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Need help to monetize adult traffic outside the adult industry

by MadNoMad
13 replies
Hi warriors,
I recently got involved w an adult-content site. It has TONS of (US) traffic, and the objective is start monetizing it.
I am not an affiliate marketer, but I am trying to find non-adult networks or affiliate programs that will take adult traffic.
Important: I have to follow some restrictions in terms of advertising:
-Only RevShare, CPA or CPS deals. Why? The site has simple, non-intrusive advertising and want to keep it that way, so to make it attractive they want it risk-free for the advertiser (you only pay if it converts).

-Non-adult and non-gambling advertisers. This makes it hard since it seems those are the only industries that will accept adult traffic.
-Btc payouts. Most traditional or regular networks dont offer btc payouts.

Given the traffic´s demographics, I´ve been searching personal loans, insurance, cbd and thc and (any) other options out there, but I´m still learning.

Any/all suggestions are welcome.
#adult #industry #monetize #traffic
  • Profile picture of the author GordonJ
    You have a lot of restrictions placed on you, WHY DID you get involved?

    So, to make sure I understand correctly, you want to monetize via AFFILIATEs an adult content site that has a lot of traffic. You are restricted in what you can and can not offer, and also must accept btc payouts? Is this correct?

    You basically want to find OFFERS which will accept your adult traffic, and be willing to get paid with crypto...and you can't do adult or gaming/gambling offers?

    Why have you tied your hands behind your back and jumped into shark infested waters, do you believe there is a big potential here? As huge a market as adult may be, they just don't buy anything thrown at them, as you are finding out. Just my opinion here, but you are wasting your time, especially considering you don't have the affiliate background to begin with.

    Adult traffic buys ADULT oriented stuff, it is that simple, isn't it?

    GordonJ

    Originally Posted by MadNoMad View Post

    Hi warriors,
    I recently got involved w an adult-content site. It has TONS of (US) traffic, and the objective is start monetizing it.
    I am not an affiliate marketer, but I am trying to find non-adult networks or affiliate programs that will take adult traffic.
    Important: I have to follow some restrictions in terms of advertising:
    -Only RevShare, CPA or CPS deals. Why? The site has simple, non-intrusive advertising and want to keep it that way, so to make it attractive they want it risk-free for the advertiser (you only pay if it converts).

    -Non-adult and non-gambling advertisers. This makes it hard since it seems those are the only industries that will accept adult traffic.
    -Btc payouts. Most traditional or regular networks dont offer btc payouts.

    Given the traffic´s demographics, I´ve been searching personal loans, insurance, cbd and thc and (any) other options out there, but I´m still learning.

    Any/all suggestions are welcome.
    And from your first post on this: you wrote...

    Hey, I feel your pain.

    I am not an affiliate marketer but had to put my "affiliate marketer hat" on for a site I am managing. The site already has HUGE volume of traffic (98% US) but having the same problem: little conversions/sales.

    In my case (if it gives any inspiration):
    1. I have a very specific topic on the site (therefore audience/traffic)
    2. I have refined the ad´s copy to make it straight forward and very clear (no click-bait, not deceiving) to improve clicks-to-sales.
    3. I have linked the ads to competing/similar products with their respective landing pages to compare their conversion and rule out a poor landing page.
    Yet conversions (for all) are far from what I expected.

    If the products/services I´m advertising on the site are not that appealing to my audience, and the copy is very clear/direct (e.g. "Buy XYZ in this link") why am I getting clicks and no sales?

    Confused as you are... just sharing the pain.
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    • Profile picture of the author MadNoMad
      Thanks for you comments. I suck at using this quote/multiquote thingy, took me a while to figure it out, lets see if my reply comes out understandable.

      So, to make sure I understand correctly, you want to monetize via AFFILIATEs an adult content site that has a lot of traffic. You are restricted in what you can and can not offer, and also must accept btc payouts? Is this correct?
      Yes.

      You basically want to find OFFERS which will accept your adult traffic, and be willing to get paid with crypto...and you can't do adult or gaming/gambling offers?
      Not exactly. I do want to find OFFERS which will accept my adult traffic, but that are willing to pay MY commission with crypto. They can charge for their product/service in which ever method they prefer.

      You have a lot of restrictions placed on you, WHY DID you get involved?
      Because I´m a bit of a masochist (jk)
      Jokes aside, I got involved because I saw/see great potential, and I think there is a lot that can be done despite the limitations. Also, there is a greater picture in which these "restrictions" make tons of sense, even if they make my life way harder in the affiliate marketing department.

      That said, since both of you were kind enough to reply, could you humor me only for a couple of minutes?

