Single most important paysite element

So what do you feel is the single most important paysite element and, if you can pinpoint one, how much more important do you feel it is than anything else? Do you feel the value of a particular aspect is quantitatively, measurably greater than all others? And if so, what is that element?

I ask this because I was going over a lot of review sites this week and last, checking out how different sites structured and formatted their reviews. Some assign a points score to sites they review, others just rely mainly on their descriptive review to get the point across. But nonetheless, I was a bit surprised and even confused by how some chose to rate the sites they'd reviewed.

For example, I saw one that gave the navigation of a site a score out of 30, and the content a score out of 10. And combined all points values towards a final score of whatever out of 100. So essentially they valued navigation as 3 times more important than content, which seemed odd. If anything, I'd think content should be the most important element of a paysite, and can't imagine a surfer would appreciate navigation more than the content itself.

Id say that the single most important element of a paysite would be the join page myself, i could be wrong though because, like you, i find how some of these review sites determine the final score of a site really.. really.. really stupid.

In all seriousness though, i truely beleive that navigation is one of the most important parts of the site, both on the tour and, in the members area, if the surfers > members cant find what they are looking for easily, chances are that they will leave or cancel.

Regards,

Lee

I don't doubt navigation is important, but I have a hard time believing that a surfer would value bells and whistles to navigation far above and beyond however much they care about the content itself.

I'm talking more about the surfer experience than conversion in and of itself. So beyond the tour and not including the tour, I'm talking more about how a surfer feels about the value they've received once joining a site and whether it was orth their while. What do we feel is the most important thing to them at that point?

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Originally Posted by CorbinFisher_BD

What do we feel is the most important thing to them at that point?

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Hot, naked guys, im serious to.

As long as they find a hot guy or two, they will be happy, you have to remember, when a surfer joins a site, for the most part, its because they want to get their rocks off, not because they thought the site looked well designed or the content was artsy, they joined because they saw a hot guy and they want to whack off to that guy or, similar looking guys in the members area... Remember, they are making an impulse purchase.

I figure, the average guy takes about what, 10, maybe 15 minutes to rub one out?

As long as they can find a hot guy or two inside the site during that time frame id say they will be happy members and, as long as they find enough hot guys in the time it takes them to shoot their loads, im sure that weighs heavily on the reasons why members retain.

IMHO, surfers really dont put as much emphasis on the content inside a members area as we affiliates/webmasters do, they want to get off, they arent writing a thesis on how to create the worlds best porn site or content shoot.

To back this up, im still making money on content that we purchased over 10 years ago.. If it truely was all down to the content, i really dont think that would be the case.

Regards,

Lee

See I agree with what you're saying, but I believe that "hot naked guy(s)" = content. Hot naked guys are the content. And so content is key. That's why I always think it strange when a review site stresses things like navigation and such so much. Can all of those enhance one's experience? Certainly. But be as important, or more important, than the content itself? Hardly.

agreed , content it's what we are all looking for (well maybe a meaningful overnight relationship with the potential of breakfast in bed the next morning with a "can i see you for lunch?" invite.) and then ease of navigation.
it's funny there are 3 sites which i am a regular member and their not written in english , so i guess it's a case of having the content i want to see.

sincerely ~ ..."of course i speak spanish! , taco , burito , tostada , enchalada"... :goof:

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Originally Posted by CorbinFisher_BD

But be as important, or more important, than the content itself? Hardly.

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See, to some extent, i do beleive the other aspects can be equally, if not more important than the content.

Imagine if you will a paysite with no content in its members area whatsoever, the surfer who becomes a member to this site, doesnt currently know that the site has 0 content in it yet, he/she still joins the site.. Why?

They joined, in my opinion, because of the promise of content (hot naked guys) at the point they hit the join page, they may have seen a few sample images of a medium quality but, they havent seen anything other than that so im not really sure that we can flat-out say that 'content' is the driving force in this instance.

I think, to some extent at least, surfers become members of a site out of curiosity just because 'they can'.

Whilst in my example above, the chances of getting a rebill are virtually non-existant, and the chances of getting a chargeback are much higher than any of the sites i have seen in the last 7 years or so, im sure that such a site could and, in all likelyhood would turn a profit based on the curiosity of the surfer factor and nothing else.

