Unity between Straight and Gay

Once I was asked, "Don't you have to be gay to do gay site promotions?" My answer was a resounding "No". There are many opportunities within the gay or straight market for webmasters and affiliates of any sex or sexual orientation to increase their revenue and earn some extra cash. Recent tests have shown that just adding a subtle link to a straight site can attract a curious customer without offending the not-so curious surfer and in exchange, might even increase revenue.

In the past, attempts to unify straight and gay webmasters/programs resulted in a very low success rate. Webmasters or programs that did succeed in overcoming the boundary that separated straight and gay programs opened the doors for those in the business who were hesitant or uncertain. Some programs that began as straight sites now include gay sites and are well accepted in the gay porn community, bridging the gap between straight and gay and shedding that once doubtful mentality.

What is the origin of this doubt?

Is it a fear that straight men would be perceived gay if they were to promote gay products? Possibly. Perhaps there are webmasters who just can't conceive of the idea of two men having sex. Mind you, I am not on a "homophobic-gay bashing" protest since homophobia has nothing to do with this viewpoint. I am simply saying there may be straight men who don't understand homosexuality. In this business, there are men who are proud to be straight, just as there are men who are proud to be gay. However, when it comes to running an online adult business some standards should be discarded if one is to achieve the full benefits and success that comes from offering products to a diverse mass of porn seekers.

It is more difficult for a premier gay site to promote straight products because their member base is gay and they have no interest in straight porn. But straight sites have the advantage of raising the level of promotions and sales by including some featured gay links that might appeal to those members who are curious enough to venture into the site. We all know that the majority of porn is viewed through the eyes of men who are straight, bisexual or gay. Interestingly enough, research indicates that about 50% of young adult men may not be telling the truth about their sexual orientation.
Another research study concluded that of 64 male university students 55% were reported to be homophobic, 45% deemed non homophobic and all reported to be heterosexual. In the study, the subjects were asked to watch some gay pornography while their penises were monitored for tumescence (the study of the swelling of sex organs). This method of determining sexual arousal and sexual desire has been widely used in treating pedophiles and to confirm whether therapy was eliminating the sexual arousal associated with children.
More than half of the homophobic men (54%) experienced definite sexual arousal with a 12 mm increase in penis swelling. Another (26%) experienced moderate arousal with a 6-12 mm increase in penis swelling. 20% of the men experienced no sexual arousal. The study further revealed that non homophobic men responded with the following arousal levels: definite (24%), moderate (10%), and nil (66%). Based on these results, one might concluded that if these men are turned on by a little bit of "man on man" action, the obvious choice is to offer them a taste of what they secretly desire.
Now that the "hardcore" facts have been presented, you're probably wondering how to capitalize on this eye opening information. Well, there are pro's and con's relative to affiliates who market both gay and straight sites, some of which I've outlined below:
Pros: The gay market is an explosive market that still needs more exposure. Utilizing both straight and gay content creates balance for a program. If both do very well, then the combination of straight and gay creates unity and provides the surfer with a multitude of options. Other programs may witness this success and strive for that same marketing scenario themselves. This is evident when you see many programs take advantage of or imitate a unified program, such as TopBucks.

Cons: Those who attempt to incorporate straight and gay sites into their program should consider that much research should be done in order to successfully accomplish this task. As they read site descriptions, product copy or blog text, surfers can often tell whether a site was designed or marketed by a gay or straight person. There is a distinct difference in writing style and one must research the unique way that gay men respond to certain words and phrases. Without this research, an attempt to produce a new gay site could be futile and result in wasted money and time.

Based on my research and personal business knowledge, I encourage straight webmasters and program owners alike to implement a touch of gay action to their websites. There are several gay message boards and resources available within the industry that will be more than happy to accommodate and assist you in developing or unifying your paysites. You'll discover that you'll not only bring in extra revenue, but that you'll also add a whole new world of color and pride to your life.

I wish everyone the best of luck with your straight and gay site promotions!