Real Touch: Whats the latest?

[simmeon]

Does this product sell better in 2011? (Read posts from 2010)
What success are you having with these types of sex toys in general?
What's holding these types of sex gadgets back? Economy? Price? Marketing? Ahead of its time?

Just want to hear your opinions on if these types of sex gadgets, do they have a future or if they are already dead.

Discuss.

[Lace]

What guy is going to spend $250 on a machine to jack him off? Much cheaper to use your hand, or a cheap hooker at that.

[Caligari]

Originally Posted by Lace

What guy is going to spend $250 on a machine to jack him off? Much cheaper to use your hand, or a cheap hooker at that.

Answer- alot. They've sold thousands of units.
I on the other hand have sold a whopping 9 units with about 100 sign ups, not so hot.

And now i see in xbiz news-
"RealTouch announced today that the company plans to cease sales of the devices through third-party distributors and those interested in selling the product will have to buy directly from RealTouch."
http://www.xbiz.com/news/139959

so does anyone know whats up with that?

[TheSquealer]

An expensive, awkward, unattractive, uninteresting product that requires PPV videos at a more expensive rate, to be used in an age when Tubes dominate. Total genius. Can't imagine why this is failing.

[simmeon]

Originally Posted by Caligari

Answer- alot. They've sold thousands of units.
I on the other hand have sold a whopping 9 units with about 100 sign ups, not so hot.

And now i see in xbiz news-
"RealTouch announced today that the company plans to cease sales of the devices through third-party distributors and those interested in selling the product will have to buy directly from RealTouch."


so does anyone know whats up with that?

That ratio is not bad. Do you think the problem is that, they are just not promoting it enough? The average joe still as never heard of them or their product.

[Caligari]

Originally Posted by TheSquealer

An expensive, awkward, unattractive, uninteresting product that requires PPV videos at a more expensive rate, to be used in an age when Tubes dominate. Total genius. Can't imagine why this is failing.

Makes sense it would be uninteresting to boring twits with no imagination.

[Caligari]

Originally Posted by simmeon

That ratio is not bad. Do you think the problem is that, they are just not promoting it enough? The average joe still as never heard of them or their product.

I don't know if the average Joe can fork out 250.00 for a sex toy, even though it is way beyond a typical sex toy.
It is a specialty item right now although in the near future it will be thought of as the catalyst for the next sexual revolution i.e. the next stage of virtual sex.

To make them sell right now the price should drop to 199.00 and the buyer should get more free video time on the front end, with lower price on the subsequent videos.

[Caligari]

I think another thing will be the addition of lenses/glasses for full immersion.
Right now the user is looking at a screen, but with virtual glasses the experience would be greatly enhanced.

[TheSquealer]

Originally Posted by Caligari

I don't know if the average Joe can fork out 250.00 for a sex toy, even though it is way beyond a typical sex toy.
It is a specialty item right now although in the near future it will be thought of as the catalyst for the next sexual revolution i.e. the next stage of virtual sex.

To make them sell right now the price should drop to 199.00 and the buyer should get more free video time on the front end, with lower price on the subsequent videos.

First things first:

Appeal.

Who is this meant to appeal to and why?

What is my motivation to use it as a potential customer? I personally see absolutely no reason. In fact, if it was free, I see no reason. I am not looking for a unique masturbatory experience, I am looking to finish my business and get on with my day.

There is zero appeal to me

Do benefits outweigh the costs? What are the benefits? Interactivity? Is that more appealing than interacting with a live model? Why have other remote controlled sex toys failed?

It is appealing to stick your dick into a machine?

Do the costs of content (accessing it, waiting for it to load, paying extra for it etc etc etc) outweigh the benefit of the instant gratification of a tube site

Cleaning? It has to be cleaned.

It breaks. All things mechanical break.

It is expensive... and it will break. Can't drop it. Gotta be really careful. $250.00 to jerk off.

