“For those of you that actually want to earn money as a contract worker for adult companies, keep reading.”“For those of you that actually want to earn money as a contract worker for adult companies, keep reading.”

In this article I’ll show you how to turn your “occasional employers” into junkies that can’t get enough of your work, and worship you like a Mayan princess. For those of you that actually want to earn money as a contract worker for adult companies, keep reading.

The State of Affairs
By and large, there is an astonishing lack of professionalism in the adult industry. All the way from the top down, you can point out flaws and inconsistencies. From the multi-million dollar billing company that can’t seem to get around to sending out a $200 check to the $6.50 an hour telecommuting employee that never answers the phone when they say they will, there is a lot of room for improvement.

Part of the problem is the “pimp and player” attitude that runs rampant in adult. The phenomenon is pretty common: a new-comer to the business gets online, makes a few dollars, gets a few free drinks at a tradeshow “party,” and then struts around pretending to be a free-wheeling, ego-centric high roller. What a shame. Another kid plays “porn king,” when he could be getting down to business.

Well, we shouldn’t be bitching, should we? After all, if that’s the best the competition can do, then you’re going to eat them up and spit them out. If you’re a contractor, here’s the manual on how to annihilate them, post-haste.

How to Get Jobs
First, I assume you have a skill. Maybe you’re handy with Photoshop. Perhaps your talent lies in writing C or PHP. If you’re “real good at making them there hyperlinks” or “you’re going to be the leading expert in [BLANK] soon,” then maybe you’d better reconsider. Develop your skills, then solicit work.

Many times, the hardest part of the job is getting the job. (Unfortunately, it’s sometimes more difficult to get paid.) Even if you’re excellent at what you do, convincing people to spend their money on you can be hard. You can consistently land jobs by doing the following:

Rule 1: Develop a strong portfolio with references
If you’re a designer, the first thing anyone cares about is your work. When I look for prospective designers, I want to hear two things: “Yes, I’ve worked before” and “Yes, I have a portfolio online, the URL is…” But this can go for anyone in the field. If you’re planning on working for adult online, at least have a readily accessible online portfolio. Programmers and writers can do this too – even if your site is little more than a handy resume, at least be able to offer your prospective employer some evidence of online competency.

Also, take the time to ask your former employers to write a brief email message or note in ICQ regarding your past performance with them. Take the best three or four and post them on your site. Ask them if they wouldn’t mind being “references on request,” and keep current contact information on file should prospective employers want to drop them an email message and inquire as to your skills / performance.