I need advice for doing my first paysite...

newb · 11-04-2003

I dont have *that* much money to invest, a few grand, so I was thinking about doing a small niche site and only charging $7.95 a month for it. I was going to do either gay or shemale.

That way, charging so little, I dont need a whole mountain of content AND the surfers might be more inclined to sign up and stay since the price is so low.

Do you think this is a good idea, I dont expece to get rich from it, but I think maybe 6 months or a year from now I should have a good amount of rebills to make it worth while.

also how much content do you think I'll need to keep the surfers from cancelling?

I think I want to do a gay site or a shemale site (not sure yet) so if I do one of those, can I get away with say 20 downloadable movies, 5 feeds, 2k pictures, etc? or do I need more?

thank you!

Last edited by newb at Nov 4 2003, 07:13 AM

Carrie · 11-04-2003

If you're going to stick with that price, the amount of content you've listed to launch with sounds okay. You'll need to plan in updates though - at least weekly, if not twice per week.

You've chosen good niches, but they're also tricky - if you don't have any experience selling them and don't know what the surfers are looking for with them, I wouldn't suggest doing them.

One thing that you could do if you don't feel you have enough content is to make a premium AVS site rather than a full paysite. That way the AVS' content backs yours up and helps retention. Eventually once you've built up more content, you can break away from the AVS and go full paysite (make sure you've got your members' emails so that you can take them with you).

gonzo · 11-04-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by newb@Nov 4 2003, 10:06 AM
I dont have *that* much money to invest, a few grand, so I was thinking about doing a small niche site and only charging $7.95 a month for it. I was going to do either gay or shemale.

That way, charging so little, I dont need a whole mountain of content AND the surfers might be more inclined to sign up and stay since the price is so low.

Do you think this is a good idea, I dont expece to get rich from it, but I think maybe 6 months or a year from now I should have a good amount of rebills to make it worth while.

also how much content do you think I'll need to keep the surfers from cancelling?

I think I want to do a gay site or a shemale site (not sure yet) so if I do one of those, can I get away with say 20 downloadable movies, 5 feeds, 2k pictures, etc? or do I need more?

thank you!

My advice for gay or shemale styled sites is to seek out the master of the niche and that would be Spaz. Im sure hes availible for some consulting.

newb · 11-04-2003

thanks guys. I currently make about $4k a month with gay sites so I kind of know what sells whem promoting other sites but I think if the monthly membership prices were lower the surfers would stick around, so I thought I'd just do my own gay or shemale site and if the surfers stick around I'd make big money with rebills.

can you imagine if I had even just 3k members recurring a month at $7.95, and after the processing fee that'd be about $6.50 * 3k members would be over $19k a month!!!

I'd be soooooooooooo fucking happy with that!

gonzo · 11-04-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by newb@Nov 4 2003, 10:27 AM
thanks guys. I currently make about $4k a month with gay sites so I kind of know what sells whem promoting other sites but I think if the monthly membership prices were lower the surfers would stick around, so I thought I'd just do my own gay or shemale site and if the surfers stick around I'd make big money with rebills.

can you imagine if I had even just 3k members recurring a month at $7.95, and after the processing fee that'd be about $6.50 * 3k members would be over $19k a month!!!

I'd be soooooooooooo fucking happy with that!

When you get it online please contact me as Id be interested in trading some exit traffic for one that Spaz and I partner on.

newb · 11-04-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by gonzo@Nov 4 2003, 07:30 AM
When you get it online please contact me as Id be interested in trading some exit traffic for one that Spaz and I partner on.

I definetely will. I think it will be done about a month from now.

I'm not sure if I should have more downloadable movies or put up more feeds and I'm working on that.

thanks

Nickatilynx · 11-04-2003

Quote:

can you imagine if I had even just 3k members recurring a month at $7.95, and after the processing fee that'd be about $6.50 * 3k members would be over $19k a month!!!

Why charge 7.95.....when you could charge , 9.95 ,or even 14.95...or even 19.95 ;-)))

sorry , not being a smartass...well maybe a bit ;-)))

What I'm trying to say is experiment.

One of the hardest things to do is get a surfer to produce a credit card.

When you manage to , maximise it! :-)))

How many people do you think will join at 7.95? How many will recur.
What difference will a price point of 9.95 make?
What about 14.95

See what I mean?

