Category - Webcam Industry

Famous words to live by (literally) and they were said by none other than Apples own Steve Jobs. He knew what he was talking about, obviously. Although he was speaking in terms of computers, it really is a great motto to live every aspect of your life by.

Stop looking at competition and thinking of how you can do things better than them. Think about how you can do things differently. For example, you watch another cam girls room. You say to yourself “Man, she is really awesome at the hard sell.” She’s constantly pushing for a sale, like a used car salesman that never gives up and never lets you leave without signing on the dotted line. Now, you try and copy what she’s doing down to a T and you may be successful, hell, you may even be better… but let’s think for a second about how we could do things differently instead. How about mixing soft sells with hard sells? Mixing the art of the hard sell and using it with a subtle sell delivery.

When it comes down to it, there is nothing that you can do that will ever be exactly the same as what another person does. That’s why you can always tell the difference between an original and a copy. Sure, they might be almost identical but they never quite match up. Why would anyone want to be a copy of something else anyway?

Let’s take an example of affiliates for big box cam sites. A lot of models do not like white labels because there a few bad eggs that unfortunately give a bad name to the whole bunch. The models complain about them recording their shows, posting them on tube sites, tweeting out their pics without tagging them, associating them with not so good studios, the list goes on and on. Constantly there is something going on in this realm. There is always a model who is trying to get their shows taken down off of an affiliates site only to get the run around by said affiliate.

The models are upset because their brand is being used and they aren’t getting any type of credit for it, and if they point it out then they are talked to like they aren’t worth a damn. It can be a pretty nasty system. So here’s where the “Think different, not better” comes in. Instead of thinking about how affiliates should do things better (which we all know will not be changing any time soon.) We should be thinking about how we can do things differently. Imagine if 10 models created white labels, and then also created affiliate programs for said white label. Then each model signed up for the others affiliate program, and traded promo content for each other. All of a sudden, instead of having the affiliates steal your content and not give you credit… you as the model are taking control, and all of the models are making each other money by using the models affiliate link when they use their brand to promote their white label. Still with me?

It doesn’t get rid of the problem, but if you can’t get out of it, then you might as well get into it. This would put much more industry control in the hands of the models, as well as provide a supportive

community for everyone to come together and constantly make each other money. Next thing you know, the affiliates that aren’t models don’t have the same type of access to the promo materials (because models aren’t creating it voluntarily for them, like they are for the models they are signed up as affiliates with) and so who starts to be the big bread winners? The models.

Another example is Snapchat. Models started out on snapchat with either just a public snapchat or a private snapchat. Then after debating on how to do it better, most models created two separate accounts, one for the public and one for the premium. This is all well and good and serves its purpose, however, it’s a lot of work to run two separate accounts. So instead of doing things better, how about we do them a little differently? Create ONE snapchat account and run your private and your premium from the same account. (You can do this by going to your settings and changing who can view your story from Public to CUSTOM. Even after you switch back to public view, the snaps posted on your storyline during the custom setting will only be viewable by those who were on the approved list.) Voila! A way to do things differently.

Are you picking up what I’m laying down yet? Obviously the examples above are just that…examples. You can mix and match and try different things out to see what works for you and what doesn’t. But the truth of the matter is that until we stop trying to be cookie cutter versions who compete with each other using the same type of style and hustle, we won’t be living up to our maximum potential. So I urge you, I implore you to start doing yourself a favor and when you are getting ready to log on to your cam room, or film a new video, or start a new project… that you take a second and start think different, not better.

Webcam Competition

April 10, 2017

Competition breeds success. I will take that to the bank, even though half of you reading this will probably disagree with me. I suppose it’s a matter of opinion (even though I’m right!)

What am I referring to when I say that phrase? I’m speaking on why it’s OKAY to help out other models in the industry. It’s OKAY to share trade secrets. It’s OKAY to allow them to succeed along with you. It’s OKAY to let people know about camming, it doesn’t have to always be in the shadows.

