While TGP site owners and affiliates were earning so much money. I wonder if any of them stopped to think of the long term consequences? Includes sponsors as well.
By far and away the biggest cost to a site was promoting it. Rev share starting at 50%, PS at $25. Plus affiliates demanded every tool possible, all the content possible, hosting, banners, support and higher payments if they passed certain figures. I have been asked for exorbitant amounts for a sign up. Plus every thing done for the affiliate.
Decent TGPs, not the cycle jerks that pissed off surfers seriously looking to buy, wanted paying for top spots, banners and then partner accounts.
And then there was promotion to get affiliates, all cost money.
All this cost money and no one bothered where it came from so long as it came. Some didn't even bother if the customer got ripped off, stolen from or just sold a bad site. All that mattered was the money.
So where was it found?
Hosting - No, that's pretty well fixed depending on the BW and in the early days a significant cost.
CC Processing - No again fixed according to turn over.
Programming, design, are one off.
Admin - Yes some worked from their bedrooms and acted like big shots. In truth they weren't.
Content - YES. The cost of what the surfer was buying was cut to the bone. ATK, Karups, Mayers money and many more thought $300 to $400 a full solo girl scene outright was top dollar.
Lesbian scenes were a bit better at $1,000-$1,200 a scene. No where compares with what a lesbian set is really worth.
HC was anything from $1,000 to $2,000. Again doesn't compare with what it could be worth.
And then there were the people who thought all it took to shoot porn was a camera and lights.
The consequences are plain to see. Affiliates are pricing themselves out of the market. The sites are full of the same dull content and the surfer thinks Porn Tubes are better than paysites.
Anyone who spoke up and said the content is crap, me, was told to STFU because I didn't know what I was talking about.
Tubes are better than paysites because they meet consumers needs better than paysites. Crying about them being illegal is useless. They are not until convicted in a court and even if one was. The surfers would move th\o the next free Tube site. Because they think they're better than paysites. Free is only part of the problem.
The lousiest excuse in selling is
"No one buying today. It is easily answered with, that's because no one is really selling. Loading free sites with free porn is the lowest form of selling.
And to sell a repeat buy product the product has to be worth it. Many are not and the consumer knows it.
A few sites do stand out. I'm talking about in general.