I know there will be minimal difference between 7.95 and 9.95 btw :-)

Last edited by Nickatilynx at Nov 4 2003, 08:28 AM

newb · 11-04-2003

Thanks Nickatilynx

I think its because of mental price perceptions. I just asked some of my friends who surf porn sites a little but dont work in the business.

$7.95 a months seems a lot cheaper than $9.95, and $19.95 seems wayyy expensive.

I push a big program that charges $24.95 a month and the site is L O A D E D with content, and it's good stuff, but my retention with them is only about 30%, so I dont make a lot of money.

I think if I charge a small fee then the members think they get a lof for that $7.95 a month and either want to stay, or forget they got a membership and it rebills.

I really dont know, it's just my idea, but I dont have the experience.

I think there are a lot of cheap surfers that dont want to pay $19/mo for a site, but would be willing to pay $7, and I want to grab all of those people.

I know for a lot of the big players that this small amount of money isn't even worth it to them to work on, but for me to make that kind of money, that would be like WOW..im rich!

Last edited by newb at Nov 4 2003, 08:31 AM

Trev · 11-04-2003

I would start two sites and cross bill to help bring in some money, that in turn will give you more money for content.

But I'm just greedy

Nickatilynx · 11-04-2003

Quote:

I would start two sites and cross bill to help bring in some money, that in turn will give you more money for content.

But I'm just greedy

mojobill · 11-04-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by newb@Nov 4 2003, 11:28 AM

I think there are a lot of cheap surfers that dont want to pay $19/mo for a site, but would be willing to pay $7, and I want to grab all of those people.

There is also an issue of 'percieved value' that you are up against when you charge so little for the membership.... a lot of surfer's will 'percieve' that if the membership is that low.. so might the quality of the site...

Like Nick said.. VERY little difference in joins between $7.95 and $14.95... I've played with it quite a bit....

Nickatilynx · 11-04-2003

Quote:

I just asked some of my friends who surf porn sites a little but dont work in the business.

Never ask a surfer his opinion!!!!!

Does a lion ask an antelope how it wants to be slaughtered? ;-)))))

Nickatilynx · 11-04-2003

Quote:

I push a big program that charges $24.95 a month and the site is L O A D E D with content, and it's good stuff, but my retention with them is only about 30%, so I dont make a lot of money.

This may cause a piss storm.....but.......

I still think a lot of retention is from members who simply just forget to cancel.

newb · 11-04-2003

thanks eveyrone, this is so nice to get help oin this.

let me ask you, do you think I'd be better off putting downloadable movies in it, or just putting up plugins?

I joined a lot of sites run by the big sponsors and a lot if not most of the content was plugin, so if it works for them, it might work for me, right?

Plugins are nice because they auto update, but im just afraid surfers will join my site and me like "I just saw these movies on the other site I just cancelled". I dont know how often that happens.

I want to do it right, I really dont want to spend all this money on this project and have it fail.

as for price i'll definetely play around with it and if I can get away with charging more then hell yeah I will

Nickatilynx · 11-04-2003

the real secret...the totally real secret??? Want it ?

What you should really spend you money on is........

TRAFFIC!!!!!

Send 100,000 people to a site selling shit and 10 might buy.

Send 10 people to site selling gold , maybe one will buy

Trev · 11-04-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by Nickatilynx@Nov 4 2003, 07:57 PM
TRAFFIC!!!!!

Are you selling?

Nickatilynx · 11-04-2003

Nope I'm all booked up would you believe.

...but of course for the right price , bounce pages can change ;-)))

Trev · 11-04-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by Nickatilynx@Nov 4 2003, 08:06 PM
Nope I'm all booked up would you believe.

...but of course for the right price , bounce pages can change ;-)))

I'd have to get something to send traffic to first... I'm working on it though

Nickatilynx · 11-04-2003

Trev,

Once you do.....

""You've got mail!""

;-))))

Trev · 11-04-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by Nickatilynx@Nov 4 2003, 08:14 PM
Trev,

Once you do.....

""You've got mail!""

;-))))

Hahaha I like it

I'm into designer number 2 and we've only been designing our fleet for just over a fortnight...

