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I use MySpace as a marketing tool for my website and to generate clicks to the sites I affiliate for. I was wondering if anyone else is doing this, and how well it is working for you. Currently I have six "fake" profiles of models featured on my site. I actually get fan mail for these guys on MySpace! I think the guys who recognize the models already have memberships to the paysites I promote. Any thoughts? Thanks!
Come on, I know I'm not the only webmaster who uses MySpace for marketing! I would like to know how it is working for all of you.
Okay. Here's my opinion of the matter. I use Myspace to get the word out about our sites. It's actually my personal Myspace profile that advertises the sites, not a "fake" profile. The fake profiles generally annoy me and my friends that I have spoken about it to. Not that yours specifically do, just the ones I've/we've come across. I think having company profiles instead of "fake" model profiles advertising their wares is more of an appropriate use of Myspace. If you are getting model feedback, that's great and I am sure it offers traffic to your site. The profiles I am talking about are those that spam inboxes in Myspace and add everyone on someone's list.
:playboy: <--- hehe.
-Pickles
http://www.myspace.com/princesace if you'd like to take a look :-)
Nice page. Generally, I don't "spam" people on the friend's list. I've seen it, and it's annoying. I have six profiles up, and lord knows I don't have time to produce spam from all six of them. I use the page itself as a marketing tool, with links from the profiles to my site and directly to paysites via my affiliate link code. Every now and then (twice a month?) I will post a bulletin or blog with a link to my site, but that is hardly spam.Quote:
Originally Posted by friskypickles
Agreed! We all know it's "Candy", "Mandy", "Brandy", and "Spamby" that are doing the spam. I am gay. REALLY gay. I get these Add Requests from these slutty whore girls that I really have no clue how they found me unless it's basically spam. The gay ones atleast did some research before spamming me haha.Quote:
Originally Posted by KissMe
I have a myspace for CorbinFisher but keep it pretty mellow. I don't post much in the way of bulletins and don't add anyone (I wait for people to send me friend requests, as opposed to send out any of my own).
I primarily created it because I wanted a CorbinFisher myspace out there before anyone else tried to create one.
What keeps me from using myspace as a big marketing tool is mainly the inability to be certain of anyone's age on there. Even though I review every single profiile of every single person that tries to add or message me to see that their profile states they are over the age of 18, it's hardly foolproof. So I'd rather not meddle with it.
Even any kind of "advertisement" of CorbinFisher via the myspace profile is rather mellow. I rely on people already knowing what CorbinFisher is before engaging with them on myspace (it's a good way to keep in touch with fans and chat with them), rather than use it as a tool to introduce CorbinFisher to potential new members.
I'm having great success with YouTube. I don't have the time right now to nurture the MySpace presence I've created.
I make it a point to report each and every one of the slutty whore girls who try to add me. (without fail, they are *always* spam for some cam site/spyware download/something of that nature) Myspace is getting really fast about deleting those profiles because I think they realize that the community could be very quickly overrun if they don't.Quote:
Originally Posted by friskypickles
For a while the guy that ran Sugarboysl.com (remember that site? And remember how he had another site with clearly underage -- and stated as such -- guys in provocative poses wearing thong underwear?) was posting fake profiles for a bunch of his models (nearly all of whom would be in their late 30s/early 40s now) on Yahoo Personals. I busted him each time he did that, and eventually Yahoo got clever enough to either ban his IP addy or figure out how to stop him from doing that. Then, he started doing the same shit on Myspace. I wasn't as aggressive about busting him there, but somebody else did because I don't see the fake profiles with his pics any more.
Sponsor content?
Fake model identities?
MySpace profile, blog and bulletin Spam?
http://i17.tinypic.com/345lcuh.jpg
NOT KOSHER DAMN YOU TO HELL!!!!
Seriously though, even on such a small scale it is by definition spamming. That's why nobody wanted to touch this thread. But that aside, there are two other issues you may encounter depending on who the models or sponsors are.
