Straight guys creating/marketing Gay sites

totemack · 09-14-2004, 11:09 AM

I agree completely with you Bec.

Ok, let's turn it around for just a sec (just to get some juicy gossip going) I'd be interested to know how many gay people run straight sites and yet have no interest in that market personally. In your opinion, does this exist? If so, to what extent, and anyone got any examples, of both good and bad sites?

:bomb:

sarahwebinc · 09-14-2004, 11:50 AM

For me it isn't a requirement that the person building and marketing a site is attracted to the content but it is a requirement that they respect it.

RainGurl · 09-14-2004, 12:28 PM

Originally posted by sarahwebinc
For me it isn't a requirement that the person building and marketing a site is attracted to the content but it is a requirement that they respect it.

agreed. i know of quite a few "straight-owned" companies that produce quality gay sites. i also know of "gay-owned" companies that produce shitty gay sites. i think it mostly comes down to how much effort the person, regardless or orientation, is willing to put into the concept and creation of the product. i think there are two categories of people who are destined to fail: those who take a straight template and replace the girls with guys and call it a gay site, and those who are arrogant and assume that they know what gay men want becacuse they can tell the difference between a good-looking guy and an ugly one. There's so much more that goes into the creation and marketing of gay sites and if you want to be in it for the long-haul, you need to do a little research.

MacDaddy · 09-14-2004, 01:55 PM

Originally posted by RainGurl
agreed. i know of quite a few "straight-owned" companies that produce quality gay sites. i also know of "gay-owned" companies that produce shitty gay sites. i think it mostly comes down to how much effort the person, regardless or orientation, is willing to put into the concept and creation of the product. i think there are two categories of people who are destined to fail: those who take a straight template and replace the girls with guys and call it a gay site, and those who are arrogant and assume that they know what gay men want becacuse they can tell the difference between a good-looking guy and an ugly one. There's so much more that goes into the creation and marketing of gay sites and if you want to be in it for the long-haul, you need to do a little research.

Agreed on all sides. I don't think you can say it's the straight community that is bringing down gay porn. I think it's uneducated people that bring down any niche or market. There are many more crappy straight sites out there than crappy gay ones. Almost every major sponsor has crappy members areas. I see people promoting BBW sites with content where the girl is like 140 pounds. To me, that girl is not a BBW. I do mostly hairy stuff, and the sites I see are appalling. I think you can take any market and niche within that market and find a crap load of crap. It's just the way it is, and will always be. People looking for a quick buck with no work or research involved. The good news is, these people/sites won't last long. Do what you do, do it well, and you'll be fine. Don't worry about what others are doing and how bad their doing it. If you're good, you'll last. If you're not, you won't.

Their are tons of straight people doing great work in the gay market, and their are tons of gay people doing great work the straight market. The problem is ignorance not sexual orientation.

**Bec** · 09-14-2004, 08:34 PM

if you want to be in it for the long-haul, you need to do a little research.

You've got that part right ... I know I spend hours and hours researching, studying sites, reading boards and whatever else I can tap into to learn about a niche I'm unfamiliar with before I even think about assembly.

As to the question of gays running straight sites, yes, I do ... but I'm doing more of the link list or tgp type structure at the moment, a handful of gay free sites and a few galleries of both markets here and there before I take on a bonafide full blown straight niche with the one exception of my lesbian site (for men) ... at least that content doesn't gag me quite as bad LOL. In the meantime, I research, gather the upsell sponsors and content I want and then I'll build a few I've been wanting to market.

**Squirt** · 09-14-2004, 10:13 PM

Originally posted by totemack
One thing is sure, it's a good idea to have at least one gay guy around if you're looking to create, promote and sell a gay guy site.

I get it.. like a token fag or something? :-D

My attention has been drawn to the straight guys creating/marketing gay sties. I don't know about Gay "companies" etc. I don't think a real 100% Gay company exists.

"using a minimum amount of content is a sad but real fact of today's industry"

I don't agree with that. If you have the content, you put it up and subscribers keep coming back.

"That said there's gotta be lots of gay sites out there created by open minded straight people who just know what the gay market want and know how to deliver it and make money from it, and ain't nothing wrong with that. "

I agree with you there. Nothing wrong with working together to make money and doing right by the customer. It's just when straight people bring their slash and burn marketing mentality to the Gay market that I get frustrated, it just makes people more weary of our products/services.

**Squirt** · 09-14-2004, 10:16 PM

Originally posted by totemack
I agree completely with you Bec.

