Interesting Question.. If You Had To Start From Scratch Today Could You Do It?

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  • woj
    <&(©¿©)&>
    • Jul 2002
    • 47880
    #51
    50 interesting replies to an interesting question...
    Last edited by woj; 04-27-2005, 07:09 PM.
    Custom Software Development, email: woj#at#wojfun#.#com to discuss details or skype: wojl2000 or gchat: wojfun or telegram: wojl2000
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      Comment

      • Spunky
        I need a beer
        • Jun 2002
        • 133978
        #52
        I would just do things differently now if I had to

          Comment

          • Napolean
            Misanthropic Egalitarian
            • Nov 2002
            • 4330
            #53
            Originally posted by SleazyDream
            i kinda feel like i start EVERY day from scratch.

            i really don't want to see the day where I don't feel like that.
            getting lazy is the worst, simplicity kills productivity
            HAH! FOUND IT FRIS

              Comment

              • StuartD
                Sofa King Band
                • Jul 2002
                • 29903
                #54
                How would starting from scratch tomorrow be any different than today?
                This is me on facebook
                This is me on twitter

                  Comment

                  • GTS Mark
                    Vrume Mark
                    • Jan 2001
                    • 20912
                    #55
                    I don't think I could do it today... Things are much different now and the market has changed alot.

                    DH

                      Comment

                      • drunkmonkey
                        Confirmed User
                        • Feb 2002
                        • 799
                        #56
                        I always thought it would make an excellent contest to try this exactly. Have contestants start with nothing (no money, no equipment, etc.), not allowed to use any previous contacts, use a Pseudonym (if they reveal their real name, they are out), and document ALL aspects of their business venture to see who could really do it. I think it would definately end a hell of a lot of shit talking if nothing else.

                        The winner would be crowned "Business Guru" or some shit.

                        This industry has changed so much so fast that there is no way that any "old schooler" could make it the way they did the first time. All success is due in great part by luck. The person who has won more times than they have lost just has not played the game long enough.

                        "...what ever you do, don?t congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either ? your choices are half chance, so are everybody else?s" - Baz Luhrmann

                          Comment

                          • Paul Markham
                            Too old to care
                            • Jun 2001
                            • 52942
                            #57
                            Originally posted by shap
                            Interesting point Aaron. That's a whole other debate LOL.

                            I think the guys that would have the most trouble are some of the old timers. It was real easy money back then and alot of them probably would not have a clue of what to do today if they had to do it all again. I see alot of these guys have sat back on their success and not really kept up to date with the industry.
                            This is very true, those who do not compete will fall back.

                            I don't put a lot of credence on the effect being here a long time makes it easier.

                            This is the biggest moving market in the world, we keep members for a matter of weeks. These people are the ultimate judges. They start to not sign up or not stay the effect will be falling numbers for the affiliates who will soon realise the time has come to move on.

                            The surfer does not know if you've been here 1 month or 10 years and I doubt if he really cares. He's jerking off and needs us to deliver him the goods. Yes those with a long track record will have more content available, more affiliates and better techniques. But if the site is not updated and worked on daily the surfer, in enough numbers, will see and move on. Then the affiliate will realise his ratios are sufferning and also move.

                            Are we one of the top content producers because we've been here 3 years or because last week we released 8 great new sets that will convert? And will do the same this week and next.



                            Blowout deal. 880 videos, 2,400 image sets, plus many RAW videos. $500.
                            PM me for a deal. Skype Paulmarkham70

                              Comment

                              • venus
                                Confirmed User
                                • Jan 2003
                                • 3112
                                #58
                                Your question could be taken different ways by different people, but I am going to take it as if I could make as much now if I started again.
                                the answer is no way. lots of reasons why, main ones are advertising methods. when I started I had no money, I knew nothing and I knew no one, I knew of no forums where you could go and get help, all my scripts I had to have custom made for me and so on.

