo sets that are exclusive to your Instagram, that you can send to them directly; it’s true what they say: “It goes down in the DMs.” Only from here can the purchaser save images or videos. However, it should be noted that despite the loose rules regarding explicit content in DMs, you can still run afoul if it’s reported or things go sideways.
Finally, even though your goal is to engage the public with your social media, we all need a break now and then. If you want to keep your photos private for followers only, including your profile picture, adjust your account settings to make it so. Then you can sell access to your private social media. As always, though, be mindful of the community at large as well as your own brand tribe, engaging them respectfully and with consistent updates.
Johnny Diamond is senior account manager at camming platform CAM4. Follow him @JDiamondXXX on Twitter and contact johnny@cam4.com for more information.