Hell, ive seen some sites that are just text that promise images and movies inside them, can we really say on sites like that the 'content' does the selling or the 'promise' of content?

Interesting thread non the less and i look forward to seeing what some of our other community members think of your question :)

Regards,

Lee

I'll put navigation at the top simply because no matter how good your content is, if the surfer can't easily find it to satisfy themself, they will not stay a member and if I recall, the question is what is the most important aspect of a paysite... so if your goal is to make money, the longer the stay the better for you, so obviously if you have shit navigation rebills will suck.

The outside is what gets them in, curiousity or hard sell or scamming even, but what is gonna keep them, stop chargebacks, and keep rebills happening? Sure content and the rest, but if they can't find it? Nothing.

me pennies :coffee:

content.

i've seen terrible paysites with layouts so i couldn't find anything that retain like mad because of the hundreds of high quality videos and regular updates. i've seen paysites with horrible tours sell, too, if the content was shown as unique and high quality - and those sites retain.

Lee, I'm talking about the experience of the member. Not the site's ability to convert or trick someone in to joining.

Certainly what you said is true and there are a shitload of sites out there that are doing exactly what you mentioned.

But I'm specifically talking about the experience of the surfer, so if there is indeed no content inside that site, even after the surfer has joined, their experience will be horrible.

Remember, I chose to ask this question and create this thread/poll based upon some review sites I'd seen. And review sites present themselves as offering a service to surfers and review the members area, not the tour. A review site attempts to give surfers valuable information as to what they will get for their money once they join a site (in theory). So that's what I'm talking about here.

Don't think in terms of conversion. There are plenty of threads on here about that. I'm asking in terms of the members experience once they've joined, and whether or not they will look at that membership and be satisfied, or unsatisfied.

What would be the key factors in leading to their being satisfied? What would be the key factors in leading to their being unsatisfied? When that member has joined the site and done what they wanted to do, what will determine whether or not they feel it was money well spent?

remember that lots of review sites haven't a clue. we had someone review our site a couple days ago who just didn't get it. i mean they REALLY didn't get it. also lots of clients ask me to invent their scoring for their review sites - and the ones who want to pay very little end up with a very inexperienced person who sometimes has never written a review before or seen a paysite member area inventing their scoring.

if i were to put things in order, i'd say usually it would be

video quality and size
selection of delivery formats and options
pic quality and size (unless this is a video site - then i'd leave it out)
pic options - zip files, slideshows, etc.
navigation
value - price vs content

i often add everything about the videos into a single score and everything about the pics into a single score. the look of the site is nice, but i don't think it is of paramount importance toward the score. here are other things people have me score that seem reasonable:

frequency of updates
exclusivity of content
extras (bonus sites, bonus content, etc)

the catch here is with a site like video box, there is no bonus content and the videos are not exclusive but for the type of site it is, it's the best site on the web.

i'd also like to see 10 points for "likeability of site" that would include various less tangible things and also would reflect sites that have too many ads, etc.

While everything Patti says is correct - I have to say that without good navigation, all of that becomes moot. While I wouldn't tip the scoring at it being 3x more important than the content, I do feel that all of the elements of a good site (pic/video sizes, download options, exclusiviness etc) lose their value if you can't enjoyably navigate to them! Navigation is the glue that holds together all of the other great features of a site.

I can't even begin to tell you the number of sites I've had to review that once you leave the member home page, you can't get back to it! They've left off even the most basic "home" navigation element throughout the rest of the pages. Or sites that don't open a new window (or use an include) on off domain served content (like feeds) ... resulting in the whole site being "gone" if you close the window. :boo:

Good galleries should return to you to the thumb index of a set with a click - not have you back browser through 100 pics to find it again, and if you're done there, you should be able to go back to the page of thumbs you were on when you went into that set ... not thrown back to page one of 250 pages of indexed thumb sets by numbered pages ... and not a drop down page menu to be found!

Guys come into the site because they're frustrated sexually and want to get off ... frustrating them further with poor navigation isn't going to endear them to staying on as a member IMHO.

