OF has undeniably captured widespread attention, permeating mainstream media unlike any other form of adult work. Even notable figures such as Beyoncé have referenced the platform in their work, demonstrating its cultural significance.
While OF boasts a roster of celebrity users like Blac Chyna, Tyga, Cardi B, and Danniella Westbrook, its appeal extends beyond the realm of the rich and famous. For many, it represents an opportunity to monetise their content and build a dedicated fanbase. However, breaking into the OF scene requires more than just provocative content—it demands strategic marketing and adept navigation of social media platforms. This is because OF does not have it's own internal traffic, it does not actively advertise and push their models.
Interestingly, OF initially wasn't intended as a platform for NSFW content and once considered banning such material before reversing its decision due to backlash and what we can only speculate, a dramatic loss in revenue.
Contrary to popular misconceptions, success on OF isn't solely reliant on provocative imagery, and posting a selfie here and there on social media. Effective marketing and engagement strategies are essential in converting followers into subscribers, and subscribers into paying customers. You will find to be successful on OF, you'll be spending 80% of your time advertising on social media & engaging with your subscribers (which may not always equal additional revenue on top of your monthly fee) and 20% of your time on making content. Those successful with OF find it to be more than a full time job, working endless hours a week just on marketing and sometimes having to hire assistants to help them. Additionally, stringent content policies on mainstream social media platforms pose challenges for creators in promoting their OF content.
In contrast, camming offers an established platform with existing traffic. Upon logging in, performers are greeted by a ready audience eager to engage with them. This environment facilitates direct interaction with viewers, enabling the cultivation of a loyal fanbase. Furthermore, camming provides opportunities to funnel clientele from cam sites to supplementary platforms like OF. These are more likely to be higher quality 'fans', because they've built that connection with you on webcam, unlike someone who has just seen you on social media. It's important to note, however, that cam sites typically prohibit the direct promotion of external links, including OF profiles and social media. While this may pose limitations, dedicated followers will actively seek out their preferred performers through alternative means.
One notable advantage of camming is the distinction between work and personal life. Unlike OF, where it may be expected of you to be available at all hours of the day, having to spend a lot of time marketing and finding it hard to find that off-switch, camming allows performers to disconnect by simply turning off their computers at the end of the day, providing a sense of closure and separation from their professional endeavors.
Both OF and camming offer pathways to success within the online adult work industry. While OF presents opportunities for content monetisation and fan engagement, it requires a lot of time and energy and to be successful, you may find you're working more than 40 hours a week with very little downtime. Camming, however, offers an established platform with pre-existing traffic and direct interaction with viewers, with the ability to build up your fanbase who may then find you on OF. It may not be a case of which is better, but how one might compliment the other.