There are direct costs to using it.
1) cleaning
2) lube
3) going to a specific site, logging in, buying time, waiting for videos to load/buffer
4) paying additional cost for specific content for this device

There are ZERO direct costs to going to ones own library or a tube site. It's instant gratification. Masturbation is impulse... not a planned event requiring setup, cleanup and maintenance.

The reasons why this will never fly are endless.

What was spent in developing it? I heard from AEBN employees, 8 figures. It was a fail well before it was launched.

[TheSquealer]

Originally Posted by Caligari

I think another thing will be the addition of lenses/glasses for full immersion.
Right now the user is looking at a screen, but with virtual glasses the experience would be greatly enhanced.

I think history has proven time and time again... that short, sweet and to the point with as few bells and whistles as possible is what has maximum appeal to the broadest audience. ;)

[TheSquealer]

Lets take a quick look at the site... which, after the flawed concept itself, is the next step in the process of fail.

www.realtouch.com

Absence of a headline and supporting text answering the questions

"Where am i"
"why is this unique"
"why is this better than other options"
"why should i buy this"

You have about 10-15 words to drive this home in a simple, concise, clear sentence

You should open the home page and it should be instantly clear where the user is, what the product is, what the benefits of the product are, what makes it unique, what the user needs to do (what action to take) and so on and so on. You should have their undivided attention instantly.

Their site is just a mess. You have to really start looking around to make sense of whats going on, what it is, how it works, what its benefits are (though they don't really highlight any)

A first big clue to a poor understanding of website design and marketing is the use of the Jquery slideshow... not only does the site NOT start instantly answering users questions (in those first few seconds), it makes the user wait, try to quickly read/comprehend and think think think and the pointless info that is presented is scrolling and changing from one random message to another... never make the user think. You guide the users thoughts from the moment they open the page, to a conclusion (call to action).


first message: (in jquery slideshow) -
"innovative engineering"
Huh? I thought this was a great sexual experience... what does an intense orgasm have to do with engineering? Engineering is not a selling point for a sexual device.

second message:
"incredible sensations"
Ok... this seems like an important point and what makes the product unique. Really, this is what the product is about... Why is it's sole important attribute and unique benefit an afterthought?

third message:
"amazing encounters"
Hmm... pretty vague, ambiguous and meaningless. plus the image makes that more confusing by showing 2 people together. that doesn't help to clarify what this means, but rather adds to the confusion in the users mind and with that, anxiety

fourth message:
"satisfying workout"
Huh? exercise? what the hell does those 2 words have to do with anything i'm interested in? An idea that is nothing more than an afterthought and weak attempt to appeal to an entirely different market - which conflicts with and dilutes the appeal of the initial purpose causing further user anxiety

fifth message:
"get real"
a common expression commanding people to serious. really? Did you just insult the visitor? At a minimum does that cause a moment of confusion? I think at this point they were just desperate for ideas to fill in an extra slide. It does nothing to tie the previous 4 points together leading to an obvious conclusion and call to action (not that a call to action matters, when the slide is going to quickly change anyway).

BONUS - The jquery slideshow itself is nothing more than a tool to create confusion and anxiety - changing, ambiguous and confusing messages that are changing quickly and then cycle again and again. Horrible for sales.

You have 7 seconds or so to start making sense before people hit the back button. That can be done with a simple sentence, supporting image and supporting text. Slideshows do the exact opposite.

User testimonials?
Hm... lack of social proof. Further adding to the red flags and user anxiety.

The product itself is tied directly to a dying business model. PPV.

[Caligari]

Originally Posted by TheSquealer

First things first:
There is zero appeal to me

As I said, this is not meant to appeal to the average Joe. This is not a McPorn concept for the masses.

Originally Posted by TheSquealer

It is appealing to stick your dick into a machine?

Is it appealing sticking your entire body inside a car and driving at 60 mph on a road full of strangers?

