Do you guys want a bareback tube site?

[fairlygay]

Well, I've started looking into it. Basically my plan it to extend this site and give you guys a tube site and a video chat site (which will take care of the chat feature some of you want).

BUT, it's gonna cost me some $$$ - about $500 for the tube site software, another $150 for the chat software and then I'll need to pay for hosting. Haven't gotten the price for hosting yet, but I'm expecting it to be $300 per month (maybe more). My point being - doing this stuff right costs money. I know some people don't like the commercial nature of my sites, but I'm not running a charity. I gotta cover my costs (and my time)... Having a commercial element is the only way these things can last and grow. Even so, tube sites and video chat sites burn through so much bandwidth it's questionable whether I'll make a profit off these new sites or not. I think I'll do OK, but the original owners of XTube nearly went bankrupt on several occasions - there's a fair amount of risk for me with these sites...

I would never ask anyone to risk bankruptcy. Please consider all options if it is too cost prohibitive then so be it. I for one would be willing to pay a premium for a service, maybe others feel the same. Just a thought.

[nastybottom]

An option besides Xtube would be great. The vast majority of what I watch there is home made BB videos, and they have made it a real chore to find those on the site. :mad: It really sucks to have your cock out, poppered up and ready to jack, and you have to sort through page after page of 15 second preview clips to get to a good video. Then it takes 15 minutes to load a 3 minute video.

As for paying for the site, whatever ads/etc. you do, make them unobtrusive as possible. That's what's killing Xtube right now, is they seem to be making it harder for free members to use the site. That's not going to convince anyone to spend - it will just drive people to other sites.

One thing you might try is a "virtual tip jar", where if people think you are providing a good service and want to support the site, they have the option of using a credit card, paypal, etc. to kick in a small amount to help. Don't know if it would work, but you never know.

[hungry_hole]

I do like Xtube because I can usually find a lot of bareback action, some very realistic stuff. Lots of inside seeding and breeding.

I was having some problems with Xtube but things now seem to be working.

[aussiehole]

i'd mostly just watch, but would upload all the vids i plan on shooting when i finally get back to NYC and get rawTOP to breed me

[rawTOP]

Well, last night I went out drinking with the guy who will host the site for me (he's here in NYC, a friend, and hosting porn sites is what he does for a living). He gave me a price of $500/month for hosting. If I move all my sites to him (and pay a bit more) it'll work, but it means a major move. So the tube site and video chat site aren't happening tomorrow, but I'm working on them...

<rant>

BTW... I see someone restarted a couple sites that "compete" with this one and they pushed the fact that they're ad free. Well, unless you've got a huge trust fund, that's not a feasible economic model. Sites grow, they need powerful servers and lots of bandwidth. If you're serious about doing the sites you have to make sure you can afford it when they get bigger. They need to turn a profit, which means the ads are necessary. My hosting bill is currently $700/month and with the tube and video chat site that's going to go up... How can someone be serious about this and not have ads?

</rant>

[Belfast-Bottom]

I think the ad banners on THIS site are hot - particularly the Machofucker ones. As long as the ads are restricted to the page tops, bottoms and sides and don't contain pop ups, then they are a visual bonus - not a problem. I think ads are a price well worth paying. I'd rather have non intrusive ads than pay a subscription.

[riverbttm]

Agreed, and as with any good website, I expect to see some advertisement.

I'm all for a tube site, especially if we can get some of the hot breeders on here posting their vids

I'm kind of curious though, is this forum the extent of your polling for your decision? Seems like a bit of a leap to make for a relatively small user base. Not to be a negative Nate or anything, but you've got 20 people saying they'd upload vids of them and their buds. Even if all 20 had a few previously made vids to upload you'll need fresh content to keep the juices flowing so to speak, and that's a pretty huge leap of faith assuming your site would get out there and attract not only a crowd, but a crowd who doesn't mind getting in front of a camera.

That being said, if you build it they will cum. I'd be more than happy to share links with my friends and buds, shamelessly advertise, and maybe throw a donation or two out when I'm not such a poor little cumwhore.

If things get the green light best of luck, and if they don't, I can still respect that, great site you got here, hope to see things keep improving.

Think I'm through with wherever I was going with that now

[rawTOP]

I think the ad banners on THIS site are hot - particularly the Machofucker ones.

I'm glad you like them...

I'm kind of curious though, is this forum the extent of your polling for your decision? Seems like a bit of a leap to make for a relatively small user base. Not to be a negative Nate or anything, but you've got 20 people saying they'd upload vids of them and their buds. Even if all 20 had a few previously made vids to upload you'll need fresh content to keep the juices flowing so to speak, and that's a pretty huge leap of faith assuming your site would get out there and attract not only a crowd, but a crowd who doesn't mind getting in front of a camera.

No, I have other input. I've been watching industry discussions about tube sites for probably 2 years. I was reluctant at first to jump in with them - so many people were having problems making them profitable. Honestly, if it takes a little while to really take off I'm OK with that. I want to get the kinks worked out. I know my challenges will be 1) to stop people from uploading pirated videos, and 2) to keep sponsor videos high quality. If I can keep the right focus, it'll grow...

[ashattacks]

well maybe for now, make a Ning or host a vid/pic sharing page on grou.ps.

That way you can get a good idea of the numbers and traffic.

You might make one and it not be worth it (like 1 video uploaded a day)

Or you could make it and it will boom.

But it's not worth jumping in blindfolded.

[JoshLandaleXXX]

Id definitely upload my content to it - provided the upload limit was big enough. The problem i currently have is that i've shit loads of content, but most places have a 50-100MB upload limit... which just isnt enough i'm afraid.

Great idea though rawTOP

[rawTOP]

Id definitely upload my content to it - provided the upload limit was big enough. The problem i currently have is that i've shit loads of content, but most places have a 50-100MB upload limit... which just isnt enough i'm afraid.

I'm taking a different tact... I want big videos - I'll save two versions - one at the original bit rate and one at a lower bit rate. Then I'll introduce a premium membership that will lift bandwidth limits, let people see HD videos, and give them more chat features. So your videos can be viewed by anyone for free, but they'll need to pay to see them in HD. Like the advertising, the paid members will help support the site and keep a free version for everyone.

[JoshLandaleXXX]

Sounds great! What kind of upload limits are you considering?

[wammt]

I think it is a good idea. That said I have enough trouble getting action recorded (properly). The stuff I have all need editing badly. So, I don't know if I would upload until I am comfortable with the content of my videos.

[rawTOP]

Just to give an update... I'll be changing everything to a new host in the next month or two. Once that is done I'll start the tube site and chat site (with text and video chat)... My current hosting arrangement is a bit limiting (servers I administer and I'm not the best server admin)...

[wammt]

Please, do not have a system meltdown like so many other sites and systems. Change overs are a bit notorious.