how realistic are you about your own sites?

[basschick]

i'm always talking to people who don't know their sites' strengths - what they are and are not. i think that may be one of the hardest things for most webmasters to do - assess their sites realistically.

i know of amateur sites that want to look slick and glossy and corporate, live show sites that try to come off like video sites, sites with jocks but the owners want to believe they're all twinks.

in some cases - not all - the owners feel that their sites aren't good enough as they are and try to portray them as something they're not. that's too bad, because there are guys into all sorts of porn. i think being realistic about your sites can help find the right traffic and lead to better sales and retention.

[Gaystoryman]

It's not just the strengths we don't always see, but the weaknesses too. And maybe that is even harder to come to grips with, imho

[basschick]

that's very true... perhaps we take our sites too personally, and that makes it hard to see it as others do.

but even if you have basically good content, etc, if you are trying to market a personal amateur site as a corporate site, you are creating a weakness. your site may be a very good amateur site, but if it's a personal amateur site, it's going to be pretty poor as a corporate site.

[marcjacob]

I get lost with my sites. I tend not to have much confidence in the sites I build. I rely quite heavily on other people to tell me whats good and whats not.

Gremlins is always being tinkered with because Ive never been happy and Im still not, in fact I was meant to work on it yesterday but I couldnt be bothered working.

[dzinerbear]

I tend to get lost with my own sites, too. And I find that a lot of your friends and colleagues are afraid to say anything to you. Lots of times I've asked for opinions and I get, "Oh it looks great." Then months later when I change something, the same people will say, "Yeah, I never really understood why you were doing that."

Michael

[Relentless]

When I review paysites I often spend 5-10 minutes making sure the owner understands I am giving honest, professional feedback after having seen 1000s of other paysite tours and members areas. I find many paysite owners who view reviewers as consultants more than critics end up with much better sites as a result. It's very hard to proof your own work, so honest reviews are often a great source of helpful hints to improve your site.

[abostonboy]

I tend to get lost with my own sites, too. And I find that a lot of your friends and colleagues are afraid to say anything to you. Lots of times I've asked for opinions and I get, "Oh it looks great." Then months later when I change something, the same people will say, "Yeah, I never really understood why you were doing that."

Michael

That happens a lot. Just ask for my opinion. I am sure I have made a few people cry.

[Gaystoryman]

I am sure I have made a few people cry.
Forgot the lube again, didn't you? 666

[archer]

i remember the dude on another - nameless whistle - board that asked for opinions of his website and then got upset at the answers.

i take any criticism in stride. in my time, i've found that most criticism/comments are usually bang on- unless the critic is a total douchebag.

if i agree, i change; if i disagree, i don't. very simple.

[basschick]

i've seen many many webmasters get upset at criticism and constructive feedback about their sites and other designs. these days, i tend to ask "do you want my honest opinion" before offering it since i starting hearing about my "brutal honesty" from people.

funny thing is i didn't want to be brutal - i wanted to help people make more money...

[Gaystoryman]

i've seen many many webmasters get upset at criticism and constructive feedback about their sites and other designs. these days, i tend to ask "do you want my honest opinion" before offering it since i starting hearing about my "brutal honesty" from people.

funny thing is i didn't want to be brutal - i wanted to help people make more money...

Interesting isn't it? They ask, then when you do express your honest view, they lash out. I can understand it, I don't agree with it, but then it is human nature, to not want to know that the hours and hours you spend was really, well, a waste. Though frankly, it isn't, because while the end result may not be great or even close to good, it is a learning experience.

[Adam Mason]

Basschick, the new-look BLAKEMASON.COM went live last month and I know you've been dieing to review it. OK, design can be a personal choice and we should all recognise that... but yesterday was a record sales day so I guess it can't be all bad!

Let me or Lloyd know when you're ready and we'll fling you some login details.

[gaydemon_jr]

i've seen many many webmasters get upset at criticism and constructive feedback about their sites and other designs. these days, i tend to ask "do you want my honest opinion" before offering it since i starting hearing about my "brutal honesty" from people.

funny thing is i didn't want to be brutal - i wanted to help people make more money...