Woah.. Calm down. I know that a lot of models will disagree with me on that last point. I have gotten into many debates about whether or not camming should stay exclusive and in the shadows of the deep dark interwebs. A lot of you feel as though the more girls that come in and saturate the industry, the harder it becomes to make money. I see why you would think that, and I don’t disagree that the more saturated the industry the tougher the competition. But I can’t help but feel like saying things like “We don’t want more models!” “Great, another documentary that’s going to bring even more competition” and other ridiculous, whiny statements are a cop out. That’s right, I said it. Deal with it.

When did people start looking at competition like it was a negative thing? You think that the top athletes in the world got there by bitching about how there were so many other athletes that were also good at the sport, so it isn’t fair because now they don’t look as good? No, that’s ridiculous. They trained harder, they adapted to the situation, they learned the weaknesses of their toughest competitors and they turned those weaknesses into their strengths. They succeeded because the competition forced them to become better, stronger, faster. (If you’re listening to a playlist, I recommend Kanye’s Stronger for this segment.)

How about McDonalds? You think they worry themselves over how Burger King and Wendys are doing? You’re damn right they do, but they don’t sit there and bitch about it, all of those companies are constantly innovating to come out with the next best thing.

That’s just the way that the cookie crumbles, and for every time a model complains about competition, a fairy loses its wings.

What it ends up turning into is this ridiculous back and forth of models being their own worst enemy and them trying to tear down other models behind their backs. They don’t want any documentaries to come out because they are afraid that a thousand new girls will show up in the cam world and make them obsolete.

How about instead of holding each other down and hoping that the competition isn’t going to be intense, we all start to raise each other up? How about we start supporting each other, giving each other advice, helping each other make money? How about we raise the bar. Because once that bar is raised is when the industry is going to be held to a higher standard all around. You don’t like the guys that come into your room and ask what they can get for $1? If we all created strong competition, only the best would survive, and the $1 guys would eventually be non existent because the girls charging $1 would either work harder to become one of the best, or wouldn’t be good enough to stay in the industry. We set our own standards.

I understand that for some of you, that might sound harsh, and I’m not denying the fact that it is. I’m also not denying the fact that I would rather work in an industry where it’s the top 1% and it is constantly challenging me to improve my craft so I don’t fall behind, then to work in one where I get to stay stagnant and live in a delusional world where I think I’m the best around.

When I first got into the camming industry, I said that I had never met a group of women that were more supportive than my fellow cam models, and I stick by that statement today. Whether that’s because those are the only types of models that I surround myself with or because I am choosing to highlight the positives over the extreme cattiness and sabotage that can also take place… I’m not sure.

What I am sure of is how sad it makes me to see models tearing each other down instead of building each other up. Seeing models complain about not being able to make money because of what someone ELSE is doing. For the love of god ladies, stop being a victim. Realize that if other models are taking your money it’s because you have been out hustled. Work harder to improve and adapt your hustle, or choose a different career because mediocrity shouldn’t exist within a luxury service. Period.

I don’t know about all of you, but I would rather be the worst cam model out of 100 amazing ones, then the best model out of thousands of mediocre.

Let’s innovate together, and help others become the type of models that we all should be. We’ll all make more money in the long run if the bar is set to a higher standard, and the only way to do that is across the board, raising each other up.

Networking for Webcam Models

March 10, 2017

Making Money, Webcam Industry

Networking: interact with other people to exchange information and develop contacts, especially to further one’s career.

Anyone in the professional world can talk about networking and how important it is for a multitude of different reasons. Unfortunately, I think this is an aspect in the cam world that a lot of models overlook, and quite frankly there is no reason for it. Networking is something that you should take advantage of and hone your skills on, no matter what industry you are in. That being said, sometimes in the adult industry it isn’t as simple as throwing a party or going to a mixer for a company that you work for, and passing out business cards. (although, side note: I am a firm believer in a solid business card for yourself, no matter what it is you do as a career.)

