First and foremost, welcome to the demimonde, Melanie! We are glad to have you here *said in my southern drawl*! I may not be a member of the state of Ohio; however, after seeing your post and the fact that you're new-ish, I wanted to reach out.
In regards to the question: What's your opinion on the growing paid Snapchat phenomenon? I've seen ladies offer monthly, yearly, and lifetime options. Do you have a Snapchat or plan to start one? I think it would be a fun way to build connections with guys outside of boards and Twitter.
Currently, I do have a Premium Snapchat and it's pretty damn fun! It's a glimpse into my life in a various facets. It could be anything from a picture during a flight, to observations when out, going out with other providers, expressing opinions, etc. However, it is paramount that you remember you set the boundaries of what your Snapchat is. Is it a place for people to just get the BTS view or is it also a place where people can chat with you one-on-one? If you do allow one-on-one chatting how are you making sure that person is being respectful of you, your boundaries, and your time. It doesn't happen often, but there are people who follow us on social media that will push boundaries and try to get you to divulge information. There's a difference between getting to know a provider and trying to investigate their personal life. Also make sure to keep a keen eye on your safety in terms of location sharing.
Also, I'm not a client; however, I will share here what I shared on the Minnesota board when this came up regarding traffic and exposure. I keep track of my analytics & sit down once a month to determine where to continue investing funds (best traffic/return traffic/bookings) and where to cut funds off. Currently my top four are Twitter, Eros, TER, & then P4111 with OAD & Slixa rounding it out. I typically give an advertising venue two to three months before I make any decision to leave. At this time, I can continue to justify paying for Eros & P411 ads since they generate "x" percent of my discretionary income. Twitter, TER, & OAD are free (well unless you pay OAD for a bold/sponsored listing) so why not be there and here? With Slixa, it's just there right now. It's been phenomenal on the East Coast, major cities, and Canada. However, clients that travel from major Slixa cities do check Slixa so it is worth the investment I think to have a basic ad. Then again, everyone's advertising and marketing are different and every market is different so it might be worth it to give it a shot. That's the hard part of being an entrepreneur though; you have to spend money to make money.
Also with marketing, I have found that altering ad copy for certain ad venues is relevant and necessary. The way I write my ad copy for Eros & P411 can be, at times somewhat different than what I do here. I've found that altering ad copy, venue dependent, positively (or negatively) effect inquiries and conversation rates.
Anywho, I think this part of the business is fun; the marketing/advertising and statistics behind it. Then again, I love research so this appeals to me. If you ever want to talk shop, let me know. I'm always down to chat with and get to know colleagues! If you ever find yourself in Minneapolis or if we cross paths, please do reach out!
LJ, xx
Twitter: @MeetLondonJames
