Does porn surfers search?

Webmaster Discussion
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#1

I’m starting to wonder if porn surfers actually search much at all. At least when it comes to link lists, blogs and directories.

I’m sure they start of with a search on Google, but what do they do once they hit a Traffic / Affiliate site like gaydemon.com, a blog or any other link list.

Is the prefered way of surfing still through browsing categories?

From my own stats it seems only 3-4% of all visitors search. Even when I’ve tried to push a new search feature which also stands out more.

Why dont the search?

#2

Re: Does porn surfers search?

I can’t speak for your surfers, I can only relate how and when I find myself using an on site search feature. I’m usually hitting it only when I’m needing to find something very specific, like I’m on the Dell site tracking down a computer spec page to see what ram the motherboard uses, or hunting a driver upgrade for a sound card, that sort of thing.

Your site is very akin to a huge entertainment magazine … once you get there, you just want to browse around and look at stuff.

#3

Re: Does porn surfers search?

I think VOD sites in particular are losing popularity with viewers because they are written by computer programmers who can only think in terms of building a database to hold data (titles and genre), not first and foremost a site that entertains or fulfills the viewer’s want for his favorite niche of entertainment once he’s found it.

I’m finding more success with portals that do the work for the viewer, once the viewer has found the niche… and just plain cuts to the chase and delivers entertainment, not more page after page of clicking to search for the needle in the haystack.

Viewers want to watch entertainment, not hack thru layer upon layer of search boxes.

Viewers want editors to sort out and shift through the noise. Blogs are popular, because the writers become the magazine editors of the past, and are the middlemen that deliver the goods.

I’m also thinking that it is a cyclical thing as well - for the first 10 years of the Internet it was great to play computer scientist librarian and search, but in the second generation I believe the want is more like the TV and magazine analogy of wanting an editor to assemble thematic content, and deliver.

#4

Re: Does porn surfers search?

the easiest answer to this is to check your stats to see how many referrals you get from search engines, I know some of our sites get a very large number of s.e. referrals so the answer must be “yes”

#5

Re: Does porn surfers search?

I think Bjorn is asking about the search boxes we add to our sites to search the actual site with, not so much about using g**gle and the like to find it in the first place.

#6

Re: Does porn surfers search?

His query was “do they search within a site” once they found it with a search engine.

I think most of us would attribute most of our success to the initial search engine result… but he is taking it one step further, what value is there to provide searches within?

#7

Re: Does porn surfers search?

[quote=nickbaer;18058]His query was “do they search within a site” once they found it with a search engine.

I think most of us would attribute most of our success to the initial search engine result… but he is taking it one step further, what value is there to provide searches within?[/quote]

to find related material to the initial search, of course. whistle

I find on a few of mine, they actually do use them, and every bit helps I think, as it is just one more way to keep them on the site, to keep it sticky.

my 2 cents

#8

Re: Does porn surfers search?

I click away from a site that makes me dig too deep.

My sites are catalogs, so viewers really don’t have to click more than once to get to the heart of the matter, images, and twice to watch a movie.

When I built it, I borrowed the theme of a popular movie site, and put the categories on the main page like a table of contents.

It works, it delivers. I’ve thought about making it more complicated, but it would just create obstacles.

#9

Re: Does porn surfers search?

bjorn - how many of your bookmarkers go directly to your new sites page? a few years ago, another link list owner told me a very high percentage of their regulars went directly to the new sites and then clicked categories.

and come to think of it, a person going to a directory with the sections and the categories laid out doesn’t really need to search. they can find what they’re looking for very easily.

#10

Re: Does porn surfers search?

oh…oops my mistake

#11

Re: Does porn surfers search?

That’s very intersting. I think you got a very good point there actually.
Have to think about that a bit more.

But if I translate that into what I’m wondering about. Then basically, it means surfers who end up on gaydemon for example by searching (SEO Traffic), are then more likly to browse on gaydemon than search.

Gaydemon is the editorial function and have organized everything into different categories.

Anyway… makes sense in my head lol. And it could explain why so few uses the searches on gaydemon. Its organzied enough and provides them with each logical structure… (hopefully).

Really good point though…

[quote=nickbaer;18042]I think VOD sites in particular are losing popularity with viewers because they are written by computer programmers who can only think in terms of building a database to hold data (titles and genre), not first and foremost a site that entertains or fulfills the viewer’s want for his favorite niche of entertainment once he’s found it.

I’m finding more success with portals that do the work for the viewer, once the viewer has found the niche… and just plain cuts to the chase and delivers entertainment, not more page after page of clicking to search for the needle in the haystack.

Viewers want to watch entertainment, not hack thru layer upon layer of search boxes.

Viewers want editors to sort out and shift through the noise. Blogs are popular, because the writers become the magazine editors of the past, and are the middlemen that deliver the goods.

I’m also thinking that it is a cyclical thing as well - for the first 10 years of the Internet it was great to play computer scientist librarian and search, but in the second generation I believe the want is more like the TV and magazine analogy of wanting an editor to assemble thematic content, and deliver.[/quote]

#12

Re: Does porn surfers search?

You are right, the New sites listing still is the most popular section. I think its the same for most link lists. Not exactly sure why, but i think it gives surfers a chance to see whats new and also not be overwelmed by the huge amount of sites in the normal listings.

[quote=basschick;18064]bjorn - how many of your bookmarkers go directly to your new sites page? a few years ago, another link list owner told me a very high percentage of their regulars went directly to the new sites and then clicked categories.

and come to think of it, a person going to a directory with the sections and the categories laid out doesn’t really need to search. they can find what they’re looking for very easily.[/quote]

#13

Re: Does porn surfers search?

The real reason to this thread is that I’m getting a bit paranoid that my search results on gaydemon are not relevant or good enough.

I keep thinking im not giving them good enough search results or that it doesnt work as good as it should.

The problem when directories get big like gaydemon (amount of sites) is that due to the volume of data, it becomes difficult to get a good balance on searches. Lots of sites use bad descriptions or titles. And when 2000 sites use the same bloody words, well it screws up search results.

#14

Re: Does porn surfers search?

I rarely search within a site for one simple reason - I never get relevant results. The search engine is either wacked or submitters spam keywords.

#15

Re: Does porn surfers search?

another interesting question is: are users that search more interessed in spending their money?

#16

Re: Does porn surfers search?

I think they would be, the few who does are looking for a very specific thing.

#17

Re: Does porn surfers search?

I kind of got it confirmed what a few of you mentioned.

A visitor of mine, explained to me how he got on to gaydemon and how he uses it. And I got a feeling what he does and like you mentioned goes for a lot of people.

He would find gaydemon through searches on Google or Yahoo (even if he visited the site before). He would go to gaydemon, then use the organisation through categories to find exactly what he was looking for.

He wasnt even aware there was a gaydemon search feature. He didnt feel there was any need for it. He only ever started out with searching, and when he got to a site from Google he would only browse.

ALl this took me a bit by surprise, and does change how I look at things greatly. It seems then that 2ndary sites should concentrate on organizing the content for easy browsing rather than worrying about Searching.

#18

Re: Does porn surfers search?

The low tech, old school style of laying out content for viewers has worked for me since my first site in 1995.

Sure, I’ve had plenty of “designers” tell me that I need more complex organization and more links for viewers to click on, and high tech graphics to create the theme, but hey - the Internet is a big pace, and I’d rather be low tech for the guys with money who like low tech, than be something that is an obstacle for them.