I mean, within any single video advertisement or picture set. Do producers make decisions on which images collect more likes? Does it affect anything?
For example, I "like" clean pics of models that have potential. I "like" pie pics, especially the aftermaths. I generally only like "slime" pics if the model looks good to me and is still visible through the slime. I always avoid clicking "like" on images that focus on the feet, as they take the focus away from the model's face.
In other words, I try to suggest, for whatever one "like" is worth, "do more of this and less of that."
Do any producers look at those results to make decisions?
Myds said: I mean, within any single video advertisement or picture set. Do producers make decisions on which images collect more likes? Does it affect anything?
For example, I "like" clean pics of models that have potential. I "like" pie pics, especially the aftermaths. I generally only like "slime" pics if the model looks good to me and is still visible through the slime. I always avoid clicking "like" on images that focus on the feet, as they take the focus away from the model's face.
In other words, I try to suggest, for whatever one "like" is worth, "do more of this and less of that."
Do any producers look at those results to make decisions?
I've always paid attention to which of our ad pics get the most likes, but not with any view to changing what we shoot, but rather what pics are most effective for promoting our work. Back before the posting rules were tightened up I used to follow up my threads after a week or so commenting on which images had received the most likes, it was interesting to see as often the most popular image in a promo set wasn't the one I thought the most appealing.
To me the sexiest views are ones where a woman is having gloop poured inside the front of her trousers and it's visibly soaking through from inside as it goes in, especially at the crotch. However, the lower-trunk images that consistently get the highest ratings are back views showing the model's bottom. Now I do find those sexy but to me they are topped by front views, but seemingly I'm an outlier in this. I was so surprised by it that I ran a thread and poll on the subject a few years back, and the poll confirmed, most people who voted rate clothed bum views above clothed vagina views.
Based on that I do make a point of ensuring there are good clean bum views in the promo sets for all of our scenes.
But in more general terms, if we shoot with a foot focus it's specifically for foot fans to enjoy, so people who prefer to see other areas getting messy not "liking" the foot shots isn't going to influence us to shoot fewer of them, because I know there are fans of messy feet out there and where practical we like to include them in our audience, and will make sure that if a scene contains messy feet then the promo shots will include that section so the foot fans know to consider buying it.
So the TL;DR version: Yes to noticing which pics get the most likes, but only in terms of what are the most effective promo shots for our style of scenes, not in terms of influencing or changing what we actually shoot.
I have my shop on Xcream, and always promote the new released videos on Twitter and Instagram.
I don't put any importance on the number of "likes" on SNS, because it is totally out of proportion to the sales of the video.
For example, Clay Video #4 has 330 likes, while Pie Video #51 has 173 likes. However, in terms of sales, Pie #51 sells more than twice as much as Clay #4. This is just one example among many similar instances.
Myds said: I mean, within any single video advertisement or picture set. Do producers make decisions on which images collect more likes? Does it affect anything?
For example, I "like" clean pics of models that have potential. I "like" pie pics, especially the aftermaths. I generally only like "slime" pics if the model looks good to me and is still visible through the slime. I always avoid clicking "like" on images that focus on the feet, as they take the focus away from the model's face.
In other words, I try to suggest, for whatever one "like" is worth, "do more of this and less of that."
Do any producers look at those results to make decisions?
I mean, yes and no. Likes are more of a metric to consider what I post to get eyes on the page but it's not something I put a lot of weight in for much else.
For instance, I didn't start producing for likes. I started producing more or less because I thought I could do a better job at it. People are going to have their opinions if what they like to see or not like to see and those opinions may or may not align with your vision as a producer. If I place all the emphasis of what we do or don't do on the opinions or "likes" of others, I really can't say it's my vision.
Conversely, I do feel there is more power in a properly done trailer. Photos are not bad but I feel you can get a summary across far quicker without giving away too much with video.
So it's subjective. Do post or photo likes matter? Depends. Are they useless? Again, It depends. They may tell you what shots work best for advertising but that is about as far as I go.
Thanks everyone who answered, I was really curious if my "click like on this pic and not on that one" within the same ad post would move the needle if lots of people did the same.
Yes...when deciding which pictures to choose for the adverts, I use a mixture of the pictures I think work best, and the ones that got the most likes.
Equally, as I know that to a large degree the people who are most active on the forums are not the people who buy stuff, and vice versa, then in determining what to film etc (Unless I am making a scene for my own taste, or am making a custom), I am always guided by sales, as opposed to forum enthusiasm, as the proof of the pudding is in the eating.
RevSlymsford said: Yes...when deciding which pictures to choose for the adverts, I use a mixture of the pictures I think work best, and the ones that got the most likes.
Equally, as I know that to a large degree the people who are most active on the forums are not the people who buy stuff, and vice versa, then in determining what to film etc (Unless I am making a scene for my own taste, or am making a custom), I am always guided by sales, as opposed to forum enthusiasm, as the proof of the pudding is in the eating.
Exactly! I used to go by the likes- but then soon realized that the likes of a video? Mean nothing to the actual sales of a video. You can have a new video release and it has sooooo many likes and you get sooooo excited! Then? You go check how many it has sold? And it's like? 3 copies. As "noise" has kinda said in the past (this isn't verbatim-) but wam is like flipping a coin- as far as sales and all that. You have zero idea what is gonna sell- what's gonna be one of those that is raved about but ppl don't buy you never know! I have been surprised by some videos this last year! And? I typically haven't been shocked for a while but wam becoming more mainstream as time goes on? And not only that but? People's tastes from 25 years ago when this place opened to now? Or ppl who have been here 10 years till now? They change! You never really know. But? The likes are great promotion-they are a way to find patterns (let's say I release 10 videos and in each of them? A picture showing messy feet gets more likes? I know that I should show off feet more in some content) And? If you get wammer of the day? It's a great way to promote yourself or? To give fans a small thank you or something