Link Lists: Evolving, Growing and Still Going Strong
by Kath Blackwell
There aren't many things in life that you can count on - other than death and taxes. In the world of online traffic in the adult market, there are few things that stay the same, as the industry continues to grow and expand. Program ideas, methods for doing things, ways of obtaining and targeting traffic - many have come and gone over the years, each promising to out-do the other, yield better results and be the next big thing.
What makes Link Lists different from other types of traffic generation programs? Why are they so successful? What changes have occurred over the years to help them to evolve and grow with the industry - and how are today's Link Lists different from those that first began in the early days of the 'Net?
With the help of the many webmasters, Link List owners and industry veterans that haunt the forums of GreenguyandJim.com, Klixxx Magazine compiled the answers to these questions, shedding understanding on the world of Link Lists. The many responses that we received from webmasters with such varied levels of experience, provided a very fair insight into the world of link lists, the people who use them and their ideas on what will help them continue to find success in the future.
THE EVOLUTIONARY PROCESS
The Tommys-Bookmarks.com NEW Partner Account
On October 21, 2004, webmasters began posting about something new that they had seen at Tommys-Bookmarks.com. Webmasters submitting sites for listings on the popular link list site were now being asked to pay a $50 annual partnership fee. As discussion grew about the new fee, webmasters - and link list owners - watched anxiously to see what the initial reactions would be. Surprisingly to some - including Tommy himself - the response was extremely positive and webmasters lined up to join the newly formed partnership.
In a post on industry webmaster board GreenguyandJim.com, Tommy said: "You know what's funny, around two - maybe three or four years ago - I came up with this idea and I threw it out on a board... link sort of a what-do-you-think-about-this thread. The response that I got was let's say, overwhelmingly negative, so I was very nervous about doing this... I want everyone to know that I will put all my resources into making this work and if anyone has any problems they should feel more than free to e-mail me or post on this board."
And the responses kept coming in... some webmasters said that $50/year was a steal - that they would have been willing to pay more. Others said that it was about time - this is a chance to help separate the serious webmasters from the weekend warriors.
The new partnership idea could be called a "shot heard 'round the world," as it very well may be the start of a new link list revolution. A revolutionary idea that could help bring the link list to the next level, helping webmasters to get better quality traffic and helping link list owners to raise their own professional bar, offering more to their webmaster partners and surfers across the board.
Link list partnerships - what will they think of next?
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The role of change in any industry is vital to its success. Our ability to adapt to the changes in customer needs, interest and taste is what gives us that "edge" to provide the services and products necessary to trump our competition.
Greenguy, of the famed Link-o-Rama.com, which has been open since 1996 and is a landmark example of link list success throughout the worldwide industry, spoke with us about the changes he's witnessed within the link list market. "One of the coolest things that has changed over the years are the categories and niches. When I first started, it was basically just a page of cool porn links, but eventually the page became too big, so I split things up into 15 or so categories. Every now and then a new niche comes out or becomes popular enough to warrant its own category, so I add it. I think I'm up to 45 categories now," he laughs.
But not all change is positive, an example of how you need to "roll with the punches" and find new ways of adapting in order to keep things running smoothly. "The one bad thing that has changed is the way people try to cheat or bend the rules," Greenguy continues. "You can't just tell people that you only want 'clean sites' these days - you need to almost hold their hands and explain what they can and can't do as far as your rules go."
New rules, more supervision - and more enforcing of those rules - has become a necessity in today's market, more than ever before. "I'm adding 4 or 5 new rules each year," he admits, of his popular Link-o-Rama.com link list site. "Mostly because people come up with new ways to try to screw you over. One thing that some webmasters forget is that Link Lists need to be very surfer friendly, because we need the surfers to come back the next day, week or whatever. If the surfer gets [screwed] over by a link on my site, they might not come back to me the next time. So we have to make rules and come up with very inventive ways to catch cheaters."
Webmasters have evolved - the way they do business has changed, and not only for the better as we now realize - and those who run link lists and other traffic generation programs must make changes as well. Fortunately, some changes that are forced upon the industry end up being positive ones. We may not always see it at first, but it is part of the evolutionary process - the natural selection, if you will, of the industry.
