YNOT – For almost as many years as there has been adult content on the internet, straight webmasters, affiliates and affiliate programs have been attempting to figure out how to get a toehold in the gay side of the industry. There are good reasons for the quest: Conventional wisdom and anecdotal evidence suggest gay consumers spend more on adult entertainment than their straight counterparts. Consumption of adult entertainment is said to be more accepted and less shameful within the gay community, and popular gay websites claim retention rates that reportedly don’t exist among their straight brethren — in part, they say, because gay consumers are more brand-loyal and tech-savvy.
During 2010, the pendulum has begun swinging in the other direction. Although the “gay for pay” niche — in which gay men seduce allegedly unwitting straight men — always has been a hot commodity on the web, at least two large gay affiliate programs this year added straight or “straight-ish” membership websites to cash in on the hetero market. In January, Corbin Fisher launched a new site featuring bisexual men and women. At the time, the company said it believes the bisexual market is underserved.
GunzBlazing, the gay affiliate program acquired in February 2009 by video-on-demand giant AEBN, fired its first salvo at the straight market in May 2011 with the launch of four heterosexual websites developed in partnership with Smash Pictures. The sites must be performing at least passably, because in July the partners launched two more straight sites: WhaleTailBangers.com and NurseSeductions.com.
“WhaleTailBangers is the site for G-string and butt-crack lovers, while NurseSeductions is ideal for surfers looking for an injection from a naughty nurse,” GunzBlazing’s Brian Randall said. “Both sites have debuted with a solid collection of crisp, high-definition videos. Members also get access to GunzBlazing’s other straight sites: UnfaithfulHousewives.com, TabooDesire.com, Dirtyteenidols.com and SecretarySeductions.com.”
GunzBlazing plans to add to its straight pay site network for the remainder of 2011, with an average of one new launch per month.
“We are very proud of our newest pay sites,” Randall said. “They both have top-notch videos featuring the sexy gals and upbeat production style that makes Smash content an absolute standout. Members will get a lot of bang for their buck with these new sites.”
GunzBlazing pays $40 per trial or 60-percent revenue share on both gay and straight sites.
Maybe the rumor that gay sites perform better than straight sites is less a matter of sexual demographics than of greener grass on the other side of the fence.
