Business Discussion . Drop in Business .

[Grass_Hopper 18263]

Usually, at this time of the year, my phone rings EASILY near 100 times a day, mostly for outcalls in hotels, from American clients...

 

Now, it rings barelly 10 times a day, for incalls, from local gents...

 

I think that the fact the European and American economy is so low, and American dollar is practicly at parity, is a big factor in the luxury industry drop.

 

We do have our regular clients, but most of them are out of town or having vacations with their family, so, with the lack of tourism from the South or Europe, there is obviously less clientele. And with the increasing number of SPs, it's nothing to help...

 

My prediction? Unfortunetly, I have to face the fact that it ain't going to be any better in the next weeks...

[Guest S**a*Q]

Sara - I must say you have a rare and outstanding attitude in that your truly see yourself for what you as an indy SP - a small business owner. You also have the intelligence to realize that while you cannot change the economy as a whole you DO have control over how well you own business does.

 

First, you have a big head start. Most ladies, and by most I mean the vast majority, do not understand or want to admit that they are small business owners. A great number take the attitude that "I'm only doing this for a short period of time", thus they don't even want or try to become good at it. In fact I truly believe a number subconsciously undermine their own success in this industry by not being good at the business aspects.

 

I come from a retail background (8 years of big box retail management, 3 years of small business mgmt.) and I do have a rare attitude. That's just me ;) Hehe, I think that's what drives me to do what I do successfully. I like to be stimulated in what I do *(This job I get that more ways than one...)

 

Obviously I want to be stable and comfortable (by no means rich, famous maybe, but not rich). I started this job after thinking a long time about things, weighing out odds and trying to see if it was a valid option for self-sustaining financial freedom. :)

 

I plan on taking my business to a more professional level, which involves investing some money on my part for better exposure, nicer photographs and more travel/touring *(Business opportunity and part of my life goals).

 

 

So first of all there are tons of good books that you can read that are oriented to small business in general. These cover all the basics such as image, advertising, customer service and so on.

 

In terms of the sex industry I believe there are a few industry-specific truisms that are simply "part of the business". The first is that it some or even many clients like to play the field and continually see new girls. So you can give them great service but they won't repeat. However many guys do like to repeat at least sometimes and when they do you will get "the second visit".

 

The second visit... I like those. I love to have repeat clients, which I think I'm quite good at retention. I offer that moment, not the hour, or the act, but the whole package. Like high school, with me you get all the bases... I think that's a big pull to those that are seeking that, "Other girlfriend (with a rebellious streak)" for their time away.

 

Your business is the selling of sex. Get very, very good at it. Read as much as you can and work with your best clients to expand and perfect your techniques. Your body and looks are part of what you sell. Shocking red hair may be great personal expression but it may not be what clients are seeking. You have to find a balance between your own self expression and what is good for business.

 

I agree with everything cept for the selling sex... There are those that do that, but I focus on the whole thing again... I sell the "experience". Sex is the end of it all... Once it's in, you know it's over... :P

 

I have met many a large number of ladies in the business over the years and to be honest most completely blow it on the business side. There are the big ones - cancelling and no-showing on appointments, missing emails, not returning messages, being rude, giving poor service. You can imagine how quickly your local hair stylist would last giving similar service.

 

Agreed again, it's like anywhere else, if you can't compete with prices... you can only compete for loyalty and that is gained through impeccable ethics and outstanding customer service.

 

Good luck. Times are indeed slow. Use this is an opportunity to learn how develop more long term regular clients instead of being dependent on a steady stream of new clients.

 

Thanks :) This also allows me not to stagnate and take my position *(positions... hehe) for granted. I can use this to build my business as well, so rather than hurting for a little now and leveling out, I can surmount what I had first expected, cause I took the time to look into my options and plan out the future better. In retail, we never went into a day or month or year without some form of planning or goal setting. Not sure why I haven't applied that to this yet...

[Guest Ou**or**n]

Excellent and thoughtful comments.

 

Spending a bit of money and investing in a professional image is a good idea. Hire a professional photographer and you'll be happy with the results. The pros have a proper studio, lighting and know professional and complimentary poses. Your current website has all the necessary information but registering your own domain and going for a truly independent website is also a step up. Paid advertising on sites such as EC is also good. As you already understand, investing wisely in your own business pays itself back many times over.

[fortunateone 156618]

I notice you mention you are fairly new to this? Most sps don't realize that the first 6 months or so are often very busy, peaking then dropping and plateauing. Often they think big, based on those first months, and foresee the future being the same. About the only thing that will spike another peak is a new advertising venue. It is almost better to not do full out advertising all over when new, since the peak is already in place from whereever you advertise. Choose like 2 different places, and in 6 months add another one or two. The new advertising venues will spike it again with guys who do not use the first 2, and so on. You can also drop one, save the $$ if it is not getting results or if there are already a few regs come out of it, then go back to it later.

