opinion

Professionally-Produced Vs. User-Generated Marketing

The main issue with marketing and promotional videos created by a professional production company is the perception of quality.

The reason why most companies go for professionally-produced content is because it traditionally is of higher quality. More money is spent, after all — productions undergo meticulous planning, story-boarding, pre-production meetings, location scouting, casting, art direction, and so on and so on. It’s high-concept, well-thought-out, and created by the most technologically advances post-production teams to create a slick presentation of the product it is intended to sell.

The main issue with user-endorsement videos created by a tube site user, on the other hand, is the perception of reality.

That’s the good news.

The bad news is that the modern American consumer has become smarter than that. We’ve grown used to spam, scams, liars and cheats. We second-guess everything that is marketed to us because most of the time, there’s usually a recall or a recanting months later — or, in many cases, the glossy ad shows the best of the product (and never the worst, or the so-so, which is what makes up the bulk of the product). How often do you see a trailer to a Hollywood movie these days that convince you to go and see the film, only to say that the trailer was the best part of the movie? So much of what is produced by those high-end production companies is amusing, but does it really convince us to purchase the product? How often are people asking for their money back once they have been convinced to purchase something based on a glossy promo video that doesn’t reveal the actual product?

The main issue with user-endorsement videos created by a tube site user, on the other hand, is the perception of reality.

The reason why most consumers love user-generated content is that it is raw, real, and timely. It’s cheap to make, doesn’t require a huge crew, and can be done on the fly. It allows for the viewer to see what the user’s opinions and can base their own opinion based on whether or not that information is viable. It creates a visual representation of consumer opinion, which these days holds more water than a glossy Hollywood production.

So how can we combine the two so we can create a high-production message that is believable to other consumers?

There are a few ways to at least reach the audience. You could, for instance, just start a YouTube campaign promoting your product using everymen and everywomen as spokespeople for the product. You could also just make a series of online videos that hopefully become viral based on their cleverness. Or you can try to see if any clever viral video makers would be interested in selling their new-found fame to promote your product. Dr Pepper did that with the “Chocolate Rain” kid — they took someone who had viral online fame, and offered him a deal to hock their product.

There’s no real way to predict whether a user-generated video will go viral. There’s also no way to replace a video that’s already out there with one that has, say for instance, your ad on it. But there’s a way to mix commercial advertising with user-generated video.

But it’s not just about traffic. Traffic means that people will watch the video — but then what? It’s important that the message is something that people will share with others, and that those people will decide to try your product. Additional social media methods of getting those people to try the product is what’s next — either through trial offers, opt-in lists, contests, discount codes, and other methods. A good marketing campaign will combine all of these things so that the traffic generated can be converted.

So take a look at your marketing campaign. Are you being too glossy? Are you being too much on a pedestal, refusing to let people look behind the curtain? Perhaps letting some people backstage so that they could then share the experience with others, making them feel as if they’re part of the process of your brand becoming better, and then allow them an opportunity to experience your product, might be the difference that you’ve been looking for.

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

profile

WIA Profile: Reba Rocket

As chief operating officer and chief marketing officer of Takedown Piracy, long at the forefront of intellectual property protection in adult entertainment, Rocket is dedicated to safeguarding the livelihoods of content creators and producers while fostering a more ethical and sustainable industry.

Women In Adult ·
opinion

Protecting Content Ownership Rights When Using AI

In today’s digital age, content producers have more tools at their disposal than ever before. Among these tools, artificial intelligence (AI) content generation has emerged as a game changer, enabling creators to produce high-quality content quickly and efficiently.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

How Payment Orchestration Can Help Your Business

An emerging payment solution is making waves in the merchant world: the payment orchestration platform (POP). It’s quickly gaining traction as a powerful tool for managing online payments — but questions abound.

Cathy Beardsley ·
opinion

Fine-Tuning Refund and Cancellation Policies

For adult websites, managing refunds and cancellations isn’t just about customer service. It’s a crucial factor in maintaining compliance with the regulations of payment processors and payment networks such as Visa and Mastercard.

Jonathan Corona ·
profile

WIA Profile: Laurel Bencomo

Born in Cambridge, England but raised in Spain, Laurel Bencomo initially chose to study business at the University of Barcelona simply because it felt familiar — both of her parents are entrepreneurs. She went on to earn a master’s degree in sales and marketing management at the EADA Business School, while working in events for a group of restaurants in Barcelona.

Women In Adult ·
profile

Gregory Dorcel on Building Upon His Brand's Signature Legacy

“Whether reflected in the storyline or the cast or even the locations, the entertainment we deliver is based on fantasy,” he elaborates. “Our business is not, and never has been, reality. People who are buying our content aren’t expecting reality, or direct contact with stars like you can have with OnlyFans,” he says.

Jeff Dana ·
opinion

How to Turn Card Brand Compliance Into Effective Marketing

In the adult sector, compliance is often treated as a gauntlet of mandatory checkboxes. While it’s true that those boxes need to be ticked and regulations must be followed, sites that view compliance strictly as a chore risk missing out on a bigger opportunity.

Jonathan Corona ·
opinion

A Look at the Latest AI Tools for Online Safety

One of the defining challenges for adult businesses is helping to combat the proliferation of illegal or nonconsensual content, as well as preventing minors from accessing inappropriate or harmful material — all the more so because companies or sites unable or unwilling to do so may expose themselves to significant penalties and put their users at risk.

Gavin Worrall ·
opinion

Know When to Drop Domains You Don't Need

Do you own too many domains? If so, you’re not alone. Like other things we accumulate, every registered domain means something to us. Sometimes a domain represents a dream project we have always wanted to do but have never quite gotten around to.

Juicy Jay ·
opinion

Understanding 'Indemnification' in Business Contracts

Clients frequently tell me that they didn’t understand — or sometimes, even read — certain portions of a contract because those sections appeared to be just “standard legalese.” They are referring, of course, to the specialized language used in legal documents, including contracts.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
Show More