A lot of models have their own legit MySpace. If affiliates were to use sponsor content to create dozens (if not hundreds) of profiles for that one model, what would the model or their studio think of that? In the eyes of some, you may be stepping on their toes.
Another thing is using sponsor content to push traffic to your site and not directly to theirs. Granted, you are promoting them on your site but you are also promoting other sites too. Some sponsors may consider this to be content theft.
Like I say, depends on the sponsor. You may want to ask first. I can think of a few off the top of my head who would definitely can you for this.
Dishonest porn marketing will kill myspace. Good. Bring it on! I haven't seen a single myspace page that didn't make my eyes and ears bleed. Thankfully no one has invented smell-o'vision for computers or I would be having nose bleeds too. Is it that hard to use a little design sense and restraint on myspace?
And just how are you promoting a porn site on youtube?Quote:
Originally Posted by Squirt
Well… I have no statistics to back this up, but I know that I have gotten quite a few member joins and DVD purchases merely from myspace…
I keep two myspace pages. One for me, Alex, my everyday page that is totally real and I have way too many “friends” on.
www.myspace.com/Starksie
And also one for me as Skyler.
www.myspace.com/SkylerDeVoss
I keep up on both of them and check both of them everyday. Both of which are truthful, with merely different pics and identities. I do however keep them separate… I try my best not to have overlapping friends and they aren’t similar in their layouts.
I have heard from many of my “friends” on my page made for Skyler that they have purchased multiple DVDs and have also bought memberships to www.SkylerDeVoss.com so it seems to be working…. The way I see it is this; if you have the time to make one up and keep it up then why not use it…. It is totally free and if it generates revenue then you might as well utilize it. (Why do you think Rupert Murdoch bought the whole thing?)
Love, Sky/Alex
And my eyes didn't bleed! Kudos on the use of restraint Skyler. :thumbsup:Quote:
Originally Posted by gaybucks_skyler
LOL thanks!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Xstr8guy
I agree with you 100% I absolutely despise myspace pages that literally freeze your computer by merely trying to load... it's ridiculous...
In turn, both of mine are nice and neat...
Love, Sky
I feel strongly that fake Myspace pages are inappropriate. Skyler's got the right idea by setting up a personal Myspace and a "professional" one (which, btw, he thought of without any input or suggestions from us.) Several of our models have done the same thing, and it's worked very well for them.
If fans can contact models and interact with them (and not some person pretending to *be* them) that's a good thing and can help the model's visibility and also the visibility of the company he works for.
Myspace is a great resource for real people to meet each other and become friends. Yes, there are lots of people with fake pics, fake profiles, etc., but that doesn't make it right.
If you want to set up profiles for models, pay them something to respond to messages and maintain the profiles. The ones who enjoy their visibility will take the opportunity and run with it. Don't set up fakes. It just isn't cool. in my book.
I'm not doing anything against the TOSQuote:
Originally Posted by Xstr8guy
and if I told you how I'd have to fuck you up the ass and cum in your mouth :cowboy:
XStr8Guy, one of the most useful tools I ever found was Greasemonkey. It's an addin for Mozilla that has all sorts of nifty scripts that enhance Mozilla functionality. The best Greasemonkey script, bar none, is the "Automatic Myspace Media Remover." It conveniently traps and disables all of the multimedia content on Myspace... but you can selectively enable any individual media on a page by clicking a link that the script adds. For me, it's the perfect combination that makes Myspace usable and functional for me.
A close second is an add-in that allows capture of YouTube, Google Video or Myspace videos.
If I ever forget and go to Myspace on a browser that doesn't have Greasemonkey, I'm blasted nearly instantly by incessant noise (visual and auditory) and quickly remember why I like Greasemonkey :)
Quote:
Originally Posted by gaybucks_chip
I have never heard of this Greesemoney, but you can be sure I will find out about it and install it today! My partner LOVES myspace, and his computer sits next to mine. I hate all those automatic songs, etc. that start playing. Is it wrong to install it on his computer and not tell him? :angry:
LOL...thanks for the tip.
Ok, everybody, thanks for the input. This is what I wanted to know. I'm glad everyone has their own opinions and was willing to share them. I just wanted to get a feel for what the GWW members thought about MySpace.
Just to make myself, and my intentions clear:
--I do not spam. I do not post 15 bulletins a day and do not constantly comment friends with HTML links or images. I do not send out phony event invitations trying to sell something.
--Never do I actually claim to be the model. I don't say, "My Name is XXXXXXXX, and I am a model for XXXXXXX pay website. I leave that up to the surfer to decide whatever they want to believe about that profile.
--I run a freesite. I am an affiliate. I do not directly profit from the traffic of MySpacers.
--Surfers have free will. They don't have to visit my profiles and don't have to keep them on their friend's lists.
--I am still new in the Adult industry. I want to learn what other webmasters find appropriate or inappropriate. Because I'm still learning these things, please have a little patience with me and don't be offended if I ask you a seemingly "stupid" question.
Thank you once again for freely expressing your opinions on this topic.
You're going to try to make a credible argument that you put up a profile on a social networking site with a picture of a model, his age, stats, etc (whatever is minimally required) and somehow people viewing the profile are not supposed to think that the profile belongs to the person in the picture?Quote:
Originally Posted by KissMe
Sorry, but your response is a total cop out. You are intentionally deceiving people who are trying to use MySpace for social networking, and you are clearly violating MySpace's terms of service, section 8(14) which says you won't post pictures of another person on Myspace without their consent. (Note that using released affiliate content doesn't count.)
You yourself called the profiles "fake" and said that you're getting emails from people who think they are talking to the model. How can you possibly argue that people don't think that the profiles are real?
As for the "surfers don't have to visit my profiles"... well, of course they don't. But that's about the weakest argument I've ever heard. It's exactly this sort of attitude that gives the adult industry a really bad reputation.
Sounds like you knew you were doing something that wasn't OK and came here looking for people to justify your inappropriate use.
Several people have posted in this thread about how one can legitimately use Myspace to market nondeceptively and in keeping with the spirit of what the site was created for. Please don't be one of the people who helps to ruin Myspace for the legitimate users that want to make use of its valuable resources for its intended purposes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gaybucks_chip
Chip you need to get over yourself and stop being so judgemental over a newbie that's here being open and honest in a discussion.
FYI MySpace has been crap since it's inception, and like youtube, it's a bunch of idiots running amuck trying to make a name for themselves by showing off and being as flashy as possible. Businesses have marketed on MySpace since the beginning.
If Kissme is connecting people who like a models profile on MySpace with more content of the model they like, and getting paid, then she's doing her job well.
I would be careful with the sponsor's view of this. It's like you were to buy a domain name pornstar'sname.com and run a blog there, pretending it to be his blog. Now, some sponsors would totally welcome that and wouldn't mind if you posted his pics there. Others might frown and some may tell you to stop that altogether. I would check with my sponsor first, just to make sure.
Here's the cliff notes of every program's TOS.
"You send us sales, and everything's gravy, baby."
And as far as Kissme is concerned, just move on... there's many places to find traffic. Focus on the most lucrative ones.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tigermom
ahhh :glasses:Quote:
Originally Posted by Matt 26z
interesting you think that. there are several programs where the TOS say you can't use any version of the models name in a domain and many more that don't allow any kind of spamming, some of which include myspace, utube and other similar sites in the list of where not to spam.
Quote:
Originally Posted by xenigo
Quote:
Originally Posted by basschick
Providing legitimate content on youtube with a watermark to your site isn't spam.
Creating a simple model profile on MySpace with a link to offsite content, or a watermark to a site, isn't spam either.
Kissme has said she doesn't claim to be the models, and she hasn't indicated that she uses the models names in the profiles.
Like anything, if you go over the top and are excessive and/or aggressive in your marketing, it could definately turn into spam and easily violate youtubes or myspaces TOS.