So, if you can’t go out for happy hour drinks and network with people that could help further your career at the TGI Fridays down the street or at your company Christmas party, what does networking mean for you as a cam model?

The first and probably most obvious out of all of them is SOCIAL MEDIA. If you’re surprised by that, I don’t know why. It should be pretty obvious that having a strong social media presence, especially in this day and age can make or break your career. No longer do you need an agent to put you in contact with all the right people, and no more of having to work with someone to get to know them and become friends.

The most important thing about social media is that you need to look at it as if it’s your professional portfolio. Every picture, every interaction with a fan, every video should only be your highest quality. IF someone was going to want to work with you, this is what you would present to them. Your profile page is your virtual “business card” so to speak. Not only do you need to always be presenting your best so that you get noticed, you also need to have an easy way to contact you where people can see it. My recommendation is to have your business email in your bio. On every bio. In this day and age all it takes is a quick tweet, DM or like on Instagram for a photographer to want to set up a shoot, or another cam model wanting to set up shows. Start interacting with the type of people that you want to be working with in the future, get to know them, establish a healthy, friendly working relationship…. and I can’t stress the working enough. It’s so important to stay professional in every situation. Networking 101 is you never want to burn a bridge unnecessarily, because even if they aren’t working out the way you wanted them to, you never know when you could use that connection to your advantage in the future. Am I saying to let yourself be taken advantage of? Hell no girl, don’t be crazy. Be a firm business savvy diva if you need to be, but always know to keep it respectful. Respect will take you a long way in people’s eyes and as far as networking goes, reputation is everything.

The second is going to expos and conventions. This one obviously takes more time, effort and money, but is the best and strongest way to network in the more traditional sense. There are multiple conventions that go on through the year but the ones of most prestige and note are: AEE (along with the AVN awards) XBIZ and CamCon. The AEE is the pre-game to the AVN Awards in Vegas. All of the big players are here, including all the talent and most of them have booths where you can walk right up and get more information, make contacts etc.

Xbiz and Camcon take place at the same time in MIami. Xbiz is another big player convention however this one seems to have more emphasis on the behind the scenes industry people. The producers, webmasters, affiliates, site owners… you get the idea. In my humble opinion, this is one of the BEST places to be to network. Building strong relationships with the actual industry workers that aren’t the models can be extremely advantageous, and you never know when you’re going to want to have that connection in your back pocket.

Camcon on the other hand, is definitely geared more towards the cam model. It’s a newer convention that has been running for a couple of years. This is all about the cam model. You can network with each other, set up shows, film content, go to workshops and there is even a fan meet and greet day where your fans can meet you, take pics get autographs. I haven’t been personally, but I hear that have full security detail for the models on that day as well as hair and makeup. OH you fancy, huh?

Now you might be thinking, “I’m a cam model! What is this crazy Bish talking about? Why would I waste my time networking when I can just as easily log onto my big box site, make money and call it a day?” Well.. You can. No one is saying that isn’t a perfectly apt way of camming. However, it’s important to recognize that the way that cam models are treated in the industry is changing. The age of social media and Skype where we can have direct contact with fans and the ability to create our own traffic has started a shift in the way from things once were. Many established veterans in the industry have said that cam models are the future of porn. We are our own future, and by networking within the industry and building strong ties and relationships we can ensure our own success. No longer do we have to stay in the background and hope that the white labels and the cam sites are doing their job with advertising so that we have enough people in our room. The time is now to start treating yourself like the bad ass business woman/man you are and create your own destiny. That starts with networking. Period. So go print up those business cards and get ready to shake hands and kiss some babies.

The fine line between spamming and promotion

September 8, 2016

The Fine Line Between Spamming and Promotion

There comes a time in every cam models life where you have to learn the art of the balance of promotion. It sounds simple, but there are so many intricacies that you don’t realize exist until you’re in the midst of it. For today, let’s talk about one of those intricacies. The difference between promoting yourself and your links, and spamming your audience.

