To reveal...
... or NOT to reveal, that is the question!
It has been suggested to me that the reason I am not getting responses to my ad/site is because I'm not showing myself in "all my glory"; it's been suggested that potential clientelle want to see exactly what they're gonna get - that they should NOT be expected to request unobscured photos et al...
Most people I have spoken to have said that an element of discretion is ESSENTIAL - but is that the case - particularly in light of a certain persons input and the results perhaps speaking for themselves???
I have to admit that the response to my site and my ad has far from met my expectations AND my earlier "market surveys" - but why???
Are the cynics right - the market doesn't exist (I personally don't think they're right), or is it just ME, Grant Andrews as an individual, that fails to hit the mark, or is it the way in which I'm presenting myself...?
I'm really starting to worry now. I'd pinned a lot of hope on the Scarlet advert - 1 week on and although you could say it's still early days, I think I'm justified in saying that it has largely failed in that a) I've not increased website hits, b) I've received no phone enquiries (except 2 witheld numbers whilst sat in A&E), and c) no bookings in the last week.
What a terrible week this has been!
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Added on: 10/26/05 19:24
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Comments
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Ryan |
   
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I think that ladies looking for a male escort will know full well what "FULL SERVICE" means and lets face it it means rogering. OK so you have put it a tad more subtly but that's what it means. Now your website is getting visiters but no bookings. So either (a) there isn't a market at all or (b) the market doesn't quite want what you are selling - they visit your website because they are interested in finding a male escort but when they see what you are offering it isn't matching their expectations. Now obviously you are going to be hoping that its not (a) in which case it could be (b) you would need to focus on and that presumably means making some changes to your marketing strategy. I think Josephines advice to do some more detailed market research is a good idea (I work in marketing so I would say that!). You could try asking for private feedback from the other escorts but bear in mind the following:- [1] Escorts are probably quite different from the majority of the ladies that would be looking for a male escort [2] Escorts are very used to being alone in a hotel bedroom with a strange man and have learned how to cope with it and the personal security aspects [3] Escorts usually are having sex with a strange man within 15 minutes of meeting them. Now I am married, have three sisters, had several girlfriends and numerous platonic female friends and I don't think any of them would feel comfortable meeting a stranger in a private hotel room and having sex within ten minutes of that meeting so I would say that escorts are unusual in this respect. [4] Escorts have private emails and private mobile phones so they know how to be discrete already - receiving a guys photo to a private email would be of little concern to them.
Given that escorts are rather unusual compared to the majority of women I think it might be better to research more widely, but then again you are not trying to appeal to the majority of women, only the tiny minority that are GENUINELY interested in booking a male escort.
Posted on: 11/01/05 04:54
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Josephine |
   
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If I booked a male escort I would expect a "good rogering"!
As Im sure most ladies would if they were honest! Many would be shy to admit it but knowing the option was there for them would be exciting.
Jx
ps Your site is fine and in my opinion there is nothing that would put ladies off, if booking a male escort was their intention but then again, like we all keep saying on here with various subjects, we are all different with our ideas. Maybe Grant you should get all us ladies on here to look with their different eyes and say what their initial opinion is of your site and what signals about you it sends out. Also looking through the eyes of our private selves and not through our escorting spectacles!
Posted on: 10/31/05 18:06
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GrantAndrews |
   
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"I don't think you should give up yet. I just feel that perhaps women would prefer a bit more emphasis on romance and a little less on rogering."
WHAT??? Sorry... I must be missing something? "A LITTLE LESS ROGERING"? Is there ANY mention of "rogering" on my website??? The words "FULL SERVICE MALE ESCORT" may allude to that if taken in that context, but other than that I can't actually see any reference to "rogering"?
Seems that the saying "YOU CAN PLEASE SOME PEOPLE ALL OF THE TIME AND YOU CAN PLEASE ALL OF THE PEOPLE SOME OF THE TIME BUT YOU CAN'T PLEASE ALL OF THE PEOPLE ALL OF THE TIME" holds only partially true! They forgot the bit about please NONE OF THE PEOPLE ALL OF THE TIME!
Posted on: 10/31/05 17:51
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Ryan |
   
