educational

Getting Your Name Out There

I've been thinking about a recent thread that I saw on the XBIZ boards a few days ago, where digitaldivas (DD) asked for some advice on website promotion and beyond. Things have changed significantly over the years in this arena and since every webmaster is interested in traffic building, I thought that this would be a great opportunity to spread the discussion further and to solicit more opinions on good traffic sources and promoting your website.

DD's original post touched on a few different areas: "I am finally starting to promote my websites and was just fishing for some feedback. The old days are truly gone, it seems, with mass TGP submissions, 1-on-1 webmaster relationships from the point of 'being in it together' etc. In your expert opinions, how good are toplists, as a tool, i.e. Top 100 sites, etc. Are they still even viable in our industry as far as converting traffic? Password sites are making a killing nowadays; it seems too, charging 'gold' memberships for our member's hacked passwords. It's just not right, peepz. Also, what about Certified Fetish and Picka Picka? It seems like they don't convert near as much as they used too. Are our customers just spoiled from all of the free shit on the Internet these days? I talk to everyone about this and they are like, 'yeah, there is so much good free porn out there, why would I want to pay for it.' I would suppose that keeping your content exclusive and out of the hands of the crackers is key, because then your content retains its value. If you have any feedback, words of wisdom, etc. Please pitch in."

Originally, I offered some brief advice, saying that it really is harder to sell the same old stuff. I don't find FHG's as profitable as they used to be, but free sites are converting much better. I have been making lots more money with PayAsYouClick these days and giving away a lot less content. With PayAsYouClick you don't have to worry about password robbers at least, which is a great added benefit.

Tropicool offered some advice, as well, saying that while he felt DD would do OK with niche-specific toplists, adult blogs seem to be 90 percent hype and not a good source for generating significant traffic, even when you are listed prominently. Running ads via Google Adsense can provide decent traffic levels though, he added.

After these comments, DD returned: "It is interesting you mentioned not making as much as the old days with FHG's. I would agree. What are your thoughts on why our consumers have moved away from that? Maybe 'pop up hell' TGP's have hurt the industry in that regard? People are just sick of clicking windows that go nowhere. Of course you can't really regulate misleading links or TGP's that just suck. I find my conversion ratios are much broader than they used to be. I heard someone say that 50-75 new adult sites go online worldwide everyday. Saturated market?"

Thinking about all of this, I'm not too certain that there's many 'pop up hell' TGP's left, so there's likely more effect on FHG profitability coming from an overload of free porn and the lack of a compelling reason to make a purchase, which results from poor design and insufficient marketing and sales savvy. Increasing competition is certainly taking its toll, but it's perhaps the offer that needs re-adjusting. Still, traffic is increasingly hard to come by, making webmasters work that much harder – and smarter – to get their share.

While I would normally respond to threads such as this on the boards, I think that lots of webmasters would be interested in the answers – or be able to help with their favorite tips and tricks for traffic building and website promotion in 2006. All you need to do to add your comments, suggestions and favorite promotional methods is to click the link below:

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: Lexi Morin

Lexi Morin’s journey into the adult industry began with a Craigslist ad and a leap of faith. In 2011, fresh-faced and ambitious, she was scrolling through job ads on Craigslist when she stumbled upon a listing for an assistant makeup artist.

Women In Adult ·
profile

Still Rocking: The Hun Celebrates 30 Years in the Game

In the ever-changing landscape of adult entertainment, The Hun’s Yellow Pages stands out for its endurance. As one of the internet’s original fixtures, literally nearly as old as the web itself, The Hun has functioned as a living archive for online adult content, quietly maintaining its relevance with an interface that feels more nostalgic than flashy.

Jackie Backman ·
opinion

Digital Desires: AI's Emerging Role in Adult Entertainment

The adult industry has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to embracing new technology. From the early days of dial-up internet and grainy video clips to today’s polished social media platforms and streaming services, our industry has never been afraid to innovate. But now, artificial intelligence (AI) is shaking things up in ways that are exciting but also daunting.

Steve Lightspeed ·
opinion

More Than Money: Why Donating Time Matters for Nonprofits

The adult industry faces constant legal battles, societal stigma and workplace challenges. Fortunately, a number of nonprofit organizations work tirelessly to protect the rights and well-being of adult performers, producers and industry workers. When folks in the industry think about supporting these groups, donating money is naturally the first solution that comes to mind.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

Consent Guardrails: How to Protect Your Content Platform

The adult industry takes a strong and definite stance against the creation or publication of nonconsensual materials. Adult industry creators, producers, processors, banks and hosts all share a vested interest in ensuring that the recording and publication of sexually explicit content is supported by informed consent.

Lawrence G. Walters ·
opinion

Payment Systems: Facilitator vs. Gateway Explained

Understanding and selecting the right payment platform can be confusing for anyone. Recently, Segpay launched its payment gateway. Since then, we’ve received numerous questions about the difference between a payment facilitator and a payment gateway. Most merchants want to know which type of platform best meets their business needs.

Cathy Beardsley ·
opinion

Reinventing Intimacy: A Look at AI's Implications for Adult Platforms

The adult industry has long revolved around delivering pleasure and entertainment, but now it’s moving into new territory: intimacy, connection and emotional fulfillment. And AI companions are at the forefront of that shift.

Daniel Keating ·
profile

WIA: Sara Edwards on Evolving Clip Culture and Creator Empowerment

Though she works behind the scenes, Sara Edwards has had a front-row seat to the evolution of adult content creation. Having been immersed in the sector since 1995, she has a unique perspective on the industry.

Jackie Backman ·
profile

Segpay Marks 20 Years of High-Risk Triumphs

Payment processors are behind-the-scenes players in the world of ecommerce, yet their role is critical. Ensuring secure, seamless transactions while navigating a rapidly changing regulatory landscape requires both technological expertise and business acumen.

Jackie Backman ·
opinion

The SCREEN Test: How to Prepare for Federal Age Verification

For those who are counting, there are now 20 enacted state laws in the United States requiring age verification for viewing online adult content, plus numerous proposed laws in the works. This ongoing barrage has been exhausting for many in the adult industry — and it may be about to escalate in the form of a potential new AV law, this time at the federal level.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
Show More