Originally Posted by TheSquealer

Cleaning? It has to be cleaned.

It breaks. All things mechanical break.

Captain Obvious?

Originally Posted by TheSquealer

There are ZERO direct costs to going to ones own library or a tube site. It's instant gratification. Masturbation is impulse... not a planned event requiring setup, cleanup and maintenance.

Once again, this is not a device for mass consumption.
As with any high end device you must take care of it, keep in mind we are talking about robotics here.
It's like buying a nice stereo. You do realize there is some maintenance, cleaning involved and you're going to take care of it right?

[woj]

the pricing is all wrong, it should be sold at or below cost and the $$ should be made on recurring membership to the premium encoded content....

[TheSquealer]

Originally Posted by Caligari

Once again, this is not a device for mass consumption.
As with any high end device you must take care of it, keep in mind we are talking about robotics here.
It's like buying a nice stereo. You do realize there is some maintenance, cleaning involved and you're going to take care of it right?

Ok, its not for the masses.

However, you have yet to clearly define WHO IT IS FOR

So we just ruled out "the masses" which is what? 80% of porn surfers? 95%?

Who exactly is it for?

Define the target demographic (which is totally unclear in anything they've put out)

[simmeon]

I agree the pricing structure is not good seeing as the product is not cheap. Your right, Overall website doesnt make it clear what it is. Why dont they have a sample video or images? Now I can see why coversions are low. Even if you sent them a lead, chances are they would leave. But you would think they would know how to do the basics? Sigh.

[Sly]

Originally Posted by simmeon

I agree the pricing structure is not good seeing as the product is not cheap. Your right, Overall website doesnt make it clear what it is. Why dont they have a sample video or images? Now I can see why coversions are low. Even if you sent them a lead, chances are they would leave. But you would think they would know how to do the basics? Sigh.

I am looking at the site right now and the structure/feeling/layout makes me think B2B.

If an affiliate could link directly to the join page, someone clever could probably create a nice tour that focuses more on surfers eyes.

[TheSquealer]

Originally Posted by simmeon

I agree the pricing structure is not good seeing as the product is not cheap. Your right, Overall website doesnt make it clear what it is. Why dont they have a sample video or images? Now I can see why coversions are low. Even if you sent them a lead, chances are they would leave. But you would think they would know how to do the basics? Sigh.

An interesting thing.. .the emphasis on showing the device. I have no frame of referrence. I don't know what its supposed to look like, I don't get a feel from looking at it - what it does, why i need it, how its going to work for me and so on. The pics of it are kinda useless as a focal point. Maybe pics of someone using it and having the perfect expression on their faces would help to give context - but really the pics of the device are pretty useless as a sales tool if its not a pic of someone using it.

[TheSquealer]

A massive investment in product development and marketing in something thats innovative and unique... getting crushed by a simple, crappy Fleshlight.

Think about it.

[Caligari]

Originally Posted by woj

the pricing is all wrong, it should be sold at or below cost and the $$ should be made on recurring membership to the premium encoded content....

Good point, this could certainly be an option where the affiliate links to an at cost price with recurring.

Originally Posted by TheSquealer

Ok, its not for the masses.

However, you have yet to clearly define WHO IT IS FOR

So we just ruled out "the masses" which is what? 80% of porn surfers? 95%?

Who exactly is it for?

Define the target demographic (which is totally unclear in anything they've put out)

I would say its for the VIRTUAL SEX crowd, which is actually pretty big. The people who want more than a tube, more than just to watch. They want interactive sex.

I think this is where Realtouch should focus their advertising, along with the "sex with your favorite pornstar" angle.

There was talk about using the Realtouch with a LIVE cam model...now imagine that.

Think about that one for a second. If they could successfully have the machine mimic the movements of a model in LIVE mode, this would be a game changer.

And its going to happen. Soon.

