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CONTENTS 5
Advice from Anna Bell Peaks: To Finish with a Bankroll, Start with a Plan Gene Zorkin
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Andra Chirnogeanu: Studio20’s Right Hand Abbie Stutzer
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Brittany Benz: Cam, Community and a Buttery Bubble Butt Erika Chan
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Chris Youngs: On *Not* Participating in Adult Industry Discrimination Abbie Stutzer
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‘Spying’ on Stripchat’s Rick Morales
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Segpay: Crafting Billing Solutions for the Thriving Adult Cam Market
Abbie Stutzer
Gene Zorkin
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Shirley Lara: The Sum of All Parts
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Today, and the Future: ImLive’s Marissa Davis Thinks Long-Term
Abbie Stutzer
Erika Chan
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From Conception to Clean-Up: Roxana Chirila Runs AWSummit Abbie Stutzer
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COO John Ruskin Talks ModelClips: The Clips Site for Cam Models
PAGE
Erika Chan
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Featured Article
Advice from Anna Bell Peaks:
To Finish with a Bankroll, Start with a Plan By Gene Zorkin Among us humans, there’s a natural tendency to divide and categorize things, in part to make them easier to understand. As such, it’s no surprise that people tend to think of performing in adult videos and camming not only as very different activities, but almost like separate, entirely distinct worlds. There’s no shortage of adult performers who seamlessly traverse the two markets though, carving out successful careers in front of both ‘traditional’ cameras and the webconnected, real-time variety. One such performer is Anna Bell Peaks, a dedicated, self-assured professional who says part of the key to her
success is the fact she loves both camming and performing in adult videos, albeit it for different reasons. “I don’t think I could just cam or just do videos,” Peaks told YNOT in a recent interview. “Part of the reason I have made it five years and been successful is that I varied my business platform with multiple services.” For Peaks, the decision to tackle both camming and performing in adult videos wasn’t just about diversifying her business platform for maximum appeal to consumers and fans – it was also a means of keeping herself interested in and stimulated by her work.
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“It’s not just smart business, it also means I never got bored, tired, or burnt out in any one thing,” Peaks said. “If I had just webcammed, 40 hours a week, for years, I would have burned out. If I had just done scenes, 15 or more a month, every month, I would have burned out. Variety really is the spice of life!” As a well-established performer in both the camming and video fields, Peaks is never at a loss when it comes to advice for newcomers – including some tips which reflect her advantageous penchant for thinking ahead and being mindful of the long term. “There’s lots of articles out there about best lights, tips on getting people into rooms, what to do or not do when on cam,” Peaks said. “But, if I had to give just a short piece of advice to a new person in the adult industry, I’d tell them to make a business plan, set achievable goals, save your money, and plan your exit. Because honestly, you will be more successful if you first lay the groundwork for your career. And ultimate success is being able to retire when
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you want to retire. I did this successfully, and I hope I can share that pathway and success with anyone who really wants to follow in my footsteps.” As a detail-oriented DIY businesswoman, it’s no surprise to hear that among the things she loves most about camming is the freedom and self-determination it offers. “My favorite thing about camming is I do what I want, when I want, and in the comfort of my space,” Peaks told YNOT. “I know that may sound oddly selfish or personal.” Given her open mind and ability to adapt, it’s also unsurprising to hear that what Peaks likes best about camming isn’t a static affair, but something which has evolved over time. “The truth is, my favorite things have changed over five years,” Peaks revealed. “When I first started, my favorite thing about camming was that people were so nice. I wanted to hear people be nice to me, and it helped build me into a confident woman. Now, I value my privacy a lot more. I think it’s because now I’ve ‘made it’ and I’m super recognizable, so I don’t have that privacy available to me. So, when I cam, I’m opening up my space, but I’m doing it on my own terms. I am letting people into my life for these moments, and it’s wonderful to both let everyone in, and then say goodbye at the end of the show and have my private life back.”
Peaks describes her Live Mentoring program as “platform where every person who signs up has access to me, live, so their questions can be answered in real time, my strategies for success can be discussed and implemented, and I’ll be tracking results of everyone in my program weekly,” Peaks said – adding that anyone who wants in on the mentoring needn’t hesitate, as they can sign up now at www. annabellpeaksxx.com/mentor.
Always looking to expand her horizons – and to do her part in helping newcomers to the industry – Peaks has established a “Model Mentor Program,” a series of sessions in which Anna imparts what she has learned to newbies, enhancing their chance of replicating her success. Peaks’ upcoming presentation at YNOT’s #Cammunity model summit will serve as the launch pad for a live component of the Model Mentor Program. “I’ll be not only live at the YNOT #Cammunity in Hollywood, I’ll also be broadcasting the session live on my Model Mentor Program Platform for those unable to attend in person,” Peaks said. “My Model Mentor Program kicked off in January, with signups and referrals of performers with tons of content to web developers that could help them monetize that content immediately, and it’s been a great success already. Now I’m launching my Live Mentoring.”