Note to self: don't hire anyone thats just left college.... :grrr:

Cassie · 11-04-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by Nickatilynx@Nov 4 2003, 12:24 PM

Quote:

can you imagine if I had even just 3k members recurring a month at $7.95, and after the processing fee that'd be about $6.50 * 3k members would be over $19k a month!!!

Why charge 7.95.....when you could charge , 9.95 ,or even 14.95...or even 19.95 ;-)))

sorry , not being a smartass...well maybe a bit ;-)))

What I'm trying to say is experiment.

One of the hardest things to do is get a surfer to produce a credit card.

When you manage to , maximise it! :-)))

How many people do you think will join at 7.95? How many will recur.
What difference will a price point of 9.95 make?
What about 14.95

See what I mean?

I know there will be minimal difference between 7.95 and 9.95 btw :-)

good advice! if there is a way that you can make mutiple front pages and promote different ones, with different pricing in different areas, then you just may be able to pull that pricing structure off.

also make sure to link trade, add sponsor codes in your members area and on exit pages so that a little more goes into your pocket for no real extra work.

youre on the right and you are asking the right questions. now all you have to do is get your site out there.

just make sure that you have a clear place people can cancel or put up a customer service phone number so that if the email form isnt working, they have the option to call and cancel.

eatapeach · 11-06-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by Nickatilynx@Nov 4 2003, 08:32 AM

Quote:

I would start two sites and cross bill to help bring in some money, that in turn will give you more money for content.

But I'm just greedy

ready for a group hug? :P

Benign · 11-10-2003

Hello to all at Oprano

I have decided to register at last after lurking around here for a while.
I'm glad I have as I have a question on paysites myself.

I have a company and I am thinking of opening my own paysites but need more information on the visa/mastercard registration. If my company wants to open 3 paysites to I have to pay the $750/$1000 per site or is it just my company that pays this once every year?

I ask because it could become very expensive opening many sites if it is on a site by site fee.

Thank you any help you may offer and I hope to fit in round here

J'springer · 11-10-2003

Just your company dude. Get a merchant account and you can have as many sites as you want. You pay the initial fee then yearly renewal. You can do the same thing with the aggragators, but they seem a bit dodgy at the moment. I wouldn't want to see you lose your client list and your price of admission.

Benign · 11-10-2003

Thank you very much

So if I use a third party for processing such as ibill or epoch it would be the same, only one registration fee per year for my company no matter how many paysites?

Thank you again in advance for any help on this

Dianna Vesta · 11-10-2003

newb hit me up. I have niche sites and can trade traffic with you, content and more.

Most are listed at www.fetishnetwork.com

Dianna
365555 ICQ
or info@nichecartel.com

Julene · 11-10-2003

You have enough content to start out with 9.95 a month. That is what I did 3 years ago and slowly added a few dollars to the price as you expand. The key is to add content weekly and have a personal email where customers can email you for suggestion etc.

You might want to try two small paysites to start. Example a shemale one and a gay one and make it where the customer gets access to both ! They love those kind of deals !

I am so glad that I did not listen to the advise I was given 3 years ago when I was told NOT to make your own small paysite. I now have 8 little sites with a few on the way. My customers love them and they retain cause access is to all the sites so there always something new from they to see.

It's great having your own little site to promote cause you know that you are not being shaved etc etc...

Good luck and have fun !

Carrie · 11-10-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by Benign@Nov 10 2003, 12:42 PM
Thank you very much

So if I use a third party for processing such as ibill or epoch it would be the same, only one registration fee per year for my company no matter how many paysites?

Thank you again in advance for any help on this

Yes. It's per company, not per site/domain.
And if you choose not to use Visa then there's no fee at all (other than the processing percentage).

Benign · 11-10-2003

Carrie thank you. This is indeed very good news.

Thank you also for the visa information. I though that mastercard had followed a similar line to visa and were charging $1000.

Thank you again

Julene · 11-10-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by Benign@Nov 10 2003, 10:32 AM
Carrie thank you. This is indeed very good news.

Thank you also for the visa information. I though that mastercard had followed a similar line to visa and were charging $1000.

Thank you again

Don't forget to check out ccbill.com for a processor especially if you plan on having an affiliate program.