 

I think that advertising venues, switching them up, changing ads now and then, etc can do more to increase the levels than most other things. Also, you have to watch where you are advertising. A lot of new to this guys come from non-review site advertising venues (CL, newspaper, etc) and they tend to stick with the first sp they have a good experience with. They don't flit around from one sp to the other because it isnt their hobby, they don't follow the forums, etc, and they (like grasshoppers tourist clients) are the good ones to hang onto.

 

As far as 2nd visits go, the guys come back because they enjoyed the first visit. It is often enough to just maintain the same level of service in the second visit as the first, but with small adjustments since he knows what to expect. I tend to talk more in a first visit, to explain more. I assure them if they come back that it is quieter lol, but alot of times they appreciate the conversation to steady their own nerves. We neither of us need that as much on a second visit, and it flows in a different way. :smile:

 

The other thing that works for me is having options. No one new needs to fork out 300 bucks to find out if what I'm like. I have non-fs option (half hour), fs options at 30-45-60 rates. They can book a massage, then request more once they are here, or just stick with massage and hj (or cbj) if they want. It is a lot less stressful for new to this or even new to me guys. They appreciate that they are not locked into one service, as with an sp who only has fs options or no choices. The massage is an attractive way to get started for someone who needs to relax as well before moving forward. It is all in how you present the options and choices.

 

 

(re: your site; Am I missing age, stats, height etc? Interestingly, I am contacted because of my age (40+) first and foremost, and secondly I think is my height lol. I would think it would be a good piece of info in there, if not an exact age, an age range?)

[1963Kennedy 10698]

Wow fortunateone has hit the nail on the head in many cases especially to include height & weight BUT also hair colour and length. As she has said, advertise [1.] more & spread it out but think how that guy in the hotel is going to find you. The local "rag" newspaper is best for that I think. Next [2.] get more pics up; get a friend to take many pics and hide face discreetly BUT NOT blanked out with photo shop or whatever. Don't [3.] advertise it but give repeat clients a better rate. And [4.] the ratio of SP's to MP's is about 16 to 1. Indy MP's seem to be doing very well therefore consider a career change. Good luck

[Carrie Moon 68826]

So many good points. I have been in this business over 20 years.. and in Ottawa specificaly about 8 in total and the rest of the time mostly in Toronto.

 

The first drop here in business happened when Nortel crashed. The local business men dropped and the ones visiting from the US dropped. Then SARS hit Toronto. Business dropped there and girls from there started touring here. Then 2 years ago the economy really started to affect us.. and the porn industry.

 

Also..the internet changed everything as well as cheaper computers and cellphones. It made it easier for girls to advertise and in many cases it's now free. The overhead is minimal if you have your own place and a cell phone. You can literally work for one day and move on til you need money again. This fly-by-night escort along with the many girls turning to this because as was said 'it's more acceptable' increase the choices to make your head spin!

 

Couple that with the economy downturn and imagine it were like suddenly everyone got the idea to make extra money opening a hotdog stand on a corner in their neighbourhood to make ends meet (assuming no license were necessary). They then started competing with offers of extra toppings and 2 for 1 deals.

 

Then you have an idea of why each escort in the city is making less money. We're sharing clients who don't need to come across town to get a hotdog as there's one on their block.. or on the way home from work or near work... etc etc.

 

Now add that that the client can't afford his luxury hotdog anymore.. so he stops hobbying. It is as was pointed out after all a luxury.

 

Touring girls almost soley do so because things are slow in their own town. Many clients won't ''shit in their backyards'' and prefer to only see escorts when they are touring or when they themselves are out of town for work.

 

On another note: the porn industry has taken a major downturn as well because of the internet. Downloading for free has reduced the amount of paid for porn. Internet images have taken the place of magazine purchases.

 

Live sex shows/stripping has been reduced by online webcam shows.

 

the list goes on and on..

 

Oh.. and having said that... most of my clients are married with children... and summertime is always a bit slower. Things tend to pick up again in September I've found when the kids go back to school.. BUT it will never be like the ''good ol days'' unless the economy takes a real upturn.

 

additional comment:

The idea of retaining clients and making the 1st &/or 2nd visit memorable makes me think of that saying. "Men are like floor tiles. Lay them right the first time and you can walk all over them for a very long time.""

[Emma Alexandra 123367]

The season has alot to do with it..every summer is the same...i'm sure if you look back to last summer there were the same complaints and worries...there will always be new sp's but remember there are always new clients as well...every season is different and summer always seems to be the slowest...it starts of fast and and ends in a lull..don't worry ladies it's almost over.