About the Author Gene Zorkin has been covering legal and political issues for various adult publications (and under a variety of different pen names) since 2002.
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Interviews
Andra Chirnogeanu: Studio20’s Right Hand By Abbie Stutzer Studio20 is one of the industry’s premier brands. With spaces in Romania, the United States, Colombia and more, the global institution is about to open its twentieth -- 20th! -- studio. Within the context of the mission, Studio20 boasts all sorts of offerings for models, from coaching and training to more ephemeral services -- things like variable model promotion tracks (confidential or public superstar) and “legality, transparency and fairness.” Behind it all, but definitely not “behind the scenes,” is Andra Chirnogeanu -- the PR and Marketing Manager for Studio20 overall. Chirnogeanu oversees the front-facing dimensions of Studio20 at large, a complex endeavor that requires knowledge of many different aspects of international webcam. We recently spoke to Chirnogeanu, who told us a bit more
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about the space’s advantages for models, both in Los Angeles and worldwide. YNOT Cam: What’s your job title and what does your job entail? Andra Chirnogeanu: I’m Andra Chirnogeanu. I’m the PR and Marketing Manager at Studio20. I basically run all the communication between the studio and press, the partners and more. Also, I have a social media assistant in every Studio20 studio franchise around the world, and I run the operations for that, working closely with the marketing team, establishing the marketing and social media strategy and following up. For models, what is the best and most advantageous thing about Studio20?
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It’s not just Studio20 Los Angeles. It’s every Studio20 studio in the world. We offer the performers more than just a place where they come to get their paycheck. Sometimes it’s not easy. A lot of people think that being a cam [model] is easy. So, they come into the interview room thinking, “I’ll just strip and people will pay me,” or “I’m cute, I have 100k followers on Instagram. People will pay to see me.”
Studio20 is the world’s biggest live cam studio network. We have 20 studios in different places in the world right now, with another five opening by the end of 2019. Studio20 is a cam studio. That means we provide all the means necessary to broadcast on a cam platform: training, room, lights, camera, etc. The only thing performers needs to worry about or think about is their chat rooms.
Anyone that has worked one hour in this industry knows that that’s very far from the truth. So, when we start the training and begin teaching, we lose a lot of them along the way. The models who stay understand what’s important. So, we reward them with trips, magazine features and more. We believe knowledge is power. That’s how we empower models. We help them learn and set them up for success. Find Studio20 Los Angeles on Twitter at @Studio20LA and on Instagram at @studio20la.
We have specialized trainers and support people that oversee the models, train them, teach them and encourage them, and set them up for success. There are a lot of advantages, but the most important one is that we take the stress off the performer. Information is important, as is career-long learning. What is one key factor about Studio20 that models need to know in order to be successful therein? Studio20 is all about teaching performers and trying to empower them. That’s why we offer free English tutoring to models outside the United States, and we teach the models how to do their make-up and how to handle their finances. We understand being a webcam model might not be a lifelong career for everyone. So, for the amount of time that performers stay with Studio20, we try to teach them as many things as we can so that they leave happy and have industry knowledge. How does Studio20 Los Angeles want to help further the empowerment of performers?
About the Author Abbie Stutzer is a writer and editor from Lawrence, Kansas. Find her on Twitter at @abbiestutzer and on Insta at @abbiestutzer. Email her at abbie@ynotcam.com
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Interviews
Brittany Benz: Cam, Community and a Buttery Bubble Butt By Erika Chan
Brittany Benz is a superstar rising. As of September of this year, she will have been working as a cam model for four years. During that time, she has become a top model on Chaturbate, starred in porn directed by one of the industry’s foremost leaders, Greg Lansky, and won the first ever YNOT Cam Award for Cam Star of the Year in 2018. It was a landmark win that was very meaningful to her. “Who doesn’t like winning?” Benz commented playfully. “I’m super thankful for all the voters and the Booty Gang for taking the time to put in their votes!” “The award meant a lot to me,” she continued. “At times, I’m still shook over all the good vibes and generosity that
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fills my cam room every night. It was a good feeling getting recognition for all the time I’ve put into my cam shows.” Not content to rest on her laurels, Benz continues to work towards improving her shows, keeping up with new technology and continuously upgrading her stream any time something new comes out. And her efforts have paid off. Her juggernaut ascent has continued over the past year – she’s even nominated for YNOT Cam’s Cam Crossover Star award in 2019. The Cam Crossover Star award honors models making moves in both cam and porn. And though Benz thinks that being a cam model and porn star crossover is a great way to maximize earnings doing a lot of different things, the work
In an obvious, human assertion (though clearly not obvious to people at HBO and Netflix), Benz said, “Some of us would like to remain a secret though, that’s why it’s important to ask.” Differing opinions about how a model might want their career presented gives rise to another “difference of opinion” prevalent within the industry community – divisive attitudes regarding cam models and porn performers. Benz, who has herself noticed this division, shared that “One thing I would like to mention on this topic is we are all the same. We are all sex workers.” “Some porn stars really dislike cam girls because they think we don’t have to work as hard. They say being a fulltime talent is harder,” Benz said. “But then you come across the [performers] who love us and want to learn how to [be on cam]. No matter what, there’s always gonna be mixed feeling but I’ll never be a part of the problem.” itself is distinct. This can create some interesting challenges and differences.
