Becoming an online creator really means becoming a digital entrepreneur. This is true even if you’re just doing it part-time. Unfortunately, many new creators make the mistake of not taking the “business” aspect of the work seriously. This can sabotage your growth and lead to frustration.
Running your own business day-to-day and building lasting success requires a substantial investment of time and effort. So if you’re reading this hoping I will say, “You can become a viral success just by doing x, y and z,” sorry. There are no shortcuts — but keep reading and I’ll share some practical advice for new creators and those of you looking to level up.
Beware the myth of ‘overnight success.’ Unrealistic expectations can cause even the most talented people to doubt themselves.
Scale, Strategy and Sticking to It: Tips for Beginners
Don’t be afraid to start small. You don’t need to run out and buy the most expensive web cam and lighting equipment right away. Eight years ago, I started with only my laptop camera.
At the time, I was broadcasting with my real-life partner. However, I quickly noticed that I gained more traction as a solo model, so I decided to go more in that direction. My partner still helps me and we still make occasional content, but for my personal brand, camming solo works better. The takeaway: Pay attention to your earnings data and the response that you get from fans, then apply that knowledge to how you move forward.
Remember: when you’re just starting out, you have the freedom to try different things and really see what is working best for you, so don’t let fear of failure — or any other fear — ruin that opportunity. Never be afraid to pivot or change if it helps you move ahead.
Also, beware the myth of “overnight success.” Unrealistic expectations can cause even the most talented people to doubt themselves. Everyone has slow nights; the broadcasters and creators who still keep showing up are the ones who become successful.
It may sound obvious but it’s worth repeating: If you want to be a successful online creator, then you need to be online. Showing up, staying online and being consistent is what you need to keep doing, over and over and over. Be prepared to work hard, and be ready to make the most of those times when your room is popping.
Scheduling: Finding Your Audience
Before I started camming, I ran my own salon, so I was already mentally prepared to apply the same entrepreneurial mindset to my online work. In the beginning, I went hard and cammed almost every day or night of the week. I’m not going to lie: It was exhausting at times.
Once I figured out my busiest online days and times, though, I adjusted my schedule. Then, as I began to find success, I gradually reduced my salon hours until it became apparent that camming was working out well enough to become my full-time career.
When you’re first starting out, experiment with being online different days and times. Since you don’t have a fan following — yet — it’s important to help people find you. You do that by being online as much as possible.
I used to set my alarm for early mornings or work late nights, so I could be online for different time zones. This not only helped me acquire a global audience, but also ensured that my room remained featured because I was broadcasting so often. Some platforms even offer tools and promotions to help you boost your exposure and quickly gain followers, like Chaturbate’s #NEW tag.
If you take your work seriously, put in the effort and embrace an unconventional, flexible and demanding schedule in the beginning — as business owners often do — it’s definitely going to pay dividends down the road. To avoid burnout, I recommend breaking up long broadcasting days with other activities. Take a walk, take a shower, eat something — take a timeout whenever you need to.
Depending on your personal situation, you may not be able to commit to heavy hours or flexible days upfront. That’s okay! If you at least remain consistent about what times you are online, you can still set yourself up for long-term growth.
Spreading the Word: Alternatives to Social Media
Social media can be dicey for those of us in the adult industry. On one hand, you’re expected to have at least an X account… but on the other, there’s always a real risk of being shadow-banned or having your account deleted. This is a problem even if you make backup accounts.
Some creators are big on social media interactions. Personally, I prefer just to go live and connect with my fans directly on a platform that doesn’t censor me. Some creators put together email newsletters; I like using Chaturbate’s built-in email feature, which sends a message to all of my followers when I start broadcasting. I still post show announcements to X, and occasionally some PG content, but I try not to let it consume much of my time. Selling access to your SnapChat, or using messaging features on platforms like OnlyFans and Fansly, are also easy ways to get the word out and keep in touch with your fans.
The bottom line: You will need to figure out what works best for you. Every creator has their own comfort level with various types of marketing and outreach.
Customer Service: Delivering for Fans
Most of my work is livestreaming, but I also like to offer my fans custom videos, so I sometimes shoot recorded content. If you decide to do the same, it’s important to be timely in your delivery and upfront about your turnaround time. Do not overpromise and underdeliver.
This is where careful planning and scheduling comes in. I plan shoots based on my online schedule, but in general I aim for a 24-hour turnaround time. For instance, if I get a custom request while I’m online but I want to take the next day off, I shoot the custom right after my broadcast so I can sleep in. If I am going to be online the next day, I’ll shoot the custom before I go live.
Fans notice when you are consistent, and when you clearly value their business. Being responsive and organized makes life easier, and helps to foster repeat clients and long-term loyalty. I also store custom video orders for up to two years in an external drive as a courtesy, just in case a client might need to re-download.
Community and Connection
Many new creators worry that digital entrepreneurship is lonely and intensely competitive — even cutthroat. That doesn’t have to be the case. Cultivating friendships with other creators offers incredible benefits. Connecting with my colleagues has broadened my professional horizons and resulted in some wonderful real-life friendships.It’s not just about collabs and shoutouts. It’s about having lunch and coffee dates, or group activities to look forward to year-round. Chaturbate in particular emphasizes community, as broadcasters are always encouraged to attend in-person or digital events and get to know each other.
If you’ve ever been to an XBIZ show, then you know how high-energy industry events can be. You meet new people and come up with great ideas together. To make sure I don’t miss out once I’m back home, I ended up making a small, private WhatsApp group so I could keep in touch with my fellow creators. Sometimes we share advice or bounce ideas around; other times we just swap pictures of our pets. It is so important to have a support system, with friends who “get” what you do and can personally relate to the unique challenges of being an adult creator.
Keep Learning and Keep it Real
It’s important always to remain humble and willing to learn. This business is anything but static, so you need to keep your eyes open. When I started out, I often looked at what successful broadcasters with huge followings were doing. It was not about trying to copy them, but to observe how they were running their cam rooms, what apps they were using, how they did their profiles, etc. It’s important to learn from other creators as you determine how to put your best self — or camming persona — forward.
When it comes to crafting that persona, I second what many other creators have pointed out: Nothing sells like authenticity. If you clearly enjoy what you do, it will show. Don’t push yourself to do anything that doesn’t align with who you are. Just because another model has found success that way doesn’t mean it will automatically work the same way for you anyway.
Finally, once you get to where you want to be, don’t forget to give back. Never forget how you felt when you were just starting out and asking more experienced creators for help, or fangirling over how much you admired their work. You can work hard without letting competitiveness prevent you from lifting up and encouraging your fellow creators, or enjoying the diverse perspectives and creativity of your chosen digital adult community.
Do I love what I do? Yes. Was it fast or easy to get here? No. That’s true for most of the people you see thriving as digital entrepreneurs. But keep the tips I’ve shared in mind as you are starting out, and while you build and maintain your business, and you will find the most rewarding kind of success: the kind you worked hard to earn.
WildTequilla, aka Lili, is a multi-award-winning creator and was named Chaturbate’s 2023 Broadcaster of the Year. Find her on Chaturbate or on X.
