Most of the guys who have been in this biz for a long time have diversified into a lot of deals besides adult entertainment. Even in the 900 business which I focused on for well over a decade we made more money from our non-adult programs then the adult ones. The adult stuff has always been and still is loads of fun. I guess growing up in the generation when Playboy first started every kid wanted to be like Hefner one day, with the mansion, the girls, the carefree lifestyle.
I personally like people new in the biz. They bring fresh creative and innovative ideas to the table. I try to surround myself with as many young partners as possible. Most of my partners in my adult and non-adult businesses are in there 20's and 30's. They also have way more energy.
I do think TGP's are beneficial in many ways and detrimental in others. The best things TGP's have done is flood the Internet with free porn. Some would say this is not good for our industry. I disagree in that it facilitated massive amounts of new porn addicts. Yes they won't make anyone a dime now, but one day they will buy something as the cravings get more and more fixated on each person's particular niche fantasies that satisfy them. Porn is like what guys selling drugs do to open new markets. You have to hook new customers in with free tries.
Once they get a taste of it, they are addicted and want more to satisfy their cravings which become insatiable for most.
On the negative side, I think TGP's could accomplish the same result if they would limit the amount of pics that enlarge. Even cutting back to half of the thumbs on a page requiring membership would enhance sells. So many guys are only hurting their bottom line by giving more away than they need to.
Debbie Fields of Mrs. Fields cookies is famous for saying "All it takes is one sample of my freshly baked cookies and I've got a new customer."
Also, on the negatie side, TGP's become a fixation for many webmasters. So instead of broadening their marketing horizons they get locked into I got build more and more galleries. There are a lot of other ways out there to generate traffic and revenues.
You can also take the base traffic you already have and refine your conversion rates.
Anyway, to me, the more newb's the better. It makes us old timers stay on our toes, and I for one enjoy the challenge of boxing in the marketplace with them. Keeps the game exciting and fun.
The best advice to you new guys is as soon as you start making money diversify and invest in non-adult businesses also so you have income coming in from all sorts of deals.
And whatever you do never ever qive up and quit. Persistence is the key to success in any business.