“I love cam and porn! If any porn stars ever have any questions on how to start camming, DM me -- I got you sis!” she added.
“One of the surprising differences between cam and porn is seeing yourself on your computer screen,” Benz shared. “With cam, you’re able to see yourself on the screen, and with porn you’re not able to see what’s being recorded.”
Another community-building initiative Benz has spearheaded is her aforementioned Booty Gang.
When you’re used to performing in a certain way, the changeup can be challenging. According to Benz, “Most of the time [directors] don’t want you looking at the camera, so it’s a lot different for me. I kept finding myself staring into the camera, and Greg [Lansky] would have to remind me ‘Look away Brittany’ in his French accent.”
“[It’s] a group of girls who love to twerk. I’m planning on having workshops – or, should we call them ‘twerkshops’ -- to teach models how to shake their booties,” Benz explained. “We’re
In an interesting note about conventional associations with “crossover” career moves – namely, moving from the adult industry to the mainstream – Benz had some fiery thoughts regarding Hollywood’s penchant for exploiting adult industry content for its own gain. For instance, regarding a recent incident wherein HBO lifted unlicensed Kink.com clips featuring Violet Monroe and Tommy Pistol for use in an episode of their program “Euphoria,” Benz said, “If HBO wants to take pieces of our world, they should have to cite and source where they got it! I mean, isn’t that stealing if they don’t?” It’s true – it is stealing – but as we know, the rules are enforced differently for mainstream and adult, something Benz has dealt with firsthand. “I have seen myself on Netflix before in a documentary I had no idea was even being filmed,” she shared. “Those [mainstream] producers are really slacking. They need to ask permission and get everyone to sign papers. Most cam models are more than willing to do documentaries and show how [cam life] really is if you just ask.”
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also planning on performing at Exxxotica and other events, and we will also be creating tutorials for PornHub.” Models and performers interested in upping their game and getting involved with the Booty Gang can contact Benz at the email address listed below. It seems like a great opportunity for often-isolated models to make friends and learn new occupational skills. Speaking of skill development, the notion that models and performers may have occupational struggles and issues is also something that’s often missed – in this instance, often by members of the community working behind the scenes. According to Benz, the best way for community members working behind the scenes to better support models is to “listen -- it seriously goes such a long way. You can really figure out a lot about a situation just by listening.” “I also do something on all the sets I’m on because I like to make sure everyone is comfortable: I ask everyone who will be involved in the scene beforehand what their do’s and dont’s
are,” she added. “That way, everyone is on the same page and you know what each other likes and doesn’t like. I feel like more sets should encourage talent to ask those questions because it’s a really good way to not cross boundaries and keep everyone happy.” Regardless of where she’s at in the wider industry cam space and porno-scape, Brittany Benz comes with a sense of community and kindness, as well as a penchant for hard work. When asked about key advice for new models, she said: “I would say the most important thing to be doing when you first start camming is to be watching cams. As wild as it sounds, you can really learn a lot of different things ... something that also helped me was having a notepad and having my tip menu options. Also, a very important way to get people in your room is post to your social media whenever you are getting online. I’ve noticed posting a picture or a video is the best way to get the message out about you being online.” Benz has also noticed upticks in Ptremium Snapchat use, as well as self-booking in the absence of an agent. Being self-reliant requires being informed. And though it may sound counterintuitive, staying informed and self-reliant means staying plugged into the community. It’s a good strategy for life in general, as well as life in adult entertainment. “I like where the industry is at right now,” Benz enthused. “Everyone is making money doing what they want!” Can’t complain about that! Models with questions, needing advice or wanting to learn more about Booty Gang can message Benz at ButteryBubbleButt@gmail.com. Find Brittany Benz online at BrittLive.com and on Twitter at @BrittanyBenz_.
About the Author
Erika Chan Erika Chan is a sex positive people watcher (and writer). Email her at erika@ynotcam.com.
