opinion

Investing in Your Brand Isn't Just About the Money

Investing in Your Brand Isn't Just About the Money

Simply put, “investing” is an action you take with something to make it grow. When you think about investing, your mind’s eye may quickly conjure up images of buying into assets like stocks, real estate, NFTs and crypto in the hopes of selling those assets at a higher price than you paid for them. That’s because, on the most basic level, it really is a simple concept: you buy an item for X, watch the market for that item grow and at the right time, sell the item.

Now, let’s take that concept and apply it to your career.

That’s what creates the difference between ‘model’ and ‘brand’ — your ability to speak to your followers and get them to engage, like, comment, click, buy or invite others.

A person doesn’t start out as an influencer or a celebrity, and they don’t just become a recognizable brand from sheer hope. As a matter of fact, most of us are content just to earn a living doing what we do — but for others, building a career is a goal reached by acting on a calculated series of opportunities and investments. Investing in things like photography, advertising, social media growth or PR means spending your dollars on items and services that will grow your career.

The key phrase in that statement is “spending your dollars.” But is money all there is to invest for growth? Well, I’m glad you asked because no, it’s not. Contrary to popular belief, investing is not always about money. Time, effort, action and patience are investable too and when it comes to your career, these four things are just as important as the almighty dollar, if not more so.

INVESTING YOUR TIME

More than money, effort, action and patience, time is the biggest investment you will ever make in your career. It’s also the thing you have the least of. You cannot replace time, so you have to manage it and invest it wisely. Sure, you are going to make time management mistakes, but you can minimize them by not asking yourself to do too much with the time you have. Don’t promise things you don’t have time to deliver, don’t take on more than you can handle and don’t sign up for things you can’t possibly take advantage of.

The worst thing in the world, the thing that will hurt you the most, is being labeled as someone who doesn’t follow through or someone who doesn’t do what they say they’re going to do. Most often, not following through on what you promise stems from time management, but to observers it just looks like a person is being flaky. Don’t be that person! If you promise something or sign up for something, follow through— and if you can’t, at least send a message stating why you can’t.

INVESTING IN PATIENCE

Given today’s “on demand” mentality, patience is not something we can easily adhere to anymore. From all the episodes of a TV show to pizza delivery to new furniture or our latest Amazon purchase, we want everything right now! But here’s the thing, and I hate to be the one to break it to you: not everything can be now. Now isn’t always an option. Now isn’t always better. Some things take time to grow, and that takes patience.

If you want to build a solid brand, you’re going to need to invest a great deal of patience. But don’t worry, you’re in luck; unlike money, patience is one of those things you can have an endless supply of.

Growing into a brand is going to take some time and effort. It’s not going to happen overnight, and you would be foolish to expect it to. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you’re going to be all that and a bag of chips because you’ve reached 30,000 or 40,000 followers; while those are great numbers, they’re still relatively pedestrian in the grand scheme of things. At 100,000 you have an income, at 250,000 you’re on your way to a career and at 500,000? Well, at 500,000 you’re starting to build a brand.

INVESTING THOUGHTFULNESS INTO YOUR ACTIONS

Everything you do from this point forward is going to matter. From intent to perception to character to belief. Every word you utter on social media is going to endear or offend. You’re going to become a human starting gun for any number of causes or controversies and you’re going to wield a lot of verbal power, so use it wisely; it can easily be a double-edged sword. Endear yourself to your followers and the revenues will follow; offend them and folks won’t give you a second look. This might seem obvious, but if it were, there would be a lot fewer controversial influencers out there.

Some food for thought? Stay away from politics and religion.

INVESTING CONSISTENT EFFORT

When I was younger, many moons ago, a very wise man told me that the only thing you could possibly gain without effort is failure. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve personally tested that theory, but I can tell you it is absolutely correct. Building a career/brand is not something that just happens. It’s going to take some work.

The truth is, you’re going to gain a certain amount of celebrity by what you post on your platforms, and I use the term “celebrity” very loosely. To be blunt, it’s not all that difficult to get guys — and girls — to follow you or to click your hot, sexy photos. If all you care about are clicks and likes, congratulations, you’re going to have a great time watching people share your photos while you’re working your day job.