- NO MORE FREE HOSTING - A few years ago webmasters with sites hosted on free hosting services were welcome at most link lists. Unfortunately, some free hosting services started cheating the traffic programs and webmasters - so new rules had to be made. First, the specific offending free hosts were banned from link lists - then, free hosts were ultimately banned altogether.
- RECIP LINKS REQUIRED! - Believe it or not reciprocal links were not always a requirement of all link lists. There are still a few "no recip" places out there, but you've got to wonder how they get anything out of it - and what you are getting out of it in the end. Now, link lists require specific link-backs, in specific spots - usually on the front page of the site or at the top of the first page.
- POPUPS BE DAMNED - Boogie's Console Free Zone (www.cfzone.com) was one of the first no-consoles sites back "in the day." Today, nearly all link lists have found that surfers really hate pop-ups and therefore forbid them from their listing pools. Fortunately, sponsor programs have caught on and now offer console free tours to webmasters who work with this type of traffic.
- PARTNER ACCOUNT PROGRAMS - The newest trend to hit the link list world, partner account programs have many benefits - both to the webmaster and to the link list owner. Webmasters "join" the link list as partners - either via an annual fee (see sidebar "Tommys-Bookmarks' NEW Partner Account") or by invitation or special acceptance only. The webmaster is then assured that he will either get a higher ranking/visibility with his submitted links OR guaranteed approval/listing, as long as he continues to be a partner and follow the submission rules/guidelines for the site.
- DENIED LISTINGS - It almost goes without saying that more sites are now being declined for listing than ever before. Linkster of LinkforSex.com, a veteran of the industry and of the link list market, says that he would "venture a guess of a typical day we approve 20% of submissions due to the higher quantity of cheats and scammers." Again, just a few years ago the approval average was much higher, quite possibly even flipflopped entirely at nearly 80% of submissions being approved.
And these are just some of the many examples of the changes that have influenced the evolution of the link list over the years. So, why all the rules? Why did link lists have to get so picky? Chuc, new owner of BlueWaveLinks.com sums it up better than anyone else when he explains it simply: "The goal is to provide quality for our visitors. The rules are designed to ensure a "clean" surfing experience with good variety."
From the Ground Up - Becoming a Newbie Again
Anyone who has spent any time in this industry knows - you never ever know absolutely everything. At one time or another you will find yourself facing the fact that you are a newbie once again. It's time to buckle down, start from scratch and learn lots of things that you never ever knew before.
Fonz, who has owned SmilingPussyLinks.com for just under a year says that before he ever even started his new link list he spent a lot of time hanging out on webmaster boards, learning the basics of link list management by reading the posts of others, and by participating in conversations. "By participating, I've gotten to know a lot of the link list owners, so when I eventually started my own site, it wasn't all that hard to get hard link trades with most of them," he says, contributing a lot of his early success to networking. "This way, I got my first steady traffic flow and the search engine spiders visiting and crawling my new site."
Education is key - but so is spending some time at the old-fashioneded school of "Hard Knocks." A lot of the education necessary to find continued success can be had simply through trial and error. Is there anything that Fonz wished he knew then that he knows now? "A few things, yes. When I first started out I knew almost nothing about search engine optimization (SEO), so my pages weren't search engine friendly at all."
He also admits to approving almost all of the submits received just to fill up his pages - something that he has since learned doesn't work. "A lot of the sites were crappy, or sites submitted by cheaters who redirected their traffic after they got listed." But he learned from those newbie mistakes and has since learned to stick to his guns - and his submission rules. "After a few months I changed my reviewing attitude and started rejecting all sites that didn't meet my requirements. If they kept pissing me off they ended up on the blacklist. Lesson learned!"
Fortunately there are lots of great places to meet other webmasters, link list owners, and network to build relationships and get some great advice. GreenguyandJim.com, Klixxx.com, KlixxxU.com and various industry events, gatherings and regional get-togethers are a great way to advance your business. With link lists, your success can be contributed in part to what you know, as well as who you know.
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TODAY'S LINK LIST OWNER
But webmasters aren't the only ones who have changed. The typical link list owner is 180 degrees different from those who reigned just a few years ago. Sure, the big guys are all still there, but they're different. They've had to change in order to survive and most have come through it all still on top and reigning supreme. But it's the new breed of webmaster that we're talking about here now - the new kids on the block that are opening dozens of new link lists on a weekly basis, who are influencing new changes, new ideas and new rules within the market.