      I have several million impressions to US traffic, 90% mobile, 80% male, 25-55 yo... I mean, yeah, this is adult traffic, but everyone gets hungry, everyone wants fast & cheap internet, etc.
      I want to find those products/services that are only "1 degree of separation" from adult. In the big "marketing target" where adult industry would be the obvious "bull´s eye" w max conversions and therefore revenue (since it is a perfect match to the traffic); what would make that "2nd ring" in the target? The 2nd best match to this traffic?
      Do you know any that take adult traffic? (Other industries -particularly networks- not accepting adult traffic is my most common barrier so far)

      I know it will not convert like adult, but I am willing to bite that bullet by offering CPS, CPA or RevShare to advertisers and assume the "inefficiency" myself. I am even searching for freelance marketers because a) I know my limitations and b) I know there are products/services that will resonate w this traffic and there is so much traffic that it will take some effort and time to find/set/test/tweak all the campaigns by myself.

      You may have just signed on for an impossible job - I hope you are paid salary rather than commission...
      I might, yet the beauty of it is that I dont know it is impossible, so I might pull it off.

      Sorry for the long post, got excited; and thanks for your input.
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      • Profile picture of the author GordonJ
        Thanks for taking the time to give us more details, that is helpful and much better than the snark so many leave here. I don't know if this will be of any use to you, but it might help someone else.

        The big SECRET to selling remotely is...and people have spent thousands to learn this, and it is really an out in the open DO THIS type of secret that seems simple...

        The big secret is to meet the prospect at the right intersection at the right time.

        And to do that, you have to know what is TOP OF MIND when your prospects intersects with your offer. This is why you will find out, and please come back and laugh at me if I am wrong...why it will be hard for you to change their course of action.

        Sure, adult content users eat, drive, and do all the other things but when they visit a specialty site, of any kind, they come there with a certain mind set. And what you want to do is to knock them off that path with something else, a very hard (but not impossible) thing to do.

        The best way is to speak in the language, and in the mind set, of what the site offers. I won't delve into content, as far as adult goes, but maybe use cars as a metaphor, fair enough?

        If I own a classic 65 Mustang convertible, and I go to a specific site, where Mustang enthusiasts hang out, and try to make them an offer on buy one get one free DENNY'S dinner...not a good match. They didn't come there for the OTHER parts of their lives, see? On the top of their mind is the MUSTANG, and so you would have to speak their language, something like DENNY'S has a Mustang owners ONLY offer that will allow you to take your date/wife out to dinner for free. Simply show your title to the wait staff and instantly get a free dinner for your wife/girlfriend/date.

        Now, if you had a Mustang related EVENT you might wrap an offer around that. If you have 57 Chevy parts for sale, probably not going to sell many, even though they are old car enthusiasts, they just aren't interested.

        You have the job of getting their attention while their minds are in a different state, and with your chosen content, it is going to be a challenge to get into their state of mind at the moment, UNLESS, you have relatable content and a more subtle offer.

        The late Great Gary Halbert taught us to set up a food stand in the middle of a starving crowd, but if you try to sell hamburgers made from cows, to a million person group of VEGANS, it doesn't really work does it?

        So, you need to tweak your copy and TRY to get their attention for a brief period in such a way it does not distract them from the reason they came to the site in the first place.

        GordonJ





        Originally Posted by MadNoMad View Post

        Thanks for you comments. I suck at using this quote/multiquote thingy, took me a while to figure it out, lets see if my reply comes out understandable.


        Yes.


        Not exactly. I do want to find OFFERS which will accept my adult traffic, but that are willing to pay MY commission with crypto. They can charge for their product/service in which ever method they prefer.


        Because I´m a bit of a masochist (jk)
        Jokes aside, I got involved because I saw/see great potential, and I think there is a lot that can be done despite the limitations. Also, there is a greater picture in which these "restrictions" make tons of sense, even if they make my life way harder in the affiliate marketing department.

        That said, since both of you were kind enough to reply, could you humor me only for a couple of minutes?

        I have several million impressions to US traffic, 90% mobile, 80% male, 25-55 yo... I mean, yeah, this is adult traffic, but everyone gets hungry, everyone wants fast & cheap internet, etc.
        I want to find those products/services that are only "1 degree of separation" from adult. In the big "marketing target" where adult industry would be the obvious "bull´s eye" w max conversions and therefore revenue (since it is a perfect match to the traffic); what would make that "2nd ring" in the target? The 2nd best match to this traffic?
        Do you know any that take adult traffic? (Other industries -particularly networks- not accepting adult traffic is my most common barrier so far)

        I know it will not convert like adult, but I am willing to bite that bullet by offering CPS, CPA or RevShare to advertisers and assume the "inefficiency" myself. I am even searching for freelance marketers because a) I know my limitations and b) I know there are products/services that will resonate w this traffic and there is so much traffic that it will take some effort and time to find/set/test/tweak all the campaigns by myself.


        I might, yet the beauty of it is that I dont know it is impossible, so I might pull it off.

