AMSTERDAM, Netherlands—The international theme of Webmaster Access came into focus Saturday during a spirited opening round of seminars featuring adult industry experts from around the world.
In a first for adult’s original webmaster conference, presented by BitterStrawberry, the educational program spotlighted key global centers of commerce such as France, Germany, Eastern Europe, North America and the host country, Netherlands.
Exclusively sponsored by Affil4you, the seminars showcased a multinational group of executives representing more than two dozen companies as Webmaster Access entered its second full day with a wave of momentum.
As the conference hall at the Doubletree by Hilton Centraal Station filled up with the late-morning crowd, the panels began in earnest.
Kenny B!, the founder of Your Paysite Partner, led the opening session titled “Land of Opportunity: Making the Most of North America.”
His panelists included Julie Larson, independent digital marketing expert at JuicyAds; Remi St. Maur, sales director at TrafficStars; Lee Robinson, senior publisher account manager at Exoclick; Brad Mitchell, founder of MojoHost; and Jonathan Buckheit, CEO of FriendFinder Networks.
The group discussed the differences between buying and selling traffic in North America compared with European markets as well as other insider tips for how to do better business in the U.S. and Canada.
“The prices [for traffic] in the U.S. in comparison to Europe probably in terms of volume 30 to 40 percent higher volume so you’ve got to be careful when you’re buying in North America because if you have a campaign with a high budget you can spend it very quickly,” said Exoclick’s Lee Robinson. “You can find out in a few hours you can spend at least a thousand dollars.
“I think you’ve got to be much more careful in North America than anywhere else in the world just because of the pure volume.”
Robinson added, “In Europe you have carrier billing. In North America you don’t have it and it’s a big advantage of having that so you’ve got to be much more strategic when you’re buying as in know your regions, know your prices and know your ad spots.”
JuicyAd’s Julie Larson said “data is everything and everybody knows that and it’s been like that for the last couple years.”
“Don’t be afraid to test mainstream offers on adult traffic,” Larson added.
MojoHost’s Brad Mitchell said, “no matter what your testing just start small.”
Kenny B! reasoned that “timing, banners and ad creatives are all very important and the same thing with consumer habits and seasonal trends.”
The Eastern Europe seminar—titled “Building a Foundation”—played to a standing-room-only audience as Alex Osminin, the Ukraine-based CEO of TrafficHunt, joined Serbia-based Vladimir Jelic, VP of Quantox; Mugur Frunzetti, the CEO of Romania-based Studio 20 Live; and Alsu Khasanshina, the head of LeadBit who is from Russia. YNOT owner Jay Kopita, who lives in Texas, moderated the session.
The topics ranged from local customs and billing strategies to unwritten rules for business practices.
The next panel, “Navigating Germany: Learn What It Takes to Prosper in Deutschland,” generated just as much interest as Webmaster Access attendees were packed to the walls for the meaty one-hour session.
The Germany speakers included Andy Wullmer, CEO of SexGoesMobile and SGM Pro; Ines Peterson, sales manager for Affil4you; Oliwia Kaluzynska, account manager at Exoclick; Patrick Friedrich, CEO of eCardon Payments; Lars Bleck, CEO of MailValueProfits; and the moderator Yannick Ferreri, head of business development for Porndoe.com.
Petersen said Germany is a good market with a strong economy—the world’s fourth largest to be precise, while Friedrich noted that “consumer behavior is very honest.”
Wullmer said fetish genres work well in Germany—amateur is especially popular.
“Berlin is the most perverted city,” he revealed, citing the bankable track record of extreme niches such as gangbangs.
Germany turned into a tough act to follow, but the locals who drove in for the Netherlands panel proved up to the task. Saturday’s largest panel in terms of speakers included: Jacco Kwakkel, product manager for YourChoice.nl; Garion Hall, CEO of AbbyWinters; Jason Collins, VP of business development for Verotel; Bram Bolt of DatingCash; Leon Djiksman, sales director at Telefuture, Patrick the Hun, founder of The Hun’s Yellow Pages; and moderator Norman Hauwert (LeaseWeb).
Fueled by excellent chemistry between the panelists who all knew each other going in as well as strong audience participation, this session produced more laughs than most panels. But the guys still talked a lot of substance, discussing at length issues such as banking, the country’s perception as a tax haven and the business potential in a country with a relatively modest population of 16 million.
The French panel, titled “France Factor: How to Increase Your Bottom Line in Western Europe,” featured Laurent B., CEO of Affil4you; Maxime Colas, business development manager for Paysite Cash; Patrick K., owner of xLoveCam; Louise Lang, owner of Planete Live; and Jean-Claude Artonne, founder of Terpon. Alex Lecomte of JuicyAds moderated the session, which brought the lightning round of panels to a fitting close.
The panelists discussed legal roadblocks, carrier issues, labor regulations and just plain business etiquette for dealing with French people.
“The labor law in France is very strong and protecting the workers so much, much more than the employer,” said Paysite Cash’s Maxime Colas. “They are much more protected than the employers. So when you hire someone sometimes, a French employer. He will expect a bunch of services. And it’s also a country where all the laws. They redistribute in social health care and unemployment and help to poverty. So it’s also something to be aware when you are talking to French workers.”
Lecomte said simply put, France requires a little different approach.
“For several reasons,” Lecomte explained. “I’m a French foreign language teacher, too. We can see the French language is so hard when you see that the company or whoever is sending you something without a mistake. First of all it’s very good because it’s a complicated language. It’s seriously hard not to make a mistake in French, so we really give another value for that. Thank you for respecting me by really thinking about what you’re doing.
“The language point is so important so if you outsource your services in some countries where the French is not that good then you lose credibility and they won’t really believe you the same way or have the same faith in your product if you send email with some issues, some mistakes.”
Louise Lang, a cam model for 16 years on eurolive.com, said French customers are “very loyal.”
“We need you to put a French touch,” she said.
Affil4you CEO Laurent B. said the French people are “a proud people.”
“And they like to be considered,” Laurent said. “Addressing them first in French is always nice. Some of them may speak good English but they like to be addressed in French. Even hello or something. We do a lot with affiliates. You have to speak French, proper French.”
Jean-Claude Artonne agreed.
“What I know is that France for me is more the language, the French language,” Artonne said. “I think we should consider France as something bigger than just France the exact country and talk about how there is a market in Quebec; there is a market in Benelux. … France I think is more about languages and to develop business in France is just to say we should focus on the language.”
The festivities at the Doubletree by Hilton also included the GAYVN Lounge, sponsored by Flirt4Free, Supermen, SegPay, BuddyProfits, Mr. Man and CCBill; the GAYVN Happy Hour; and the Female Empowerment Lounge, sponsored by Chaturbate.
Still buzzing from Friday night’s Epoch 20th anniversary bash, attendees began lining up early for the second round of Speed Networking sponsored by Terpon. Due to demand for the first time this year Webmaster Access added an extra day of Speed Networking on Day 1, making today’s lively morning round a bonus to the full schedule of activities.
As the afternoon turned to evening, the AVN Meet Up got underway as a prelude to the dinner hour. By 8 p.m. a couple hundred VIPs headed to the Traffic Dinner at Geisha Lounge ahead of the night’s main event, the GFY Party at the SkyLounge on the top floor of the DoubleTree by Hilton.
On Sunday the show will continue with no less than seven more seminars and the closing Lingerie Party at Jimmy Woo.
For the full schedule, click here.
Pictured from left: Louise Lang, Patrick K., Laurent B., Maxime Colas, Jean-Claude Artonne and Alex Lecomte.
