You never know until you try.
That hosting package would be awesome if only it were a few bucks cheaper. That content would fit perfectly on your site at twenty dollars less. You need a new template desperately but that designer's costs are just too high. That sponsor has an amazing program but their marketing tools leave something to be desired and it's too bad they don't give away enough free content.
Here's a thought. Why don't you call up that host, email that content seller or send an IM to that designer or sponsor rep? Rustle up some courage, put on that winner face and see what you can do with a little sugar and a plea?
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"No trespassing. No loitering. No smoking. No shirt, no shoes, no service. No porn. We're so accustomed to the word NO, that's we anticipate it. We expect others to say NO, so we save ourselves the grief and just stop asking. We've let the fear of rejection stymie our hope." |
NO is a discouraging word. It deflates the ego, crushes the spirit and kills our mojo. Who doesn't hate that word, aside from people that get a sadistic thrill from saying it? We all wish we lived in a world where we could get anything we want and everyone agreed with us one hundred percent of the time. At least, we think we do. Thing is, none of us live in that world - except for maybe, billionaires, rock stars and hot girls. Most of us got used to hearing that awful word, repeatedly, from our own loving mommas. Then we heard it from teachers, adults and later, bosses. Everywhere we turn, this evil word hits us square in the head. No trespassing. No loitering. No smoking. No shirt, no shoes, no service. No porn. We're so accustomed to the word NO, that's we anticipate it. We expect others to say NO, so we save ourselves the grief and just stop asking. We've let the fear of rejection stymie our hope.
It doesn't have to be like that. We don't have to run around like little Oliver Twists, worrying that Bumble is going to sell us off because we have the nerve to ask for more gruel. This isn't a Dickens novel and adult webmasters are a hell of a lot kinder than the ogres that run the orphanage. Dare I say it. People that work in the adult Internet might be the most generous bunch you'll ever meet. Look at where you are, an adult webmaster resource site, where the all the good information is free. You sign up for sponsor programs that ask for no money down, no buying some sales kit, no strings except your own good efforts. We have hosts that are perfectly willing to post tutorials online.
There are countless adult professionals who give away tricks and tips on message boards because they understand what it's like to start from scratch. You'll find peers that offer to bump a little traffic your way or will let you in on winning steps they took to succeed. Everywhere you turn, you encounter someone in this business who wants to share their knowledge and many of them ask for nothing in return. Moralizers and haters can slam our business all they want but adult webmasters are the good guys.
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So, what's stopping you? If you ask someone for a favor or a price cut what's the worst thing you're going to hear? The word NO. Nothing personal. No big thing. You've heard the word before and probably in circumstances that are far more dire that where you are right now. Sure, you can live without that content. You can find a cheaper host or a sponsor with more extensive marketing tools. You can make do with creating your own templates. Perhaps, when you hear rejection from industry people, that's the sign to keep blazing your own path. Yet, if you need something and you don't make the effort to ask, how will you know you'll be turned down? You don't know. Once again, you're letting fear block your furtherance. You worry too much. You can ask for things without sounding like a douche.
Ask nicely - Let's start out with some of the most accommodating people in our business: Sponsor Reps. These guys and gals are all about making affiliates happy. Let's assume that you love a certain sponsor's program. You are dying to market this sponsor but their marketing tools are not very good or varied. You would love it if you could get a few images or maybe a short video clip, in order to better sell the site. When you join a sponsor, if they are worth their salt, they'll list the ICQ numbers of their sales reps. Then again, their affiliate reps might be very visible on adult webmaster message boards. All you have to do is either contact them via ICQ or message board PM and ask if they'd be willing to let you have a wee bit of free content for promotional purposes. I can't promise that an affiliate rep will flat out let you have free content but you can at least try.
Be brave. Be bold. Write a nice email. Get on the phone and make a call. Send a PM. Try do do some good, honest dealing. Maybe you'll get a dreaded NO, or maybe you won't. As long as you're willing to hold up your end of the agreement, as long as you are earnest and honest, you've got nothing to lose. Try asking for discounts, extras and goodies. See what happens!