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Featured Article
Chris Youngs: On *Not* Participating in Adult Industry Discrimination By Abbie Stutzer Everyone in the adult industry appreciates the importance of a reliable online payment system that’s industry-friendly, which is why it’s so important that Paxum exists. Paxum allows its users to safely settle their invoices with ease for a low, affordable price. The service also makes receiving multiple online payments a breeze and provides users with a mobile app for easy, on-the-go access. YNOT Cam recently had the opportunity to interview Chris Youngs, the business development manager at Paxum. In our interview, Youngs details why Paxum’s platform
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is perfect for clips makers and how users can safely and securely use Paxum’s services. YNOT Cam: What’s your job title, and what does your job entail? Chris Youngs: My name is Chris Youngs, and my job title for Paxum is Business Development Manager. My job is client-centric. I focus on building and maintaining positive relationships with as many clients as possible. I attend most of the events and trade shows that Paxum sponsors, and I’m always ready to assist any client or prospective client in any way I can.
What is the best and most advantageous thing about your service for models and clips makers? Paxum makes it easy to handle both incoming and outgoing payments. For example, if you’re a performer receiving payments from Chaturbate, MyFreeCams, BongaCams, LiveJasmin, Streamate and maybe even other platforms all at the same time, then using Paxum to receive those payments is very convenient. Withdrawal is easy, and if you’re buying traffic or paying for hosting then you can do that right from your Paxum account as well. Businesses appreciate the straightforward methods we provide to issue mass payments on a global scale. Also, with top security and high fraud prevention in place, Paxum constantly proves why it became and remains the preferred payment method in adult entertainment.
to know in order to use it successfully? The great thing about Paxum is it’s really easy to sign up, get verified and then use our service. For cam performers, I do have a tip. I recommend they use a private email to create their Paxum account (one that they don’t usually provide publicly) and then add and confirm a second email address to the account to give to others to pay them on. This adds an extra layer of protection to their account as the login email never has to be given out to anyone when there’s a second email confirmed. Why do you think building community amongst cam and clips models is important?
Can you explain how Paxum makes billing and payments for companies and people within the industry a simple, smooth process? Businesses have the ability to send all their payments at once with Paxum, either through mass upload of a I think trust is the most important currency out there, and one of the best ways to build trust is to be present and to engage with members of the community. Cam studios, performers, platforms and clips models often work from home and are somewhat isolated as they spend long hours in front of their cams and computers away from society and any other types of community. The online cam community has flourished over the years, constantly growing as cams and clips have become a bigger and bigger business.
CSV or XML file or through our versatile API. It’s a very straightforward process. For recipients, the payments come in instantly and are available for use immediately. Paxum supports the adult industry, and we don’t close accounts due to being adult industry-related, which definitely helps adult industry clients experience peace of mind with our service. Information is important, as is career-long learning. What is one key factor about Paxum that models need
I’ve been participating in these communities for years as I recognize the inherent benefits of being present for my customers. On top of attending numerous large adult trade shows and conferences, I have also attended several stand-alone one-day conference events in Colombia to help Paxum customers maximize the benefits of their accounts in a more intimate setting. I love this community -- it’s so special and unique, and I’m very proud to be part of it. Find Chris Youngs on Twitter at @PaxumChris. Email him for support at chris@paxum.com.
About the Author Abbie Stutzer is a writer and editor from Lawrence, Kansas. Find her on Twitter at @abbiestutzer and on Insta at @abbiestutzer. Email her at abbie@ynotcam.com
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RESOLUTION
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Featured Article
‘Spying’ on Stripchat’s Rick Morales By Abbie Stutzer Stripchat has a lot of consumer offerings: free live shows, private shows, “spying,” cam-to-cam and messaging. Today, however, Stripchat may be best known for being the first platform that offers fully-immersive live cam shows between models and viewers. We recently spoke to Rick Morales, the Business Developer at Stripchat, about how the platform uses VR and mobile streaming, how models can succeed on the platform and more. YNOT Cam: What does your work with StripChat entail? Rick Morales: My name is Rick Morales, and I’m the Business Developer at Stripchat. This means that I’m responsible for bringing our product in the right direction and keeping in contact with our partners and models to make sure we are delivering the best product in the live adult entertainment industry.
For models, what is the best and most advantageous thing about Stripchat? Stripchat is the only live adult entertainment platform that has fully plunged into VR technology. On Stripchat, our models can stream in full 4K in 50-60 fps. We are very proud of our VR experience and truly believe that live cam can’t become more real than this. We have members that have stayed over six hours in VR private shows with our models and had given us the best feedback on our technology. In addition to this, Stripchat also allows mobile streaming directly from your phone. It doesn’t matter if you have an iPhone or Android. You don’t need to download any apps. You can stream directly from your mobile browser. We have examples of models streaming from their car, the gym, on hikes and at the mall. We believe this is the future of live broadcasting.
