Frankly I'm surprised at the varying degrees of opinion here. However that being said, I'm also impressed with these replies. Some are obvious common sense while others are more speculative.

A lot of you mention mainstream, but I'm not sure it's even remotely close to working adult traffic. It may or may not be. If I were to decide to venture fully into mainstream web, I would be sure to do a hell of a lot of homework on the matter before actually making the leap. What a lot don't realize is that (as Anthony said) mainstream web is a ton more cut-throat than adult. Strange how the "moral majority" can be that way compared to us nasty porn people.

Alot of "Rose Tinted Glasees" in this thread.

I imagine it's easy to think there's more money to be made in this business when one really hasn't made that much in the first place.

A number was thrown around on Oprano, 30k a month. How one of the owners Gonzo has never made that much in the biz, monthly. An Old School Webmater said 30k won't even make player status.

Read GFY, most of the guys there are in it for beer money. This is your industry. If you think you can become the 20 percent that makes 80 percent of the money, why haven't you already?

Fool each other you want, pat each other's back for saying uplifting things about this biz. I'll be the pragmatic guy everyone hates because no one wants to hear the truth.

Ant you take a hard-nosed realistic approach to this which I do appreciate but remember there are many people that make a very good living from this industry who don't meet up with your 30K example.

Just because someone isn't a "playa" doesn't always mean they don't thrive from this business.

Harsh dude!!!

30k a month!...most of the people on gfy would kill for 3k a mth.

Compared to their other options , that IS good money.

I would wager only 2 people in this thread have incomes in excess of $250k pa. ( cough) ;-))

Back in the day on YNOT and Netpond (when we owned it) there would have been 10 people

Most people left on boards are salaried staff or trying to discover the secrets of the web.

The ones that have actually made a mint from this business are to busy doing other stuff to post.

Talking about which , I'm playing golf in a couple of hours...

Bye :)

Chris,

I guess that's the line that seperates. "I am the best in anything I do, or I don't do it." I've been saying that and living it since I was 18 and had to fend for myself.

Also, the definition can be different from person to person.

I wish everyone good luck in the next five years, to quote my old partner, if you have been successful before, you will again.

Being a winner and Winning is habit, like anything else.

I know one guy in this thread who did 10 times that last year. :):):)

Exactly.and a very good point.

However...and heres a thing.....

Wanna know why it is hard to get "playas" to post?

Well , its because a "playa" will post some advice , and 15 people making 2k a mth will tell him he's wrong and he will jump into his Escalade and fuck off to the golf course. ;-)))

Take this...as an example.

A given....

I'm a well known infamous mailer , with a ROKSO listing.

If I post the only traffic an affiliate program really want is mail , SE and adware.

20 no accounts will rip into me and say I'm a bastard. ( I am) And am breaking the law. (I'm not. a) I'm Canadian. b) I mail only opt in these days)

They will then tell me that TGPS are God and so and so makes a fortune.
I know its not true. KNOW..not think...having arguments with some people is pointless...errr shit..fuck this argument is pointless LOL

Time to go and play golf...

;-)))

At times, the nod your head and smile technique does work.

Some really good trivia here.

Nickatilynx asked JoeE, Fantasyman, and RB among others to give a higher payout for CONDOM/Netpond members, since we were in the neighborhood of 2 to 3k strong membership. We had 30 to 35 dollar payouts for a little bit, and then the payouts were offered to everyone.

Back then, you had to be a member to get it. Talk about marketing your site.

Sorry to be such an arrogant cunty wanker over this (its my nature though) .......

but it is something I believe in strongly.....

By being in the adult business you are making a choice that will affect your future career options and , if you are a citizen of some nations , you are in fact risking your liberty.

Therefore it is only sensible to maximise your income in return to offset this.

I know that people on boards listen to and learn from people that post and that some naive people believe some of them to know what they are doing by there "board perception".

IE there are many on boards that give sage advice based on absolutely no actual proven track record.

This pisses me off. Big time!

It was why I took Netpond along the path I did. ( With , frankly Meats passion too)

It was basically if you wanna follow someones avice , check that he knows what he is doing.

There are many many people that people think do good from this business who in fact live in a trailer and cannot lay there hands on $500.Yet 20 or 30 impressionable newbs will follow there advice.

