What next?

[LaRaena]

Hi. I'm totally new to this and I don't really know what to do next.

I got a great idea for a niche that hasn't been "exposed" yet and I plan to launch a paysite with that kind of content. I've got the domain names for the paysite registered (that was the easy part). I know what names I would use for the LLC and DBA and trademarking. But all of that will take about $800 right now. I'm not even sure if those are the things I should be doing next anyways.

Are the LLC, DBA and trademarking really what I should be doing next? If so, I'll go for it.

I can't start shooting content yet because even if I charged the cost of the equipment, I wouldn't have the cash to pay the models. (Do some models actually work for an agreement of a share of any future profits?)

I've got web deisgner friends to design the site at a minimal cost, but I think it's premature to be doing that at this point, I really don't know.

Help! I've got the drive and the time, I just don't know what I need to be doing! Thanks.


-LaRaena

[theviking]

You have the idea and the domains, but you are in lack of content and a website?

I think it says itself what you need next.
To open a paysite you sure will need content. You are allso going to need a good tour, a prosessor and a backend cms to keep track of youre content.

Most of all, you going to need traffic to that site...no traffic no sales. Have you thought of that bit?

[mynameisjim]

You're probably not going to like the advice you get from everybody in this thread but try to listen to some of it.

I'll start by saying setting up the LLC and the DBA is probably the easiest part and something you don't even have to worry about right now. Plus, setting up an LLC is way cheaper than $800 if you do it yourself and the DBA is free, just follow the laws where you live to set it up. Sometimes just a notice in the newspaper is enough depending on where you live.

Next, don't charge all the equipment and max out your credit cards. That's a recipe for disaster. If you have run a business in the past and have experience managing debt and cash flow then you can try it, if not, please don't do it.

As for the paysite stuff, I'll let the others chime in on that.

BTW, not trying to burst your bubble here, just hoping you do things right.

[phuckbunny]

Welcome to the campus.

Mind you, I'm very much a newbie in this but I think you need to do a little more research on operating a pay site and how much you need to invest.

Shooting/producing/filming porn/erotic material is no different from producing anything else in a visual medium so if your dilemma is the fact that you only have enough in your budget to either pay the models or rent gear, you can probably do the math and see what's wrong with that picture.

Why form an LLC - are you looking for investors or something or just for the protection of getting incorporated? An LLC 's benefit as far as I remember is for the investors' protection not the proprietor's. DBA, like Jim said, shouldn't be a big deal and probably sth not to even worry about now.

Trademarks, ditto. They take forever and are probably not even totally necessary in this biz; you can also file the paperwork yourself, it's pretty easy. But far from priority. There are plenty of places on the web to read up on trademark/patent/copyright law.

Lastly: deferred payment/residuals for adult models? While I have heard of certain barter systems for photos, and don't have any idea what your site is about, I think you will have very few takers.

[Hammer]

I don't know what scammer is trying to charger you $800 to set up an LLC but setting up a DBA is free and setting up a corporation should cost about $85 if you do it yourself or pay your accountant to do it for you and I can't imagine he would charge more than $100, mine did it for free. And don't fool with an LLC, set up an S corp.

Now, all that said, I'd have to say that starting a pay site with no previous adult Internet experience is not usually a good idea. Do you know how to get traffic to the site so that as soon as it launches it will become profitable and not suck you dry?

[sunfunbill]

setting up a DBA is free and setting up a corporation should cost about $85

Setting up a corporation is only around $85?? Really? My biz partner is going through all that as I speak. She just submitted a biz name for the city and state, waiting to get it ok'ed. She is doing everything herself, she really is very good at all this.

But even doing it herself she seems to think it will cost about $500 or more. I think just the file fees and so on are pricey. She is going to go with an S corp I think, as you said. Is she spending more than she should? They sure don't make it easy to figure out all the crap you need to do here in Orlando!

[sunfunbill]

Update,,,sorry,,, just talked to her and she now says it will just take 85 to 100 bucks.

[LaRaena]

Thanks guys (and gals).

So considering the different things you've commented on, how does this "order of operations" sound?


1. Research and establish business types, inlcuding finding the cheapest ways to register them. (I can't seem to find a cheap way to Trademark, I've gota good name but maybe I dont hav eto bother?)
2. Research and take care of all legal issues relating to shooting adult content in LA
3. Shooting content, (probably at an amateur level for now.) This includes buying or renting equipment. (I expect to need a year's worth of footage and pictures before launching the site.)
4. Website construction, including everything from design to hosting to credit card processing.
5. Research trafficking or pay somebody who knows about internet porn traffic
6. Launch site

How does that sound?

I wonder how the guys at BangBus started...I feel like the idea I've got is just as good.


Thanks,

LaRaena

[Hammer]

That list is pretty good but you've got research traffic in the wrong place because it should be near the top of your list. You certainly don't want to spend a year shooting content and paying models and gathering content for a pay site that once you launch may never make a dime because you can't figure out how to get any traffic to the site.

I would suggest promoting other people's sites for a while so you can be sure it's something you will even be able to do before you spend a lot of time and money preparing to launch your own pay site.

There's something else you didn't tell us and that's how you know you'll even be able to find models and shoot decent quality content in the first place and since you apparently don't already have your own equipment, I'd guess you aren't experienced in the content production end of the business either.