[Shap]

Originally Posted by TheSquealer

An expensive, awkward, unattractive, uninteresting product that requires PPV videos at a more expensive rate, to be used in an age when Tubes dominate. Total genius. Can't imagine why this is failing.

Couldn't have put it better. I don't know anyone who has seen it and thought wow this is awesome I want one. Everybody I've showed has made some joke about it. Not to mention its far too heavy, clumsy and wired

[Shap]

Caligari have you Seen one?

[TheSquealer]

Originally Posted by Caligari

Good point, this could certainly be an option where the affiliate links to an at cost price with recurring.



I would say its for the VIRTUAL SEX crowd, which is actually pretty big. The people who want more than a tube, more than just to watch. They want interactive sex.

I think this is where Realtouch should focus their advertising, along with the "sex with your favorite pornstar" angle.

There was talk about using the Realtouch with a LIVE cam model...now imagine that.

Think about that one for a second. If they could successfully have the machine mimic the movements of a model in LIVE mode, this would be a game changer.

And its going to happen. Soon.

I think you are not aware of the fact that remote USB sex toys have came and went and never succeeded. That was the next big thing 10 years ago. It's not a new.concept, it's already proven to be a failed concept. My experience is that quick, convenient, easy and to the point will ALWAYS trump features, functions and complexity.

Also, horrible marketing will not sell a great product. This is and has since day one been one of the most horrible attempts to develop, produce, package and launch a product that this industry has seen. Think of launching new technology as finding a missing person. With each day that passes, the odds of a successful conclusion decline dramatically. this missing person is already dead in a ditch somewhere and no one has the balls or husiness sense to call it what it is.

[ReggieDurango]

Originally Posted by Shap

Couldn't have put it better. I don't know anyone who has seen it and thought wow this is awesome I want one. Everybody I've showed has made some joke about it. Not to mention its far too heavy, clumsy and wired

I've used it and it's AWESOME!
Not ashamed to admit that!!!

[InfoGuy]

Originally Posted by woj

the pricing is all wrong, it should be sold at or below cost and the $$ should be made on recurring membership to the premium encoded content....

My thoughts exactly. They should follow the Polaroid camera or inkjet printer model, where the device is sold cheap and profits are earned from selling the accessories, in this case - videos.

[BIGTYMER]

My penis stays away from anything with a power cord.

[GatorB]

Originally Posted by TheSquealer

There are direct costs to using it.
1) cleaning
2) lube

Lots of guys use lube to jerk off with their hands and I certainly hope that you wash your hands after jerking off, lube or no lube.

[CarlosTheGaucho]

I believe in RealTouch. although it's not exactly an easy sell unless someone has a chance to actually "touch it", especially with its price.

Seen it first in Vegas in 2009 and once I had a chance to touch it with my fingers I was more than impressed, the question is how to persuade new customers in a non personal way about something they should actually feel.

[TheSquealer]

Originally Posted by GatorB

Lots of guys use lube to jerk off with their hands and I certainly hope that you wash your hands after jerking off, lube or no lube.

I was simply pointing out that the upfront costs are understood. The benefits are not. Each additional step. Each additional action required. Each additional bit of planning needed. The thought of putting your dick into an electrical/mechanical device and so on and so on... all cause anxiety in the buyers mind. To overcome that, you must effectively make the case that all benefits outweigh all the costs. Anyone that looks at this is basically thinking "what the fuck"... not "this sounds like the most intense sexual experience I could ever have". The whole experience of using it needs to be summed up in a simple headline (and subheading/supporting text if needed) that instantly appeals to the user and answers "why should i buy this", "why is this right for me", "why are these claims credible" etc etc. The entire site should be built around that headline.

All realtouch.com does is basically say "check out the specs on this thing you've never seen before". No one cares. That's not what people are buying. That will not convince anyone to make a $250.00 purchase for a sex toy. Further, the site assumes people are motivated to keep trying to understand what it is and what the benefits are, without having made that case in a few seconds (at a glance) to the visitor.

