Like a modern-day vaudeville troupe with exquisite business savvy, the OxCash () syndicate conjures an eclectic, fun, and irreverent blend of sexy content, all the while providing Webmasters a splendid business opportunity. A division of Ox Ideas Inc., the OxCash Webmaster program reflects the company's progressive feel for the sex trade, with a wink-and-a-smile coolness synonymous with their specialized brand of adult Internet entertainment.
The OxCash program boasts a winning sextet of sites: Bang Bus, Bait Bus, Tranny Trick, Boob Squad, Backroom Facials, and Real Butts. Opting to promote a network of Websites, OxCash has developed a strong foundation for their affiliate program; thereby giving greater deference to the corresponding free galleries, promotional tools, exit traffic, and other accoutrements of their Webmaster program.
Launched in 2000, the Miami, Fla.-based operation employs 12, with Kris and Penn functioning as company CEO and COO, respectively.
"OxCash got started because we ran free sites, Sublime Directory being the largest," says Penn. "After trying most of the programs out there, we decided what was really needed were some new sites with fresh, exclusive content. Because it was our first foray into content production, we decided to shoot primarily soft core content, and our first site, RealButts.com, was born."
He goes on, "Since then we've stuck with the same basic formula: original content, amateur models, and shooting porn that we ourselves like to watch. Webmasters can expect from OxCash an honest, Webmaster-focused affiliate program with quality, exclusive sites."
With a talent for staying ahead of the creativity curve and fashioning buzz (though more often than not Webmaster/surfer-driven rather than premeditated strategy), the team at Ox Ideas Inc. has found an abundance of success primarily by staying true to their own likes and dislikes as it pertains to pornography and sex in general.
Case in point: Bang Bus. Though it was the third site to debut, it has undoubtedly become one of the adult Internet's greatest sensations.
"I'll take this one Penn, as I've researched it personally," says Kris, when asked to detail the site's origins. "The concept of a random girl 'banging' is as old as mankind itself. Following recorded history, you see that the first 'cat call' was performed by Urithides Planax circa 1200 B.C. Sadly, he was unsuccessful and received no further mention in Greek history. The first recorded 'successful banging' was actually done by Malcomme Turnthon, on a two-man, one horse chariot. We stole the idea from him."
He wryly adds, "Although the woman was promised four colored beads for her participation, she fell from the chariot when the driver hit a lamb, and she never got her beads. We stole that, too. We called the site Bang Bus, because an authentic chariot is, like, thousands of dollars."
Though played for laughs, Kris's "historical" account of Bang Bus's origin does highlight the uniqueness of their content sites, each with its own layer of amusement and sexuality, though never overreaching the intended purpose; with Back Room Facials, you know exactly what you're going to get.
"We actually research several niches at a time, pick a few that appeal to us, and shoot some pilots," says Penn. "Then it's simply a matter of watching the videos and deciding which ideas seem doable. When we think we have a winner, we build the site and try it out ourselves for a few weeks to see how well it does."
He adds, "If the conversions are there and it's worthy product, we'll add it to our program."
For Kris, the creative method is far more, how shall we say, streamlined. "Paper-in-hat technique," he jokes.
With a crowded adult affiliate market, specific strategies are important in order to keep the brand name and content visible to Webmasters. "We try hard to just be as honest as we can, and to offer the best products that we're capable of producing," says Penn. "We want the Webmaster to feel comfortable with our partnership, so we offer them tools to audit their sales numbers through the processors."
Where surfers are concerned, Penn believes that OxCash has always offered cutting edge content. "I know we've influenced many other programs in both their site design and content," he says.
Regarding any competition with rival Webmaster programs, Kris happily says, "The trick is to imagine all the other affiliate programs in their underwear."
Asked if he felt like the affiliate program began with an added advantage due to the success of Bang Bus, Penn likened it to a double-edged sword. "It gave us a name," he remarks, "but many times it overshadowed some of our other, and sometimes better-selling, sites."
The story of how Kris and Penn became friends, which carried over to a working relationship, is comical in its own right; of course, where the reality ends and the fantasy begins is anyone's guess.
"We started as pressed-shirt engineering students at the University of Florida, except for Penn, who was really into Menudo and mushrooms back then," says Kris. "My mom wanted me to be a doctor, and I thought she had a pretty good idea until I received my first big affiliate check. I went out, bought my first car and proceeded to park wherever the hell I wanted to on UF's campus. After I had accumulated about $2,000 in parking tickets, I convinced the crew to move to Miami and jump into the business full force."
Feeling that Kris has misrepresented him, Penn sets the record straight on his collegiate pastimes: "It was Mana and herbal supplements."
(Full disclosure: I, too, attended the University of Florida, but for the record, never met Kris and Penn, at least not that I can remember; I tended to drink a lot back then.)
When not engaging in witty repartee and enjoying life in sunny Miami, the team is constantly focused on the Webmaster community, always with an eye peeled for the next big industry shift.
"Keeping up with the community is very important," says Penn. "You cannot be complacent in this industry. There are many great products out there and the nature of the industry allows products to be delivered very quickly."
He adds, "What gives us an edge is that we're foremost a content company. Our focus is always on the product. We love creating and developing products that no one has thought of before."
And though the industry of late has been on a roller coaster of recession, economically speaking, Kris is confident in the current state of the business.
"We don't feel the squeeze from the down economy at all," he says. "Losing your job isn't going to make you want to stop masturbating; trust me, I've lost several jobs. It's one of the laws of economics; the sixth one, I think. Some things are necessities like food, water, shelter, Tivo and porn.
"Other things, like TV dinners, Segways and ordering all white meat at KFC are luxuries. Even in the worst of times people will find a way to get the necessities. To put it in layman's terms, you can go, like, a week without even a drink of water, but you can't go a week without an orgasm. Can you?"
It's because of that basic human need that Penn believes reaction to OxCash has been so positive. "Our affiliates appreciate what we do with our content and our marketing," he says. "And the best is yet to come; we are making some really exciting products right now."
Penn's "best is yet to come" tip of the fedora to Mr. Sinatra leads right into the question of OxCash/Ox Ideas Inc.'s future, which no doubt will be exciting and inventive.
"Our main focus now is new content, as always," says Penn, who also mentions that they are exploring ways to expand their offerings into other mediums such as DVD/VHS and pay-per-view cable. "We're integrating more e-commerce into our member areas to increase profits for our affiliates and ourselves. We've taken the last several months to step back from the industry and identify the problems with our own business and the industry as a whole."
He adds: "Having identified these areas, we've been working on creating a network of sites and products that maximizes profit potential and delivers unparalleled ease of use to our affiliates. We're in the final stages of our 'Next Big Thing,' and I personally think the future is very bright for OxCash and our partners."
