Blog Post Written By: Melrose Michaels
As content creators, it's easy for us to overlook simple practices when it comes to making content that sells. The mainstream YouTube creator space offers valuable lessons that can be applied to adult content creation. In this blog post, we'll explore a few key strategies used by successful YouTubers that can benefit adult creators.
Thumbnails
The first strategy we can learn from YouTube is creating a thumbnail that converts to clicks. YouTubers like MrBeast test over 200 thumbnails before choosing the one they'll use on a video. This attention to detail includes factors such as color composition, saturation, font styles, attention-grabbing words, and more.
The porn industry has always understood the power of thumbnails in attracting viewers. Major production studios like Brazzers test thumbnails for their releases. However, many independent adult performers overlook this aspect. The average creator doesn't utilize thumbnails, even on platforms like OnlyFans, where a free preview feature is available. This is a missed opportunity because the thumbnail is essentially the first impression of your content, as everything else is paywalled.
12 Key Elements for Crafting Effective Thumbnails
High-Quality Imagery: Use clear, visually appealing images that highlight your scene's peak or unique aspects.
Contrasting Colors: Use vibrant, contrasting colors to make your thumbnail stand out.
Text: Include attention-grabbing text that conveys the video's topic or offers a teaser.
Title Clarity: Keep the text brief and to the point.
Relevance: Ensure the thumbnail accurately represents the content of the video to avoid misleading viewers.
Faces and Emotions: If your video features people, use close-up shots of faces displaying relevant emotions or reactions.
Consistency: Maintain a consistent thumbnail style to build brand recognition.
Visual Hierarchy: Arrange elements to guide the viewer's eye to the most important aspects of the thumbnail.
Simplicity: Avoid clutter by leaving empty space around the main elements.
Testing: Experiment with different designs to see which performs best.
Compliance: Ensure your thumbnail follows the platform's terms of service.
Mobile-Friendly: Consider how the thumbnail will appear on smaller screens, as many viewers access content on mobile devices.
Creating a Powerful Hook
Let's move on to the second strategy we can borrow from the YouTube community: creating a powerful hook. Just like in our tweets and social media posts, using a strong hook in your adult content can captivate viewers and encourage them to watch the full video. You need to hook the viewer's interest through previews, trailers, or the first few seconds of a clip.
In these initial moments, set the scene and raise the stakes. For example, if you're role-playing a party scenario, start with a sentence that sets the scene, followed by a sentence that raises the stakes. The goal is to capture the viewer's attention and make them curious about what will happen next.
Lastly, consider optimizing the caption or description of your content. Many creators underestimate the importance of good copy.
5 Elements for Captions & Descriptions
Here are five essential elements to include in your post caption or video description:
Video Title: Repeat the video's title to reinforce its topic and improve SEO.
Brief Introduction: Summarize what the video is about using descriptive words to evoke visualization.
Keywords: Include relevant keywords and phrases to improve search engine optimization and make your content easier to find.
Timestamps: If your video has distinct sections, provide timestamps to help viewers navigate to specific parts.
Call to Action (CTA): Encourage engagement by asking viewers to like, comment, tip, unlock, or take any other desired action.
Creating great content is only half the battle. You need to optimize thumbnails, use strong hooks, and create compelling captions and descriptions to drive sales. Focusing on these three elements will increase the chances of attracting viewers and boosting your sales.
If you enjoyed this blog, you'll really love the Twitter Space we did focusing on this topic. We had a packed space and discussed a couple of additional topics not mentioned above, so this is your sign to hit play (as if you needed one 😉).
Have a question about pricing your adult content? DM or tag @sexworkceo on Twitter and Instagram, or send us an email. We're always here to help; it's what we love to do! Want to be part of the conversation? Join us on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. CST on Twitter, where we discuss new topics weekly to help take your adult content creator business to the next level. Unable to make it live? No problem! You can listen to all our past Twitter Spaces here.