Industry as a whole, % of websites actually successful

[Greg B]

I've been more in touch with webmasters around the industry the past 6 months and it surprises me how few actually are making a living at this. Many have been around for years and still aren't making enough. Lots talk big game and when the covers get peeled you find out they're no where near as successful as they claim.

So the question goes out, what is the percentage of webmasters who actually are successful in this biz? Success defined as being able to live on what they make not with other 9 to 5's or nonsense.

[Toby]

That's tough to say for sure since, as you mentioned, you can't rely on what people say about what they are making. My best guess about 15% or less are earning a living off of their adult biz alone.

[KevinG]

I make almost as much as Hammer, but I have way more cigars than him, so nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah.

Seriously though, I am completely self employed working on the Internet and couldn't be happier.

[Hammer]

You obviously haven't seen my new walk-in humidor.

[KevinG]

You obviously haven't seen my new walk-in humidor.

[Hands on ears] La, la, la ,la ... I can't hear you.

[RawAlex]

Define successful.

Example: If I buy a domain for $10 a year, and pay another $10 a year to host it, and it generates $30 of revenue, it is "successful". But that won't pay my weekly coffee bill.

If I buy 10,000 domains in the same circumstance and do the same thing, then I would make 100k a year.

Success per website is a relative thing.

I would say that about 80% of the people posting at the zoo and about 30% of the people attending Internext aren't making more than beer money at best.

[Greg B]

That's tough to say for sure since, as you mentioned, you can't rely on what people say about what they are making. My best guess about 15% or less are earning a living off of their adult biz alone.

Toby, that was my original estimate. Very close. I've run into mom and pop couples and just webmasters who had great content but for some reason just couldn't get that magical 1,000.

If you're a single operation making your own content then 1,000 memberships should do you just fine as a startoff. 5,000 would be minimum optimal.

Can smaller sites make that many members or do they have to snuggle up to the big companies to cut it?

[gonzo]

Im with Alex on this one . . .

I make a comfortable living and thats a sucess to me.
Greg dont pay attention to those guys at the Zoo. Dont you know they have to ride Greyhound and cram 5 guys into a room to be able to afford any of these shows?

[KevinG]

Define successful.

That got me thinking and prompted a search where I found this on a jobs website.



» Six Figure Jobs ($100,000+)
» High Income Jobs ($80,000 - $100,000)
» Upper Middle Income Jobs ($50,000 - $80,000)
» Middle Income Jobs ($30,000 - $50,000)
» Entry Level Jobs ($10,000 - $30,000)



I think most people consider their finances confidential. And some may even have a psycho-ex like someone I know.

Therefore, all I will say is my online endeavors have me in one of the top two. I wouldn't classify either one of those as "rich", but it doesn't suck either.

Anyone else?

[Greg B]

Nice Kevin!

I've been busting my butt fine tuning this and that and doing art for other webmasters and looking at different strategies. I'll decide on my revamped affiliate program within a week or so.

I have that last hurdle to be back up there and it's only a matter of time.

[Toby]

Anyone else?The only thing I ever say on public forums in regards to my income, is that "I earn a comfortable living".