Nobody likes spam. How many times have you opened up your email account only to see that it’s filled with hundreds of spam emails that you have no interest in reading? It’s annoying, it’s obnoxious, and I have been victim to closing my email accounts because the spam gets SO out of control. Or how about going to a website, only to be bombarded by the millions of pop up/under ads until you want to rip your hair out and scream because.. All you f*$%ing wanted was to read a damn article. *deep breaths* The Point is that it’s a pain in the ass, and if you aren’t careful with the balance this could be what is coming across to your fanbase on your social media accounts. Notably on Twitter and Snapchat.

I can’t tell you how many times I have logged onto Twitter and gone to a cam-girls account to only see her posting links of where they can go purchase her content and see her online. Then I see the same models complaining about how they never make any sales from their twitter account, and that it’s filled with a bunch of freeloaders. Sure, of course you want to be able to generate sales through Twitter and that’s what you should be doing, but what you need to understand is that promoting yourself on Twitter/snapchat/Insta (insert every other social medium you may use here) is not the same thing as converting a sale in your cam room. The simple fact of the matter is that social media platforms ARE NOT a cam room, therefore you cannot treat it as such. You can’t just throw out a link every hour on the hour and expect people to click on it and buy. They aren’t in the mindset already to spend money like someone on a cam site is. You have to convert them through the balancing act of promotion and personality of your brand.

Now, I’m not saying don’t ever post your links. I post all of my links daily, multiple times. The key is that it isn’t ALL that I do. I’m not constantly posting it in every tweet. I’m not posting snaps on my storyline every 10 minutes telling them to go and buy my premium. I make sure to balance it out with enough of a “personality” to my brand as possible, so they don’t feel like I’m shoving it down their throats. The difference between going onto someone’s Twitter feed and seeing every post as a link, versus going on their feed and seeing a few links interspersed with

them chatting with their fans, posting funny quotes/memes, posting pics without attaching a link to it every once in a while. You get the idea.

The balance needs to be about 60/40. 60% of the time you push your product, 40% of the time you work on the image of your brand and cultivating a brand personality that will inspire loyalty and make them want to click on the links when you DO post them. Trust and believe that if all you do is spam your followers, they are not going to want to buy what you’re selling. Why would they? It would be the same thing as a twitter account that is run by a bot. Especially in our industry, we have to convince people to pay for our services. Their mindset is why would they pay for it if they can get it for free, and why on earth would they pay attention to anything you post if it’s the same monotonous thing every single time?

Now that I’ve been on my pedestal preaching about the woes of over promoting, you also have to be sure that you aren’t UNDER promoting. At the end of the day, you are a product and you are there to make sales. Just like it’s easy to forget to inject that little bit of personality and only tweet out your links, it’s also easy to forget to post links because you’re so into the other side of it. Especially with the majority of us having multiple links to send people to, it’s important not to forget that once you have the fanbase reeled in through the personality posts, that you balance that out by reminding them that your time isn’t necessarily free and if they want more of your awesome personality, they can go insert link here and get the even better version. Wax on, wax off young grasshopper. Get them interested in you, and then hit them with a link of where they can get more of you. It’s all just one big balancing act. 🙂

Time Management Tips For Cam Models

July 22, 2016

Holly

Time Management for Webcam Models

Every successful cam models knows the importance of time management. As the saying goes, time is money. This couldn’t be more true when it comes to camming. Since you’re your own boss and make your own hours, it’s up to you to motivate yourself and manage everything on your own. There isn’t a boss there to scold you or co-workers around to snitch on you. From the first day you start camming, you need to instill proper time management skills into your daily routine.

