Paysite “back-ends”?

[SGS]

What would you say *has* to be included in the ultimate solo site or personality site back-end (members area) to make a successful site?

[JT]

If you have the resources (which we know you do :) ) Then a proper cam set up so members can chat to the person, like they would a cam network, but with only that model and it to be free and the model is on there aon a regular basis

[lindy]

I agree with JT. I do a weekly 1 hour cam show for my members, but its on a network so they get to see lots of other girls shows. id say 20 to 30 min show would be better,say 2 or 3 times per week, for members only. As JT said the solo girl who has the site only does the show, as most of my members say they only joined to see me, and not interested in the other girls. It works well getting the rebills in. If you go for chat only, 90% of members soon demand cam as well.

[SGS]

Yes the cam side is very important but the funny thing is we have never ever done that. When we started cams were very new and after we were established there was a snowballs chance in hell of getting Mrs SGS in front of a web cam in the evenings. :)

[lindy]

Im just like mrs sgs, theres always some reason i cant do cam in the evenings. So it wouldnt be easy convincing the girls to do regular cam shows. Funny thing is, i tend to look at it as doing it for free, which gives me no insentive, although i know its to retain members. Now put me on pay by the min cam, and im rareing to go. So i think youd have to offer the girls some kind of insentive. Ive Seen raven rileys free show, and they go crazy seeing her, so i imagine it does great for signups, and rebills. Ahrrrrr to be young again.

[cock-a-leekie]

I don't think you HAVE to do cams to make it successful, I don't think it HAS to be any ONE thing.

It could be cams, it could be member meet parties, it could be loyalty rewards (freebies), it could be tons of plug-ins.... or it could be a combination of lots of things - anything to delay them hitting the cancel button.

Keep *HAVE* to keep them busy I guess.

[daveydude]

We've had problems keeping cam shows regular on our solo sites, which causes further difficulty when we're using someone else's network - they don't like shows being cancelled. This is why we've settled on some software which will enable us to run our own cams on the solo sites, and allow members of all sites to view our girls' shows.

As for other extras, I'd say a forum and chatroom probably help with the sense of community but chats have to be scheduled, and forums monitored. I'm dubious about plugging in millions of feeds to what's usually pretty shoddy content, but we've never tried them so I don't have a valid opinion on it really.

Members like regular updates and if the quality is good it's reflected in the rebills. At the end of the day it's all about the content imo. And people are *really* quick to start bitching if the updates are late ...

[SGS]

We've had problems keeping cam shows regular on our solo sites, which causes further difficulty when we're using someone else's network - they don't like shows being cancelled. This is why we've settled on some software which will enable us to run our own cams on the solo sites, and allow members of all sites to view our girls' shows.

As for other extras, I'd say a forum and chatroom probably help with the sense of community but chats have to be scheduled, and forums monitored. I'm dubious about plugging in millions of feeds to what's usually pretty shoddy content, but we've never tried them so I don't have a valid opinion on it really.

Members like regular updates and if the quality is good it's reflected in the rebills. At the end of the day it's all about the content imo. And people are *really* quick to start bitching if the updates are late ...

I think that cams might be a "must have" for sites starting out now (thank god it wasn’t when we started) and we used to have a forum and chat facility until a few years back when we just reached the number of members that it was just impossible to use either and the forum in particular just became a major pain unless we took on staff just to run that. We used to have a couple of plug-in feeds up until about a year / eighteen months ago but we too were dubious about their merit and when we took them down it had no effect on re-bills and in fact our customer support issues dropped to almost zero too.

Quality content and very regular updates are king and I think that this is why we were lucky with Lady-Sonia.com. We have always had our own studios so right from day one we were able to put up daily updates 365 days a year. The members are kept busy and with updates every day the site grew into a very big site quickly as well.

[SGS]

I don't think you HAVE to do cams to make it successful, I don't think it HAS to be any ONE thing.

It could be cams, it could be member meet parties, it could be loyalty rewards (freebies), it could be tons of plug-ins.... or it could be a combination of lots of things - anything to delay them hitting the cancel button.

Keep *HAVE* to keep them busy I guess.

Member meet parties would be fine if all of your members were in the UK. I would think that would be good.

[JT]

Member meet parties would be fine if all of your members were in the UK. I would think that would be good.