If you can't make it clear in a glance...
If you can't make it the user WANT to know more because he instantly understands its the perfect thing for him
If you can't make the user instantly understand that the benefits/value outweigh the costs (price and time/anxiety etc)

... then all the videos, supporting pages etc are just a waste of pixels because he'll never get that far, unless its out of morbid curiosity.

This site is an epic failure built to sell a product that was always destined to be an epic failure.

A company who has been coasting on early success -> PPC / bought traffic and users that rebill forever finally realized they needed to do something new or they were dead in the water. One massive ego walked into a room and said "I have the best idea ever!" - and no one had the balls to tell him that it was retarded. The idea to take a dying business model and try to make it more expensive with an absurd product.

What Real Touch and its epic failure of a launch show is that they were never good business people to begin with.

[paffg]

Where is their affiliate program?

[cooldude7]

its gr8 product , i even wanted to buy it for myself so i cheked its details.,and noticed every time i have to jack off i have to pay them.,

this sucks.,

1 more thing every time i have to in front of computer. rather i would buy fleshlight, jack off anywhere , anytime. cheers

[CarlosTheGaucho]

Originally Posted by paffg

Where is their affiliate program?

Simply sign up as an affiliate at:

www.aebn.net

(webmaster link at the bottom)

[Caligari]

[Fabien]

I agree that it's really not appealing. You're not sure you're at the right site and yeah, cost a bit too much.

I wish it would look better. With vidz and explanations.

[FreeHugeMovies]

Upgrated models will be coming out. Lighter and wireless from my understanding

[porno jew]

yeah i'm shocked that non one wants to put a hand blender around the most sensitive and prized part of the make anatomy.

[TheSquealer]

Originally Posted by FreeHugeMovies

Upgrated models will be coming out. Lighter and wireless from my understanding

Should be huge. Slipping into panic mode and trying to respond to customer objections without understanding the sales process, the market, the customer and how to sell it to begin with, will surely be the boost they need.

Some might say however, that redesigning a turd won't cause people to suddenly buy turds. Don't listen to them.

[CarlosTheGaucho]

Originally Posted by Fabien

I agree that it's really not appealing. You're not sure you're at the right site and yeah, cost a bit too much.

I wish it would look better. With vidz and explanations.

All these are available across the youtube etc.

One can and has to pre sell

[ajrocks]

Ok Real Touch, send me a unit, I'm willing to try it out and give a real honest review here once and for all!

[fuzebox]

Anyone promote the autoblow? Seems like a comparable product at a quarter the price with no PPV requirements.

[LeivaMedia]

If anyone wants RealTouchCoupon.com for $100 BIN, Icq/email me please

[DWB]

I'm not sticking my cock into anything that's plugged into the wall.

/thread

[Fabien]

Originally Posted by Sly

I am looking at the site right now and the structure/feeling/layout makes me think B2B.

If an affiliate could link directly to the join page, someone clever could probably create a nice tour that focuses more on surfers eyes.

I vote for this

[simmeon]

Originally Posted by FreeHugeMovies

Upgrated models will be coming out. Lighter and wireless from my understanding

Sounds good, but it should not be more expensive. If so it becomes an even harder sell.

[TheSquealer]

Originally Posted by simmeon

Sounds good, but it should not be more expensive. If so it becomes an even harder sell.

It's about value. People in adult have a very poor concept of sales and marketing.

People will not pay 250.00 for a device where when you look at the marketing and have nothing but questions, concerns and objections (such a price)

People WILL pay 250.00 for a device that guarantees them the most intense sexual experience of their life, anytime they want, as often as they want. The features and engineering are irrelevant to that point. The buyer is not.buying these things - he's buying an experience.

This is just a poorly marketed product. Whether or not it's a bad idea remains to be seen. With it's current marketing, it cannot succed in any meaningful and enduring way, at any price point.

[porno jew]

so this this product still alive? still have promo up somewhere.