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I don't think you should give up yet. I just feel that perhaps women would prefer a bit more emphasis on romance and a little less on rogering. Ladies like to be wined and dined before there is even a mention of being 69'ed. And surely they want to know they are going to be safe and secure before spending time with you in private - which perhaps means spending time with you in public first. Perhaps the kind of ladies that visit male escorts are different but if my theory is right then marketing yourself in a way that shows you understand their needs and concerns will pay dividends. If this is true then emphasising the possibility of romantic dinner dates, platonic meetings and possibly erotic massage in your main web-page and rates structure might be better than referring to "FULL SERVICE". But I don't really know, I'm not a lady, let alone a lady that is looking for a male escort. I don't think the escorts here will tell you what they think (unless perhaps in private) because they won't want to be judged by what they say. Perhaps participating in a web forum somewhere (even posing as a lady) might result in quality feedback.
Posted on: 10/31/05 12:07
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Letitcia |
   
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---when i was asking for people's opinions on the cover design for my book----the back cover blurb----the front cover tag line---------------EVERYBODY WAS A SODDING EXPERT....i felt so disillusioned and dispirited----that i nearly spat the dummy.
And as for the opinions (In retrospect) of all the things i SHOULD have done---GGGGgggrrrrr!...... Don't get me started.
Thank god i saw sense, i listened to my inner voice and bore in mind all of the things that people had said---then made an executive decision and went for it.
Which is what you now have to do Grant.
Posted on: 10/28/05 17:40
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Josephine |
   
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Whilst I agree with Letitcia about being photographed with guns, sports cars, or in many internet dating rooms scuba diving, is a turn off to many women, the quote of having a military background would be a big yes to me, It would conjour up visions of a man who was disciplined and protective, certainly not a trained killer.
I personally think that should be left on the website, but then again us women all want different things. (As you men well know!)
Posted on: 10/28/05 16:57
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GrantAndrews |
   
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**Note - I am not upset or offended**) - I think I'll go back to the drawing board - AGAIN... Or maybe I should just accept I'm wasting my time and money...
Posted on: 10/28/05 15:50
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Letitcia |
   
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Second guessing what potential customers can be either turned on, or put off by, is an endless labarynth.
As we all know----the things that a woman is seeking versus what a man is (generally) is diametrically opposed.
I can only give MY view based on MY experience ---with both looking for male escort OR looking to date someone.
The things that i dislike or like are pretty similar in both cases.
*****GRANT, DO NOT GET UPSET AT ANY OF MY COMMENTS!!!!!******
If either Escort or date highlights the following (OR USES THE WORDS) : ARMED FORCES, GYM INSTRUCTOR, MARTIAL ARTS BLACK BELT, pOLICE FORCE, FIREMAN, EX SAS, STAMINA (yawn), and if they are photographed in (front of): A FERRARI, HELICOPTER, MIG FIGHTER,POWER BOAT, WEARING FATIGUES OR HOLDING A GUN/RIFLE----AND FINALLY---- NEXT TO A WOMAN (YES REALLY) I THINK: 'What a p--e----rlonker'
If i cannot see a face at all, then i think they are just looking for a bit on the side and i do not bother requesting photos, because often what is sent is very embarrassing to turn down ---when it bears no relation to the previous flowery description. Plus they tend to pester you and ask 'did yer get me pic?
Most of them use this ploy. It is emminently OFFPUTTING. Too much testosterone, to much machismo and too much 'i'm gonna do it to you till you bleed' (yes i have seen this promised MANY times)
It STILL tells me that they are thinking too much about themselves and their dick.
Which is/or was NOT what i wanted.
The oracle has spoken!!!!
Posted on: 10/28/05 14:14
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GrantAndrews |
   
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Hmmm... Food for thought, but from a personal point of view I'd be a little surprised and even shamed if your interpretation was the first impression that my site portrayed!
Of course, interpretation is a personal and individual thing and I can see your (Ryan's) interpretation - however, I have gone to great and careful lengths in the wording so as not to be too explicit or offensive. The military background has been mentioned simply to display that I am disciplined and respectful. I'd be extremely upset if the general perception of a person who has served with HM forces is that of "a dangerous trained killer"!
As for the "Full Service" - I feel it is important to highlight, in as subtle a manner as possible, that 'everything' is on offer should it be required.
I very much welcome your opinion and value the comments, Ryan, but I'd be very interested to hear other opinions on this before I make any changes.
Posted on: 10/28/05 11:33
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Ryan |
   
