Adult Netsurprise - Newbie Zone

Cash Traffic

Do You Have What it Takes?

by Kath

Knowledge. Ingenuity. Diligence. Power. Do you have what it takes to make it in this business?

KNOWLEDGE: Everything is educational. As adult webmasters we need to be learning all the time. Everything we see, experience, do and hear can be filed away somewhere to capitalize upon at a later date. Television advertising, movie trailers, radio spots, magazine ads - these are all educational materials for people who spend their lives presenting, marketing and selling to Joe Q. Public.

How long has it been since you've actually surfed the web? You should! Keeping up with the Jonses is even more important now than ever before. Technology is moving at a fast pace and successful websites are evolving right along with it. You need to pay attention to what's going on at the competition's dot-com. You need to KNOW what niche is hot, what new method of media is in demand and more important you need to understand what the surfers who come to your site want.

INGENUITY: Being creative also has its merits in this industry. The ability to try new things - new means of getting from point A to point B - can make or break your business. Making the most out of your service and squeezing the most out of each and every potential customer should be a major focus.

Where do all these niches and fetishes come from? Certainly public demand and interest have a lot of play with regard to what the big boys are putting on their websites, but the little guy has something to say too. Ever hear of a "cult following"? Don't be afraid to try something new - mixing that lesbian site with bondage, latex, splotch, tattoos, inter-racial sex or any other general niche could be the answer to some surfers' fetished prayers! If you market it properly and find those surfers, your conversions could go through the roof!

Unique methods of site design can be important too. Ever hear people say that you should just "throw up" your freesite, get traffic to it and let it go? Sometimes that works, but more often than not it just doesn't. I'm not saying build an ego-site every time you site down at the computer, but a little bit of creative design never hurt.

DILIGENCE: The best thing to do is to try several different methods with similar sponsors, theme and traffic. Then do a test to see which site converts the best. This is always a good idea. Most large sites have multiple front doors that they use depending upon where the traffic comes from (keywords, search engines, top lists, etc.) because they know that there are many different types of surfers. Freesite owners can use this knowledge too to maximize their earning potential. Be creative - keep trying - never give up!

Always look for new things to build, new ways to promote and new forms of content and sales tools. Read computer magazines to get the scoop on web building tips and tricks. Read up on the progress being made with HTML and browser compatibility to ensure that you are reaching every demographic that might surf your site.

Use your stats tracking for something more than "I have more traffic than you!" jabs to your friends. Find out WHERE that traffic came from, what they used to get there and what they viewed your site with. Then use that data to improve upon your visibility and usability. Keep on TOP of your surfers - find out what they are searching for and DELIVER!

POWER: Did you ever hear the saying, "he who has the gold rules"? This is also true for internet businesses, and in the e-world TRAFFIC is gold. If you've got it, then you're in business. Without it, you're sunk. But before you build that freesite and link it to every heavy traffic hitter in the biz, you'd better prepare.

I've heard webmasters complain many times that they need more traffic or wish that they had thousands of hits a day. But what about those 700 uniques they already get each day? Are they making the most out of them or are they just letting them mooch their goodies and bandwidth? So when they finally do hit paydirt with a Tommy's, Greenguy or Hun link what's going to happen? Instead of a 1:2000 ratio they're going to have a 1:5000 or worse!

Remember - you have the power. Send that surfer off to where YOU want him to be. You're in control. Guide him through that site step by step - show him only what he needs to see in order to prompt that sale. Tease him with pics and tempting content - coax that credit card right out of his wallet.

On the other hand, once you get to the point where you know he's worthless to you, force him out via a blind link, console, full-page ad or click thru banner. Even if it's just 3 cents for a blind link, make something off each and every surfer that comes to your site. Don't settle for 1:5000 conversions with a single check that doesn't even cover your bandwidth costs!

YOU are the deciding factor of how you will end every month. How much you end up making is totally determined by your knowledge, ingenuity and diligence. Luck has nothing to do with it. When those checks come in - the proof that all your hard work has not gone to waste - you will at last achieve the power.

Do you have what it takes? It's all up to you!