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Do you think building community amongst cam and clip models is important? I strongly believe that building a community among cam and clip models is important. Camming by yourself can be a very lonely job, especially for independent models. It’s
One major aspect of Stripchat is that we are valuing hardworking models. Our algorithm is based on a lot of factors like online hours, received tips while online and a secret sauce of other matrices. To be successful on Stripchat, you should make an effort to fill out every field in your profile to make it complete. Also, upload a good number of pictures and videos and keep them regularly updated. Be sure to add your social media profiles so that your members can add you there as well. And lastly, don’t forget to get your members to add you to their “Favorites” and turn on the notification so that they know when you’re going online. What unique services does your platform provide to models? Even though we’re getting great feedback from our users about the usability of Stripchat, we are offering 24/7 support both via email and chat if you ever get stuck with us. You can also read up on our Wiki page and go through our guides under “Help” and “Support.”
essential to socialize with other models to get input and new ideas from industry colleagues. For us at Stripchat, having connections with communities like this is key to come with the latest news and updates from the fastest growing cam site in our industry. We are growing very fast, and it’s important to let our models and new potential models know how our site works. We also put our focus on listening to feedback in order to get some insight into what [models] need from an adult entertainment platform like Stripchat.
We promote your show whenever you go online during your first two weeks of joining Stripchat too, so be sure to take full advantage of your first weeks with us and go online as much as possible to get a good ranking. Find Stripchat on Twitter at @stripchat.
We are always open to new ideas, and we love to help our models grow with Stripchat. Information is important, as is career-long learning. What is one key factor about Stripchat that models need to know in order to be successful therein? Information is definitely the key to success in the live adult entertainment world. First of all, Stripchat was made to be user-friendly for new performers, and this is also our feedback from on-boarded models.
About the Author Abbie Stutzer is a writer and editor from Lawrence, Kansas. Find her on Twitter at @abbiestutzer and on Insta at @abbiestutzer. Email her at abbie@ynotcam.com
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Featured Article
Segpay: Crafting Billing Solutions for the Thriving Adult Cam Market By Gene Zorkin When people outside the adult entertainment industry imagine what it must be like to work in the adult webcam sector, many of them likely never stop to consider the crucial role of online transaction processing, or the companies which provide such services. Even cam performers who don’t hold merchant accounts of their own are reliant on the stability and consistency of the transaction processing used by the sites, networks and platforms on which they appear. One can’t very well earn commissions on sales which aren’t completed, after all. As the adult cam sector has grown, catering to the companies, platforms and performers who comprise
that sector has become a progressively higher priority to companies like Segpay, which has offered customized billing solutions to adult industry merchants since 2005. Segpay CEO Cathy Beardsley recently sat down with YNOT to talk about the importance of the cam sector to her company – and about the services Segpay has introduced and developed in response to the growth of the adult cam market. “Cam business represents close to 50% of Segpay’s volume, so we have invested a lot of time on solutions for this growing segment,” Beardsley told YNOT, as she listed some of the options Segpay has crafted with the cam sector chiefly in mind. “Post Pay offers a pay as you go
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model for consumers. This allows models to keep earning as they engage with their consumers. We have developed a model/affiliate payout platform to help cam site owners pay their models. We also have spent a lot of time on fraud mitigation tools such as customizable velocity checks, white listing of good consumers, 3D secure and card verification – to make sure only good transactions get through, so models can rest assured that they have solid, paying consumers. Last year we introduced an amount verification feature allowing merchants to ensure that a consumer legitimately owns the credit card they’ve submitted.”
“Post pay was designed specifically for cam sites to give merchants more control over how they authorize and settle purchases, lowering chargeback risk while offering their consumers a better buying experience – because they know they’ll only pay for the time they actually use,” Beardsley said. “Merchants can authorize a specific amount up front, which the consumer cannot exceed while making smaller purchases. Merchants ensure the credit card is valid and has sufficient funds.” Much of what Post Pay does to limit a merchant’s exposure and reduce the risk of chargebacks comes into play after the initial authorization of the transaction, Beardsley noted. “After the authorization, the merchant tracks the consumer’s spending and when the consumer finishes – or reaches the amount authorized – the merchant captures the total amount used and finalizes the transaction,” Beardsley said. “Post Pay bundles multiple small sessions into a single capture, helping limit refund or chargeback risk by simplifying the consumer’s credit card statement. Even if the consumer purchases multiple sessions, his/her statement shows only one. The simplified statement reduces likelihood of a chargeback, and even if a chargeback happens, it counts as only one instead of multiple (in cases where each session shows as a separate charge).”
