newbies ask me this all the time - what skills does one need to start work as a webmaster? i usually tell them
the ability to use a graphics program like photoshop or irfanview so that they can crop, move, lighten pics and use layers.
either the ability to use an accurate wysiwyg editor and a text editor that doesn’t reformat text (i think wysiwyg) is good for newbs to see cause and effect of html, etc) or the ability to make pages in another program - OR - * if wanting only to blog, a knowledge of wordpress or the blog program they’ll be using.
the ability to make a link correctly and to link graphics.
and what i suspect are the 2 most important abilities:
having an open mind. most newbs come into the business with a bunch of ideas that are mostly wrong or missing huge pieces of information. a willingness to let those go and consider information that doesn’t go with their original perceptions and ideas is VERY important.
AND
a tendency to use the search function on boards to learn. a lot of VERY useful information is available on webmaster boards - enough to create a fucking webmaster college! it’s a good idea to use the search before asking questions. that way, you’ll have more info and the answers may make more sense to you, and also you may get additional answers you didn’t get in response to a thread.
Logic. Pick an are of the market you know well. If you are a lover of fetish sex and understand the fetish community and what it takes to make a real fetish sexual encounter sexually appealing to others, don’t try to come into the business and market twink sites simply because you think they are more popular. You will find more success with working in an area that you know best.
persistence. It’s not going to happen overnight so be prepared to keep at it for a while before you see the right kind of payoff.
ability to plan, set and achieve goals, and the ability to realize when you need to change direction.
organization. Keep a list of “to do” items and a list of your goals near you when you work for better time management and focus.
realisim. making money in porn is not as easy as some would like to think. be real about your expectations.
It really helps if you can write. If you can’t spell or string six words together into a good description or sales pitch, I think you won’t do as well. And definitely if you’re going to blog you’ve got to have some basic writing skills.
I also think some basic design skills are needed. Can you lay out a page that looks good?
The more you can’t do the more you’ll have to learn or hire out.
The more you can’t do the more you’ll have to learn or hire out.
Michael[/QUOTE]
I’m going to suggest that hiring out is a good thing. One person cannot be good at every aspect of running a porn company and thus should be able and willing to recognize expertise in others and let them handle what are not your strong points. Take design for example… a lot of people can put a web page together…but will it sell? I’d rather invest $500 $600 or more in a web designer that knows the market and knows how to make sites sell. If I make the site it might not sell at all or very badly…but if I hire a consultant, a designer, an SEO expert, etc…the site could benefit greatly from hired expertise…
Ah yes, of course, but you’re assuming this newbie has some money to invest or spend. It seems to me that a lot of webmasters coming into this business are cash poor. When I started out even buying content was a struggle. I agonized over every single set that I bought to get the biggest bang for my buck. Once the money starts coming in outsourcing is possible, but I think in the beginning so many of us have to do it all.
Patience is right. Don’t expect results over night or even over a month or two.
IMO, above all, you need to really enjoy it. For those who love it, it’s addictive. Those who don’t, won’t be able to make it. Seen too many trying to do this, just cause they thought it was cool making money from home. It doesn’t work like that.
Aside from the skills already mentioned and yes, a shitload of patience and persistence…
reading and learning. Which brings up what basschick said really. But yeah, watching and reading what others have to say. Really look at others’ sites that do well. Don’t copy them of course, but pick up all the little details and whatnot.
I’m still a newbie myself in a lot of ways. But I can edit and manipulate media, know html, css, and some php, and am learning a lot from blogging for others. I think I’m starting to get the knack for some things as I’ve made more in sales from a few blogs in the last two months than I have the year prior. So I’m doing something right. lol I think.
Common Sense. Make simple, easy to navigate sites with images and text that turn YOU on, and they’ll turn other people on too. I think the most profitable sites are simple. Simple Sells.
Persistence. Everyone has a 1:5,000 month. But if youre going to change niches and sponsors everytime that happens then you’ll never get anywhere.