opinion

Automation vs. Human Touch

As a highly technically oriented endeavor, running an adult entertainment website requires its operators to perform a myriad selection of daily chores, tasks and tweaks — some of which lend themselves nicely to automation, potentially saving the site operator precious time and valuable money; but is handing-off your business responsibilities to some soulless automaton the best bet, or could specialists do a better job?

The question is not a new one and harkens back to the introduction of robotics on the assembly line and the resulting union uproar over the ending of skilled, high paying jobs.

Many operators have already embraced automation and are also predisposed to adopting technical solutions to their problems.

Guess what? Today, robots build better cars than people do; and they do it much more consistently and cost effectively: So much so that it would be extremely hard to imagine, for example, auto manufacturers giving up their robotics to go back to fully human labor.

For adult webmasters, automation has usually meant using time saving tools such as affiliate statistic aggregators to display earnings without logging into multiple programs; or for keyword analysis, content management and more.

Without automated tools to facilitate these processes, either additional staffing would be required — or in a one man shop, nothing else would get done due to time restrictions.

As such, many operators have already embraced automation and are also predisposed to adopting technical solutions to their problems; a predisposition that may be increasing along with the economic pressures that most website operators are facing.

For example, online graphical and coding tools have become so sophisticated that it is possible to build an attractive, effective, customized website — or individual components such as a companybranded video player — in just a few short minutes. While the results may not fit your needs as closely as a built-to-purpose solution, cost savings alone might make the difference between deployment or not.

For example, a high-end content management system (CMS) designed specifically for adult websites will offer the custom technical infrastructure and display capabilities your site needs in order to meet the expectations of today’s demanding audience. The cost for such robustly featured systems, however, may be prohibitive for startups or smaller sites.

As such, free Open Source solutions such as WordPress are getting a boost.

Not only is WordPress more than up to the job, many web hosting companies offer it as a “one click” install and include a variety of graphical themes for an individual look.

Sure, the high-end adult CMS offers numerous advantages over the generic solution; and indeed, its users may enjoy a competitive advantage due to its optimized technology, but the free system is far more accessible to budget-conscious entrepreneurs and perhaps “good enough” to knock down an otherwise insurmountable barrier to entry. Taking this further; truly custom coded solutions may or may not be better than using a canned script.

Likewise, good designers do not come cheap — but good designs might.

In fact, countless themes are available for WordPress, for instance: click a button and instantly update the look and feel of your site. Sure, an experienced designer could make something unique and perfectly tailored for your specific needs, but once again, cost and timeliness are factors.

For example, a custom logo could take weeks and hundreds of dollars to develop — or it could take two minutes at an online logo generation site, with no out-of-pocket cost. The difference in today’s market may be whether or not you have a logo; perfect or not.

The maturation of technology and the current market are combining to hurt some and help others. By finding the best balance of cost and effectiveness, you can put yourself on the right side of the scale.

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

opinion

Complying With New Age Assurance and Content Moderation Standards

For adult companies operating in today’s increasingly regulated digital landscape, maintaining compliance with card brand requirements is essential — not only to safeguard your operations but also to ensure a safe and transparent environment for users.

Gavin Worrall ·
opinion

Understanding the FTC's New 'Click to Cancel' Rule

The Federal Trade Commission’s new “Click to Cancel” rule has been a hot topic in consumer protection and business regulation. Part of a broader effort to streamline cancellation processes for subscription services, the rule has sparked significant debate and legal challenges.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

Key Factors for Choosing a Merchant Services Partner

Running a successful adult business requires more than just delivering alluring and cutting-edge products and services. Securing the right payment processing partner is essential to maintaining a steady revenue stream.

Jonathan Corona ·
opinion

Identifying and Preventing Transaction Laundering

Recently, a few merchants approached me after receiving compliance notifications from their acquirer about transaction laundering. They were unsure what it meant, and unsure how to identify and fix the problem.

Cathy Beardsley ·
profile

WIA: Alexis Fawx Levels Up as Multifaceted Entrepreneur

As more performers look to diversify, expanding their range of revenue streams and promotional vehicles, some are spreading their entrepreneurial wings to create new businesses — including Alexis Fawx.

Women In Adult ·
opinion

Navigating Age-Related Regulations in Europe

Age verification measures are rapidly gaining momentum across Europe, with regulators stepping up efforts to protect children online. Recently, the U.K.’s communications regulator, Ofcom, updated its timeline for implementing the Online Safety Act, while France’s ARCOM has released technical guidance detailing age verification standards.

Gavin Worrall ·
opinion

Why Cyber Insurance Is Crucial for Adult Businesses

From streaming services and interactive platforms to ecommerce and virtual reality experiences, the adult industry has long stood at the forefront of online innovation. However, the same technology-forward approach that has enabled adult businesses to deliver unique and personalized content to consumers worldwide also exposes them to myriad risks.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

Best Practices for Payment Gateway Security

Securing digital payment transactions is critical for all businesses, but especially those in high-risk industries. Payment gateways are a core component of the digital payment ecosystem, and therefore must follow best practices to keep customer data safe.

Jonathan Corona ·
opinion

Ready for New Visa Acquirer Changes?

Next spring, Visa will roll out the U.S. version of its new Visa Acquirer Monitoring Program (VAMP), which goes into effect April 1, 2025. This follows Visa Europe, which rolled out VAMP back in June. VAMP charts a new path for acquirers to manage fraud and chargeback ratios.

Cathy Beardsley ·
opinion

How to Halt Hackers as Fraud Attacks Rise

For hackers, it’s often a game of trial and error. Bad actors will perform enumeration and account testing, repeating the same test on a system to look for vulnerabilities — and if you are not equipped with the proper tools, your merchant account could be the next target.

Cathy Beardsley ·
Show More