Expert: Dan Pepper - 12/18/2008

Question
Hi Dan,
It's my first time on this forum, I only found it today, but I've searching for the answer to this question for some time now- I'm hopping you can help me?
I joined an adult site a few months ago and my popularity there has soared way beyond my expectations, in only 6 months I have a network of almost 5000 people and a large fan base.  But I'm not allowed to seel anything on the site, I do get requests for my videos, which are in the top rated on the site I'm using for entertainment.  And at one point when my profile was shut down- i set up another one for my friends and fans to find me, and they said if I made own site they would follow me anywhere!
So now with a small, lyoal fan base and about 10 or so 30 minutes adult videos under my belt and going to be shooting and producing many more in the very future- I want to know how do I set this all up?
I've seen many 'turn key' type site where you can host other adult content, but I want it to be my own site, with all of my sexual antics on film!  I'm broke and on welfare right now, so I have no start up cash either which seems to be a big problem.  A freind/ fan has already purchased the domain name for me, so I have that, but how do I get off?  I'd even be willing to split the money to a degree with a designer or something, I'm not looking to get RICH- just make enough cash that I can support me and my 2 kids.
Anyways any help on this would be greatly appreciated!

Pamela

Answer
Pamela,

Congrats on your soaring popularity!

With 10 videos, you have enough content to get a pay site started, but within a month or so, you'd want to be able to have new content coming a regular basis.  Of course, this takes money, not only for having a site developed and maintained, but for ensuring you are complying with various state and federal laws.

Another option would be to work with an agency to get you into film production.  You didn't say how you produced your original 10 videos, so I don't know if these are self produced or not, and how you wish to continue the film production.

I am not a fan of turnkey websites - it is very difficult to distinguish yourself from the thousands of other sites out there that are similar, the maintenance of these sites are usually poor, and the terms and conditions provided to you do not pass legal muster.  You can easily spend more in the long run getting these sites to do what you want them to.

The bottom line is for you to set up a business plan to determine what you want your site to do, how you plan on charging, and how you're going to get traffic to your site.  Without having this in place, whatever money you do spend could be wasted.

You may find information on my website useful as well - www.adultwebsitelawyer.com.