In today’s tenuous internet-world, how does an independent sex worker work to grow and maintain their audience — and what can others in the industry learn from these strategies? For individual sex workers, promoting oneself online offers some unique challenges. 

YNOT spoke to two women who are trying some different approaches with their different styles of content.

Creative Use of Unexpected Platforms

Kearstin, of Kearstin.com (which redirects to Facebook) and a former cosplay strip site model, is using a lot of social media to promote her business, but it may not be the way you think or the ones you are thinking of.

While Kearstin.com may lead to her official Facebook page, where she still posts most of her notices for updates to her content, Kearstin told YNOT, “I avoid Facebook almost entirely.” Instagram also remains a censored app, but she still uses it to push traffic.

Because mainstream social media is not the friendliest place for adult content creators, Kearstin has to get more creative. As such, her real work to promote herself comes in the form of sites and apps that allow for casual engagement, whether they allow adult content or not.

Kearstin streams video games on streaming services such as Twitch and Plexstorm, where she mentions her content in between gaming sessions. She participates in conversations on geek voice and text chat Discord servers that allow 18 and over content. When promoting herself, Kearstin uses an advertising image, as opposed to sampling content, to promote herself as an adult personality as well as an adult content creator.

So, how is Kearstin monetizing her content?

Some of her content is available on tried-and-true clip sites. As a former model for a strip site, she supplies custom content upon request but as she is an individual creator with a full-time day job she makes sure to communicate with her audience about time frames of purchases. Her most regular offering comes in her tiered, perk filled XXX Snapchat. With the use of a simple and intuitive app, she is able to supply her customers with material ranging from playful, implied content to full on pornography through a subscription model.

Donations Direct — Patreon and Patreon-like Spaces

On the other side of the social media spectrum you will find Anya Braddock. Braddock is a cosplay model specializing in tease and denial content. Her main form of monetizing her content is her Patreon page.

Anya Braddock, image by Fedosnx

Since Braddock is not supplying the mainstream social media definition of pornography, she has some different approaches to her business model. She uses her Instagram nearly daily to promote her content. Whether it’s a new pic, a personalized video or a poll as to what content she should post next, Braddock is staying interactive with her audience. At nearly 100,000 subscribers, she has navigated Instagram’s algorithm to get her sample content and advertisements for her adult Patreon in front of a lot of eyes.

YNOT asked Braddock why, with Patreon’s separation of its 18+ pages, did she decide to use that site for her business. She told us, “It makes what I do quantifiable.”

Patreon supplies and organizes statistics so that even an individual can see the responses created by their product in an easy to understand and track way. With this model, Braddockis able to supply digital and physical photosets, as well as custom content, by request.

With new technology and applications appearing all of the time, along with new terms of service agreements and legislation, the landscape for small, independent businesses is ever-changing — but some things remain imperative to these entities.

The best way to advertise is to engage with one’s audience, hopefully making it as natural as possible. It is important to provide new, varied but familiar product at regular intervals to keep one’s brand at the forefront of their audience’s minds. Most importantly, keeping earnings continual is paramount. With emerging technology, this all becomes easier and easier for small business and individuals — pending the rules.

Anya Braddock, image by Koji Photography