"Who can you trust?
Trust nobody else’s money.
Money changes everything."
- Cyndi Lauper
A short while ago a sponsor was accused of shaving, a turnkey provider was implicated with fraud, a content producer was suspected of theft and hundreds of affiliates had their accounts closed due to cheating.
It seems almost every week that someone in our business is exposed as a fraud. You’ve probably seen the scenario. First the rumors creep in through gossip and ICQ. Then checks begin to bounce and those once easy to reach, are suddenly unreachable. Accusations are taken to the public boards where the questionable party defends themselves. After that employees start jumping ship or are fired. Finally comes the special email informing associates and customers that "Due to circumstances beyond our control, Big Deal Porn Company must close!"
All of this is followed by lengthy discussions on message boards and via instant message chat. Some will say they told us so. Others will blame the ethical standards of the industry. Even more claim that everyone does what the guilty party did, but those folks haven’t been caught red-handed. And of course, no good dead company/cyber wake is complete without a peppering of spam.
It makes you wonder if you (the good adult webmaster) are a minority. You question if there’s anyone honest out there. You’re concerned about your future and you’re losing your faith in the goodness of others. You ponder the possibility that you might be all alone in this business. It’s beginning to seem that you’re surrounded by shysters. When supposedly respectable adult entities are proven to be crooks, whom do you look to? Who can you trust?
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I began this article with a quote from one of my favorite songs, "Money Changes Everything". The title alone gives you a clue about the nature of the Internet porn business. Actually, it’s a clue to the nature of business in general. Trust nobody else’s money.
You got to learn the ugly truth if you’re going to last long in the any industry. The truth is, people lie. The truth is that sponsor probably exaggerates the conversion figures of their program. The truth is that turnkey provider doesn’t include the pitfalls of their product in their sales copy. The truth is that content broker or site designer can’t guarantee their stuff will make you rich. The truth is if Big Deal Porn Company goes out of business, your funds and your future mean nothing. No matter what they say, your best interests are not a top priority.
It would be lovely if you lived in a world where everyone looked out for each other, but you don’t. You are in business and business is business.
Others may want your business but you should always take their expressions of loyalty with a grain of salt. If a company is financially strapped, they’re not going to tell you. If a vendor has to choose between paying the rent or refunding your money, they’re going to pay their rent. If some fellow webmaster decides to take the money and run, they aren’t going to give you a fair warning. As much as you want to have faith in others, it’s best you have faith in yourself. Others come and go. The only person who will look after you is you.
You are the one who has to take a chance with providers, sponsors, hosts and fellow operators. You are the one who has to make sure that no matter what, you are covered. If a sponsor suddenly goes belly up, it’s up to you to find another one. If your host loses all your uploaded content and documents, then it’s up to you to provide backups. If a provider takes your money, it’s your job to make sure you get what you paid for. You have to watch out for yourself because nobody else will do it for you.
Of course there good, upright people out there. The adult Internet industry contains some of the finest people I’ve ever encountered. Nevertheless, there are a few bad guys who mess it up for the good guys. I do my best to make sure the companies I mention in writing are upstanding members of our community. However, I always warn you to do your own research and I’ll tell you again.
Always read the terms of service of any adult company you plan to deal with. Always look for adequate contact information. My cardinal rule about this business is if a company doesn’t provide a phone number, move on. If you call the number but still can’t get through, move on. If your checks bounce, move on. If a company is long on excuses but short on fulfillment, move on. If you can’t get a straight answer to a straight question, move on. If an adult company or fellow webmaster promises something too good to be true, move on.
Trust nobody else’s money because money changes everything!