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CyberNet’s Newbie Boot Camp Stirs Up Interesting Debates
Posted On 10 Jun 2002
Newbies attending last weeks’ Cybernet Expo in Miami got a unique opportunity that was difficult to pass up: attend a two-hour session on how to succeed in the adult Internet market, led by an all-star cast of successful webmasters.Newbies attending last weeks’ Cybernet Expo in Miami got a unique opportunity that was difficult to pass up: attend a two-hour session on how to succeed in the adult Internet market, led by an all-star cast of successful webmasters.
Attendees were led through the session, appropriately titled “Newbie Boot Camp,” by moderators Vegas Lee (http://www.ynotmasters.com/wm_directory/profiles/VegasLee.html) and Raw Alex (http://www.ynotmasters.com/wm_directory/profiles/RawAlex.html). The duo were backed up by a panel of “drill instructors,” including DragonKing, Amber from FlyntDigital.com (http://www.flyntdigital.com), Snoops from WebOverdrive (http://www.WebOverdrive.com), and a number of other webmasters who’ve made a serious buck or two in the industry.
Vegas Lee opened the session by warning newbies that success in today’s market is far more difficult than in years past – gone are the days when adult sites could pull in 100,000 prospective clients a day, pretty much all of whom weren’t familiar with the concept of banner ads.
“Those days are gone,” he told a packed conference room. “Forget it.”
Both the panelists and moderators agreed that today’s successful adult webmaster needed to realize surfers are smarter and more tech-savvy than ever before, thanks largely in part to adult webmasters. Users have been subjected to years of tricks and traps by adult webmasters in the form of banner ads, auto-bookmarkers and pop-ups, and most users are now wise to the ways of many adult webmasters.
“We have educated them because we have abused them,” Lee said.
Aside from treating site visitors with respect, many of the panelists stressed that today’s successful adult webmaster has an extremely rigid work ethic. Many felt they couldn’t emphasize enough how important it was to work hard, and all the time – particularly with the days of easy money being long gone. Long hours, low returns and constant adjustments to your site’s game plan are now norms of the business, the panelists agreed.
The subjects of pay sites and TGPs were predominant throughout most of the session, and both topics brought out an interesting blend of opinion from the moderators and panelists. When TGPs were discussed, for example, two sides emerged: pro-TGP and anti-TGP. There were some on the panel (and likely in the audience as well) who openly supported the concept of TGPs, saying they were happy to operate them and considered them a part of their business. Those against TGPs, however, denounced them, calling them “short-term money” projects that couldn’t possibly lead to a solid business. It was interesting to see the split in philosophy, because whether they liked or disliked TGPs, the panelists were still all extremely successful.
When it came to the subject of pay sites, most everyone agreed it was not a viable option for newbies. Operating pay sites, they said, is becoming increasingly more difficult and expensive to do, with no real guarantee of eventual success.
Many panelists also emphasized the importance of resource sites, and the need to keep learning. “It’s always a learning process,” FlyntDigital’s Amber said. “Go learn everything there is to learn. There’s no right way to make money in this business.” She also stressed the importance of checking one’s ego at the door, and trying new things in order to generate more revenue.
“As long as it’s legal, try it,” she said.
While the session revealed friendly differences in opinion between some of the panelists, those who got to attend were treated to the unique perspectives of some of the industry’s best. Unfortunately, those who didn’t attend missed a one-of-a-kind opportunity.