I just went with my gut when I voted and picked content, and saw that I was in the majority. It seems to me, people are most interested in WHAT you have and will make sacrifices in some of the other areas if you offer them waht they want. You could have the best looking site out there, but if you have no content to back it up, I don't see it being that successful. However, I see navigation as a close second for many of the reasons you said. If you have the best content and you can't find it, you still fail... That's just my two cents at least.

Well I just cast the very first vote on Aesthetic Design.

Interesting that most of the discussion has revolved around the usability of the site, and not the look of the site.

This is a very good poll question. Do you also see a difference on how people approach their websites? Some purely see them as utilitarian tools. Whereas others might just think about design, creativity or look and feel?

Is there any difference between your adult website and a pipeline construction company? or a company that sells HVAC equipment? a bank?

Of course, Corbin_Fisher_BD is being Devilish with this question. All of those options are vital.

Steve

content AND navigation...

i really think both elements are very important and they go together.

if the user cant find the links asap they get irritated and go somewhere else... unless they fall in love with your content and they really look everywhere on how to join it.... but thats not the case with the average surfer.

first you have to call their attention with the content you got to offer... and then you have to lead them to where the real content is.

so i think reviewers should consider both things together when they going to score some site.

design is important but not in an artistic way... thou navigation wise.

having an amazgin design work will not grant you more sales, otherwise its the way you work the design with the content....

its all about the content and how well you use all the tools around it, some are more important than others....

i have seen sites without any design work at all that convert great.

So do you think Abercrombie and Fitch would be as profitable and popular if you scrubbed all artisticness from its marketing, and leaving just their high quality products shown nicely folded on a bed, underneath which is displayed a list of addresses to shop for A&F in your local neighborhood?

But as I mentioned before, all options are arguably important, while omission of any is a serious mistake.

Steve

i thought this thread was only related to adult sites.

Abercrombie and Fitch is not an adult site.

I still buy access to paysites, and for me, i have to fancy the guys on the front pages. So my vote in content content content..

SO, would 'subscribers' fall in to the 'others' category?
Oh! How about the INTERNET (connection)?
*ducking out of the way of all the crap that is now being thrown at me*

I believe all (variables listed) are essential to the success of a site, and that all are needed for retention.

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Originally Posted by THY

i thought this thread was only related to adult sites. Abercrombie and Fitch is not an adult site.

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He was merely making a point, or using them as an example.

I voted content. A working navigation system is a given almost, but it doesn't have to be the same. I've seen sites with bad navigation systems, but if the content was good enough and worth the effort, I took the time it took to learn how to find the gems. In content, I would stress things like originality (not something I've seen on other sites before), constant updates (or I wouldn't stay as a member), and above all, understanding the fantasy and providing that extra flare needed to really turn me on.

From my view as a surfer and occasional user, it's quite clearly content. I go to a paysite to have fun and to see what I like. So the content has to be great and match my taste.

Second is a nice design so my eyes don't hurt too much when I look at a site. Good navigation is fine as well, but I'm sure to find my ways around everyway to get where I want to go.

Anything except the content doesn't influence my decision to sign up not at all. Therefore my decision to pull my CC is made by how much of the content I can preview and if I know if regular updates are delivered. For me decent preview galleries and regular update infos are essential. If there is only some tour pages with zero information about the real content that awaits me, it's unlikely that I will ever consider joining.

I think you guys should think more about letting potential affiliates with good traffic promote your sites maybe :bandana:

I know that most people choose Content, but I have to choose Navigation.

I've seen paysites where I KNOW that they film great content, but I can't find it!

if your users get lost or frustrated or can't find what they want, or can't see the videos or, or, or... you lost them.

Most of the people who bother to spend any amount of time in this industry have great content... what will separate you from the pack is how you display it.

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Originally Posted by desslock

Well I just cast the very first vote on Aesthetic Design.

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And I think the same - for me aesthetic design is like the first impression.. I open up a site and think "uuuh yuk" or "oh nice" - its the difference of closing the window or continuing looking at the site... most of the times its only the header you see first - the content is more to the bottom... content is very important, too and I'd put it just slightly below aesthetics...


:develish: