How Long Until We Start Charging Surfers $10?

[Lee]

To access paysites each month instead of the usual $30 or so?

Im hearing rumors from a lot of people over the past couple of weeks that pricing on paysite memberships are going to have to change for their sites to remain profitable, traffic wise.

What are your thoughts on this? Will we soon start seeing monthly memberships priced at $10-$15 a month recurring instead of $15-$35 a month?

If so, do you think that is even going to effect a sites profitability significantly?

Regards,

Lee

[Marc]

there are whole networks for sitescharging $10 a month right now, and some that are $6 a month

[DonMike]

Well, it can go two ways. Everyone can adapt and flood the market with cheap sites, or the people with high quality sites can charge more while the more basic sites charge less and leave it up to the surfer to decide if they want prime rib or a big mac.

There was a burger place on the east coast that had a burger, fries and drink for under $2.00. I never ate there because I wondered what kind of meat you were getting if you could buy all that for under $2.00. I think people will start being more selective of which sites they belong to according to their budget. Doesn't mean the $10 sites will not be worth it, that might open porn up to a whole new group of people who couldn't afford it in the past. But people with a higher income are going to want better sites with more content and features and will be willing to pay for it. Tours may need to be more creative to draw the surfer in, but it should pay off in the end.

Just my two cents, folks.

[CorbinFisher_BD]

People still appreciate and are willing to pay for quality, original content. That every DVD seller out there hasn't gone under is one element of proof among many that that is the case.

I don't suspect we'll ever see the day when everyone's stuck offering $10 memberships, unless everyone were to have all the exact same content as everyone else and it was only a matter of trying to get the traffic to your site before they went to someone else's because you're both selling the same thing.

Our standard monthly recurring rate is $24.95 and I truly believe we could kick that up to $29 bucks or more without any problem and people would happily pay it. We just choose not to.

[MWCren]

I'm actually getting ready to launch a $10 site. Call it re-cycled content, call it cheap and cheerful, or call it a test of a budget conscious price point.

I think there is a place for it in the mix.

[Huskyhunks]

I'd say CF Brian is right on the money. People will always pay a premium for originality and quality. Ultimately, the surfers decide what you are worth to them.

I'd say a $10 site isn't a bad idea but it would not catch the eye of most affliliates. That would definitely be a hard sell but there might be some room to market other products to members.

[Squirt]

People still appreciate and are willing to pay for quality, original content. That every DVD seller out there hasn't gone under is one element of proof among many that that is the case.

I agree sites like fratmen.com, randyblue.com and squirtit.com corner the market in that arena. Though I'm leaning more towards people wanting original content more then anything.. my sleepingmen.com site is down in low tech nightvision and has much higher sales and retention then any of my other sites.

People are willing to pay $15 to see a movie, they'll pay $25 - $30 to have porn for a month. Hell it's $5 for just one movie at Blockbuster and usually for just one night.

I think some people have a scewed vision of the value of entertainment, and what it costs these days, online and off.

[CorbinFisher_BD]

I'd say a $10 site isn't a bad idea but it would not catch the eye of most affliliates. That would definitely be a hard sell but there might be some room to market other products to members.

Another good point. I'd not promote a $10/membership site if it meant no more than $5 on a 50% commission and I can't imagine such a site could pony up much in the way of a PPS commission to make promoting it justifiable either.

[CorbinFisher_BD]

I agree sites like fratmen.com, randyblue.com and squirtit.com corner the market in that arena.

I don't think anyone really corners the market. I don't think the market can be cornered. Fratmen and RandyBlue are great sites. I've admired both. Haven't checked out yours enough to comment.

But some other extremely large gay paysites include CorbinFisher.com, SeanCody.com, CircleJerkBoys.com, ActiveDuty.com, BelAmiOnline.com, StraightCollegeMen.com, AmateurStraightGuys.com, FalconXXX.com, and I really could go on and on and on listing countless other sites, each of which is likely doing considerably well, has for itself quite a dedicated following of members and fans, and is tremendously successful through their own right, all in the company of and amidst eachothers' success.

Thankfully, this market is broad enough and there are enough potential members, varied tastes, and so forth about to ensure a great many people can be successful without necessarily having to lose out to or win against others.

The greatest source of competition in this industry comes from ones own ability to satisfy their base, not from other websites. Websites are constantly competing against complacency and ebbing standards moreso than other webmasters and producers. With that being the case, as long as someone produces quality content, they're on good footing to succeed. Everyone.

[Huskyhunks]

I think the cream in this industry has definitely risen to the top as they say. If your still around, you're doing something right. There's so many areas on the gay side that probably won't ever get developed simply because it takes so long to really develop a site and a following.

I'm so glad my site is still kicking. I don't have thousands of members, they number in the hundreds, but size was never an issue with me. Size does matter in this industry a whole lot but success is such a subjective thing.

I promote most of the big programs. I sell their memberships, I make money, they make money. I like that dynamic. I hated it when there was such cut throat competition. Most of the companies who survived the last couple of years are doing really well.

[Squirt]

I think the cream in this industry has definitely risen to the top as they say. If your still around, you're doing something right.

I'm so glad my site is still kicking. I don't have thousands of members, they number in the hundreds, but size was never an issue with me. Size does matter in this industry a whole lot but success is such a subjective thing.

I totally agree. You get some reps working for a company bragging about how big the site is or their quality is the best, they are the leader, bla bla bla It gets irritating to see that spew on these boards sometimes.

The fact of the matter is that guys like us who have been in the industry for YEARS, and maintained quality and/or original content are doing something right. We know it, and our affiliates know it.

One site I forgot to add to the list is Amateurstraightguys. "Doug & Jay" are a couple really great guys, good businessmen, and don't spew this cut throat "you're my competition and I will destroy you" bullshit

At the end of the day we're all in the same industry, there is TONS of cash to go around and if we all worked together a bit more we wouldn't have discussion of $10 sites as we know it just saturates things. What's your response?