                                The advertising methods that were once there are no longer, Usenet, once a good source for traffic are now almost worthless, IRC, now just wannabe hackers, free sites who had great traffic and who ran their sites because they wanted to - gone or went pay. One great source of traffic, someone whose traffic helped allot of the old cam sites is a member of this board (5i's or 3i's, been a long time) He was awsome, had a great msg board. But for me, running a pay site, I could get it started again, but not to the level it is now.



                                [QUOTE=shapIf you had to start everything from scratch today with little money and build from the ground up and without using your reputation or connections. [/QUOTE]
                                Muscle/Fitness Adult Affiliate Program
                                Since 1997 www.venuscash.com

                                  Comment

                                  • Paul Markham
                                    Too old to care
                                    • Jun 2001
                                    • 52942
                                    #59
                                    Originally posted by AaronM
                                    The way I see it...The amount of morons in this business increases exponentially every year. Thankfully, I've been establishing contacts for long enough that I can directly reach pretty much anybody that I want/need to reach these days without having to rely on others.

                                    Gone are the days of real webmasters. These new people don't know jack shit other than all they have to do is sign up for a program and milk it for all it's worth. Free content, free hosting, design this for me, upload that....Hell, now days there are sponsors who will even submit FHG's with your linking code.

                                    It's become pretty fucking sad.

                                    There's a lot that I still don't know about this business, especially when it comes to programming and technical shit like that....But at least I try to learn which is more than can be said about most of the newbies.
                                    Do you seriously think these morons make any money Aaron?

                                    They think everything should be free, they should get all the help and make $10,000 in their first month. Shock and horror so did the other 10,000 starting this week who thought selling porn was easy.

                                    I had a discussion in another forum with a webmaster who thinks paying $10 for a set will cut into his profits.



                                    Blowout deal. 880 videos, 2,400 image sets, plus many RAW videos. $500.
                                    PM me for a deal. Skype Paulmarkham70

                                      Comment

                                      • Paul Markham
                                        Too old to care
                                        • Jun 2001
                                        • 52942
                                        #60
                                        Originally posted by SleazyDream
                                        i kinda feel like i start EVERY day from scratch.

                                        i really don't want to see the day where I don't feel like that.
                                        And that's why you're at the top of your tree.



                                        Blowout deal. 880 videos, 2,400 image sets, plus many RAW videos. $500.
                                        PM me for a deal. Skype Paulmarkham70

                                          Comment

                                          • Paul Markham
                                            Too old to care
                                            • Jun 2001
                                            • 52942
                                            #61
                                            Originally posted by drunkmonkey
                                            This industry has changed so much so fast that there is no way that any "old schooler" could make it the way they did the first time. All success is due in great part by luck. The person who has won more times than they have lost just has not played the game long enough.
                                            The harder I work the luckier I get.

                                            So if I turned up here as a complete unknown and showed the content I shoot people would not buy iy for their sites because I was a newbie?

                                            IMHO These are the people that will not be in the business very long. The surfer is the ultimate judge for everything. Only buy because it turns the surfer on enough so they spend money.



                                            Blowout deal. 880 videos, 2,400 image sets, plus many RAW videos. $500.
                                            PM me for a deal. Skype Paulmarkham70

                                              Comment

                                              • TheJimmy
                                                ICQ- five seven 0 2 5 5 0
                                                • Jan 2001
                                                • 10747
                                                #62
                                                Originally posted by AaronM
                                                Could I do it? Yes.

                                                Would I do it? Not sure. Probably not.

                                                what he said...
                                                Investor with 5m - 15m USD to invest. Do you have a site or network of sites earning 50k - 200k a month income? Email your contact and preliminary data to: domain.cashventures (at) gmail.com....Please...no tire kickers...serious offers and inquiries only.

                                                  Comment

                                                  • Alex From San Diego
                                                    Confirmed User
                                                    • May 2001
                                                    • 1642
                                                    #63
                                                    Timing and luck is everything. My timing was right on by getting in back in 97.

                                                    Would I want to start from scratch in this biz right now? The answer is no.

