Solo Sites

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Originally Posted by Xstr8guy

HEY! Quit talking about me like that. I have feelings too. :haha:
;)

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I didn't see old in the quote so it may be so,eone else ;)

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Originally Posted by markwolff

Solo sites can be very profitable. First the model has to very good, top of the class, if you want to make any type of decent money, why bother if he is not,if you are going to take the time and money to start a site, shoot quality content and market the site, you want to have someone that will appeal to the largest audience possible. If you are just in it for a hobby, then sure you can build a site around anyone. Second i would try and get some magazine and internet exposure of the model quick. To build up a following, which takes me back to my first rule. He has to be very good quality for any magazine to put him on the cover. This is the way i started my first site 8 years ago. I did every magazine cover i could for 2 years, then launched my site. Now with all new models i shoot, i only look for guys that i can market and get exposure in magazines for. This get's there name out there, and acts like a springboard for there exclusive content on my sites. Which are all solo. I think you can get away with models that are not as good with hardcore sites, however with solo sites, quality is very important.

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agreed! , even though i have the money to "promote" myself i would never market something/someone who first didn't appeal to a "test-market" and although i could run it as a "hobby" i unfortunately did not make the scheduled "jerk-off" live-cam sessions (not as easy as you would think) and/or had the time to truly devote my full attention to this project to produce the content required for weekly updates.
alas , longboardjim.com has been designated as a content gallery after i retire this november

sincerely ~ ..."i jerked it my way"... - frank sinatra

p.s ~ this is not to say that an "unknown/uncommon" could not sell , someone out there will buy

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Originally Posted by IdolKnights

I didn't see old in the quote so it may be so,eone else ;)

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BITCH! Lol.

My perspective as a woman may be less valuable, but I have to agree on the personality thing. I wish there were solo male sites for women where you would have models with personality and communication skills... I'm sure such a site will do very well.

mark, have you ever tried promoting less exceptional models? they sell wonderfully for me - often better than the gorgeous muscular guys.

I think alot of this thread boils down to what your business plan is? and your demographic. I agree there is a market for any model out there, everyone has different taste. I have a friend in NYC that shoots guys, who look like he recruited them by dragging a net down Bowery ave at 4 am and whoever it picked up he paid $20 and made a JO video. He has been in business for 5 years, and dose quite well. My demographic is well built, very good looking, muscle guys, i have developed a certain look that i try and get, every month i shoot at least one very high end feature guy, i also shoot a few guys slightly below that mark, however as i build my sites i am moving more towards shooting more of the very high end guys. This is what my customers want from me, this is what i enjoy shooting, and in my experiece this is what has been the most profitable for me over time. Case in point i have a network of magazines all over the world, many of them are local gay entertainment mags in cities like NYC, London Miami etc. Every few months they will contact me looking for a cover model they can use for there cover. I will allow them the use of a photo in exchange for a small display ad. I will send them a file with some of our recent models, on the disk will be 3 or 4 of my feature models, models i have paid top dollar to. I will also include 4-5 of my slightly lesser models, they are still good, however there bodies may not be as tight, etc and i paid them slightly less. I have done allot of these trades over the years. I can tell you that i can only remember one time when the magazine did not pick one of the feature models. The fact is they are simply more marketable, and that's what the mags want, they want to appeal to the largest number of people, and catch the eye of the consumer.On the other side there are always going to be people, that would prefer to see one of my lesser models.Another case would be a model i shot last year named Sean Dexter, if feel he is one of the most perfect models i have ever shot, as did alot of my members, stunning face, flawless body, he has gone on to do the cover of Playgirl as well as Men's Workout, he was all over several blogs, and there were several people who posted, that they hated his look, too cold, no sex appeal etc etc. It all boils down to what you like to shoot. You will never please everyone. That's what makes the internet great, there is something for everyone.