educational

Adult Webmastering Basics: Part 14: TGPs

Hopefully you’ve had some time to digest our little talk on ethics, and are ready to approach the problem of getting traffic with honesty, good communication, and an eye towards your reputation. If so, read on.

The first traffic generation method we’ll explore is the TGP (Thumbnail Gallery Post) and MGP (Movie Gallery Post). This article, along with those of the next few weeks, are designed as a mini-series within our main topic, and are meant to be read together.

Thumbnail Gallery Posts (TGPs) and Movie Gallery Posts (MGPs)
A TGP is essentially a small to medium-sized page (compared to, for instance, link directories) with a number of thumbnails, possibly grouped by category. When a surfer clicks on a thumbnail, they are brought to a gallery of additional thumbnails, usually with a series of images relating to the original. Many TGPs are populated by submissions from outside sources, and other TGPs are filled in entirely by the webmaster him or herself.

An MGP takes the concept into the broadband era, basically providing the same services as a TGP does for pictures, but applying the concept to movies. MGPs are much more expensive to run, due to their high bandwidth consumptions.

The old paradigms no longer apply to today’s webmaster environment. Even some of the tried and true markets, like AVS, are beginning to dwindle. Today’s savvy porn surfer knows they can gobble up all the content they can handle, absolutely free, courtesy of the TGP and MGP. Most of the traffic from these sources is made up of bandwidth hogs who will never turn over a red cent to your sites or sponsors, but are more than happy to contribute to your bill.

This means TGPs and MGPs aren’t worthwhile, right? Well, yes and no. If you can’t stomach the idea of paying for large bandwidth bills in the hopes that a few surfers might sign up for your offerings (or your site isn’t well designed, and doesn’t convert efficiently), then yes, TGPs are wrong for you. If, however, your site has been tested and converts at decent rates, there is a method to the TGP madness. Experienced webmasters have learned through years of testing that a long-term stream of traffic from TGPs will result in a handful of new buyers with credit cards in hand for every truckload of bandwidth hogs. Over time, the new buyers tend to offset the freeloaders, turning a profit for the webmaster willing to take a shot.

MGPs are an extreme form of masochism for the webmaster with high bandwidth costs. Serving up movies from your own network can (and, in most cases, will) result in huge bills at the end of the month. The rewards tend to be higher, though, with movies converting more efficiently than pictures.

Many webmaster who have been in the game for more than a few years can remember the days when TGPs began to rise in popularity. For those brave enough to give them a shot in the early days, it was like printing money.

Other Forms of Traffic Generation
In our next installment, we’ll continue to explore the wide world of traffic, showcasing yet more forms of getting users to your sites.

Stay Tuned!

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

What France's New Law Means for Age Verification Worldwide

When France implemented its Security and Regulation of the Digital Space (SREN) law on April 11, it marked a pivotal moment in the ongoing global debate surrounding online safety and access to adult content.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

From Tariffs to Trends: Staying Resilient in a Shaky Online Adult Market

Whenever I check in with clients these days, I encounter the same concerns. For many, business never quite bounced back after the typical post-holiday-season slowdown. Instead, consumers have been holding back due to the economic uncertainty around the Trump administration’s new tariffs and their impact on prices.

Cathy Beardsley ·
opinion

Optimizing Payment Strategies for High Ticket Sales

Payment processing for more expensive items, such as those exceeding $1,000 per order, can create unique challenges. For adult businesses, those challenges are magnified. Increased fraud risk, elevated chargeback ratios and heavier scrutiny from banks and processors are only the beginning.

Jonathan Corona ·
profile

WIA Profile: Lexi Morin

Lexi Morin’s journey into the adult industry began with a Craigslist ad and a leap of faith. In 2011, fresh-faced and ambitious, she was scrolling through job ads on Craigslist when she stumbled upon a listing for an assistant makeup artist.

Women In Adult ·
profile

Still Rocking: The Hun Celebrates 30 Years in the Game

In the ever-changing landscape of adult entertainment, The Hun’s Yellow Pages stands out for its endurance. As one of the internet’s original fixtures, literally nearly as old as the web itself, The Hun has functioned as a living archive for online adult content, quietly maintaining its relevance with an interface that feels more nostalgic than flashy.

Jackie Backman ·
opinion

Digital Desires: AI's Emerging Role in Adult Entertainment

The adult industry has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to embracing new technology. From the early days of dial-up internet and grainy video clips to today’s polished social media platforms and streaming services, our industry has never been afraid to innovate. But now, artificial intelligence (AI) is shaking things up in ways that are exciting but also daunting.

Steve Lightspeed ·
opinion

More Than Money: Why Donating Time Matters for Nonprofits

The adult industry faces constant legal battles, societal stigma and workplace challenges. Fortunately, a number of nonprofit organizations work tirelessly to protect the rights and well-being of adult performers, producers and industry workers. When folks in the industry think about supporting these groups, donating money is naturally the first solution that comes to mind.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

Consent Guardrails: How to Protect Your Content Platform

The adult industry takes a strong and definite stance against the creation or publication of nonconsensual materials. Adult industry creators, producers, processors, banks and hosts all share a vested interest in ensuring that the recording and publication of sexually explicit content is supported by informed consent.

Lawrence G. Walters ·
opinion

Payment Systems: Facilitator vs. Gateway Explained

Understanding and selecting the right payment platform can be confusing for anyone. Recently, Segpay launched its payment gateway. Since then, we’ve received numerous questions about the difference between a payment facilitator and a payment gateway. Most merchants want to know which type of platform best meets their business needs.

Cathy Beardsley ·
opinion

Reinventing Intimacy: A Look at AI's Implications for Adult Platforms

The adult industry has long revolved around delivering pleasure and entertainment, but now it’s moving into new territory: intimacy, connection and emotional fulfillment. And AI companions are at the forefront of that shift.

Daniel Keating ·
Show More