                                                    Here is why. I just took the same 60k that I could have used to start another site but instead I purchased a PeterBilt Truck (10 Wheeler) to haul dirt and dump it from point A to Point B. I pay my driver (A buddy of mine) 20.00/hour to operate it. The total cost to keep this vehicle in operation is about 32.00/hour.

                                                    I charge 82.00/hour. My profit is around 50.00/hour and I don't do shit.

                                                    That comes out to about 130k per year. My ROI is about 5.5 months.
                                                    Ask yourself, how long does it take to break even on a site that cost you around 60k to develop? Pretty sure it is longer than 5.5 months if at all.

                                                    Sure there is money to be made in this business and probably always will be but I know you can't start out with 200.00 like I did 8 years ago. Today if you want to do it right you need to actually have working capital regardless if you are going to do a paysite or just be a promoter of various sponsors.

                                                    Today everything costs money and when I say everything, I mean traffic. There really is no such thing as "Free Traffic" as there was 8 years ago.

                                                    I don't believe for one second, The Hun could go out and start from scratch and have the same results as he did with his current site. I don't think you or any of these other guys that have been around for years could either. Timing plays a big part in it and I'm just thankful that my timing was right on.
                                                    We are what we repeatedly do.-Aristotle

                                                      Comment

                                                      • Rui
                                                        web
                                                        • Dec 2001
                                                        • 9533
                                                        #64
                                                        Originally posted by Alex From San Diego
                                                        Timing and luck is everything. My timing was right on by getting in back in 97.

                                                        Would I want to start from scratch in this biz right now? The answer is no.

                                                        Here is why. I just took the same 60k that I could have used to start another site but instead I purchased a PeterBilt Truck (10 Wheeler) to haul dirt and dump it from point A to Point B. I pay my driver (A buddy of mine) 20.00/hour to operate it. The total cost to keep this vehicle in operation is about 32.00/hour.

                                                        I charge 82.00/hour. My profit is around 50.00/hour and I don't do shit.

                                                        That comes out to about 130k per year. My ROI is about 5.5 months.
                                                        Ask yourself, how long does it take to break even on a site that cost you around 60k to develop? Pretty sure it is longer than 5.5 months if at all.

                                                        Sure there is money to be made in this business and probably always will be but I know you can't start out with 200.00 like I did 8 years ago. Today if you want to do it right you need to actually have working capital regardless if you are going to do a paysite or just be a promoter of various sponsors.

                                                        Today everything costs money and when I say everything, I mean traffic. There really is no such thing as "Free Traffic" as there was 8 years ago.

                                                        I don't believe for one second, The Hun could go out and start from scratch and have the same results as he did with his current site. I don't think you or any of these other guys that have been around for years could either. Timing plays a big part in it and I'm just thankful that my timing was right on.
                                                        What about gas and other extra costs?

                                                        Also if its that good why not get another one ;)

                                                          Comment

                                                          • cmwkings
                                                            Confirmed User
                                                            • Jan 2003
                                                            • 461
                                                            #65
                                                            Originally posted by AaronM
                                                            The way I see it...The amount of morons in this business increases exponentially every year. Thankfully, I've been establishing contacts for long enough that I can directly reach pretty much anybody that I want/need to reach these days without having to rely on others.

                                                            Gone are the days of real webmasters. These new people don't know jack shit other than all they have to do is sign up for a program and milk it for all it's worth. Free content, free hosting, design this for me, upload that....Hell, now days there are sponsors who will even submit FHG's with your linking code.

                                                            It's become pretty fucking sad.

                                                            There's a lot that I still don't know about this business, especially when it comes to programming and technical shit like that....But at least I try to learn which is more than can be said about most of the newbies.
                                                            Experience and knowledge says it all. The only thing missing is the tenacity and motivation to make it a reality. I would venture to say anyone with technical experience, a few fast computers, a lot of properly indexed content and a few extra thousand dollars can make it big WITHOUT contacts. Having many contacts would be easy success by default.

