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Marketing for 'adult' products

by ed2256
18 replies
Hello everyone,

I have just launched a sock brand called cocks on socks and I am having trouble getting my ads approved by FB and Instagram.

The socks are what they sound like, socks with penises on them, however, they have been designed to be as cartoony and inoffensive as possible. While they arnt really an adult product I guess we may have to look at the same techniques that people marketing adult products have to use. Does anybody have any advice?
#adult #marketing #products
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  • Profile picture of the author ryanbiddulph
    Go right to the source Ed. Research these folks in the adult niche. Reach out to them. Those fearing comp won't answer but no sense getting advice from fear-filled folks anyway. Generous, abundant types clue you in to get around the minefield of marketing in a niche filled with resistance.

    Ryan
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  • Profile picture of the author YourGoToWriter
    I believe it would be a difficult task to use Facebook and Instagram as your platform for the product, @ed2256. They are very particular with their terms and conditions after they changed their algorithms in January.

    Even when your content is hilarious, they'd still see it as malicious. But if you really want to use both platforms, you have to be extra sensitive with the words you would use.
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  • Profile picture of the author superowid
    You can only play it with the video and graphic form, not as the text. But there's no guarantee that your content can stay longer in their platform. Also there's a chance to get banned.
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  • Profile picture of the author locvfx
    Why did you choose that product ? does it make you big profit?
    For adult related products, you should build your audience list (email or twitter relationship, especially Tumblr, and Instagram followers/friendship), All you need to do is.. blast your email but respect your audience, don't spam.
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    • Profile picture of the author ed2256
      Its our own product, we just had the idea and decided to go for it, its not hugely profitable right now but its very early days, we need to get volume
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  • Profile picture of the author IGotMine
    we just had the idea and decided to go for it
    Excellent business strategy...you'll fit right in here.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    they arnt really an adult product

    Yes, they are - when you have to blur the image on the product you are selling.....it's not 'family friendly'. You'll have to use adult ad venues and I doubt there's much of a market.



    Honestly, sounds like a couple guys had a few beers and thought it was a cute 'jingle'....and didn't give it more thought the next day....


    As a product on a 'joke gift site' I could see it - but not as a stand alone product....but I could be wrong. Maybe it's the next fad in the fashion industry...
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  • Profile picture of the author Rose Anderson
    I recently ran an ad on Facebook and they wouldn't approve it do to the "adult content" of my photo.

    It was a photo of a blank computer screen!

    So yes, they are very picky about adult content but not very picky about who is checking out their ads.

    Rose
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  • Profile picture of the author Gambino
    I'm not sure but me know if you figure it out. I'm thinking about starting Dongs on Bongs.
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    • Profile picture of the author boblev
      Originally Posted by Gambino View Post

      I'm not sure but me know if you figure it out. I'm thinking about starting Dongs on Bongs.
      Optionally, you could go with shlongs on bongs and expand to a shoe line Dix on Kix.....
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve B
    Originally Posted by ed2256 View Post

    . . . I am having trouble getting my ads approved by FB and Instagram . . . Does anybody have any advice?



    Ed: I have two observations from my online marketing experience of over 20 years:
    1. Selling adult products and services will subject you to a level of scrutiny and rejection that doesn't come in other niches. You should know that and be prepared for it. You have a good chance of not being approved for advertising and even inclusion in some search engines, being blacklisted by major sites, and having those online "black marks" follow you personally and in business (even in other non-adult niches). Right or wrong, you become a target for rejection and banning by association. Why? Mostly because adult sites and content have a tendency to taint your reputation. Minors are everywhere online these days and many businesses and web sites will not welcome you simply because of your association with restricted content. Yes, some adult sites do extremely well profitwise; my guess is, they have lots of money to throw at marketing and branding. Unless that is you, I would suggest you choose a different niche outside the "adult" arena. Especially as a newbie marketer, you don't need two strikes against you right out of the gate.
    2. Every business should begin with some online marketing research so you understand what is "in demand" and what is going to sell well. Guessing is not a sound business strategy. By doing a few hours of focused market research, you will know where the demand is, how strong it is, where your prospects can be found online (so you can target your marketing), what the competition is like, what prospects are willing to pay for similar products, whether there is a marketplace trend (up or down), what and where similar products can be found, and even where your competition gets their traffic. You should have verified all these things up front so you go into a business with your eyes wide open and knowing what's going to sell and what isn't. Most marketers don't bother with this step - and not coincidentally, most marketers fail.
    The very best to you in your marketing,


    Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author ed2256
      thanks for the long detailed, if slightly sobering, reply
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  • Profile picture of the author Shkirr12
    Search for adult websites. and ask them to have your banner ad on there site. thats one easy way to go about it.
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  • Profile picture of the author DaveScott
    Facebook does not like adult.
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  • Profile picture of the author boblev
    I don't have any advice, I can point you in the direction of a couple of leads I found

    1. x-rated category on cafepress....https://www.cafepress.com/+x-rated+gifts

    2. Sock market in san fran (x-rated desigh category) you could sell them your designs or wholesale the product. https://www.sockmarket.com/pages/our-stores

    Doing advertising online is going to be tough. If you can invest in inventory there may be options for placement in specialty retail outlets.

    Bob
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    • Profile picture of the author ed2256
      Awesome, thank you so much, its given me a load of ideas to try and get it out there!
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  • Profile picture of the author newxxx
    playboy and xhamster and youporn all have facebook accounts - so just do what they do
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  • Profile picture of the author JohnVianny
    Have you tried Google Adwords Display which cost less than facebook?

    All the people nowadays are fooled for facebook, while facebook is making now an extensive campaign of ban and not approving ads.

    My advice is to stop the fb campaign and let this period to pass: they're now banning people and accounts and ads.

    And focus on other channels while waiting.
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