Sometimes, one billing innovation leads to the need for the development of another. For example, while shortterm trial offers and other specials are good hooks, some consumers have learned to ‘game the system’ by repeatedly signing up for offers which were supposed to be for new customers only. To give their clients a means to restrict certain offers to true first-time purchasers, or to enforce a limited time discount, Segpay introduced “Single Use Promos.” “Single Use Promos allow cam merchants to create onetime or limited time discounts that can boost sales without consumers ‘abusing’ the offer through repeat purchases,” Beardsley explained. The details of how Segpay’s ‘Post Pay’ option works demonstrates the depth of thinking which goes into the development of transaction processing tools – including the extent to which companies like Segpay design their tools and functions with specific sectors of the adult market in mind.
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Despite (or maybe because of) the crucial role they play in the online adult market, billing companies like Segpay often take a lot of heat from adult merchants who feel such companies overcharge for their services. In many cases, these merchants probably don’t fully appreciate just how much of a burden their billing providers are shouldering – including handling complex compliance issues and the data security challenges which are part and parcel of the online environment. Beardsley also noted that merchants’ costs are in part dependent on the proportion of billing-related tasks the merchant handles directly, as opposed to those they rely on billing companies to take care of on their behalf.
“Segpay leverages third-party tools to strengthen our own risk systems with more information to help us make good decisions about the transactions that process through our system,” she added. Just like the merchants they serve, billing companies like Segpay need to constantly evolve and develop, whether it’s in response to changes in the market, changes in regulatory framework, or even changes in the economic and political relationships between countries.
“Payment processors such as Segpay provide a service that allows merchants to offload as much of their billingrelated tasks as they like,” Beardsley observed. “The more of the payment work they want to offload, the higher the fees. Good processors provide value for those fees in the form of reporting tools (sales summaries, chargeback/ reversal status, projected revenue); user management, affiliate programs, customer retention tools, consumer billing support and more.” Merchants sometimes simply aren’t aware of the expenses billing companies incur in assuring compliance with regulations – a set of hoops that only seems to grow in number, year by year.
“We will soon be adding an additional US bank, along with alternative payment methods and a revamped Merchant Portal that will look and perform better,” Beardsley revealed. “We are opening an Ireland office which we expect to be licensed later this year, which will help protect our merchants in the event of BREXIT. We will be implementing 3DS 2.0 to ensure PSD2 compliance before the September deadline.” While billing and transaction processing may not be the first thing that comes to mind when adult cam performers make a mental checklist of things they need to consider in planning the path of their careers, establishing an effective payment solution is every bit as mission-critical to their success as crafting an engaging on-camera persona and building a fan base. Far more than a mere gateway through which money passes from consumers to merchants, companies like Segpay provide an essential link between entrepreneurial aspiration and commercial achievement.
“Segpay invests in data security through extensive PCI audits each year, and ensures compliance with new regulations such as GDPR, UK Age Verification, PSD2, so merchants know they have a trusted partner,” Beardsley said. Compliance with the rules set by credit card companies, banks, governments and other entities is no minor matter, either. “We invest in third-party tools that ensure merchant websites are in compliance and in good standing with Visa or MasterCard,” Beardsley said, noting that such compliance “can be the difference between a merchant staying in business or not.”
About the Author Gene Zorkin has been covering legal and political issues for various adult publications (and under a variety of different pen names) since 2002.
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Featured Article
Shirley Lara: The Sum of All Parts By Abbie Stutzer Chaturbate prides itself on the community it has created for cam models and online performers, and for good reason. The adult-friendly social networking platform allows artists to get creative in a safe, user-policed environment. The unique user community, which is made up of broadcasters of all kinds, makes the service a one-of-a-kind platform where channel operators have the opportunity to let their brand and business shine. Also, it’s simple to get started — users can sign-up and start broadcasting within minutes. We recently had the opportunity to interview Shirley Lara,
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the COO at Chaturbate. In our interview, Lara explains how the platform uniquely serves the cam industry. YNOT Cam: What’s your job title, and what does your job entail? Shirley Lara: I’m the COO of Chaturbate and am
responsible for marketing and broadcaster and affiliate relations. I also have other responsibilities. What is the best and most advantageous thing about your platform for models? Chaturbate is a social networking platform where entrepreneurs and content creators throughout the world can be their own producer and director in creating unique content.
Information is important, as is career-long learning. What is one key factor about Chaturbate that models need to know in order to be successful therein? To stay up-to-date in the cam world, it’s important to stay on top of technology and really just look at your cam channel as your company. Successful broadcasters know that fun and engaging content is the key to being successful. What’s the potential for cams as a market to grow?
