With webcamming, success is measured by the number of people in your room at any given time, and how many of those people came to tip and make it rain on you. That means timing your live shows to sync up with peak traffic times on the internet in general, the popularity of the platform on which you broadcast your live shows and, most importantly, the schedules of your most loyal and generous fans. This is no easy feat!
The solution: build your offline content portfolio and create an infinite profit window that doesn’t rely on specific traffic sources or peak times.
Reviewing your performance data is the best way to evolve and grow as a creator and be sure you are investing your resources in your most valuable creations.
If you’re reading this, chances are you are already somewhat of a content creation pro. Thanks to HD cameras on cell phones and computers, creators now have the power of creating high-quality, high-value content right at their fingertips. It’s as easy as hitting “record,” being your wild and wonderful self on camera, posting the content and determining what works.
Offline Content Types
Offline content can be defined as any type of multimedia that is created and housed as a streamable or downloadable file in a digital library. This can extend to a range of creation options, including:
Photos: To this day, photos are still a lucrative form of online content that fans are willing to pay for. Why not dust off some of your photo shoots and post a library of stunning photos online for purchase, either in single collectibles or in bulk albums. The key here is to create a sense of exclusivity; give the potential purchaser the sense that they will be one of just a few people to own this limited-edition photo collection. Exclusivity really opens wallets.
Video Clips: Set up a separate camera and film your livestreams, then edit out the most interesting chunks and sell them as clips to offline shoppers. This is how you repurpose and maximize content!
Personalized Content: Creating custom, personalized content is the most lucrative way to build revenue online. Allowing your most loyal and generous fans to request a certain type of photo, video or message puts you — the creator — in a position to charge premium fees for something you can easily create.
Step One: Hit “Record”
Remember, your followers are there to see you, so you need not worry about extensive sets and elaborate props. Take them on a tour of your home, especially the bedroom! Show them a “day in the life.” Bring them along with you for a sexy night on the town — with bonus points for a surprise ending. All of this is to say that there is opportunity to create content all around you, so use your resources and don’t get blocked by thinking you need to overspend on content creation.
Step Two: Be Your Wild and Wonderful Self
Authenticity is the key element of successful content. If folks are seeking out your content, that means they’ve fallen at least a little bit in love with you and want more — of you! Top content creators will tell you that the biggest mistake they made in their rookie days was worrying too much about creating characters or manufacturing something interesting, until they realized that the most successful and lucrative content in their library came about by just hitting “record” and living their lives, with activities they genuinely enjoy. As cliched as it sounds, just be yourself!
Step Three: Post the Content
Too many webcam creators don’t bother to browse the platforms on which they broadcast, so they aren’t taking full advantage of the tools, features and functionalities these platforms have developed to help creators maximize their revenues. Major sites offer creators the option of creating a library of still images and video clips, which users can access either through a subscription-based VIP fan club or a one-time purchase. These features were designed to give adult creators a safe place to house their content with no risk of censorship or account bans, and the best part is: creators can set their own prices!
If you haven’t started your own for-pay content library, look into what you need to do. Chances are it’s as easy as setting up a new Facebook account — without the restrictive community guidelines.
Step Four: See What Works
Now that you’ve shot and posted a solid collection of photos and videos, promoted their availability in your live shows, email blasts and — carefully — on your social media, you’ll want to monitor the data to see what content is selling and what is being ignored.
The most successful people in any industry rely heavily on retrospective analysis of their performance. That way they know what their target audience wants and needs, and what they can stop putting time and resources into. It’s all about putting your energy into the content that will bring the most return.
Most creator platform dashboards will offer you basic data about the sales and performance records of each piece of content, making it easy for you to pull reports, determine what works and build on that. Reviewing your performance data is the best way to evolve and grow as a creator and be sure you are investing your energy and resources in your most valuable creations.
Building an offline database of content also helps maintain loyalty among fans, who can now experience you whenever they want, on their terms. Ultimately, it helps cultivate a deep connection with existing fans and provides a new route of discovery for new ones who have yet to enjoy all that you have to offer.
As soon as you can, carve out some time to build your content library, and peruse the platforms you work with to see how you can maximize this content in every potentially lucrative space. One thing to remember about the world of adult entertainment: there is always another way to monetize.
Johnny Diamond is a senior account manager at camming platform CAM4. Follow him @JDiamondXXX on Twitter and contact johnny@cam4.com for more information.