                                                            It's been almost 10 years already...bloody hell. Too bad I took a 3 year vacation (working only 8 hours a day)...Now back to banging. The significant progression in technology has made things a lot easier.
                                                            NO SHAMELESS PLUGS...JUST INFO & COMMENTS

                                                              Comment

                                                              • Voodoo
                                                                ♥ ♦ ♣ ♠
                                                                • Sep 2002
                                                                • 10600
                                                                #66
                                                                Luckily, I wasn't blessed with a trust fund or major financial connections, so I had to rely on my drive to learn, and have schooled myself in many different aspects to this industry. So, if I had to start all over, I'd probably have an advantage over those who didn't spend the past XX years learning, I do well for myself now, and if I had to start over with little or no money, it would be difficult, but not as difficult as it was trying to learn the difference between a nested variable and a variable variable. heh

                                                                "I'm selflessly supporting the common good, but only coincidentally looking out for No.1."

                                                                  Comment

                                                                  • Adultnet
                                                                    Confirmed User
                                                                    • Sep 2003
                                                                    • 8713
                                                                    #67
                                                                    Originally posted by WiredGuy
                                                                    Yup, I got lucky in the beginning because of a relatively uncompetitive market and low cost to entry but I could replicate the success today after the years of experience I've had underneath my belt. It would be much harder but definitely doable.
                                                                    WG
                                                                    yes...
                                                                    It is harder with every year that pass but it is doable..


                                                                    TrafficCashGold Paying Webmasters Since 1996!
                                                                    Awesome Conversions! Fast Weekly Payments! Over 125 Tours!

                                                                      Comment

                                                                      • bigdog
                                                                        Confirmed User
                                                                        • Jul 2001
                                                                        • 6964
                                                                        #68
                                                                        Originally posted by Alex From San Diego
                                                                        Timing and luck is everything. My timing was right on by getting in back in 97.

                                                                        Would I want to start from scratch in this biz right now? The answer is no.

                                                                        Here is why. I just took the same 60k that I could have used to start another site but instead I purchased a PeterBilt Truck (10 Wheeler) to haul dirt and dump it from point A to Point B. I pay my driver (A buddy of mine) 20.00/hour to operate it. The total cost to keep this vehicle in operation is about 32.00/hour.

                                                                        I charge 82.00/hour. My profit is around 50.00/hour and I don't do shit.

                                                                        That comes out to about 130k per year. My ROI is about 5.5 months.
                                                                        Ask yourself, how long does it take to break even on a site that cost you around 60k to develop? Pretty sure it is longer than 5.5 months if at all.

                                                                        Sure there is money to be made in this business and probably always will be but I know you can't start out with 200.00 like I did 8 years ago. Today if you want to do it right you need to actually have working capital regardless if you are going to do a paysite or just be a promoter of various sponsors.

                                                                        Today everything costs money and when I say everything, I mean traffic. There really is no such thing as "Free Traffic" as there was 8 years ago.

                                                                        I don't believe for one second, The Hun could go out and start from scratch and have the same results as he did with his current site. I don't think you or any of these other guys that have been around for years could either. Timing plays a big part in it and I'm just thankful that my timing was right on.
                                                                        how long do you think it would take these days to make back a 60k investment on a site?

                                                                          Comment

                                                                          • On-Rails
                                                                            Confirmed User
                                                                            • Aug 2004
                                                                            • 291
                                                                            #69
                                                                            Yes I would start from scratch again. Its a different game plan than it was say in 1997 to 2000 but still can be very profitable. Takes alot of hard work and innovation to make it these days.

                                                                            I would not give this job up for any other job out there. Working the rat race sucks the big one.


                                                                            PR5, PR4 and PR3 Hard links 4 SALE
                                                                            Get Your Banner on 40 sites
                                                                            Trade with 25 blog sites, Teen, Milf, Hardcore, Fetish, Babe
                                                                            ICQ 259292615

                                                                              Comment

                                                                              • drunkmonkey
                                                                                Confirmed User
                                                                                • Feb 2002
                                                                                • 799
                                                                                #70
                                                                                Originally posted by charly
                                                                                The harder I work the luckier I get.

