During a recession, adult content producers and website owners are always looking for that edge or angle that will allow them to weather the storm and come out stronger when the economic downturn ends.
But before you completely revamp your business, or change the way you start your business, below are some tips for you to keep in mind which should help you succeed in this economy:
1. Establish a niche. From gay niches and BDSM niches to alt-porn niches and ethnic niches,
an endless amount of micro-niches and sub-niches can be found on the
adult Internet in 2009 - and despite the current economic crisis, niche
content remains an attractive option for many adult Internet companies.
The key is establishing just the right fit: you don't want your niche to be so broad that you're competing with thousands of other similar websites. On the other hand, you don't want a niche that is so narrow that it only reflects your particular fetish and only attracts 25 users.
The key is doing your research to see where a particular niche is not being served adequately, and then attacking it.
2. Don't discount too heavily. If you start lowering your prices when times are bad, don't expect your users to pay more when times are good. When you lower your prices, you've set a new value for your content.
3. Market to the mainstream. Traditional retailers like Wal-mart and Target know full well that the adult industry generates $15 billion a year, and retailers like them will continue to push the boundaries of what their consumers will accept from an adult perspective regarding merchandising in their stores.
One way to get mainstream cred is to get noticed by mainstream media by coming up with creative promotion and marketing. Any time you can get your name out to the mainstream media in a positive way, you're helping to lower the barriers to getting to mainstream retailers.
4. Service, service, service. Customers are always willing to pay for what they think is a good value, and a positive experience from a friendly and helpful staff goes a LONG way. Take care of your customers, go the extra mile for them, and you'll develop a long-term relationship that will last through both good AND bad economic times.