Ok, let's turn it around for just a sec (just to get some juicy gossip going) I'd be interested to know how many gay people run straight sites and yet have no interest in that market personally. In your opinion, does this exist? If so, to what extent, and anyone got any examples, of both good and bad sites?

:bomb:

I'm totally interested in the straight market. Straight men are a turn on for me and watching them fuck girls is as well. :wtf:

**Squirt** · 09-14-2004, 10:27 PM

RainGirl "i know of quite a few "straight-owned" companies that produce quality gay sites. i also know of "gay-owned" companies that produce shitty gay sites. i think it mostly comes down to how much effort the person, regardless or orientation, is willing to put into the concept and creation of the product. "

I agree with that and the problem I have is these misleading sites that are glam on the front and have very very little content. They are well thought out on the outside to bring the customer in so someone has spent a lot of time on concept and creation to think out what they're doing.

MacDaddy "Agreed on all sides. I don't think you can say it's the straight community that is bringing down gay porn. "

I have to disagree there MacDaddy because, for those of you who've been around a while, remember how we saw the way straight sites marketed, spammed and ripped customers off and thought " boy we're glad that's not our market " And now they've come onto our turf with the same marketing techniques etc. with lame content and ripping off subscribers.

MacDaddy "The good news is, these people/sites won't last long." Right, but as they evolve they could become more knowledgeable about our niche and tailor their techniques to hit the target better. When a site goes down it takes 5 mins. to register a new name.. learn from your mistakes.. switch things up a bit and see if your new ideas work. I wouldn't underestimate the willingness of some to crack coffers of our market.

Bec "I research, gather the upsell sponsors and content I want and then I'll build a few I've been wanting to market." I've started doing the same. I've actually found something interesting in my research, and with a site I've recently put up, that shocked me as to the marketability of some content. You guys can Private message me , or email me and I'll share what I've found. I can only do so much and always nice to work with new people.

totemack · 09-15-2004, 04:41 AM

Squirt, what I meant by "using a minimum amount of content is a sad but real fact of today's industry" was just backing up what you'd already said.
Those gay sites that have great looking tours and free areas and then once inside, the content is either very little or very bad quality.

regarding "the token fag" comment, absolutely!:high:

no, what I meant is that if at least one of the people working on the site is gay and understands the gay online market, then chances are the site will be more in tune with that gay market and more likely to sell well in it.

You can be my token fag anyday :whip:

**Topbuckslee** · 09-15-2004, 12:21 PM

Ok, I've been reading this thread for a couple days
and my interest is piqued.

So what's the consensus on Topbucks' gay sites? I think we do a pretty good job but as long as everyone is sharing opinions, this is a perfect opportunity to find out what we do right or what we could improve on.

lee

**Squirt** · 09-15-2004, 01:25 PM

You are TopBucks you guys get paid good money to know this kind of stuff :-D You're pretty much there with OhBoys and the rest I looked at are off base. :egg:

**Topbuckslee** · 09-15-2004, 01:37 PM

Thanks Squirt-
Yes, we are pretty good but we can always be better--

off base how? suggestions, suggestions...

MacDaddy · 09-15-2004, 01:38 PM

What i'm confused about in this thread is, how does good and bad marketing come down to sexual orientation? I've been in this business a long time and I have seen good and bad marketing on all sides, and good and bad members areas.

A lot of my straight girl friends love gay porn... totally turns them on. Gay people liking straight porn. Straight guys liking gay porn. Like it has been stated, you need to respect what you're doing, not like it. If you like it, even better.

The one thing I've always liked about this board is the fact that sexual orientation has never been an issue about anything. this is business. Yes there are people out there who suck and make it bad for all of us. But I think it's wrong to label those people doing that as straight. I don't believe straight poeple are distroying the gay market. I think people without respect and knowledge are distroying all markets.

**Squirt** · 09-15-2004, 01:54 PM

MacDaddy "What i'm confused about in this thread is, how does good and bad marketing come down to sexual orientation?"

Here is an example: A married, white, female, hetero, 30 year old marketing executive, with 3 children, has been hired to promote Black Teen Boy porn. Do you think she might have some barriers to overcome before being successful in her endeavor?

Don't peg me as segregating the straight and Gay people in the adult business. That is not what I'm doing or implying. My concern, as stated previously in this thread, are about the straight porn "slash and burn" marketing techniques being used in the Gay market ( i.e. glam front pages with very very little content, spamming etc )

Because of your post I feel I have to state the following DISCLAIMER: I like straight people. I like sex with straight men. I like straight women. I like watching straight men fuck women. I have straight friends. I'm a single father raising a son will probably be straight. ok.. I think that about covers it :high: