Whether it’s looking for additional ways to monetize your own business online or add a spark of creative energy to your boring marketing campaigns, it would be stupid not to pay attention to what the skin biz is up to. The industry is responsible for many of the technological innovations we have today as well as many of the marketing and advertising channels we study. Let’s take a closer look at 13 lessons we can learn from porn and how you can apply them to your business today.

Real Interaction With Fans

You’ll often hear marketing gurus these days talk about how important interacting with your fans is, especially with the ease of doing so via social media tools at our disposal. While this is true, it’s also even more difficult to keep the attention of our fans because of our short attention spans and all the noise we have to sift through in the age if information-overload we live in.

We can learn from our pornstar lady-friends just how far you can take the “interaction” to make it that much more meaningful, as many book live private webcam chat sessions with their fans, enable one-on-one phone calls, hit the pole on strip club tours, and yes many even do-the-deed with their fans (even if they are unwilling to admit it). How far are you willing to go to make the connection with your customers? I’m not saying you have to crawl under the sheets with them, but can you think of creative ways you can make them happier?

Understanding & Catering to Their Demographic

This may sound like an obvious Marketing 101 point to make, but it really rings true when talking about marketing online. I see too many business owners trying to tie social media into their marketing strategy only to use it for pointless status updating, completely forgetting what their audience is looking for and never providing any sort of real value.

Porn starlets have some of the BEST social media profiles out there to follow, as they usually provide exactly what their fans and followers are looking for – more content about their crazy porn-filled lives! Our friend Remy, pictured above, does a great job at constantly teasing her followers with her most prized asset. What do your fans want and how can you use social media to constantly provide that to them?

Utilizing Multiple Business Models

Too many businesses these days rely on a failed mentality – that you only have one product or service to sell. While in some cases you might only have one option at profiting from an idea, if you have the right combination of product/service and intellectual property, you can turn that into a “brand” and make a business that has multiple revenue streams.

Look at any successful porn actor or actress and you’ll see this model in full effect. They start their careers getting paid for sex in front of the camera, but as their name gets “out there”, more and more revenue streams pop up: recurring payment membership sites, pay-by-the-minute live webcam shows, paid endorsements, live appearances, even having sex toys molded from their private parts. Some even get things bought for them directly from their fans, like Gianna is doing with her Amazon wishlist above. Once the “brand” exists the sky is the limit with what you can do to monetize your business. What kinds of things can you do to expand your business outside of your core products or services?

Pushing The Envelope With New Technology

Ever since the days of Beta VS VHS we’ve seen the adult movie biz taking center stage with innovating new technologies to transform their business. From streaming video to credit-card processing, porn has and will continue to take the newest technologies available, innovate them further, then integrate them into their business model to create additional cash-flow and keep the hamster wheel of consumption moving.

So how can you benefit from technology? Pay attention to what the pros in porn are doing, and try to apply it to your business. Can you remember the time before smartphones? Did “apps” really exist? That’s a great way to think about how new technology can create new opportunity. The product you see above is an example of the porn business taking several new technologies and creating an entirely new experience out of them (namely, a physical product that works with video to produce a surprising interactive experience for the user).

Endless Stream of Content Creation

As mentioned before, we live in a constant state of information overload. Between our TVs, laptops, smartphones and tablets, our brains are constantly processing too many messages at once, and for us to make an impact on our fans, we have to keep up, and that means we have to constantly keep in touch with them through an endless stream of content.

Our lovely ladies of porn-land know how to do this all to well. Outside of their filmed scenes and live webcam shows, they are using photo sharing tools like instagram and twitpic to tease us with behind-the-scenes shots or sometimes just a little selfie (like Nikki is doing above) to remind us they exist and that we should stop what we are doing to check out their latest stuff. The same can be said for their Twitter and Facebook updates reminding us of new shows or scenes coming out. The question is, what kind of content can YOU share to remind your followers about your business? It’s a little harder when you’re not selling T&A, so make sure you’re sharing the right kinds of content to keep your audience informed and entertained.

Sex Sells (and Always Will)

Well, duh. We all know it, even if we all pretend that it’ll go away or the human race will “grow up” and becomes some kind of superior, sophisticated race of super-(boring) beings. Sex sells, especially in advertising, and with the line between mainstream celebrity culture and pornography continuing to blur, we see those in the adult biz taking full advantage of using what they know how to sell best and breaking into the mainstream. And then there are those in the mainstream who know all-too-well that you can walk the sex line just right and use it to build an entire brand (I’m looking at you GoDaddy – you didn’t get so big for your wonderful service, your entire strategy from day one has been embracing sex to sell your product!)

See our “teen mom” above Farrah Abraham, who has been stirring up gossip these days with her new sex tape that just broke sales records. It’s such a formula these days that even her co-star Jimmy Deen, who we’ll talk about again in a little bit, thinks it’s stupid that these psuedo-celebrities even try to cover up these “sex tapes” as nothing more then just another porno. Entire brands and careers are being built on sex – but does that mean it’s right for your brand? That’s a question you’ll have to ask yourself, where you can get chastised for rubbing folks the wrong way. Alas it’s still a good creative exercise to see of maybe there is a way to sex-up your marketing message, you never know what you may come up with.

Screw the Naysayers

I think it takes a lot of (pun!) balls to get in front of a camera and bare all for the world to see just to make some good money. Many of us shun those who decide to get into the skin-trade as lesser people then we are, yet secretly in our private moments obsess over them. That’s because most of us are hypocrites without the bravado to give up our normal lives or not give a shit about what society thinks about us or our actions. Most of us are cowards.

The same kind of rebellious gusto is needed in becoming successful in business. I for one know this from having learned it the hard way, giving up a lot of things most people take for granted in their life in order to pursue my business aspirations. Do you have what it takes to make your business a success? Are you willing to do things that others may not be willing to do in order to survive? Are your ideas different then what the majority thinks or believes and how far are you willing to push the envelope to see them realized? I know comparing doing porn to being an entrepreneur is pushing it for some, but in my experience the two share a lot of similarities. Just ask Sasha, she started out in one and became the other.

Competition is Also A Community

Whatever industry you’re in, there is bound to be competition, and in fact if there isn’t any then you’re either lucky to be the first to market or you’re probably not involved in something that is even needed. Let’s face it, competition is a necessary evil that justifies your business. Where there is competition, there is an audience and an opportunity.

Pornstars know their audience very well, and they all know that in order to survive they have to stick together and help promote each other. Porn girls are always there to help vote for each other in new contests, give shout-outs to each other on Twitter, promote new scenes and appearances, and most who have their own membership sites operated via a network of other existing adult models, who all share in the profits of new member sign-ups. Instead of trying to dominate the attention spans of their fans, they all help support each other for the greater good of the industry. They also share their marketing and business success stories, often replicating business deals. Is there an opportunity for you to reach out to your competitors and create a positive relationship in front of your prospective customers? Anything to gain by supporting each other’s business? I’d go as far to say that the company that does looks a hell of a lot better in the eyes of the customer then those who shy away from the competition.

Focusing on A Niche Can Be Incredibly Profitable

A problem that I have realized first hand is wanting to be everything to everybody. It can be quite a hard pill to swallow when one is faced with a business model or marketing strategy that is not focused on a specific niche, or not even knowing what niche you want to go after. It’s been the nail in the coffin for many entrepreneurs, but look no further then the adult cam business to prove to you that there are countless niches to explore beyond your wildest imagination, and finding the right one can make your business boom!

Sure we all know that there are a million kinds of fetishes out there, but do you know what our girl Princess Meggerz (above) makes a living off of? She gets paid by men to basically curse at them, calling them names and degrading them, all via phone and web cams. Yes, that actually exists, and you can either do one of two things about it. Either get mad at the fact that your business is suffering and that someone else in the world is making money doing THAT or get off your ass and find your own profitable niche. They are out there and once you find the one that makes sense both for your business and your personal goals, your life (and bottom line) will never be the same again.

When It Comes to Marketing, You Have to Diversify

One of my biggest pet peeves working with clients is those who think that one marketing or advertising channel is all it takes to launch their business into the stratosphere. A lot of business owners think that they’ll just be able to rent an email list, spam the hell out of a couple hundred thousand inboxes, and magically their product will sell like hotcakes. What most don’t realize is, advertising works only if your prospects get to see the ad and “get” the message after numerous interactions – and for that reason you need to diversify your marketing.

Manage your marketing like you would an investment portfolio – don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Our porno peers do this very well, and have managed to test out every kind of marketing and advertising approach under the sun, from Search Engine Marketing to Affiliate marketing. Sure, some of their methods are spammy and intrusive, but they test them all out to see which works best. The one’s that do get the most attention and budget, and they are always on the lookout for new and interesting ways to get new customers in the door. How many different tools or methods are you using for promotion?

Freemium Can Work If You Do It Right

Perhaps the biggest lie you’ll hear about the adult entertainment industry is how piracy and file sharing have hurt the industry, how it’s killing the business. Much like its music industry counterpart, sure the once-dominant players of the VHS and DVD era of porn are hurting, but they are for the most part irrelevant in today’s world of digital content consumption. The players who rose up from nothing in the digital era have learned that a large number of porn fans are simply never going to pay for porn, so instead of blaming their “loss” of revenue on the rampant file-sharing or free tube sites, they’re actually the ones who run them. If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em, right?

It’s an argument I’ve been making for years now, and one can point a big finger to the porn industry and see that is actually works, even if it doesn’t make a bit of sense. On one side you have a vast pool of free streaming “tube” sites that upload full length sex clips that anyone can watch. On the other you have the studios themselves offering the same content for a fee. So why pay? It’s simple, the free sites usually are of lower quality and annoying to use, but they turn the casual viewer into the hardcore fan who someday converts, as the paid-for services continue to offer extra value to sign up. The studios own both and secretly control the entire porn viewing experience.

You Don’t Have to Be A Celebrity to Be Successful

Ah-ha, the secret to really making it big in the porno business today – by not making it “big” at all. Nowadays anyone can become successful in the online skin-flick biz, so far as you have a clear goal and understanding of what being a “success” even means. There are thousands of people quietly making a very nice living through their personal porn websites without entering the “mainstream” world of porn or becoming porn celebrities. They do their scenes on their own terms, screw who they want, and generally do not exist in the world of porn as we have come to know it.

The same can be said for you and your business – what is your definition of success?

Controversial Content Can Help Drum Up Business

At the end of the day, we all want the same thing – more traffic, more Goolge-love, more social interaction, and ultimately more customers. We live in a world where content is begin shoved down our faces as the new form of marketing & advertising. The days of ads having our attention are gone, and only the most entertaining content will win our love (or hatred – that works too). Suffice it to say, the more controversial content can be, the more attention you can get to you.

I’m not sure what’s more controversial, Lindsay Lohan herself or the director of her latest sure-to-flop movie casting a porn superstar as her co-star. Whether it works or not is irrelevant, as the film as drummed up just as much gossip prior to opening then any geek-fest summer blockbuster. Pretty much anything with a twist of sex is sure to ruffle some feathers, be the scorn of many, and at the same time be the talk of the town. Don’t be afraid of sprinkling some controversial content into your own content strategy – I sure as hell am not. Here’s hope it’s a rousing success!

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If you didn’t already know, Alice in Chains are going to release a new studio album sometime this year. This will be the band’s first studio album since 1996′s self-titled release, and will also be the first without Layne Staley.

Besides the new album, which I can’t wait for, Rock N’ Books will be releasing “Alice in Chains: In the Studio” book. The book should be coming out in the fall and will focus on the writing and recording of previous AIC albums and hits.

As if that wasn’t cool enough, the book will also include a music sampler of original music from bands that grew up or were influenced by Alice in Chains. So, if you have a band and want to be a part of the action, you can make submissions by contacting rocknrollbooks@yahoo.com.

A fantastic opportunity for an up-and-coming band to reach an audience of die-hard Alice fans who will doubt pick this up (present company included).

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The compilation will be released via Jack Johnson’s Brushfire label and will be accompanied by a DVD. The DVD will contain footage of the making of the album, as well as, an unreleased video of Drake’s tune “Black Eyed Dog” by the late Heath Ledger.

Now, you may thinking this sounds interesting and all, but who the hell is Nick Drake?

Nick Drake was a British singer/songwriter during the late 60′s and early 70′s, known for his folky and acoustic music. He released only three album before his apparent suicide in 1974. His debut album Five Leaves Left and his final album Pink Moon are masterpieces. Some of the most genuine and beautiful music that you’ll ever hear.

For the most part, Drake was mostly unknown in the mainstream world of music. But was an influence on groups ranging from The Cure, R.E.M., Belle & Sebastian and The Black Crowes. When you hear a Jack Johnson tune, or a Vedder acoustic track for that matter, they’re pretty much channeling Drake.

In 2000 Volkswagen used the track “Pink Moon” in one of their commercials, which lead to a lot of Drake albums being sold and some well earned success. You may have even heard a Nick Drake song in some flicks. The track “Fly” appears in The Royal Tenenbaums and “One of These Things First” was featured in the film and soundtrack to Garden State, which would be my vote for Vedder to cover. Brad Pitt even narrated a radio documentary about Drake on BBC a few years back.

If you’ve ever picked up a guitar and wanted to write a song, you should first experience the wonderful music of Nick Drake. This guy had it down, and, was a huge influence on a lot of singers/songwriters. That’s why some big names, and I’m sure some other great artists too, are willingly to be a part of this tribute album. What a genius.

Check out this video for “River Man” and see why Nick Drake is so influential.

Image via Wikipedia

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Morrissey has posted a new video for “I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris” from his upcoming album Years of Refusal, which comes out February 16.

It’s a pretty plan video, but the song is utterly catchy and a typical Morrissey track, with lines like “Nobody wants my love”.

Morrissey – I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris

It’s pretty cool to see the old chap using MySpace and Facebook. On his MySpace page, “I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris” is streaming, as well as, two samples of the tracks “That’s How People Grow Up” and “All You Need Is Me” also from Years of Refusal, however both were already featured on his 2008 greatest hits compilation. You can also grab a free download of a live version of “Irish Blood, English Heart” while you’re at his MySpace page.

Oh yeah, Morrissey will be on the road pretty much from the end of February to July in the U.S. and Europe, so maybe you should check him out, because he recently hinted that he may be retiring.

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While the song may not blow people’s minds at first, it’s one of the band’s best because of it’s simplistic sweetness. Thom Yorke’s vocals are stellar as he utters “Don’t get any big ideas…they’re not gonna happen”. Meanwhile, the rest of the band backs Yorke up brilliantly with some smooth bass and drum work behind a hypnotic guitar, proving that they are the best band around. Let’s face it, these guys are our generations Beatles. Oh yeah, the song is flawless live as well, see for yourself

The song was already great, but when it came time to release it as a single they did something really cool. They offered “Nude” in different pieces so that fans could then purchase the individual pieces and remix the track and then upload it to the band’s official site. So, how well did this work? There were 2,239 remixes uploaded and “Nude” went on to break Billboard’s Hot 100, which was a first for the band in 12 years. Not too shabby if you ask me. Besides the digital single, there was also the traditional CD and 7″ singles which included the B-sides “4 Minute Warning” and “Down Is The New Up”.

Just another example of how Radiohead are breaking down barriers musically and marketing wise.

You can check out the top 10 remixes of “Nude” right here.

Here’s the video for the Scotch Mist version of “Nude”. Enjoy.

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They are probably 3-4 other people in my circle that are on my level of music devotion – we pretty much run the show when it comes to what everyone else listens to.

So how did we become so music obsessive, and why do we share this with our friends?

After some observation and deep thinking, I began to figure out how we become fans of a band and how we spread the word about them, and even further how to break it down to a concept that other bands can use to spread the word about their music.

It becomes apparent to me each and every day that many artists don’t understand much about the value of aquiring fans. They don’t understand the little details about them. And it’s these little details that can be the difference between a successful act and one that still plays gigs at the local pub no one could give a shit about.

I feel like this is the thought process of most musicians:

Obtain lots of fans. Get them to buy our stuff and attend our shows. Keep doing this until we’re millionares, etc.

And they look at their circle of fans like this:

As the band gets more and more fans, they’re still worried about just making it as big as possible. They’ll start thinking about how they need to advertise themselves in order to reach more people. They’ll buy ads in magazines in local papers or zines, use some shady MySpace friend adder to get more fans, and do a rain dance to the music gods that their circle continues to grow.

What they fail to realize is that, if they were to focus on the super fans they have, they won’t need to spend a dime on advertising – the super fans will do it for them!

It’s not about trying to get a huge circle of fans through advertising or press and whatnot. It’s about catering to your small circle of super fans and interacting with them on a regular basis so that they help you grow your circle.

You can’t buy a street team. Street teams are record-label creations that used the super fans to sell records. While they do provide some level of interaction, they can come off as forced. Let your street team evolve naturally and it will do wonders for your band!

So how does someone go from being a casual fan to one who becomes a super fan?

Here is a timetable of how I find many people fall in love with an act, and one that you should use to build your own circle of super fans.

1. Fan sees you live at a show, probably because another super fan brought them there.

2. Whether they like or not, you have an opportunity to get them coming back for more – they sign up to your email list, buy a CD or some merch, or maybe just note your name/MySpace/website. It’s up to you to not only perform well, create an experience they’ll never forget, and be the best you can be, but you have to at least point out a way to bring the experience home with the fan. Give away free stickers or poster that have your website address on them.

3. So hopefully your new fan goes home and checks you out on the web. Here is where, depending on how well your digital footprint is, a fan can go from a casual fan to one of super-status.

• If they didn’t catch your website, maybe they Google your name. Is your website optimized properly so that you rank for it?
• Let’s say they do come to your site – is there something they can take away from the experience of navigating your site?
• Can they hear the same music they heard at the show?
• Is there a place they can download a song or purchase an album?
• Are there videos of the band, both performing or behind the scenes?
• Does the new fan have the ability to connect to you and share your music to their friends through various social networks?
• Is there content on your site OTHER than your music that can create an emotional bond with them? Is there something that makes them feel they are apart of something?

This continued interaction, through your digital footprint, is key in turning your new fans into SUPER FANS!

First is the initial interaction at the live show, which hopefully turns them to the web afterwards, which, if done right will keep the fan in touch with you and your “events”: shows, releases, new merchandise, etc. They’ll be in the loop forever.

It also gives them the opportunity to communicate with you, to continue the interaction outside of the live show.

And when they go to another show, it’ll be a bigger deal – at this point they are on their way to becoming a super-fan, if they already are not. Pretty soon they’ll be sharing their pics from the show on Facebook, inviting their friends to shows, slapping a sticker on their laptop, and eventually joining the fanclub.

Some of these people might even help you put up posters, manage your MySpace, or write a post about you on their blog.

Others might create a cool video set to one of your songs on Youtube, which could go viral and help you out in a big way.

It’s these super-fans that will get the word out about your music that will someday get you the big circle of fans you wanted from the beginning!

Focus on your super-fans – create music that they like, put on a kick ass live show, and make them feel like they are part of something special. Give them the tools they need to share your music with others. Nurture these fans, and they will become your street team, without you having to ask them directly to do so. They’ll do it because they love you and love spreading the word.

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