Are AVS sites still a viable way to make money on the adult Internet? This is a question that gets asked a lot, both of me personally, and also on the boards. The quick answer is yes; however, the answer needs to be explained.Are AVS sites still a viable way to make money on the adult Internet? This is a question that gets asked a lot, both of me personally, and also on the boards. The quick answer is yes; however, the answer needs to be explained.
I started creating AVS sites about six years ago, and at that time the emphasis was on quantity of sites, and not quality of sites. Back then, a Webmaster could make some pretty decent money by throwing up as many sites as an AVS would allow; shared or free content images worked, and all was good. Over the years, the market became inundated with more and more AVS companies, and soon the reputation of the market was, to say the least, tainted. Over the past six years the AVS business model has seen countless changes – big players, as well as small ones, have come and gone, and the reputation of the AVS business model continued to slide.
Now enter Visa and its rule changes. Pandemonium struck, and Webmasters and AVS companies alike scrambled to become compliant with a rule that had not even been defined. It was chaos, with many casualties along the way, but now it seems clear that the AVS will survive, just under a much more quality-orientated business model. More AVS companies are controlling content and design, restricting outside advertisement, and the “Super” site (Platinum on some, Quantum or Premium on others) has emerged as the new wave of the AVS business model.
Those Webmasters who have accepted and acclimated to these changes have survived, and it is my thinking that these Webmasters will stand to make great money because of their adaptability. Still, quality and the ability to drive the sites being built will play a huge roll in any success a Webmaster might have with the new AVS business model.
The first approach that was taken by most traditional AVS Webmasters, myself included, was to build AVS sites that used sponsor banners and text links to generate revenues. The goal with this approach was to sell the AVS site on its content and its own merits, while any AVS membership sale was more of a bonus than an actual goal. The actual goal was to use AVS listings to drive traffic to your site’s protected area, and then look for the sponsor sale. That way of thinking has had to change over the past year or so, due mostly to the AVS companies demanding that their Webmasters emphasize the value of the AVS program, so the importance of the AVS sale itself has increased in importance. Many Webmaster left the AVS arena because of this new focus, and that exodus has freed up the market considerably for the serious Webmaster who agrees to play by the rules and deal with quality as well as quantity.
I have found that if you wish to profit from the AVS market then you need to build a concise network that includes a “Super” site that you treat very closely to a pay site, smaller sites to drive traffic to your Super site, and free sites and galleries that will further enhance your traffic flow. AVS networks must promote quality, licensed content over sponsor-provided free content, and Webmasters need to plan out their network prior to publishing it online.
Sites must be built according to a tight, targeted niche, as opposed to some general theme such as “twinks” or “big boobs”, which was the common approach in the past. The tighter and more unique the niche or genre that the site is dealing with, the more successful it will be. The network will need to be constantly maintained and updated to continue providing ample traffic to the Super site, and the Super site needs to be maintained like a pay site with regular updates and facelifts to keep the surfer coming back over and over. In doing this you can change out your up-sells and continue to make money off of your existing surfers while gaining new ones on a regular basis.
In review, in my opinion and based on the results that I have seen, AVS companies will remain a viable part of this ever-changing and ever-evolving industry. To be successful with AVS sites, the emphasis will now be on quality over quantity, and AVS Webmasters will have to provide consistent and productive traffic. Sponsor-provided free content will become more and more difficult to get approved by the AVS companies, and in general your AVS endeavors will need to be thoroughly thought out, planned and carried out.
Sound like work? Sure it is, but if you are taking your job as an adult Webmaster seriously then it should be work, as this is not a hobby to merely dabble in during your free time. To be successful in this day and age requires dedication, hard work and a commitment to excellence, and definitely quality over quantity. Slinging the crap against the wall to see how much sticks simply is not going to work any longer. This is my opinion. I am not an industry insider giving out the inside secrets to success, but rather a working Webmaster in this industry telling you the way I see it based on the results that I have achieved.
Learn more about building and marketing AVS Sites at Porn Site Pros. Tony can be contacted at tony@pornsitepros.com, via ICQ# 166558226, or you can call him at 802-479-0053.
