An Interview with Brandi Love – Secrets of Building a Successful Brand
This week, adult performer, Brandi Love took time out of her schedule to give YNOT an interview and offer some insight into how she’s been able to dominate her profession.
With sixteen years under her belt, a million followers on her Twitter account, a top-notch film and cam career, and the 2022 winner of Fleshbot’s “Best MILF” category, this passionate and focused woman continues to surprise, remake herself, and be relevant in a business where many have short-lived careers. Together with her husband Chris she’s always working toward the goal of being bigger, better, and more in demand: “We are stubborn and passionate tortoises always moving one step closer to our long-term goal. We will never waiver and never quit.”
Read on to learn about this ball of energy and her authentic and honest views on what it takes to get to the top and build a successful brand.
What brought you to the adult business and who gave you your start?
Crazy story (aren’t they all?).
My husband and I were starting our first business which happened to be in the wine industry. I had been a stay-at-home Mom for a few years and Chris was the VP of a biotech company. We dove into a business creating custom wine labels, similar to Hallmark greeting cards but specifically for wine bottles. We had done trade shows and B2B sales and it was time to create a website. The meeting between us and the people creating our website was kismet. Aside from working for the graphics company we hired to create our website… two of the staff also worked in adult as affiliate managers.
One wild turn of events in the conversation and Brandilove.com was born. We hired the two people to build our wine label website and jumped headfirst into the adult industry.
I wouldn’t say I was given a start. We took it!
In 2004 we began building out Brandilove.com which gave us our own platform and we built the site and its traffic organically. The biggest help was being asked onto Howard Stern. He absolutely helped launch my career in late 2004. I didn’t shoot a pro scene until end of 2008 and that was a five scene deal with Naughty America. Without question there are many people who helped build my career and continue to. I wouldn’t have the success or longevity without my business partner and husband. And my continued success is without question because of the loyalty of my fans.
How have you been able to build such a successful brand, did you inherently know how to do it or are you self-taught?
Building a successful brand takes time.
If I were to pinpoint a few words that have helped? Determination, consistency, and passion.
Some of what we knew from our time in corporate America helped us in building our brand, but many… and I mean many things, we learned as we went. I continue to discover new ways to market, new platforms and new things about my sexuality that I am always sharing with the fans.
Aside from the above attributes to our success I would be remiss to not mention honesty. Regardless of the consequences, I have been 100% honest, 100% me… my whole career.
You’ve had longevity in a career that many don’t have, what is the secret to your lasting success and how has the industry changed for you over the years – for better or for worse?
I came into the adult industry with the mindset that it would be my career. From day one I had long term goals. I never intended to retire “young.” I enjoy working. Even more so now! I get to do the most pleasurable thing known to mankind as my work. I was never happy behind a desk. Adult was and still is a great fit. It allows for creativity, flexibility, and control over my own schedule. The financial possibilities are a huge plus too. The harder I work, the luckier I get.
As with all professions and industries there are highs and lows. Positive changes and not so positive changes. Technology has affected the industry, so has Covid. We are constantly adapting, which I find both interesting and important. It’s good not to get stuck in a rut, forced change can have positive outcomes.
What is the most difficult thing about working in the business and what keeps you coming back?
The toughest aspect to working in adult is my time away from home.
Of course, I can control my schedule, but I am not great at saying no to opportunities. From heading to LA to shoot pro scenes, Las Vegas for content shoots, or all over the US for feature dancing. The travel is tough because I LOVE being home. It’s a tradeoff for sure. What keeps me coming back?
It’s my career and I love it! I still have many things to do *wink*.
What was one of your favorite scenes to work on and why?
I am often asked questions like this, and the response is always the same. It’s impossible to answer. I like multiple college sports teams, multiple flavors of ice cream, multiple styles of music etc. The same is true in adult. If I get to orgasm in a scene, it’s my favorite! So … all but two or three have been my favorites lol!
I still come home excited to tell my husband about scenes. Whether it was the talent, director, the script, the kink etc., I always find something fun and fascinating about my scenes.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned whether in life or in work?
1. Be Authentic & Passionate.
Here is a prime example of what I mean. One of the people I miss most in this life is Rush Limbaugh. Within the industry, that caused me tons of grief. But that’s who I am. That’s authenticity. Rush, in the month of my birthday in the year I launched BrandiLove.com (2004) said this to a caller who wanted to know what the secret was to success:
““What is the most important thing? What’s the #1 ingredient to success? They all think I’m going to say, ‘Get your education,’ and that’s not the answer. The answer is passion. The answer is passion and desire. Because without passion and desire, you will not do what’s necessary to succeed. If you have passion and desire, you’ve got 80% of it licked. And then, after that, you must be able to take the blows. So, you’ve got to remain dedicated to your desire, to your passion, and understand that it’s worth something, and that it can’t be destroyed simply by a couple blows here and there, a couple of wrong turns or unfortunate moves. Passion is the driving force.”
It’s something I will never forget. I live this every single day – Passion & Desire = Success
2. Make a Plan & Work the Plan.
I was and remain 100% dedicated to making adult entertainment a career. I was and remain dedicated to achieving my financial goals. Chris and I have obviously needed to tweak the short and mid-term “tasks” in our plan, but the long-term goal has always remained the same. Everything we do supports that long term objective. We are stubborn and passionate tortoises always moving one step closer to our long-term goal. We will never waiver and never quit.
What are your goals for the future?
Professionally, on the “pro” end, I am working diligently to secure a contract with one particular company. I’m told it will happen but I’m not going to jinx it by speaking out of turn. It’s a company I’m personally passionate about and am 100% confident they will bring out the best anyone has ever seen in me.
Obviously OnlyFans (OnlyBrandi.com) and MeetBrandi.com remain extremely important to me. I can’t begin to tell you how much I love these platforms. It’s what I always wanted. I am on there every day, personally interacting, in real time, in meaningful ways, one to one with my fans. I have never had so much fun or learned so much. I fucking love my fan base!
Chris really handles our real estate business and that too has been thriving. We just finished two major projects that both took over two years to complete. Once sold we are going to take a little break and see where the market is headed as we finally renovate our own home lol.
Personally, I am working a lot harder to cultivate some lasting and meaningful friendships. It’s not easy being friends with me. I come with a lot of challenges and my travel schedule doesn’t allow me to invest as much time as people deserve. I’m slowly but surely changing that. I really look forward to investing in relationships and getting involved in my community in charitable ways.
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Fans can find and follow Brandi on her OnlyFans at onlybrandi.com, live at camsoda.com, on her Twitter @brandi_love, and Instagram @lovetroopers.