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Hi Leticia,
I was wondering if you could give Grant the benefit of your forthright point-of-view. There were a couple of things that Grant mentions in his website that I thought might put unnecessary questions in a ladies mind.
I think you mentioned in one of your previous comments that when booking a male escort you were not looking for full penetrative sex. From my knowledge of women that is probably a common request - women usually have all sorts of complicated issues relating to penetrative sex. Grant's first appointment as a professional also didn't require it. So I wonder if putting "FULL SERVICE" in block capitals on his web-site is sending out the wrong message. What do you think?
We also know from Grant's contributions to this blogsite that he is a sensitive soul, but on his website he mentions his military past and "powerful physique". I wonder if ladies might think: military past + powerful physique = dangerous trained killer in my bedroom and run a mile. I should imagine that a lady new to "punting" would want to feel safe alone in a guy's company but might feel that Grant is projecting an image that could be intimidating. What do the ladies think? How would a girl go about feeling she is safe in such a situation anyway?
Its all about marketing - sometimes "less is more". The more information you put out sometimes the more negative questions you put into the potential clients head. If there is a market for male escorts then you need to remove the obstacles to demand being met with supply. Lots of female escorts put all sorts of little comments onto their websites that just happen to put me off, but that is another story.
Posted on: 10/28/05 06:36
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Letitcia |
   
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Most guys tell me, 'i want to be two, or at the most, three clicks away from everything i need to know'
A face is very important to the woman----one doesn't have to display their 'tackle' (tawdry in my opinion)-----but a woman can see alot in an image.....kindness, sensitivity etc.
A professional woman will not want to stuff around with email.
Following the logic of a woman feeling 'uncomfortable' being with a man who has an image on the internet, that same paranoid woman would be too scared and have too many issues to book a Male escort in the first place.
Marketing wise just google Male Escorts London-----do you come up in the listing???
It takes HUNDREDS of man hours to make your 'product' visable---and when i have a mo i can give you the benefit of my experience.
Hope that helps!!!!
Posted on: 10/27/05 19:18
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GrantAndrews |
   
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Interesting comment Ryan... In the main, no, I didn't ask about they "type" of male escort they'd book - I made more general enquiries along the lines of "would you book a male escort?"
In many of the cases I had to be very subtle in my "research" - I was making enquiries of frineds, family friends, friends of friends etc.
Of course - I have sought opinion on the content of the website - and aside from the photo concerns there hasn't been any criticism of the content at all.
Posted on: 10/27/05 10:50
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Ryan |
   
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Did you ask the ladies you canvassed what sort of male escort they would prefer to date? The reason I ask is there are a couple of points mentioned on your web-site, and the overall image you present, that I suspect might turn potential clients off. But I wonder what the ladies that post here might think?
Posted on: 10/27/05 08:53
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GrantAndrews |
   
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The main reason I don't show my face is for client discretion... the women I canvassed from OUTSIDE of the industry said, in 100% of the cases, that they would feel uneasy being out in public with me if my face was visible on the internet as a male escort.
But now I'm wondering if the canvassing I did pre-launch was worthwhile or not... again, I had 100% of respondents tell me there WAS a market - maybe I canvassed the wrong people?! - if that's the case it was bloody bad luck becuase the vast majority were picked at random and not selected becuase I thought they'd give me answers that I wanted to hear.
Anyway... after sleeping on it, I'm still none the wiser. I have always said that I'd be perfectly prepared to send a clear unobscured photo by email - but is that enough!?
Posted on: 10/27/05 05:16
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Its a big dilema, whether to show your face or not. I took the choice to show my face for a couple of reasons 1) my eyes are my best feature (in my opinion) and 2) I dont live in the area where my family or most of my friends (outside escorting)live.
There are more escorts that do not show their faces, than those that do. Its a big risk, but one I have chosen to take. I know that some of the escorts that dont, will send a face picture out via email on request. Maybe this is something you can offer if you feel uneasy about being totally on public display.
As for your advert, not really sure on that one. Ive never undertaken that kind of advertising. But I do know that when you are new and starting out it does take at least 6 months to become properly established and for regular work to come in. The market for male escorts is out there, just need to be able to tap into it. There are thousands of sites that female escorts can swap links with and advertise on, but not so sure re the male escort market. Its probably more limited.
Your current photos Grant are very good, and although you dont show your face the give off the vibe that you are a fit and good looking guy. So yes it is early days, so dont give up yet!
Penny xx
Posted on: 10/27/05 03:52
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