Whats Next After Review Sites?

[maxpower]

I total agree with that 100% but it will never happen unless its mandatory, Hell I even make free sites I have too. Its just becoming a never ending arms race to see who can give away the most to get the most traffic back, and in the end we all will be the losers. I really don’t see the industry itself being able to regulate or spot this on its own, so the “think about the children” people are in a very weird way are best shot.

[desslock]

Lee

I disagree with your attitude. I think if you create a good product, i.e. a website that reviews paysites, and you market it properly, then is will produce results.

Just because you are in the adult business, that doesn't mean it has to be one fad one day, and another fad the next. Look at companies like Falcon Studios or All Worlds Video, who have been continuously operating for over twenty years. And have stayed pretty much on their same tack since inception - Falcon is about all-American, hung movie star type guys, while All Worlds is still lots about military guys.

And why do you guys complain about "giving away the store" so much? It reminds me of when local hardware stores become exasperated that WalMart has moved into town, driving down prices. What you are seeing is greater competition. The more firms participating in one field means there will be greater competition.

Steve

[gaystoryman]

I think the chaff will fade away but not the real traffic from real review sites. If marketed right, handled well, they will continue to provide good steady income and traffic. The trolls who try to leach off the idea will fade away to try their hand at something else, and that too will make them fade away leaving the real webmasters to continue to make bank and increase their business.

It is about work. Many of the things that were hot ten years ago still earn good income for many, who took the time to understand their product, their niche, their customers and built on it as the internet evolved.

Free content is really not the evil so many are quick to label it as. It is the inability of many to properly use it.

[maxpower]

And why do you guys complain about "giving away the store" so much? It reminds me of when local hardware stores become exasperated that WalMart has moved into town, driving down prices. What you are seeing is greater competition. The more firms participating in one field means there will be greater competition.

Steve

How much more do you want to devalue what we do “4.95$ a month”? Do you own an adult members site? things are not going to say the same as they are today, it is going to get worse and worse, and yes you are right the biggest and the best service will be the last to feel the pinch. Just like the buggy whip manufactures, I am sure the last surviving one was a bad ass company, but how do you think they are doing today.

[gaystoryman]

What are you basing this on? That paysites are doing less today because of free stuff? I would like to know what is the basis for those statements that free stuff is devaluating the membership prices? I know for example that the CUrious Cash sites are doing better in sign ups today than 2 years ago, that in fact they had a banner year last year, so what statistics are you drawing this from?

[maxpower]

What are you basing this on? That paysites are doing less today because of free stuff? I would like to know what is the basis for those statements that free stuff is devaluating the membership prices? I know for example that the CUrious Cash sites are doing better in sign ups today than 2 years ago, that in fact they had a banner year last year, so what statistics are you drawing this from?

Look man allot of these sites are now counting only people that end up on their finally join pages now, not raw traffic. I sell for may other sites, my job is to get traffic to them, and for them to make the sales. So you can not just say I am doing something wrong, or that it is only my problem. I do not trick traffic into going to affiliates sites or use Spam, they just don’t convert every well anymore. I can really see that in a few years at the declining percentages rates that it will no longer worth the time.

[gaystoryman]

Look man allot of these sites are now counting only people that end up on their finally join pages now, not raw traffic. I sell for may other sites, my job is to get traffic to them, and for them to make the sales. So you can not just say I am doing something wrong, or that it is only my problem. I do not trick traffic into going to affiliates sites or use Spam, they just don’t convert every well anymore. I can really see that in a few years at the declining percentages rates that it will no longer worth the time.

Who is talking about conversion ratios? You said most sites aren't selling as much, and I am saying they are selling more today than the year before. Conversion ratios have nothing to do with the how many sales a site makes per month, only on how much traffic is needed to generate those sales. The bottom line is sites like Curious Cash are selling more today than when they started 6 plus years ago.

[maxpower]

Who is talking about conversion ratios? You said most sites aren't selling as much, and I am saying they are selling more today than the year before. Conversion ratios have nothing to do with the how many sales a site makes per month, only on how much traffic is needed to generate those sales. The bottom line is sites like Curious Cash are selling more today than when they started 6 plus years ago.