One of the easiest things you can do is create a ‘to-do’ list every night before bed. Take a few minutes to jot down the things you need to accomplish the next day and a list of the extra things you’d like to get done. Prioritize the most important things on the list and put those on the top so you get them done first. It feels so good to cross things off a to-do list, and that can really help to motivate you. If there’s extra things you didn’t get it, move them to the next day’s list and try to do those first so you don’t get even more behind.

Set a schedule and stick to it! Set yourself up a weekly schedule to live by. This should include what days you’re gonna cam, how long you’re gonna cam for, goals for the day, time set aside for shooting content, updating your website or blog, shooting customs, promotion, etc. These are all very important aspects of your business, and you need to make sure you’re sticking with them. Falling behind even just one day can really put a damper on things and screw up your entire weekly schedule.

When determining what days and for how long you’re gonna cam, you should definitely consider your peak hours. With some experimentation, you’ll be able to figure out what hours are the most profitable for you on cam. Schedule the rest of your tasks for the day around that since camming is likely what will be earning you the majority of your pay. Always make it a priority to get on cam during your peak hours. At the end of the day when you’re checking your earnings, you’ll be happy you motivated yourself to get on when it’s easiest to make money instead of struggling through slow hours and wasting time trying to reach your goal for that day.

Taking time out for yourself is also very important. No one can work all the time. Schedule in a fun little activity, hobby time, nap time, or anything else that gives you a small break. It can be very refreshing to get away from work, even if it’s just for a little bit. And that could be just the motivation you need to reset and get back out there working harder than ever.

It’s inevitable that your schedule isn’t gonna be perfect at first and that there may be unexpected things that pop up throughout the week. The important thing is that you have one in place and stick to it as best as possible. Despite what some people might think, being a cam girl can definitely be stressful and take a toll on you. But with proper motivation and time management skills, you’ll be able to push through all the struggles with a smile on your face and a dildo in your… well… you know. 😛

Getting A Gold Show Started On Streamate

July 15, 2016

Holly

How do I start a Gold show on Streamate

Many models who cam on Streamate do gold shows at some point. A gold show is basically a group show where multiple people contribute to help you reach your goal amount. If the amount is reached, or if you get close enough to your goal, you can choose to do the show and everyone who contributed at least the minimum amount gets to join in and watch. Gold shows are appealing to many members because they usually only have to pay a small one-time amount in order to get a longer show, as opposed to paying per minute for a private show. And gold shows are appealing to cam models because they can raise a large amount of money and only have to do one show. It’s also guaranteed money as opposed to the possibility of someone taking you into private and leaving after only a couple of minutes.

Although the idea of a gold show is appealing, they can sometimes be hard to get started. This can be incredibly frustrating and may even make you want to give up or stop camming for the day. Luckily for you, I’ve been on Streamate for over four years now and can give you some advice on how to get your show started. 🙂 The first thing you need to consider is the time of day that you cam. This is important not only for gold shows, but just in general. You simply aren’t going to get as many customers if you cam while not as many people are online. Play around with different times and see what works for you. I’ve found that I get a lot of traffic when I cam in the afternoon (1-4 pm EST) and then again in the evening (7pm-midnight EST). My room is usually pretty busy during those times, especially when I’m offering gold shows.

When you go to start a gold show, you put in the amount that you want to raise all together, the amount of time your fans have to get you to that goal, how much each person has to contribute in order to watch the show, how long of a show you’re gonna do, and a topic for your show. Every single one of these factors is important and plays a big role in how successful your gold show will be. The amount that you want to raise all together should be realistic and based on how much you’re generally able to pull in during a gold show. If you set it too high, members will be hesitant to tip because they’ll think that you’ll only start the show if you reach that impossible goal. If you’re new to gold shows and having a hard time figuring out what to make your goal be, look at other models on the same line of the homepage as you. Likely they’ll be getting about the same amount of traffic as you, and this can at least help you decide a general range.