[sunfunbill]

Hammer and the rest here are more knowledgeable about all this. But I myself am opening a paysite, or at least hope to, within a year. You seem to have all the steps down, but there is one area that most newbies make a big mistake on, as I did years ago, and that is planning for traffic!

You can have the best site in the world, but if no one knows you have it, no one will come. People think they can throw a site on the web and somehow everybody finds their way to it, not so.

What I plan to do is build my traffic WHILE I am building my site. How do you build traffic to a site not even done? You say you are doing a niche that is different, one that is not over-saturated. So, get a blog going, a good blog, about your niche. Build it up, get steady traffic to it. Then start an affiliate with some sites like what you have in mind.

The idea is to start learning how to do all this, see what works, do all this BEFORE you say " ok my site is open, uh, how do I get traffic"? Once it's done you can push it on your blog that you now have many links and traffic to. Make some smaller ones, get them going, with a nice spot on the front for your site. Join boards that cater to your niche, learn what's going on, network. Throw some teasers on utube, non porn of course, and all those other clipdumps out there.

Once you've done that you know what your doing and will have much better traffic when your site opens. Plus I am sure you will learn many, many more things about your niche that you don't now, trust me.

[sunfunbill]

Hammer above beat me to it, what he said!!

[LaRaena]

You're right Hammer. I don't know anything about models or which would do a good job. I just thought we'd find girls who fit the profile we're looking for and expect that they would do a good job...there is so much to think about that I've tried to keep myself from getting bogged down in details that haven't presented themseleves yet.

I've got a lot to learn, but I can't let that discourage me. I believe in my idea so I've got to do something about it. I can't let the fact that there is so much I don't know about this business keep me from developing the project. And from what I understand, if I hope to get any investors in the future, I have to have invested a fair amount of time and money to at least have something to show them.

Per your suggestion, I will move traffic research up on my list. I've been lurking on these boards for a while, trying to soak up as much info as I can, and I know you know your stuff! I'll see if maybe my brother is willing to promote other peoples sites for the time being to gather knowledge and experience. My friends and family are supportive of the idea and want "in" so maybe I can enlist them to help. Thanks!

[LaRaena]

Thanks sunfunbill.

I haven't thought about blogging...I guess I havent rechae dthat part of the cozy tutorials yet.

The point of a blog is to start discussion about a certain topic, right? I guess my concern would be that by nature of the blog, I'd let the cat out of the bag-- my idea would be out there for anybody to steal...but who knows...I really should look into this blogging stuff...

And finding some way to build interest NOW would definetly help. Thanks.

This is how my mind feels right now so much to learn!

[Hammer]

Originally posted by sunfunbill
Update,,,sorry,,, just talked to her and she now says it will just take 85 to 100 bucks.

Yep, it varies from state to state but it only cost me $85 for Florida and I filed online. The only thing I didn't do myself was all the paper work like filing for an S corp and the articles of incorporation but like I said, my accountant did that for me and didn't charge me anything. I'm guessing that for $800 she's using an attorney and no one should use an attorney to do something as simple as incorporating.

[phuckbunny]

Originally posted by LaRaena
I guess my concern would be that by nature of the blog, I'd let the cat out of the bag-- my idea would be out there for anybody to steal...but who knows...

That's certainly a valid concern but the thing is, ideas are stolen constantly; in a lot of ways I'd almost say its the execution opposed to the originality of the concept that probably brings and retains customers.

[porn punk]

Trust me, phuckbunny hit it right on the head. If you're worried about choosing between paying for equipment and paying models, you do not have enough money to invest in something like this.

I live in LA too, and though you can easily find actors to work for points in the mainstream industry, you will never find any models to work adult that way. Even a crackhead will want crack.

The best thing you could do is start learning the adult web business the way other webmasters are doing it and it won't cost you nothing. Then start thinking about investing, and probably make yourself some cash so you won't have that basic worry.

You don't need to invest very much in the business to start bringing in some cash.

Good luck whatever you decide

[mynameisjim]

Is someone giving away crack?

[porn punk]

Originally posted by mynameisjim
Is someone giving away crack?

Sorry, just the crackheads.

[balls_deep]

Pornpunk, how did your sig get so outrageously obnoxious?

[pyratas]

Hi LaRaena,

I'm kind of experimenting using a combo of all the advice you've heard in this thread.

What I did (and am still doing):

Created a niche site using sponsors, getting enough traffic to make sales (not enough to retire, but enough to keep my idea alive and kicking).

I then take the money I make from this site (again, it's all sponsors, so it only costs me 6 bucks a month and my update time) and put it into a separate bank account.

I then dedicate this income to camera equipment and model fees for my own shoots.

I spend most of it on model fees as I get all the pro lighting from my work, and borrow prosumer mini-dvs from friends.

Here's the kicker:

What I'm going to do is start using the content I shoot to RE-promote my sponsor-based page (via tgp, blogs, and "leaking" photos to file-sharing sites). Basically show brand new niche content that goes back to a sponsor gallery-based website.

By doing this I'm only exposing 16 pics, or four videos, it all goes back to my free site to make more money (via new traffic) and the bulk of what I shoot will NEVER be seen until I open a paysite.

**WITHOUT SPENDING A DIME (besides my time and the monthly $6 hosting cost) I am slowly creating a paysite**


We'll see if it works, but again, so far it's not costing me a thing, and all my model fees are paid for.


--Jamie