11-04-2003	#2
Carrie Eternal Newbie Respin bullshit press Your Comments Are Welcomed Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Inside your monitor Posts: 2,850	If you're going to stick with that price, the amount of content you've listed to launch with sounds okay. You'll need to plan in updates though - at least weekly, if not twice per week. You've chosen good niches, but they're also tricky - if you don't have any experience selling them and don't know what the surfers are looking for with them, I wouldn't suggest doing them. One thing that you could do if you don't feel you have enough content is to make a premium AVS site rather than a full paysite. That way the AVS' content backs yours up and helps retention. Eventually once you've built up more content, you can break away from the AVS and go full paysite (make sure you've got your members' emails so that you can take them with you). __________________ Need a kick-ass design done quickly? I recommend Sex Creator - they absolutely ROCK.

11-04-2003	#9
Trev Cunty Want to see your own Advertising Here! Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 10,150	I would start two sites and cross bill to help bring in some money, that in turn will give you more money for content. But I'm just greedy __________________ Sucks to be you.

11-10-2003	#26
Dianna Vesta Members Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: South Florida Posts: 2,087	newb hit me up. I have niche sites and can trade traffic with you, content and more. Most are listed at www.fetishnetwork.com Dianna 365555 ICQ or info@nichecartel.com __________________ Live radio and audio downloads have a definite place in marketing and promoting products. Not only will it capture new customers but it is an excellent way to promote new products to existing customers continuing to build good customer relationships. Click here for more info

11-10-2003	#27
Julene Members Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 173	You have enough content to start out with 9.95 a month. That is what I did 3 years ago and slowly added a few dollars to the price as you expand. The key is to add content weekly and have a personal email where customers can email you for suggestion etc. You might want to try two small paysites to start. Example a shemale one and a gay one and make it where the customer gets access to both ! They love those kind of deals ! I am so glad that I did not listen to the advise I was given 3 years ago when I was told NOT to make your own small paysite. I now have 8 little sites with a few on the way. My customers love them and they retain cause access is to all the sites so there always something new from they to see. It's great having your own little site to promote cause you know that you are not being shaved etc etc... Good luck and have fun ! __________________ Fetish Money

11-04-2003	#1
newb Members Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 62	I dont have that much money to invest, a few grand, so I was thinking about doing a small niche site and only charging $7.95 a month for it. I was going to do either gay or shemale. That way, charging so little, I dont need a whole mountain of content AND the surfers might be more inclined to sign up and stay since the price is so low. Do you think this is a good idea, I dont expece to get rich from it, but I think maybe 6 months or a year from now I should have a good amount of rebills to make it worth while. also how much content do you think I'll need to keep the surfers from cancelling? I think I want to do a gay site or a shemale site (not sure yet) so if I do one of those, can I get away with say 20 downloadable movies, 5 feeds, 2k pictures, etc? or do I need more? thank you! Last edited by newb at Nov 4 2003, 07:13 AM

11-04-2003	#15
Nickatilynx Banned Want to see your own Advertising Here! Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Vancouver Canada Posts: 15,115	the real secret...the totally real secret??? Want it ? What you should really spend you money on is........ TRAFFIC!!!!! Send 100,000 people to a site selling shit and 10 might buy. Send 10 people to site selling gold , maybe one will buy

11-10-2003	#23
Benign Members I'm new! Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 3	Hello to all at Oprano I have decided to register at last after lurking around here for a while. I'm glad I have as I have a question on paysites myself. I have a company and I am thinking of opening my own paysites but need more information on the visa/mastercard registration. If my company wants to open 3 paysites to I have to pay the $750/$1000 per site or is it just my company that pays this once every year? I ask because it could become very expensive opening many sites if it is on a site by site fee. Thank you any help you may offer and I hope to fit in round here

11-10-2003	#24
J'springer Guests Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 339	Just your company dude. Get a merchant account and you can have as many sites as you want. You pay the initial fee then yearly renewal. You can do the same thing with the aggragators, but they seem a bit dodgy at the moment. I wouldn't want to see you lose your client list and your price of admission.

11-10-2003	#25
Benign Members I'm new! Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 3	Thank you very much So if I use a third party for processing such as ibill or epoch it would be the same, only one registration fee per year for my company no matter how many paysites? Thank you again in advance for any help on this