It is why I make it clear that I'm riiich bitch from this business.LOL I know what I'm doing. I may not be very nice or very pleasant...but I do know this game and can get references LOL

But most will follow the advice of the nice board personnae ..and stay poor...

If you wanna learn how to play golf who would you rather have teaching you ? Tiger Woods , or Evil Chris???

Seems in the adult business if Evil Chris was nice and Tiger was a bit rude and arrogant everyone one would chose Evil Chris , and no one would ever break 90!!!

;-)))

oooooh, I do believe them are fighting words!

the gauntlet has been thrown, you went there ;)


ahahah

Actually ever bit of it is true apart from that last portion.
Since I DID break 90 already once this year. :)

However, I'd still hope one would take a lesson from Tiger before they would me. I mean seriously. LOL

Nickatilynx for XNatons "Official Thread Killer" award!!!

:)

Well Chris since I am pretty much out I will just keep attending shows to see old friends like you : )

I think over the next 5 years we will see more mergers and aquisitions as the bigger companies attempt to consolidate and gain market share, while the smaller companies bail out. The AFF/Streamray merger is probably just the first of many to come, IMO.


B

I'm not in the "adult business" per say. I'm a photographer who happens to shoot porn for people who need a good, cheap photographer. lol!

But in 5 years, if it was entierly up to me, I'd have a studio and shoot full time. That's what I'd love to do. Also, my best friend, Angelique, is looking into starting her own "adult type" business and it is a super interesting idea and I'd like to get involved.

I don't see any of these things happening though. I live in a remote area (Saguenay, for all those Quebecers who know where it is) so forget about the studio, let alone my friend's business cause it won't be here either. Plus, my boyfriend isn't too fond of me involved with anything that has to do with the adult business (he almost freaked out when I told him they wanted me on Webdreams) so I guess I'll keep my day job... And that's where I'll be in 5 years...

Sophie.

you know it's interesting
everyone is talking about everyone fucking each other and how it's nasty out there.
did you ever think that it's the assholes who make money to quick and think they own the industry that are the assholes.
i mean from what it sounds like to me in this posting for the most part we are all very nice people and are tired of other people's attitude which makes us want to leave the business.
i say stay away from those asses and don't do business with them.
eventually they will die of starvation and go away.
there are plenty of owesome people in this business we can do business with and one of them started this thread.
just stay focused and stay away from the people who want to fuck, duck and suck you dry.
TheLegacy can say it correctly but I believe that what I just said was something to the effect he said previously to me.
As for me, I hope to make more contacts and continue in this business. Will it be part time or full time, only destiny knows.
I have a lot of crap going on right now in my life and to be honest, not sure where I will be 12 month from now so I can't answer this with full answer but one thing is for sure I will be submitting sites to TGPs.

Wow, great thread Chris!

Good enough that someone told me to get over here and read it, and I finally created an account. Please, no flaming me yet please I’m new here…hehe

You are right, there has been a lot of people come in go over the years. I think most of all in this industry, what may have worked for a person yesterday will not always work tomorrow. I think sometimes that's hard to grasp for people, especially when a person or company comes into the industry and the first thing they try is successful. Then later when that stops working, they continue to do the same things until they close their doors.

More than anything I think to be around in 5 years, you have to be willing to evolve to your environment, and not become a dinosaur :)

I'm sure the next five years will bring about new laws, new ways of getting traffic, new ways of keeping members happy, new ways of billing members, and new ways of delivering content. I think you have to be willing to take a chance here and there. And as I personally know from the past some of ideas will work and some will become mistakes and cost tons of money, but as long as you recognize your failures and build upon them you can make it in this industry.

as long as there are free dinners/buffets at adult conventions... I'm staying in this industry

I'm with you on this Bruce. If you wish to remain successful in this business, you do indeed have to roll with the punches.

Nice to see you here Bruce.
Chris you owe me a t-shirt for bringing such a great guy to this board.
LOL
All kidding aside great to have you around Bruce.

Well, you tell me to get my arse over here...lol

hope you enjoy it here
it's really a great board.
one of the few that you can talk business and have fun without having to worry about the GFY menatality and one of the few places you can see FB in a bunny suit :D