Rick Latona – This early Klixxx contributor and traffic expert shared this with us back in the day! Still relevant? You decide…
”I’m amazed how often we were right back in the early days of the World Wide Web. Just the other day I was pondering how during 1996 and 1997 you could walk down Sand Hill Road in Silicon Valley, mention the word search engine, and get a check from an investor. After all, we knew that with the billions of Web pages to come, we’d have to have a search engine to find anything. We were absolutely confident back then that most users would start at a search engine and surf from there. Thus - the birth of the portal.
Well, a couple of years later the advertising market fell through the floor and companies like Yahoo, Alta Vista and Lycos went crazy. They focused all their attention on crazy products and outsourced their actual search technology to Google!
Here we are in 2004, and all Microsoft, Yahoo and AOL spend their time thinking about is how to catch up to Google. Google kept it pure, and concentrated on what was right. Right, was having the best search engine technology. The savvy Internet user would certainly figure out which one was best, and set Google.com as their home page. This is exactly what has happened.
What does this have to do with the adult Internet space? Well, our top converting site in CJ Bucks is our all-access site www.adultvideoonline.com. Also, through Consumption Junction, nothing converts better than the Nasty Dollars all-access site and the other all-access sites we are sending traffic to. Does that mean that we were right in 1996 and 1997 with the super site? Did we spend the last six years thinking that we had to go niche only to find out we were just doing the super site wrong?
What about TGPs? In 1996 and 1997, you just wanted your site to be sticky and to attract return visitors. You didn't care if it was a free site. You knew that you would be building an asset that would make money for decades to come. Then we spent six years claiming that TGP traffic is the worst you can get. Flash forward to today and we all wish we owned the biggest TGP.
Am I on to something here? What else was right in '96 and '97?"
Again, Rick wrote this in 2004, the year Google went public. AOL is trying to decide what it should be now and Microsoft and Yahoo! are still trying to catch Google. TGP traffic is still reputed to be the worst, but everyone wants it. The all-access-pass has taken the place of the super site and the more things change, the more they remain the same ;-) Rick needs to give us some more predictions!
Flashback - First Adult B2B Blog
Click here to mail me for sensible processing options to boost your bottom line and opportunities for branding and marketing exposure.
Click Here for Additional Help Starting or Improving Your Online Business
Flashback! Rick Latona 2004
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
Maintaining Brand Trust in the Face of Negative Press
Over the last year, several of our merchants have found themselves caught up in litigation over compliance with state age verification laws. Recently, Segpay itself was pulled into the spotlight, facing scrutiny over Florida’s AV statute, HB 3. These stories inevitably get picked up by both industry and mainstream news outlets.
Why Blue Tick Verification on Instagram Matters for Sexual Wellness Pros
In an era when misinformation proliferates so rapidly, establishing trust with your audience is both more difficult and more crucial than ever. That blue check mark next to your name on Instagram — the Meta Verified badge — can mean the difference between achieving credibility and being ignored.
How to Switch Payment Processors Without Disrupting Business
For many merchants, the idea of switching payment processors can feel pretty overwhelming. That’s understandable. After all, downtime can stall sales, recurring subscriptions can suddenly fail, or compliance gaps can put accounts at risk. Operating in a high-risk sector like the adult industry can further amplify the stress of transition.
How Genuine Connection Drives Retail Success
When I hear struggling adult retailers lament about a lack of customers, I want to sympathize, but I also want to tell them: “People haven’t stopped shopping. They haven’t lost interest in pleasure, play or discovery. If your business is underperforming, the problem may not be your customer base. It may be how you’re connecting with them — or failing to.”
How Retailers Can Keep Travel-Season Sales Going Beyond the Holidays
It’s November, and that means quick escapes. The couple planning a cozy night in, the weekend guest grabbing a cheeky host gift, and the solo traveler prepping for an impulsive getaway all share one thing in common: They’re not just browsing; they’re assembling a discreet, travel-ready kit.
Stuffed With Gratitude: How to Cook Up a Spanksgiving Feast for Fans
Every November, we fill up social media with family photos, pumpkin spice overload and, of course, lists of all the things for which we are thankful. November is the month of gratitude. For adult creators, however, gratitude doesn’t have to be Hallmark-sweet. It can be a little messier, a little cheekier — and a whole lot hotter.
How to Keep Your Collabs Safe, Legal and Drama-Free
Whether you’re a veteran performer who has already racked up collaborations into the triple digits, or a newbie still just figuring things out, your commitment to working safely and sanely should never become compromised. After all, you want to star in the next viral clip — not the next cautionary tale.
WIA Profile: Sandra Bruce
It goes without saying that a retailer who takes a “hands-on” approach to guaranteeing quality and safety is more likely to earn customer trust and loyalty. In the pleasure industry, where shoppers seek products to enhance their intimate lives — and even fulfill their deepest desires — that personal touch is even more impactful.
The Male Rose Co-Founder Heather Gruber Discusses Journey in Building the Brand
Recognizing high demand and interest as profitable pleasure products spread across influencer platforms, in 2021, Jamael Williams and Heather Gruber decided to launch a company with a clear mission: to help men feel more comfortable using pleasure products and talking about them with their partners.
WIA Profile: Katie
Katie is the ultimate girl’s girl. As community manager at Chaturbate, she answers DMs, remembers names, and shows up for creators and fellow businesswomen when it counts. She’s quick to credit the people around her, and careful to make space for others in every room she enters.