It's interesting that I know that. Program owners have always been that way, since the dawn of time. This isn't some epiphany. I didn't wake up one morning and realize they'll let you break the rules for sales.Quote:
Originally Posted by basschick
Have you ever tried reporting a webmaster for spamming? Well, nothing happens to them. I still get their spam, and their links still work day after day. But their TOS *clearly* states that spamming is a violation.
So, Basschick... I don't just think there are exceptions to the rules... I'm not just talking out of my ass.
agreed! , my space is more "social-networking" i personally found it to be more something for the teens , there is hardly a legal-market for models let alone "hook-ups" to be of any value to me. you are however welcomed to look at my profile just don't send any "sexually-suggestive" messages cause'i'm "respectable" there! :fool:
jim
This seems like an overly aggressive response to PattiQuote:
Originally Posted by xenigo
Everything she said in her post was true, and she wasn't attacking you.
Many webmasters that get reported for spamming are dumped by sponsors because excessive spam degrades the integrity of the sponsor with surfers. As a matter of fact some dubious sites will maliciously spam surfers with their competitors site to damage their web presence and cause them to receive hate mail by surfers.
There are plenty of programs out there who do, in fact, terminate affiliates for spamming. We are one of them, I know at least a few others offhand who have actually done so as well. Sure, there are some bad apples that don't give a crap, but there are plenty of ones that want to play fairly and honestly... particularly since DoJ and FTC are trying to make the argument that sponsors are responsible for the actions of their affiliates.Quote:
Originally Posted by xenigo
Well, I apologize if it's felt to be over agressive.Quote:
Originally Posted by Squirt
I don't simply think something is true without having evidence to back it up.
I got pissed off with the implication that I must not know what I'm talking about. To say that there aren't discrepancies between formal policies, and the reality of situations... THAT is naive.
Noah,
Patti has probably forgotten more about traffic than you, I, or a lot of other people on this board will ever know.
I agree that your response was a little over the top. When one makes sweeping statements, particularly ones that aren't completely accurate, one shouldn't be surprised to be called on it.
Marketing our content on MySpace gives me chills because of the age group the site appeals to. I like CorbinFisher's approach in the way their profile is carefully screened for friends ages, as well as limiting the content so that
it is not luring....
I am not comfortable with the "anything goes for a buck" way of thinking and I think in the long run this approach will result in problems either for the affiliate that uses these techniques or the program that allows them. This is dangerous from a chargeback, spam and a liability perspective for both parties but the heavy hand of regulation and penalty come down on the site of the program, which, as noted earlier, are being called to task for the actions of their affiliates. Anyone as an affiliate using these types of "anything goes for a buck" tactics may get away with it for a while, but eventually, will be found out and have their account closed.
I was reading a thread on another board where a site owner is having crazy problems with chargebacks and his processor is just about to shut off his account. One of the probable reasons for his chargeback ratio by some in that thread, is thought to be from bad affiliates using "anything for a buck" tactics.
I can't see any program with an eye on being around in the future condoning that type of activity...
Quote:
Originally Posted by tombarr
Thing is, I'll be the first to admit that despite checking every single profile for the age they have listed, it's so far from a foolproof system that I'm still not entirely comfortable with it. People change their listed age left and right on that site. The 21yo you approved as a friend one day might adjust their age to under 18 (and possibly their actual real age?) the next day.
Just gives me the heebie jeebies.
So that's why the only link actually going to CorbinFisher.com in my CF myspace profile is a single little link hidden in the body text, no hardcore images are around, no full nudity, nothing but face-pics and at most, kissing. Nothing too graphic. Very PG-13.
I get a lot of messages from people on myspace saying "Wow you guys are hot! Are you all friends and where do you go to school?". They don't know it's a porn site and think the models' photos are just pics of guys lol. And I'm more than happy with that. It makes it clear it's not obvious from the myspace profile that it's a porn site, and the only ones aware that it is are people already aware of CorbinFisher, already aware of the name, and are already customers. Myspace is a great way to interact with that latter group of people.
