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Porn Stars Can Write?!? Duh.

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Nina Hartley

Nina Hartley is a great example of an adult star who is also a gifted writer.

Many people are surprised to find out that porn stars can write. There is a public misconception that adult starts are stupid and uneducated.  Well, this is plainly not true. There are many very smart and very talented writers in the adult industry and blogs are giving them a voice where they did not have one before.  Because some porn stars have created blogs, many others are wondering if they should begin one as well.

Blogging is one of the big things you hear people talking about as a necessary addition to any website.  I would argue this point.  There are good and bad things about blogging, but the crux of the issue comes down to the blogger.

You should have a blog if:

  • you like writing
  • you have something interesting to say
  • you have unique content
  • you are willing to make a committment

You should not have a blog if:

  • you don’t really like writing
  • you are only doing it because you think you should
  • you just don’t think you have the time

What you are trying to accomplish?

  • establish authority
  • connect with your audience
  • add value to your website
  • build your brand

As an adult site, blogging becomes a more interesting question.  There are usually one of two things that you want to develop:

  1. Personal Branding
  2. Company Information

If you want to work on your personal branding, a blog is a great way for your audience to get to know you. You can share stories and pictures from behind the scenes from movies and photo shoots. You can give sex tips, modeling tips, workout tips.  You can present your thoughts on the industry and how changes in the industry affect you as an adult star. You can also just be yourself and blog about your life. Many people in your audience want to get to know you on a more personal level. They may feel more of a connection with you if they know what is going on in your life.

If you are using a blog to put your company info forward, you can use your blog to talk about movies you are shooting or the next photo shoot. You can share behind-the-scenes and insider information, even sneak deals in for people who read the blog.  Ultimately you can use it as a way for your audience to get to know your company on a more personal level. This helps create loyalty and trust.

Either way, you are focusing on adding value. If you do not think that you can add value with a blog, don’t do it.  If you cannot be consistent, getting your blog out on a regular schedule (minimum of once a week) do not do it.  If you can’t string two words together without swearing or being incoherent, then don’t do it.  But if you can commit to your communication, and you can add some value to your website, then jump in and start writing!

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Social Media & Sex: Adult Entertainment at Blogworld

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Pete Housley, Kelly Shibari, Nina Hartley and Jamye Waxman at BlogworldIt is safe to say that adult entertainment is under represented in social media.  However, that is better than not represented.  At Blogworld Expo 2010 among all the wonderful and informative panels on social media, blogging, public speaking, brand building and PR was an adult entertainment gem tucked away.

The seminar was NSFW: Exploring Porn and Social Media, with speakers Adria Richards, Jamye Waxman, Kelly Shibari, Nina Hartley and Pete Housley. Though most of you probably know, this panel made up a power house of social media in adult entertainment.

This should come as no surprise, but many traditional SM strategies were discussed as being the same in adult entertainment as they are in mainstream media.

  • Make sure you have a point of view you are always promoting, this helps establish a voice.
  • 80% conversation and 20% call to action
  • It is all about engagement

Adult entertainers are more discriminated against in social media than other public figures.  Pete Housley told a story of an adult star whose name was taken by someone else on Twitter.  The person who claimed the name was squatting with it and refused to give it up. The star had to assume a different twitter handle. Of course this means that the benefit of her brand recognition for her name is received by someone else.  She also tried to get her account verified by Twitter, so that her non-branded twitter handle would be acknowledged as the real adult star.  But because she is an adult star, Twitter did not address her issue.

Though Twitter does not specifically prevent adult entertainment from networking on their service, they won’t really go out of their way to help anyone out either.

What this means is that adult entertainers have to work harder and smarter to maneuver the social media sphere. Of course, if you have to think about and plan out a social media strategy then it is far more likely to be successful then they people who just wing it.

So maybe the inherent disadvantage will prove to be a marketing advantage in the long run? What do you think?

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