Why do you think building community is important? The sense of community is a big part of Chaturbate! We have so many creative and thoughtful community members who work to better the community by creating content and apps. Members are also great about speaking up anytime they have a concern about the platform and user content on the platform. Chaturbate is only here because of its active and engaged community members -- from independent broadcasters who can receive tips, to exhibitionists who cannot. Also, [we can’t forget]: tippers, chatters and lurkers. Each part of our community makes Chaturbate what it is.
The potential is really endless. So many content creators are enjoying the freedom and safety that working from home -- or really, anywhere where you have privacy -brings. There are a lot of people who have [webcam work] as their sole income earner, while others use it to pick up some extra cash. There is no shortage of new community members every day, and there are so many exciting technologies available now to allow community members to interact with each other. Find Chaturbate on Twitter at @chaturbate
About the Author Abbie Stutzer is a writer and editor from Lawrence, Kansas. Find her on Twitter at @abbiestutzer and on Insta at @abbiestutzer. Email her at abbie@ynotcam.com
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Featured Article
Today, and the Future: ImLive’s Marissa Davis Thinks Long-Term By Erika Chan ImLive is one of the world’s most longstanding cam networks. Launched in 2002 (!!), ImLive hosts -- as broadcasters are so referred within the context of ImLive specifically -- include a diverse community of cam-specific models, as well as noteworthy performers from the pornosphere. The network itself is huge. ImLive surpassed the tenmillion member mark in October 2007, the fifteen million member mark in December 2008 and, by January 2013, the network had over 33 million members and 80,000 hosts. That’s a lot of people flowing through a single site. Within that context, Marissa Davis works to help keep things running smoothly. Davis took some time out to
speak with us about the unique aspects of ImLive and the community building aspects therein. YNOT Cam: What’s your job title, and what does your job entail? Marissa Davis: I’m Marissa Davis, and I do media buying and business development for the ImLive network. For models, what is the best and most advantageous thing about ImLive? 200 independent and studio models approach ImLive on average daily to become webcam hosts, since 2002. ImLive has a unique approach towards newcomers in order to
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assist them in getting optimal traffic and new regular clients, creating a solid base for a steady camming income. The ImLive platform offers the models a wide variety of tools to customize their camming experience. All these tools have been carefully implemented in order to boost sales and help the models achieve one of the highest user values in the webcam industry. Years of experience in this industry have given ImLive the knowledge to know exactly what options are needed to achieve higher earnings per minute than any other cam site. Information is important, as is career-long learning. What is one key factor about ImLive that models need to know in order to be successful therein? ImLive gives its models 24/7 real online support, continuous training and reviews in order to help the models maximize the benefit of their time online. Successful models on ImLive should really get to know our platform and all the possibilities within it. With knowledge of our platform, models have the ability to skyrocket their earnings. With a dedicated approach and hard work, our models know they can change their lives forever by becoming top earners. In addition to focusing on the present, models also need to think about their lives and career paths in the future.
Webcam modeling is hard work! Any person working in such a demanding atmosphere must make sure to invest their earnings properly in order to be ready for the future. Expanding your online presence and branching out with social media is an excellent way to build up your income alongside camming. Having said that, we do have ImLive hosts that are still active with us after seventeen years. Many models have become – literally -- millionaires by camming on ImLive, however, it’s always good to plan your future economically and make sure you have something planned for after camming life. Why do you think building community among models is important? Like in any other occupation, communication between people who work in the same line of work helps to better understand your needs, but also will ensure you are constantly improving. Sharing ideas of ways to make more money and plan for the future is highly beneficial. Also, promoting each other on social media, along with content trades, are a huge bonus to independently market yourself and make more money. Having a community of webcam models can help a lot to people who are already working in this business, but it can also open the door for those are new and don’t know where to start. Mentorship is extremely important in this industry, so it’s crucial for models to stick together and support each other! Find Marissa Davis on Twitter at @Marissa_PCash.
On that note, what’s one thing every model needs to be thinking about for their “Five Years into the Future” self?
About the Author
Erika Chan Erika Chan is a sex positive people watcher (and writer). Email her at erika@ynotcam.com.