LinkforSex.com's Linkster had something to say about today's new link list owners: "The newer link list owners that I've met seem to have a good grasp on what goes into pleasing the surfer. However, the major difference that I've seen is that they seem to worry way too much about their Google Popularity Ranking (PR) when they are attempting trades, and almost totally neglect the traffic trading aspect of building a link list. Networking and conversations [with these webmasters] always seems to turn to SE positioning, which, while important, is just a small piece of the successful link list building puzzle."
Mad Max, who has owned and operated the fetish-based link list FetishPhiles.com for just under six months seems to already have a good handle on what is required in order to make a profit and build a popular link list. "You've got to find a delicate balance between giving good traffic to submitting webmasters and making money for yourself. Of course, building a downline by referring submitting webmasters to your own sponsors must, and should always be a focus since it has the potential for generating long-term income with no further work on your own part."
"A healthy balance of sponsor hosted free sites and submitted sites, seems to be working well for me so far," continues Max, talking about his own experiences to date. "Listing a handful or two of premium sites in each category seems to drive a decent amount of clicks and sales for me, so I try to send the balance of my traffic to submitted sites - especially while I'm trying to grow the list. A new link list has to pander to the webmasters much more than the surfers, until the traffic cycle starts to propagate."
When asked about what each felt were the top five best link list sites for newbies and separately, the top five "powerhouse" link lists for more experienced users, most of our guys seemed a little put out at the question. Half of them recommended their own sites, some jokingly, or wishfully - and others pretty much gave the same response. For newbies, Greenguy's Link-o-Rama.com, SmutGremlins.com, LinkforSex.com, Jays-XXX-Links.com and Richards-Realm.com, were named by nearly all surveyed in some order or another. The "powerhouse" sites were agreed by most as being Tommys-Bookmarks.com, Richards-Realm.com, Link-o-Rama.com and LinkforSex.com - with a wide variety of 5th sites in for nomination.
Today's link list owner needs to be ready to make changes - and can't be afraid or timid about enforcing his posted rules. I can't remember where I read it, but years ago I read the best advice for new link list owners. Someone wisely advised, "it's your link list - it's your rules. You own it, you maintain it and you need to set the course." You don't have to go with the flow or do what the popular kids do - owning your own link list means setting your own standards and making your own way. True, there're a lot of essential ingredients that need to go into building a successful link list, but there is also a lot of leeway and freedom for those who want to make it their own.
LINK LISTS: A HAVEN FOR NEWBIES?
In the early days, when new webmasters would wander on to a community board and ask about where they could find traffic for their shiny new sites, they were told to submit them to link lists. Today, link lists are still the traffic generation method of choice for most new webmasters. There are many reasons why link lists are newbie friendly, particularly the straight-forwardness of the rules - even though it seems like some will never ever quite "get it" in that arena.
Think back to when you were first learning... wouldn't it have been nice to have a list of what you could do and couldn't do all written out for you to use as a guideline? Link lists provide such a guideline - telling webmasters whether they can use pop-up consoles, how many pictures they should have on their site, and sometimes even how many sponsor banners or other reciprocal links they should have as well. Because there are so many cheaters, and link list owners have had to become so specific in their submission guidelines, new webmasters have an awesome opportunity to learn about the various facets of building acceptable websites from the people that really matter most - the traffic people!
Amadman, who runs the link list site Xstash.com and has been in the industry for about five years says, "I feel that link lists are a great source of traffic for newbies and a good place for them to start. As for knowledge and experience, all they really need to be able to do is read and follow the rules."
Greenguy agrees - as trends and rules change for other forms of traffic, link lists still remain one of the easiest places to get listed. "Most TGPs are charging for submits - or only taking them from people they trust. Search Engines are hard to get in on unless you really know what you are doing or have some money to spend on ads in them. With a link list, all you really have to do is build a clean site that follows the rules, and you'll get listed."
Buying Instead of Building: One Webmaster's Story
BlueWaveLinks.com has been an active adult link list since 1998. However, its new owner Chuc just purchased it in 2004, choosing to start his career as link list owner and operator with an already established program.
Chuc says that purchasing an established link list has helped him to avoid hurdles such as branding, initial site advertising and visibility that would have plagued him had he started a new link list site from the ground up. "When Blue Wave came up for sale - I jumped on it! It already had many thousands of websites linking to it and a nice flow of daily visitors. I was already familiar with Blue Wave from my earliest days as a webmaster, so it had that name recognition factor for me and I assume for many others."