        Sorry for the long post, got excited; and thanks for your input.
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      • Profile picture of the author DWolfe
        Originally Posted by MadNoMad View Post

        . I suck at using this quote/multiquote thingy, took me a
        .
        You can switch to the Classic View to make it easier. Highlight your name in the Black Toolbar next to Join the Discussion, then you will see a drop-down box. At the bottom of the highlighted words, it will say view classic. One-click will change too the classic version. Then you have the option to quote each post. HTH
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  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    I have to agree with Gordon's comments above. If these people have an adult site with 'tons' of traffic....why can't they monetize THAT site instead of trying to send ADULT traffic to non-adult sites?


    You may have just signed on for an impossible job - I hope you are paid salary rather than commission...
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  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    Do you know any that take adult traffic? (Other industries -particularly networks- not accepting adult traffic is my most common barrier so far)
    The raw truth is that non-adult sites and non-adult advertisers stay AWAY from adult sites. There are restrictions, limitations and public opinion that puts adult sites into a separate category. You mention CPS/CPA etc - and honestly I don't know how you would tie that into the plan.

    Thinking of niches that might have SOME relevance I come up with beer, liquor, equipment for male dominated sports, toiletries/fragrance. You mention 'affiliate products' so that means selling something. The BC requirement just adds more static.

    The 'mobile' nature of the traffic is quite a bit higher than for the general online population (about 55% listed though don't know how accurate that figure is).

    What is driving the audience to this adult site? Google searches for adult topics? Ads for sexual appliances? ED ads? What I'm wondering is whether you know WHY the traffic is visiting this adult site. Is there a paid viewing option on the site or adult products sold on the site?

    In other words - are these visitors who have demonstrated a willingness to buy or pay for access....or are they all 'lookie loos' wanting 'free views'? I would be analyzing the audience more closely.

    That said - I admire your willingness to play this out and see where you can take it. I'd set a time frame and give this 100% of my effort - and if it did not work I'd move to a new project.

    Let us know how it goes. You may surprise us.
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  • Profile picture of the author max5ty
    All good advice so far...

    it's a hard sell.

    But, I do know a company that had nothing in common with adult sites...advertised on them, and was very successful.
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    • Profile picture of the author GordonJ
      Originally Posted by max5ty View Post

      All good advice so far...
      it's a hard sell.
      But, I do know a company that had nothing in common with adult sites...advertised on them, and was very successful.
      He wants to send their traffic somewhere else, as I understood, not advertise on that site. I'm not sure, but it feels very different. All he can do is test, I suppose.

      My question is always, why go for such a HARD SELL when there are so many dollars just waiting to be picked up off the ground? But maybe, he hits it really big, you know, Pet Rock big.

      GordonJ
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      • Profile picture of the author max5ty
        Originally Posted by GordonJ View Post

        He wants to send their traffic somewhere else, as I understood, not advertise on that site. I'm not sure, but it feels very different. All he can do is test, I suppose.

        My question is always, why go for such a HARD SELL when there are so many dollars just waiting to be picked up off the ground? But maybe, he hits it really big, you know, Pet Rock big.

        GordonJ
        Agree.

        But, that's why I was saying I know a company that did it the other way around. I was talking about Eat24 (food delivery) who got bought out. They got a lot of customers off porn sites.

        I have seen ads for porn hub on other than adult sites though.

        I think the last ad I saw said something like 'The biggest site with nothing' or something like that. Basically, the ad was about a wife asking her husband what he was looking at online, and he said nothing.

        They do billboards with some pretty slick advertising.

        I do believe if advertising is done right, it will be accepted on any site. Takes some skill though.
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  • Profile picture of the author Princess Balestra
    Adult?

    You cum ovah like a chile, Sweetiepoppet.
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    Lightin' fuses is for blowin' stuff togethah.

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  • Profile picture of the author Wild Man
    Sure, adult content users eat, drive, and do all the other things but when they visit a specialty site, of any kind, they come there with a certain mind set.
    I'm interested, more interested, really interested...suddenly...no interest at all.

    Back in 08 I did a bunch of research into porn as a means of online income. It's driven by advertising. You're not going to get people to whip out there wallet, but you might get them to click an ad.

    If you're unwilling to monetize through PPC then you're in a deep hole.

    Embrace what you have or walk away.

    You can put puppies in the oven but that don't make them biscuits.
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  • Profile picture of the author jbarks73
    A lot of people in your industry set up Instagram accounts AI-generated people that is safe for instagram but designed to attract and appeal to the adult audience. They amass large followings of people. The posts include comments like "See link in bio", or you don't even need that call-to-action. Just put a link in your bio to a page that will convert to some action you want. People will click the link if they like the safe content you share on Instagram.
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  • Profile picture of the author aivideogenerat0r
    Mmm.. without a background in affiliate marketing you will most likely hit roadblocks, especially with so many restrictions. Might consider testing softer offers like VPNs, privacy tools, or even digital products that might appeal to privacy-conscious audiences. They might have a better chance of aligning with your traffic and payment needs. But just my two cents.. this kind of traffic usually responds best to more direct offers. You might want to rethink your strategy to avoid spinning your wheels. Good luck.
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