Since the earliest days of the adult internet, there has been a healthy market for domain speculators, website “flippers” and others who seek to monetize adult sites not by operating them continuously, but by establishing a presence then selling their properties for a tidy profit.
Beyond marketing your sites and platforms directly, what does one do when they own a site of value, but haven’t the first clue about where to find prospective purchasers? For ten years now, some of them have turned to Adult Site Broker (“ASB”), a business with a name that leaves little doubt of its core purpose and function.
YNOT recently sat down with Adult Site Broker founder and CEO Bruce Friedman to talk about ASB, his background and history in the adult industry and the Adult Site Broker Talk podcast, which is steadily turning out insightful interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent entrepreneurs, performers and service providers.
YNOT: When did you get your start in the adult industry?
Bruce: Seems like 100 years ago, lol. Actually, it was about 16 years ago.
YNOT: Did you have any involvement in the industry before starting Adult Site Broker? If so, what did that entail?
Bruce: Yes, I started out with a couple of not-so-successful sites. I had no experience and it didn’t go well. I wish I had people like myself to talk to.
After a couple of years, I started my marketing company, Adult B2B Marketing. That has been very successful and it continues to this day. It also launched Adult Business Consulting, which does general consulting, primarily for people just getting started in the business.
When one of my clients wanted to sell their sites, they asked if I could help. I got them sold in 3 weeks! I was like, “Wow, this is easy.” It really wasn’t. Once I formalized the business, I never sold anything that fast again. Beginner’s luck I guess.
But this business has done very, very well and we have been able to get people’s sites and companies sold in a reasonable amount of time.
YNOT: In a nutshell, what does ASB do?
Bruce: We broker websites and companies in the adult space. Pretty simple. Just like a real estate broker sells homes, we sell websites.
YNOT: What made you decide to launch a podcast?
Bruce: Doesn’t everyone have a podcast now? Seriously though, it was a great opportunity to help educate people about how to buy and sell sites and introduce them to some of the top people in the industry. We’ve even had a couple of characters on by the name of Jay and Connor from YNOT at different times.
YNOT: What are some of the most interesting and useful things you’ve learned from your podcast guests, or discussed with your guests, thus far?
Bruce: It has really run the gamut. Talking to people like Lance Hart and Porno Dan about being a performer and discussing their “normal lives”. Talking to Leya about the great work being done at Pineapple Support. Discussing hosting with Brad from Mojohost. Talking about this business with a veteran like Joey Gabra. And of course those 2 guys who own your company. They were pretty good too, lol.
YNOT: Tell us a bit about how Adult Site Broker Cash works. Let’s say I know someone who is looking to sell an adult site; do I just refer that person to you via an affiliate link of some kind, then get paid a commission if the sale goes through? Is there more to the referral process than that?
Bruce: We are installing software now where you will be able to use a link, yes. At the moment, it’s referral by email. The change will probably happen by the time this goes to print.
YNOT: The Adult Site Broker Cash website says the program is looking for an affiliate manager; can you tell us a little about what that position would involve and what sort of qualifications and experience you’re looking for in candidates for that position?
Bruce: Ideally someone who knows a lot of people in the industry. Think we can steal Jay? A guy like Jay would be ideal, but I think he’s already spoken for.
YNOT: If you could choose a person outside the adult industry to interview for your podcast, regardless of what you might talk about or how it would or wouldn’t fit in with the show’s theme, who would you choose?
Bruce: Probably President Obama. I admire the guy so much it would be an incredible honor. And I saw him on Between Two Ferns. Hilarious!
YNOT: Anything else you’d like to add?
Bruce: We’re working on a bunch of upcoming guests – too many to mention. This week we have Danny Z, who knows so much about the gay space and Patrick from FeetFinder is coming up, as well.
