How to Create a Schedule, When Your Life is Unpredictable.

September 14, 2021
CYBER5

Most of us have unpredictable lives. One of the perks of working for ourselves is the flexibility to get things done on our own time… but consumers like knowing when we will be around. This is a direct conflict to one of the benefits of running your own business, making your own schedule. So how does a sex worker cope with the struggles of everyday life but the lucrative practice of consistency? The answer isn’t as difficult as it may seem!

Why Is It So Important?

Fans love interacting with creators. This is a known fact. It is a huge reason that sites like Onlyfans, Twitch, and even Youtube took off. To your base, you are a celebrity. It is an honor and a pleasure to interact with the person who creates the entertainment that helps them escape the harsh realities of life. While interacting live with your fans whenever you can does help, it is far more useful if fans have an idea of when you will be there.

This increases engagement for those who are there, builds hype which can increase sales and ensures more will have the potential to be there. They will know to skip watching the 3rd season of Love Island because you are going live in 30 minutes. Instead of saying yes to going to that one coworker’s party that they don’t hate but also don’t like… they will instead be ready to chat it up in your cam room.

Furthermore, it endears your consumer base to you. They will build a deeper connection after having interacted with you.

Jot It All Down

Digitally or old fashion with a pen and paper, draw out your week. Put down everything you plan to do, even if there isn’t a distinct time for that activity. For things with no specific time that they have to be done, during what time slots do you GENERALLY do them? When do you typically eat (doesn’t have to be exact but rough estimates)? When do you typically sleep (no not when you pull an all nightery and stay up for 30 hours only to spend a week getting BACK on schedule)? Now when do you usually get on cam, take calls, sext and are available for live interactions with fans? Last but certainly not least, when do you take time off? Yes, you time. Be it a bath, a walk or watching Invader Zim with no pants on and a bucket of Doritos, that time is important and keeps you sane.

Use the Gaps

With it all laid out, you should be able to find consistent gaps. Those gaps are where you can begin making the schedule that will help customers know when to expect you. Reject the notion that a schedule means it has to be a rigid set of times for us to show up too and instead, embrace it being a set of times we are usually available. Utilize those time slots to ensure that customers who want to interact with you can predict when you are most likely to be around. Again, don’t think hardened schedule but a, I am available, it will typically be during these times on these days.

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Audience Training

Once you have a bit of an idea of when your fans can find you, start training them on when to expect you. Mention it during live streams, send out mass messages alerting them of general times and on which days they should look for you, post on social media and once it becomes a bit more concrete put it on your website. Come up with playful ways or catchphrases that can go with those time slots. Really drive it home so it becomes second nature!

Pop-ups on your screen (OBS is great for this) can help viewers remember when you are on and if you have recorded content, you can edit this in during post. If they like watching you prerecorded, let them know that you are available for cam shows, sexting and phone calls too!

Push, Push, Push, Emails and Notifications

This bit of advice works for those who have more traditional schedules but is triply important if you can’t stick to a strict one. Building your email list means you not only own your audience but also makes it easier to communicate with them about when they can expect you. This becomes make it or break it for many models with chaotic lives.

Ensure the method you are using is adult industry-friendly, most out-of-the-box options aren’t. I suggest using the Newsletter plugin if your site is WordPress-based or looking into YNOT Mail. You don’t want to work so hard to build your lists to have them be at risk. Make sure to back up your lists frequently as well, even if they are adult-friendly something can always happen.

Consider giving those who are subscribed a reward. For example, put code words in the emails for customers to redeem for prizes later. Free minutes, discount code, ability to ask you to do 1 simple task that normally you charge for. This will help make customers prioritize those emails and check for them when they see them.

    Also consider using services like WonderPush for easy (and cheap!) push notifications. For 1 Euro, you can send up to 1000 notifications and then it is just 1 Euro more per 1000 after that. Push notifications are different from emails in that a device actually alerts the user to something happening. Emails can be missed easily and go to the spam folder. Notifications are a bit more rare and we turn them on for things we really want. (Like creators who go live, turn on phones or sexting that we have been missing out on!).

    The biggest key takeaway is to do your best. Will you always be consistent? No, but what company is? Stores open late and are closed randomly for unbeknownst reasons. It is the striving to hit the goals that keeps us on a path a growth. Don’t bash yourself for not being able to keep everything going perfectly and accept the beauty in imperfection. Try to find little ways to improve how customers can come to interact with you. And if it changes up? No worries, you now can contact them and let them know of any and all changes.