On another note, one of the main changes that will take place when we shrink the CorbinFisher.com affiliate program down to 50-100 affiliates is we will be expressly getting rid of affiliates who don't use their own registered and owned domain as their primary source of promotion. One of the main things we are going for in limiting our affiliates to top and personally-known affiliates is to get rid of affiliates who use things like Blogspot, MySpace, LiveJournal, Yahoo! groups, etc as their primary means of promoting us.
We don't want an affiliate violating any 3rd party's TOS by promoting us. It's perfectly ok if an affiliate has their own myspace profile, or yahoo group used to direct traffic to their own site and, from there, out to sponsors. But if they use myspace or yahoo groups to directly send traffic to us, that isn't a good thing at all and something we don't want in the least.
I'm so looking forward to having only 100 affiliates at the utmost so I can more easily track stuff like that!
I had told myself that I was just going to abandon this thread, but I just can't help myself now.
I started this thread to be an open discussion about a marketing tactic. I am sickened by the abrasive responses I have recieved to this thread. I did not want to start an argument, and am disappointed by the members who are being argumentative.
Now on to why I responded to this particular post:
I agree with this, the people who recognize the guys are already customers.Quote:
Originally Posted by CorbinFisher_BD
I think one thing that some people responding to this thread may not understand is that I do not use MySpace as my main source of traffic. It supplements my other traffic sources.Quote:
Originally Posted by CorbinFisher_BD
I also monitor the ages of the people who submit friend requests, and do not approve anyone under 18. I have been doing this against Xenigo's advice. He thought I shouldn't worry about ages, and I'm glad others agree with me on this one.
Since you are saying that it's not a good thing to send traffic directly to you, I will remove all affiliate links / banners from the MySpace profiles I run. I'll just have links to my site. I wouldn't want to jeopardize my relationship with Corbin Fisher as an affiliate.
WTF?? I never said you shouldn't worry about people's ages.Quote:
Originally Posted by KissMe
You started a thread looking for justification for using a questionable marketing tactic (promoting using fake profiles on a site that prohibits doing so, and a site where better than 50% of the audience is under 18), bumped the thread when no one responded, and then you're upset/surprised when people responded honestly with their feelings?Quote:
Originally Posted by KissMe
This board is one of the friendliest, most helpful group of people you'll ever find in the adult industry. As a whole the business owners and marketers that participate here are successful people who run quality operations and market fairly and honestly. If you took the advice offered instead of being offended that things are occasionally a little abrasive, you will probably be more successful (and have plenty of people willing to help you) in the future.
Obviously there will always be people who just can't be pleased, no matter what is said or done. I AM abandoning this thread now.Quote:
Originally Posted by gaybucks_chip
Well said! It's good you took that lesson from the interaction in this thread as it shows you're attentive to the responses others have given.Quote:
Originally Posted by KissMe
You are not here to please anyone. You're here bringing to the table what you have and learning from others.
There are countless webmasters that lurk on this board and don't interact because they're afraid of the responses they might get. It shows a lot of character that you step up to the plate, with no apologies, and aren't afraid to speak your mind. :bunny:
yes, i HAVE reported webmasters for spamming - and seen instant results. twice from ARS, once from dollarmachine/python and also several other smaller programs. they termed the spammers almost instantly. even miore programs warned their affiliates but said they give a single warning.
and i expect that you'll see more and more programs terming for spam since two programs ended up paying big bucks to the FTC because of affiliate spam.
anyway, i do my best to follow the rules whether they are enforced or not - i do it because of who I am so what the programs do about these issues has nothing to do with why i don't spam. if there's a program with rules i can't deal with, i may contact them and talk about it but otherwise i simply promote someone else's program - one where i am comfortable with the terms.
Squirt- how can a person create a fake profile of someone else without pretending to be them?
Quote:
Originally Posted by xenigo