The amount each person has to contribute in order to watch the show is also very important. You will always want this number to be less than your per minute rate for private shows, since this is more of a group show without requests. And you’ll generally want it lower than the amount of time your show is gonna last. I’ve found that a 6-7 minute show for $4 works well for me. The topic that you set for your show is also important. You want it to include a general idea of what your fans can expect to see in the show. Don’t be misleading. Make sure you’re offering a show that’s well-rounded… something that a wide variety of people will enjoy. Your topic can also include any special deals you have going on.

Speaking of special deals, that’s another way to raise more money for your gold show. If you offer entries into a raffle, video packages, or something special to the high tipper, you’re more likely to get guys wanting to tip more than the minimum amount. For the high tipper, you can offer to moan their name during the show or even let them direct you. You can also offer different level video packages that your fans can purchase. They’re more likely to purchase these during a gold show than in free chat because then they get the videos plus the gold show as opposed to just the videos. Entries into a raffle are a good idea too. For me, I tell my fans that for every $5 they tip, they get one raffle ticket. So even though my gold shows are only $4 to watch, many will tip that extra $1 to get an entry. It doesn’t sound like much, but it can really add up over time.

Teasing and getting people pumped for your show is also very important. During your gold show countdown, you should never just be sitting there looking bored. Engage with your fans. Chat with them and greet them as they enter your room. Be sure to mention any video deals, games, or raffles that you have going on. Sometimes they’re too lazy or too busy watching you to read your topic or messages. Let them know what you’re gonna do in the show. You might even want to start removing some articles of clothing after you get a certain amount away from your goal. Being enthusiastic and teasing is a great way to get your fans excited for your show.

Feeling Comfortable As A Cam Model

July 11, 2016

Holly

Feeling Comfortable as a Webcam Model

When first starting out on cam, it’s important to figure out what kind of cam model you want to be. Just because you see the majority of cam models acting a certain way, doesn’t necessarily mean you have to follow in their footsteps. One of the most important factors among successful cam models is that they only do what they’re comfortable with. Doing only what you feel comfortable doing will make you enjoy your job that much more. And if you truly enjoy what you’re doing, it’ll show in your cam shows.

Despite what you might think from watching other models online, not all cam models get naked. Shocking, right? There is an art to teasing, and a lot of guys are really into that. Not all guys frequent cam sites to watch girls masturbating. Some are there simply to chat and make friends with you, for the company of the other fans in the chat room, and because they like your personality and enjoy interacting with you in a way that they might not be able to with other people in person. If you do decide that you want to be a non-nude model, it’s important to make that known to your fans. Misleading them to think that you may eventually take your clothes off if they tip you enough is wrong and could get you in a lot of trouble. Misleading your fans in that way can actually get you banned from cam sites. You may also start to notice bad reviews about yourself online. You won’t have return customers because no one will trust you. So just be sure you’re upfront about how far you go in your shows.

This is your job and you are in complete control. You’re free to switch up your style at any time. Maybe you decided to start non-nude and then decide a few months later that you want to start showing more. Doing this is completely up to you. But again, just be sure you’re doing whatever you feel comfortable doing. Don’t feel pressured into doing something you don’t want to do. If you’re uncomfortable or not enjoying yourself, it’ll show. It may be a turn-off to your fans to see you looking bored or uninterested. You won’t last as a cam model if you’re doing things that make you feel bad about yourself. The same way it’s ok to start doing something you didn’t do before, it’s also ok to stop doing something you used to do. If something you used to offer has started to make you feel uneasy, you don’t have to continue doing it.

Besides just deciding between being a nude or non-nude model, you also need to consider the kinds of things you want to offer and the types of shows you want to do. Do you only want to do live cam shows, Skype shows, premade content, sexting, phone calls, cam2cam, solo shows, boy/girl shows, shows with other cam models, dirty talk, toys, anal… the list goes on and on. Once again I’ll give you the same advice as I did earlier… only do what you’re comfortable with. Always remember that it’s ok to say no and it’s ok to ban someone who’s being a troll or making you feel uncomfortable.

Competition breeds success

June 28, 2016