                                                                                amen


                                                                                8chars

                                                                                  Comment

                                                                                  • MaDalton
                                                                                    I am Amazing Content!
                                                                                    • Feb 2004
                                                                                    • 39861
                                                                                    #71
                                                                                    hey shap,

                                                                                    you know i did all this in september 2003 - cancelled my mainstream job, dumped my girlfriend, quit my apartment and moved where i live now with no clue about this business, no photography skills and not even an idea what a webmaster is.

                                                                                    and you know what we are doing now.

                                                                                    so the answer to this question is probably yes.
                                                                                    AmazingContent.com - providing only the best content and service since 2003
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                                                                                      Comment

                                                                                      • swedguy
                                                                                        Confirmed User
                                                                                        • Jan 2002
                                                                                        • 7981
                                                                                        #72
                                                                                        I don't network a lot and I don't rely on anyone else for anything that is important.
                                                                                        So as long as I can keep my knowledge, yes, I could and would start from scratch today if I needed to.
                                                                                        But I would probably have to take a different route to get to where I'm at today.

                                                                                          Comment

                                                                                          • Fabuleux
                                                                                            Confirmed User
                                                                                            • May 2003
                                                                                            • 2543
                                                                                            #73
                                                                                            Knowledge is everything. I made a lot of mistakes in the beginning, but I won't make them again. So I think starting from scratch is easy. The day I quit I thought WTF, and took the time to pass some knowledge to a noob (with allmost no money to invest). He made $1000 his first month. I think that ain't that bad.

                                                                                            BTW I still have one site for sale:
                                                                                            http://www.gofuckyourself.com/showthread.php?t=461281

                                                                                              Comment

                                                                                              • mrthumbs
                                                                                                salad tossing sig guy
                                                                                                • Apr 2002
                                                                                                • 11702
                                                                                                #74
                                                                                                im with quiet

                                                                                                  Comment

                                                                                                  • Fletch XXX
                                                                                                    GFY HALL OF FAME DAMMIT!!!
                                                                                                    • Jan 2002
                                                                                                    • 60840
                                                                                                    #75
                                                                                                    Originally posted by BVF
                                                                                                    I don't think I could do it....It took YEARS to build up this shit.

                                                                                                    I got my start from a 10,000+ yahoo club that I built up from providing FREE weekly sets of girls to my club members...I was able to get a signup within an hour of setting up my paysite.

                                                                                                    Now, Yahoo clubs/groups are dead. You don't get the 100+ members signing up per day and you don't have the adult club directory on Yahoo....If I didn't have that, I'd just be another newb with no traffic trying to peddle some crack hoes. I've seen plenty of people try to follow me and MISERABLY fail and they did it because they didn't have a fan base before they started their paysite.

                                                                                                    Plus I was just to IGNORANT to know that starting a paysite as a newb would almost guarantee failure. I never joined a paysite before I started mine and I rarely surfed them so I had virtually NO experience in internet porn when I started. I just knew that I had an audience and that I could work it for my own benefit.

                                                                                                    My success is built on time, luck, early entry, good marketing, excellent salespitch writing, and branding and less on actual webmastering skill...I've built my name on the SURFERS telling others about me and not on networking with others in the biz.

                                                                                                    So if I had to start today, I highly doubt that I would have made it...Yahoo Groups are dead now....I also wouldn't have been able to pay the 750 visa registration fee as a newb instead of visa coming along AFTER I was making enough to just pay them with deductions from my current income.

                                                                                                    I wouldn't have made it...Seriously.
                                                                                                    this is why i just signed up for this guys stuff.

                                                                                                    real mother fucker.

                                                                                                    http://www.blackvaginafinder.com/webmasters.htm

                                                                                                    "You get sales credit for up to 255 days after the surfer clicks."

                                                                                                    nice man cheers

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