2MuchMark... Naughty Naughty

[softball]

Originally Posted by sarettah

http://www.2much.net/

"Newbies: this is your chance to jump into the game with a web-ready online solution; learn the ropes and fatten your bank account with your own site; We'll help!"


So, what would be the difference between this and selling newbies "turnkey" sites which I am sure you know almost always fail.

Preying on the newbies is bottom feeding stuff, imho of course.


As always in life "Caveat Emptor" will always prevail but I would think that a responsible company would tell newbies "go learn the ropes, learn how to build traffic and then come back".

.

I disagree. This is just business. It sounds like selling a franchise to me. If not, then its still ok in my books. A smart guy can make make money out of turnkey. Chances are not as good, but it is possible.

[sarettah]

Originally Posted by rhetorical

I disagree. This is just business. It sounds like selling a franchise to me. If not, then its still ok in my books. A smart guy can make make money out of turnkey. Chances are not as good, but it is possible.

Selling a franchise to somene who has no experience running a business would be irresponsible in my opinion.

Selling a turnkey to someone who knows nothing about adult is irresponsible.

I don't think you would do that, but I could be wrong as I often am.

Remember Judge Reinhold in ruthless people?

[softball]

Originally Posted by sarettah

Selling a franchise to somene who has no experience running a business would be irresponsible in my opinion.

Selling a turnkey to someone who knows nothing about adult is irresponsible.

I don't think you would do that, but I could be wrong as I often am.

Remember Judge Reinhold in ruthless people?

Didn't see that movie and you are right. I prolly wouldn't do that. But I am still not that opposed to it. There are much worse things to worry about in this business.
Anyway, its twenty degrees (no idea what that is in F) I got my shorts on and I am hitting the trail and walking up a river, then up a mountain and get a hit of fresh air that hasn't been through a computer cooling fan a few times. CYA

[2MuchMark]

Hi Sarettah, I agree with you. I hate the word "Turnkey", but at the same time it is an effective marketing word. People like the idea that a complex product loaded with modules, is "complete", "ready to go", and "turnkey". However, I would disagree to call it "preying on newbies".

Any website that any webmaster builds for someone is "turn key". In an adult site, what does it include? Tour pages, galleries, membership areas, billing, user or password management, etc. Is this not turn-key?

Anyway, your post has prompted me to make a change on our front page. It now reads Newbies:

This is your chance to jump into the game with a web-ready online solution; learn the ropes of the video chat world without breaking your bank account by renting our system and paying easy monthly payments. Stop anytime, or buy it out!

Need site designers, advice or traffic? Our partners & resources program consists of industry pros ready to work with you!

I love the ContentGod.com purchase page and can completely feel the frustration the person who wrote this had. We have something similar on our FAQ page located at http://2much.net/faq.php which reads:

Is LiveCamNetwork a business opportunity, or a business tool? LiveCamNetwork is first and foremost, a tool. It is a complete streaming solution, and it is also an accounting and management system. It provides everything that you need to run a successfull video chat business, or expand your current business into the video chat arena, including a BASIC website. It does not however, make money by itself. it has nothing to do if you have no customers for it to process, or no Live chat models to stream. The 2Much crew however has years of experience under its belt and is Here for you for unlimited business support. We can help you to carefully manage your advertising budget, attact new chat models to your website, and provide lots of advice to make your new chat site a success.

2Much is launching a brand new Partner program on May 1st, 2008. It will include lists of qualified webmasters, traffic generators, advertising agencies, Search Engine Optimization experts and more that will all be ready to help you with your new online chat business.

We have not made the official announcement yet, here's a sneak peak. We are about to launch a partnership program whereby 2Much will install our video chat system complete with a basic website. We will then refer customers to webdesginers who want to design custom made pages for them, for whatever fee the designer normally charges.

We will also be referring qualfied customers to traffic gurus, Bloggers, SEO's, Adult industry consultants, etc. We are still putting the finishing touches on the program and should have it ready in a few days.

[sarettah]

Originally Posted by 2MuchMark

I love the ContentGod.com purchase page and can completely feel the frustration the person who wrote this had.

Yeah, Drav, who owns content god, is a pretty good friend of mine and that got written after dealing with lots of frustration with people who bought it thinking it was a magic box. He spent lots of time making the installs right and having his support people walking people through it.

However, when they failed, even after all the help, I believe he returned the money and said sorry it didn't work out.

If a company markets to newbies then they have to go all the way and I do mean all the way because, after all they are newbies.

[2MuchMark]

Originally Posted by sarettah

Selling a franchise to somene who has no experience running a business would be irresponsible in my opinion.

Selling a turnkey to someone who knows nothing about adult is irresponsible.

I don't think you would do that, but I could be wrong as I often am.

Remember Judge Reinhold in ruthless people?

Hi again,

Correct me if I am wrong, but a "Franchise" is usually a complete kit with a business model, crazy details on costs, etc. Like buying a McDonalds. We don't say the word Franchise because its not. LiveCamNetwork is just a video chat program, and thats it.

You just gave me a good idea though... if we were to begin referring customers to you, would you like to know in advance what level of experience they had (or claim to have anyway)? For example, Newbie... moderate.... expert? And would that level determine your acceptance of their business or not?

Maybe it would be a good idea to ask customers to indicate this somehow...

(ps: GREAT Thread)

m

[sarettah]

Originally Posted by 2MuchMark

Correct me if I am wrong, but a "Franchise" is usually a complete kit with a business model, crazy details on costs, etc. Like buying a McDonalds. We don't say the word Franchise because its not. LiveCamNetwork is just a video chat program, and thats it.

I didn't call it a franchise, rhetorical did, so pick that bone with him.

I compared it to a turnkey site setup.

[Hell Puppy]

Must've been the new employee.

[2MuchMark]

Originally Posted by sarettah

I didn't call it a franchise, rhetorical did, so pick that bone with him.

I compared it to a turnkey site setup.

oops! my bad.

[sarettah]

Originally Posted by 2MuchMark

oops! my bad.

np.

So, when you get a newbie who is in to deep, as a customer, how do you handle it?

[2MuchMark]

Originally Posted by sarettah

np.

So, when you get a newbie who is in to deep, as a customer, how do you handle it?

When a newbie refuses to take advice or seek advice from other industry pro's, it becomes a real problem for our customer as well as for us.

We want to be responsible for the operation of our program only, but of course the customers need help to get off the ground, so we end up having to hold their hand most of the time through the baby-steps of business.

We always suggest that newbies start start slow. Explore the forums, talk to others, attend trade shows, etc. Work with reputable traffic companies (I love Wildline and Trafficdude), hire only 1 or 2 chat models to start, and most importantly, to promote the niche that they know, or personally enjoy.

In the past, 2Much "did it all". We provided the software, built the website, did some SEO, Consulted, etc etc. I came to realize very recently that it is not only too much for 1 company to offer, but it also may limit our customer's interest in looking elsewhere for help with their business. This is why we are rolling out our new partner program in the next few days.

Regardless of the industry, anyone providing consulting, services, products, etc deserves to be paid for it. Providers can only try to assist customers in using their products to its full potential, but cannot be responsible when they do not. When a customer refuses to listen or to do things properly, there is little that anyone can do.