Why are the competitive boundaries in this industry so "soft?"
 

Because of traffic trades? Shows and friendships? Incestuous employment?

If Cash Program A misses a payment and Cash Program B comes on the board and says ?Hey, Program A doesn?t pay, but we do! Send us traffic,? it would cause a debacle of massive proportions.

Pepsi just released a commercial whereas they crush a ?stunt can Coke? in order to save a pristine Pepsi can: And that is just competition at work.

In our industry, that commercial dynamic manifest as insinuation at best.

Just find it interesting I suppose. I am not lobbying for change.

Because we are independant on each other... traffic deals, cross sales... the competition is working together to generate revenue.

Programs are in direct competition for 80% of the market, but for the other 20%, they need allies.

Coke does not generate any sales for pepsi... but program A might send sales to program B.

weg cory is bald, promote epiccash

Correct.. there's not so much direct competition (in the top end at least.. I'm not talking tgp'ers) - and when there is, you've got a perfect site to upsell :)

i think part of the reason is that most adult companies are small. we see each other every month or so at shows, functions, etc. and communicate directly with our competitors on a daily basis. at coke/pepsi and large corporations business is less personal...they are entities rather than people.

I don't think most companies would just keep it biz wise, they would get personal talking about each other wives, looks, and dig out those skelton's some people have in their closets.

i agree that's a big part of it. :thumbsup

having a major convention/gathering every single month (sometimes twice a month)... and doing business so closesly as a result of them...

it's a very small industry with close relations.

So yes, soft boundaries... but when those boundaries get cross or broken... watch out.

very good post :thumbsup

keep your friends close, and your enemies closer

Best laugh of the morning.

In many of our promos we often tell people how much "you other affiliate programs hate them, call them fat, ugly, and like and how much we like them!"

Does that count? :pimp

What about direct sales items like hosting or payment processors? Are these companies more aggresive? Do they rely on others as much as affiliate programs do and in fact have to be 'soft'?

I actualy also think that is indeed one of the biggest reasons...:2 cents:

lots of small-fish try got get something to eat, and depend on bigger fishes restaurants so to say

The Adult Affiliate Programs of today are pretty much for a better loss of words. Umm...

The best word is "Confused".

How so ya ask?Simple.

A flurry of 30 sites, 20 sites 10 sites what ever is just silly.
If Programs focused on Niches rather than DVD rip portal sites that bundles everything together under the hood within the members area a program would be far more succesful.

Ask the smaller folks about what operating a true nich is. They tend to be succesful and highly independent.

Like Coke and Pepsi some surfer prefer Anal over "Anal".

This lack of focus to the audience is what drives larger programs to cover the backs of other large programs creating a genuine cluster fuck for the surfer and potentially loyal subscriber.

However the numbers of sheer volume traffic are beheld as the sacred Key I do not believe it for 1 second.

No good at 35.00 per member, 25 Per member if the subscriber only sits for a week or two...

The secret is truly working a niche to maximise retention and long term subscribers. Somthing very very few programs are doing.

I will use MET ART as a primary example of success. Thier subscribers are Loyal as fuck, and have no problem renueing monthly why? Because they are heavily focused on exactly what they do and they do not need 50 sites to prove it.

What I am saying is that the social dogma and extensive networking of programs is rather silly and unnecessary if the programs were not reliant on one another and at the same time unfocused on thier operational niche.

Over expansion in Niches not understood in the slightest by the operators forces the "Cult Of Personality" as each of you kiss one anothers asses at every event.

Coke does not relie on Pepsi for example. Nor should they.

Dude you're insane, nothing you said made ANY sense in any context.

besides being in business with each other i think there is a feeling of sticking together against a greater evil..like government legislation and religious freaks.

I am so hurt...
Of course it does not make sense to you.

I will translate for the simpletons.

"Large Affiliate programs are dependent on each other and therefore required to be soft on one another because they need each other to survive."

PS: Yes I am very insane, and sadly...
Brilliant, but it does not take a rocket scientist to figure this out.

No you're a moron. Come here so I can slap you in the tits.

You are so desperate...:1orglaugh

Go die or chop off your head cuz you certainly are not using what god gave you.

Chase your Paxil with some Vodka, it seems to be working you tool.

the boundaries of the new company like ebusiness are more porous than for the brick and mortar classic company :)

So you turn to drugs for a sense of sanity? Ehh Scratch that question.

You are a sewer of toxic trash please go de-evolve else where.
Smart people are trying to communicate.