Plus with the amount of members you have, you would have to hire out Wembly Stadium :)

[JT]

This is why we've settled on some software which will enable us to run our own cams on the solo sites, and allow members of all sites to view our girls' shows.


That in my opinion is definatly the way to go.

[slaxxx]

A blog/diary...with pics...so it has a very personal feel and they get a glimpse into her "life"

Anyone who signs up for a solo girl site is in love with the girl...it's also a simple thing to add to your content updates.

[Grisey]

A blog/diary...with pics...so it has a very personal feel and they get a glimpse into her "life".

I have a very simple and east script for this if anyone wants it :cheers2:

[daveydude]

I have a very simple and east script for this if anyone wants it :cheers2:

What's it do then? And sorry we didn't go for your cam software in the end, no hard feelings - it's a good system, just not quite right for what we wanted.

[Grisey]

What's it do then? And sorry we didn't go for your cam software in the end, no hard feelings - it's a good system, just not quite right for what we wanted.

Cutenews i use for the dairy :eyebrows:

Its cool man, but to add on what other people have being saying about network webcams, they suck for being a member you pay to get to know that girl and having to share your chat with someone that doesn't.

I rember when faith use cams i'm sure that got you some good refferal sales but if i was a member and some user taking up faith time that didn't pay fto join but got her chat i'd be pissed, they joined a site because of that girl

[Grisey]

What's it do then? And sorry we didn't go for your cam software in the end, no hard feelings - it's a good system, just not quite right for what we wanted.
Still wanting for the link exchanges also man :onguard:

[JT]

Anyway SGS, can we assume you have a new project comming up?

[SGS]

Anyway SGS, can we assume you have a new project comming up?

We are always looking at new ideas of course but just really asked the question as a matter of interest really and to see how things have changed for new sites in particular over the years.

My own thoughts on what makes a “personality” site work are 110% down to the content. Content is king and if you look at any independent site that has stood the test of time and continued to grow from day one it’s always been all about the content.

Sites also have to grow and develop with the target audience and re-invent itself several times along the way. Amazing now to think back but Lady-Sonia.com used to be a BDSM site when it was launched all those years ago but thankfully now none of our subscribers are even remotely interested in BDSM in any shape or form now.

Like the “personality” of the person that the site is based around the site must be allowed to change and grow. We spend many years working for video and magazine companies that blindly drove themselves into oblivion by refusing to change with the times. A website is almost organic in that you can steer it’s direction on a day-by-day basis.

Good or more honestly the lucky decisions we have made over the years:

1. We never based Lady-Sonia.com on things that we were actually “into” ourselves.
2. The “Lady Sonia” personality was very important.
3. We got onto the video bandwagon from day one and dropped the photo side right out of the window.

Just my own 2 cents for what they are worth. :)

[aaron_sterlingcash]

very interesting SGS we also feel that video is def key for the content, it also has to be of a high standard. Im glad to see our ideas reflect what is 'needed' now for personality sites.

btw where are you guys based?

[SGS]

very interesting SGS we also feel that video is def key for the content, it also has to be of a high standard. Im glad to see our ideas reflect what is 'needed' now for personality sites.

btw where are you guys based?

We actually took the decision on video right back at the beginning of the launch of DSL really. We were talking to another “old-timer” in the business and he just suggested that video would be the future and as we came from a video background back in the 80’s when domestic camcorders first came out we already new that the financial returns would be there so the next day we went the video way. We can’t take credit but were pleased that we were there for the suggestion. Everyone was still on dial-up but it was clear that DSL was going to be the way to go. :)

The only pics we put up now are those that are shot for promo so we just put them up into the member’s area as a matter of course.

We are based off the A1 right on the outskirts of Grantham / Newark.

[aaron_sterlingcash]

well congrats on your sucess mate its good to see someone doing well! Dave isnt Grantham near you?

[SGS]

well congrats on your sucess mate its good to see someone doing well! Dave isnt Grantham near you?

Thank you but apart from starting in easier times all of the credit has to go to the very hard working Mrs SGS and the great people that work with us. :)

[aaron_sterlingcash]

I hear you about easier times, even 18 months ago it was a lot easier. We dont get an easy ride over here in the UK I think its a lot of hard work and a little luck that makes this whole thing work.