Brutal opinion is always good. Since thats what users will give, when choosing to come back or not. I always give it, and glad someone else does too hehe.

[TropixxxMichael]

In my own case, my site is an extension of who I am. I am personally into my fetish, and in fact, the reason I started making videos so many years ago was that I could not find a spanking video that "got it right". As such, I probably take criticism much harder than I should, but that being said, it is rare that I ask for anyone elses opinion.

I would like to think that I am aware of my sites strengths, such as exclusive custom content that if filmed by a spanking guy, for a spanking guy. As well as my weaker things, such as design.

In the end though, the only thing that really matters is how the surfer sees the site, not my fellow webmasters.

[MWCren]

Sometimes I get sick and tired of seeing my site. I've always operated as a one-man-shop and with all the hats to wear, I get totally lost in the details sometimes and lose sight of the big picture. I've asked for input several times, and its always been helpful for me. Tunnel vision is so easy to get. I know what is there, how to get to there, and how it works when I do. Translating that to someone that is new to the site is very different.

I especially like the reviews that Patti and Michael have written about my site. It gives me a fresh perspective and tells me what I need to fix or work on or explain.

Now, that being said, I am a little thin skinned sometimes, I will ignore stuff that I know won't work or hasn't worked in the past. After nearly 9 years, its tough to come up with something I haven't tried or adjusted. I don't even assume to know it all, but I do know my site, amateur webcams, what sells and what doesn't. Packaging it, is the tough part, and I always look for outside people to help me with that.

[boydollars]

my sites suck! I hate them! anyone wanna buy them?

hehe... I'm so over taking it personally. I used to get so butt hurt when someone says something about my sites.

To be honest... I love this industry about 80% of the time. I enjoy what I do and have been doing it for 11 years. I know my sites make money and thats all that matters. Some people love what i do and make quite a bit off of them. Others are repulsed and hate what i do.

Anyone in this industry that can stand the test of time is already ahead of the game!

:)

[abostonboy]

my sites suck! I hate them! anyone wanna buy them?



We are buying.... PMing an offer. :)

[basschick]

while that's true, i still feel that it's very important that a site with exclusive content that is true to niche do everything they can to showcase their content. big, high quality vidcaps that are all the same size is a start in that direction that all exclusive vid sites should take imo.


In my own case, my site is an extension of who I am. I am personally into my fetish, and in fact, the reason I started making videos so many years ago was that I could not find a spanking video that "got it right". As such, I probably take criticism much harder than I should, but that being said, it is rare that I ask for anyone elses opinion.

I would like to think that I am aware of my sites strengths, such as exclusive custom content that if filmed by a spanking guy, for a spanking guy. As well as my weaker things, such as design.

In the end though, the only thing that really matters is how the surfer sees the site, not my fellow webmasters.

[abostonboy]

In the end though, the only thing that really matters is how the surfer sees the site, not my fellow webmasters.

That's the HARD part. Few of us really know how surfers see our site. We know how members see our site because we can ask them. But we don't know how potential members see our site.

[basschick]

it's pretty easy to figure out how surfers see your site - just look at the conversions. always test each site, always keep track of outgoing clicks and sales.

[TropixxxMichael]

That's the HARD part. Few of us really know how surfers see our site. We know how members see our site because we can ask them. But we don't know how potential members see our site.

Great point. I wish there was a way to ask "why did you decide not to join?" Maybe in an exit window or whatever you call them. I wonder who (if any) would answer them honestly.

[RottenRay]

In my own case, my site is an extension of who I am. I am personally into my fetish, and in fact, the reason I started making videos so many years ago was that I could not find a spanking video that "got it right". As such, I probably take criticism much harder than I should, but that being said, it is rare that I ask for anyone elses opinion.

and


In the end though, the only thing that really matters is how the surfer sees the site, not my fellow webmasters.

Michael -

You're absolutely right - where the rubber hits the road is the most important part.


.....

[boydollars]

We are buying.... PMing an offer. :)


lol
Some days I would...... Today is just not one of them.. :)

[Fister]

Experienced webmasters do have some idea about how well someone else's site tour will do. We are evaluating our own results with the sponsor site marketing constantly.