"It was easier than building from the ground up in every way," Chuc admits, as the previous owner transferred the entire database to Chuc's server and even taught him how to administrate it. "All I had to do was give the site a cosmetic facelift and we were in business!"
Chuc, who has worked in the adult online industry in other capacities since 1999 says that there have been a few changes in his business since he became a link list owner. "I'm working even longer hours," he says, saying that it takes him two-three hours per day to review the new site submissions at Blue Wave in addition to his other duties. "I'm still spending 12 hours per day maintaining my other websites, so the link list tasks have just piled on. I had no life even before Blue Wave," he says wryly. "So, a few more hours each day are not of much consequence."
So if you're thinking about getting into the link list game - fear not... there are many options available to you that will help you get a kick-start on your new business. In addition to the many other link list owners and webmasters out there that are more than willing to lend advice and/or support, there are lots of other avenues to take. More and more webmasters are buying in to an already established link list site as these opportunities continue to grow.
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Unfortunately, not everyone feels the same way. Sean416, who has been running his link list MorePornforMe.com since February 2004 says, "I think link lists are a great source of traffic, however, I don't think link list owners are newbie friendly with their rules. They have their mouse permanently hovering over the black list button and getting them to send out reasons for declines, or even a decline e-mail is like pulling teeth. So the trial and error period for free site submitters is non-existent because it's one strike and you're out."
But Jay of Jays-XXX-Links.com has some advice that will help stressed out blacklist fearing newbies out a little: "My advice to a newbie would be to carefully read the rules when they build their first sites. I hire a reviewer to do my reviews these days. We blacklist people who consistently submit sub-par sites, overused templates and content, or repeatedly don't follow the rules. We do leave a line of communication with the webmasters open through places like GreenguyandJim.com, so if they made honest mistakes and got blacklisted - it's not the end of the world."
As we discovered early on, things like rules, enforcement of rules and sometimes the infamous blacklist do have an essential purpose for today's link list owner. "Rules are one thing that helps everyone - and you put them up in hopes that the submitting webmaster will actually READ them - but that's not always the case. So, when you go in to review the submissions that you have, you end up with a large amount of crap and you waste time looking at the site and then deleting it. So, more and more link lists are using blacklists, putting the domains or e-mails or IP's of the problem submits on there, in hopes of not wasting a lot of time."
As we all know time is money - and wasting time on repeat rule breakers, auto submitters and other offenders is costly. For example Greenguy says, "Over the last seven days, my blacklist has blocked 808 submits. Even if it only takes one minute each to review, that's almost 13.5 hours that I have saved myself this week!"
MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL...
No one can say for sure what the future will hold, but the future of link lists is still shining bright with possibility. What other changes are on the way? How will link lists change a year from now - two years from now - even five years into the future?
A lot of our webmasters feel that paid submissions and/or select partnership accounts will continue to grow in the coming months. The model seems to work - both for the webmaster and the link list owner - and so far webmasters don't seem to mind paying for quality traffic. The old adage of "you get what you pay for" comes to mind, and definitely seems to fit. The link list pool will likely separate based upon higher quality, paid-for listings and lower quality, anyone-can-get-listed link lists.
Opti, who owns and operates the popular WeLoveFreePorn.com link lists predicts that a newfound popularity will come to the link list market. "An explosion of interest in 2005 is my prediction. Almost everyone in the link list market is making more money in 2004 than in 2003 - those that talk to me about such things... the opposite of what I hear from some other areas."
Whatever comes next for link lists - be it a population explosion, a government imposed restriction or something totally new all together - you can rest assured that link lists will be here in 2005 and will still be going strong. Hopefully in the January 2016 issue of Klixxx Magazine we can congratulate Greenguy on his 20-year anniversary. Who knows? With link lists - anything is possible!
Special thanks to Greenguy and Jim of the GreenguyandJim.com webmaster forum and resource for their participation in the research used in this article. The webmasters, link list owners and other industry entrepreneurs that call his board "home" are always helpful and willing to lend a hand to anyone who asks. Check out GreenguyandJim.com for weekly webmaster tips, great advice and an excellent opportunity for networking with some of the industry's greatest, most experienced veterans.
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