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Featured Article
From Conception to Clean-Up: Roxana Chirila Runs AWSummit By Abbie Stutzer AWSummit is about “tactical business advice and focusing on what it takes to boost your business growth” -- and that means models’ and performers’ businesses, too! The person who makes this event essentially “happen” is Roxana Chirila. Chirila is the Event Director for AWSummit and brings this popular event to life year after year. YNOT Cam recently interviewed Chirila to find out more about her job and how AWSummit is helping cam and clips providers. YNOT Cam: What does your work with AWSummit entail? Roxana Chirila: I’m Roxana Chirila, an event director. In a few words, my job is to control the AWSummit from conception to clean up. I meet clients, workout event details, assign the staff and workflow, scout and book locations, set up catering services and... I can go on for days. It’s very different from swinging a wand and making things happen, but the result certainly is magical! Why would community members want to attend AWSummit? We manage to bring together the most prestigious names
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can take away from AWSummit? As cam counselors, the best advice we can give to models is to use their voices, be vibrant no matter what genre they pick to be in and keep themselves in touch with the advancements that are taking place — in this industry, even more so rapidly than others. How fast has the cam market expanded in Romania, and do you see lessons from the Romanian market that you think the US cam market should consider? Hmm.. I cannot really say how fast it has expanded because the cam market in Romania was a very gray territory at some point and not all the studios or their activity were noticeable to the naked eye. What I can attest to is that there are obvious cultural differences and manners of monetizing differently between these two [geographic locations] — both on the cam studios’ side, as well as member psychologies and needs. Surely from these differences, new ideas and techniques can contribute to both Romanian and US cam communities. And for that, we invite you to join our summit next year and plot with us the next steps for improvement in the world of camming! Find AWSummit on Twitter at @theAWMedia.
in the industry and facilitate an environment of welfare and growth for the community. From new businesses that emerge during the event to creating stronger bonds between existing ones and up to learning sessions from the gurus that are coming to share their knowledge and insight during the summit, we offer a full experience! Why do you think building community amongst cam and clips models is important? Only together can we truly grow and explore new ideas and possibilities. If you have no one to relate to or to address regarding your activities, then development is almost impossible. That’s why communities in general are important, not only in this industry. Information is important, as is career-long learning. What is one important thing models and performers
About the Author Abbie Stutzer is a writer and editor from Lawrence, Kansas. Find her on Twitter at @abbiestutzer and on Insta at @abbiestutzer. Email her at abbie@ynotcam.com
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Featured Article
COO John Ruskin Talks ModelClips: The Clips Site for Cam Models By Erika Chan Being great on cam requires a broad skill set, one that takes time and effort to cultivate. Similarly, being a master clips maker also requires a broad -- but considerably different -- skill set, one that takes time and effort to cultivate. For cam models looking to incorporate clips into their content repertoires, the idea of taking on a whole new type of content producing may seem daunting -- but it doesn’t have to be. Enter ModelClips. ModelClips is a “model-focused clip site.” They state:
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“Our mission is to bring performers and fans together by delivering a premium user experience to fans and providing performers the tools and platform to achieve financial success. We strive to lead the industry with new technologies and features not found anywhere else. Fans and performers alike should find ModelClips as a sexpositive, safe and fun community.” The site claims to accomplish its mission via the use of unrivaled technology, an expansive network, dedicated support and a commitment to models’ financial well-being and independence. We wanted to learn more, so we
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reached out to their COO (Chief Operating Officer) John Ruskin with a few questions. YNOT Cam: What does your job entail? John Ruskin: As COO, [my] job entails overseeing development and creative direction of ModelClips.
opportunities on ModelClips. Information is important, as is career-long learning. What is one key factor about your platform that models need to know in order to be successful therein? We’re a new site, but we’re not new to the industry. Our network is backed by several major adult entertainment outlets that provide far-reaching exposure for our models. But self-promotion is equally important. We understand ModelClips might not be your sole source of income and your clips will be for sale on other sites. But when you promote your interactive material on social media, you open the gates for fans to enjoy an intimate, immersive, realistic experience they won’t find anywhere else. What makes ModelClips unique and different from other model-focused clip sites?
What is the best and most advantageous thing about your platform for models and clips makers? Our hallmark is our ability to add interactive sex toy compatibility to your existing videos. By adding the sense of touch to the clips you sell on ModelClips, you can give your customers and fans a totally unique, intimate way to experience your content, which can help it stand out in a crowded marketplace.
Apart from our cutting-edge interactive feature, we cater to both straight and gay audiences equally and strive to maintain a creator-first platform. Part of our mission is to make sure the majority of clip-sale profits go into the hands of the people making the content. We have a dedicated support staff, promote a sex-positive, safe and fun community and are committed to the financial wellbeing of our models. Their success is our success!
Why do you think building community amongst cam and clips models is important? One of the best things about being a model is the independence and freedom the work grants you. You can be your own boss, control your own brand and make your own hours. But when you operate independently, it’s vital to have a community of like-minded individuals to help you learn and grow as a professional. A healthy community can share their experiences and help their fellow performers know which outlets are trustworthy and supportive of their careers. Word of mouth in the model community has certainly helped us grow. Performers like Jakub Stefano and Jessica Sage have really spread the word about new
About the Author
Erika Chan Erika Chan is a sex positive people watcher (and writer). Email her at erika@ynotcam.com.
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