What is difficult is to get them to look beyond the photos, beyond the racy and beyond the provocative. That’s what creates the difference between “model” and “brand” — your ability to speak to your followers and get them to engage, like, comment, click, buy or invite others. It’s the innate ability to elicit trust and belief. When they believe you and trust you, they will follow your advice and/or your recommendations.

So remember: if you wisely invest patience, effort, time and action, growth and high payouts will surely follow.

As a 25-year industry veteran, Danny Ferretti says he is old enough to remember link sites and message boards. As the founder of GFE Model Services, he works with some of the web’s top performers and influencers. Contact him at danny@gfemodelservices.com, follow @fangearvip on Twitter and visit GFEModelServices.com or Fangear.vip for more information.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

opinion

WIA Profile: Lainie Speiser

With her fiery red hair and a laugh that practically hugs you, Lainie Speiser is impossible to miss. Having repped some of adult’s biggest stars during her 30-plus years in the business, the veteran publicist is also a treasure trove of tales dating back to the days when print was king and social media not even a glimmer in the industry’s eye.

Women in Adult ·
opinion

Fighting Back Against AI-Fueled Fake Takedown Notices

The digital landscape is increasingly being shaped by artificial intelligence, and while AI offers immense potential, it’s also being weaponized. One disturbing trend that directly impacts adult businesses is AI-powered “DMCA takedown services” generating a flood of fraudulent Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) notices.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

Building Seamless Checkout Flows for High-Risk Merchants

For high-risk merchants such as adult businesses, crypto payments are no longer just a backup plan — they’re fast becoming a first choice. More and more businesses are embracing Bitcoin and other digital currencies for consumer transactions.

Jonathan Corona ·
opinion

What the New SCOTUS Ruling Means for AV Laws and Free Speech

On June 27, 2025, the United States Supreme Court handed down its landmark decision in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, upholding Texas’ age verification law in the face of a constitutional challenge and setting a new precedent that bolsters similar laws around the country.

Lawrence G. Walters ·
opinion

What You Need to Know Before Relocating Your Adult Business Abroad

Over the last several months, a noticeable trend has emerged: several of our U.S.-based merchants have decided to “pick up shop” and relocate to European countries. On the surface, this sounds idyllic. I imagine some of my favorite clients sipping coffee or wine at sidewalk cafés, embracing a slower pace of life.

Cathy Beardsley ·
profile

WIA Profile: Salima

When Salima first entered the adult space in her mid-20s, becoming a power player wasn’t even on her radar. She was simply looking to learn. Over the years, however, her instinct for strategy, trust in her teams and commitment to creator-first innovation led her from the trade show floor to the executive suite.

Women in Adult ·
opinion

How the Interstate Obscenity Definition Act Could Impact Adult Businesses

Congress is considering a bill that would change the well-settled definition of obscenity and create extensive new risks for the adult industry. The Interstate Obscenity Definition Act, introduced by Sen. Mike Lee, makes a mockery of the First Amendment and should be roundly rejected.

Lawrence G. Walters ·
opinion

What US Sites Need to Know About UK's Online Safety Act

In a high-risk space like the adult industry, overlooking or ignoring ever-changing rules and regulations can cost you dearly. In the United Kingdom, significant change has now arrived in the form of the Online Safety Act — and failure to comply with its requirements could cost merchants millions of dollars in fines.

Cathy Beardsley ·
opinion

Understanding the MATCH List and How to Avoid Getting Blacklisted

Business is booming, sales are steady and your customer base is growing. Everything seems to be running smoothly — until suddenly, Stripe pulls the plug. With one cold, automated email, your payment processing is shut down. No warning, no explanation.

Jonathan Corona ·
profile

WIA Profile: Leah Koons

If you’ve been to an industry event lately, odds are you’ve heard Leah Koons even before you’ve seen her. As Fansly’s director of marketing, Koons helps steer one of the fastest-growing creator platforms on the web.

Women in Adult ·
Show More