LOL man that’s really funny, ya I can see how they could with 20 times as many affiliates selling for them conversion ratios are the name of this game man, they are the bottom line.

[hdkbill]

How much more do you want to devalue what we do “4.95$ a month”? Do you own an adult members site? things are not going to say the same as they are today, it is going to get worse and worse, and yes you are right the biggest and the best service will be the last to feel the pinch. Just like the buggy whip manufactures, I am sure the last surviving one was a bad ass company, but how do you think they are doing today.

Pay sites are always going to do well as long as they are providing what the customers want to see. We charge more for our sites today than ever before and we have more traffic, more sign ups and better retention than ever. As long as you are giving them value for their dollar and provided excellent customer service you will always be in business.

It ain't rocket science.......provide quality produts and customer service. Even the local hardware store can whip Wal-Mart by providing the customer service they customer can't get at Wal-Mart.

Bill

[BananaMan]

Lee started this thread by supposing that review sites are some sort of passing fad that will burn out in 12 to 18 months. Thank you Steve for your reply below, which is exactly where I stand. Review sites are here to stay; some will flourish and others will fade, but the model will remain viable.

Lee

I disagree with your attitude. I think if you create a good product, i.e. a website that reviews paysites, and you market it properly, then is will produce results.

Just because you are in the adult business, that doesn't mean it has to be one fad one day, and another fad the next. Look at companies like Falcon Studios or All Worlds Video, who have been continuously operating for over twenty years. And have stayed pretty much on their same tack since inception - Falcon is about all-American, hung movie star type guys, while All Worlds is still lots about military guys.

[Lee]

Lee started this thread by supposing that review sites are some sort of passing fad that will burn out in 12 to 18 months.

That wasnt my intention at all.

Revie sites are far more than a passing fad however, as more and more webmasters launch thier own review sites, i think they will end up the same way as TGPs have.

That was the point i was making and wondering what the next traffic source will be once this happens?

As an owner of a review site, are you not concerned that all and sundry seem to be diluting your traffic by launching their own review sites?

Regards,

Lee

[basschick]

good tgps have more traffic than ever and make great sales. the belief that tgp traffic is crap is from people who either can't make galleries that sell or haven't tried it.

same with some of the review sites i work with. some - the ones that update every day or on a reliable schedule - get more bookmarkers every single day. their traffic is excellent quality and they have lots of it.

on the other hand, i have written for a couple review sites that are not honest or have mostly poorly written reviews and they never seem to develop any regulars.

blogs are more the fad thing to me than review sites. sure, there are some good topical daily blogs that do great, but spam/blog sites are going to fade to a great degree as reading periodic ads is not what will attract great traffic.

i think we may see the link list, revisited. good link lists draw a powerful lot of search engine traffic when done right. they only require updating 2 - 3 times per week if you do it on a schedule so your surfers know when to show up for the updates. and they don't require their own content. of course, there will always be guys half-assing it but the good ones will rock.

what i'd LIKE to see is the return of the picture post, but done a little better. picture posts were nice and easy and send plenty of buyers.

[BananaMan]

Revie sites are far more than a passing fad however, as more and more webmasters launch thier own review sites, i think they will end up the same way as TGPs have. ... As an owner of a review site, are you not concerned that all and sundry seem to be diluting your traffic by launching their own review sites?

I am certainly aware of our competitors, new and old alike. A monopoly would be nice, but competition keeps us on our toes - and that is to the benefit of the consumer.

[TheWhack]

I am certainly aware of our competitors, new and old alike. A monopoly would be nice, but competition keeps us on our toes - and that is to the benefit of the consumer.

Very well said...

I believe the strong will survive. Quality, Honesty, Good Customer Service will provide bookmarkers which in turn means return traffic to further sales.

[hdkbill]

I am certainly aware of our competitors, new and old alike. A monopoly would be nice, but competition keeps us on our toes - and that is to the benefit of the consumer.

Competition is a good thing. It's what does keep us on our toes and tuned in to the market place.

Bill