A lot of these things most are posting are spot on. I've been in online biz since '97 after getting out of college. I did a little hobby or personal interest site, and when the net changed on free hosts to a pay to play, and people were getting hammered with TOS I had to make the change to membership, and new hosting. Over time tinkering, I learned what have come to be tradeskills. But I did not do this full time. It was a hobby that made extra money. A few years later, I did another site, and it was moderately successful as well.
Through that time, I read, and read, and read some more. Experimented, and tried new things. Some worked, some didn't. But the money kept flowing until I took the plunge a few years back, and started doing this full time.
Last summer, I had a company who wanted to hire me to consult for them. They thought they were in the position to make a porn kingdom, and had da ladies lined up for miles.
So before they started, I told them about 2257 docs, lighting, cameras and everything they would need to just CYA. In no time, they were in trouble because they did not listen. No documents for their models. So when they thought they were ready, they weren't. Having to go back and get all the docs from the girls.
But before even that, they were in trouble. I asked them in one of the first meetings "what will this site be about", they said, "I dunno". That's a problem right there. Next, domain name, "I dunno". Again, problem. Then I gave them some advice, but they wanted to be "all lthings to all people". Another problem. So they had material from everything from hardcore to the weakest shit ever. Shot bad. No shoots. Basically house parties being filmed. Completely worthless.
After all that mess, it came time to get into the actual WORK. They realized a lot of it was grueling, unrewarding, menotinous work. Then one of the two partners said, "Can't we just pay you to do this", I just laughed, and laughed.
6 months later, they are finally getting most of their shit put together. Still not remotely in a position to make any money. They've had countless problems, one of the biggest being them telling their models that once they make their millions, they will give them the hook up. And already talking of new projects they have no clue how much work's involved, much less the logistics, or the finances to pull off. So obviously, their models want more money.
This is just one example of countless people I've talked to who think you can get a camera, some women, throw something on the net, and the winning lotto ticket arives. One of the things that absolutely crack me up are people who think I watch tv all day in my underwear, and do not have to keep a work scehdule. They will ask, so really how much do you really work? When I tell them 12-18 hours a day they are like wtf?!!?
When you run a business that's always working on something, plus maintaining other things. You have to treat it like a business. People do not see that. Same for models, they think it's a cake walk.
I tell everyone, and anyone. This is a business like any other. My store front's the site, and my customers are the traffic. Your content's the product, and you have to get it out to the people who want to buy your stuff in the most effiecent way. Then get them to pay for it. Same as a donut shop, or anything else.
A lot of this stuff is repeative, grueling, shit work. But the money makes it worth it. But, you have to have patience, try new things, tinker with the formula, and perfect it. Until the next thing comes along. Then roll with it. Nothing in instant.
One of the biggest things I think noobs lack, is a sense of reality, and patience. Both for the success, but the trial and error needed to make it.
