TORONTO, CANADA — The way Platinum Mario and PlatinumFeeds Paul see it, it’s nice to have hip and trendy content – but it’s even better to have content of enduring quality.“We’re kind of like 3M,” Mario, an affiliate manager for PlatinumBucks, explains. “They don’t invent stuff, they just make it better.”

“The main thing is getting the best quality product out there,” Mario, continues. “It’s not necessarily new, but it’s the best quality. The main thing beyond that is customer service. If our clients can’t reach us, can’t talk to us, can’t feel free to come to us with issues or with needs, we’re dead in the water. Without our clients, without our webmasters, we’re nothing.”

And “nothing” is not something that Mario or PlatinumFeeds account manager Paul want their company to become. After all, they didn’t leave comfortable mainstream jobs so that they could wilt on the porno vine. With backgrounds in banking, psychology and the hospitality industry, the two men come equipped with unique but important insights into how businesses and people work, both in and out of adult entertainment. They are also both enthusiastic about avoiding what Mario calls “the monkey suit and corporate ladder” — and ensuring the success of both PlatinumBucks and its webmasters is of key importance to keeping that fate far, far away.

Paul, whose career on the X-rated internet began five months ago after a job interview uncovered on Monster.com, is most amazed by the rate at which information is transmitted within the world of adult. Mario shares his astonishment. “The speed of the industry is amazing,” he observes. Unlike the world of banking that he left behind, “it’s constantly changing.”

The one thing they both agree never changes is the adult consumer’s desire for interesting, engaging, and high quality content. Paul, especially, is dedicated to seeing the PlatinumFeeds rank high among the most engaging content available to webmasters and their site visitors. Toward that end, PlatinumFeeds has embarked upon an across-the-board improvement of all site contents, starting with new and exclusive photos and videos on sites such as Ron’s Associates/Adult Associates, which features porn legend Ron Jeremy in a very mature Apprentice style format. According to Paul, the site is only one step in a continuing journey toward providing a more multi-level erotic experience.

“We’ve tried to add some humor and some chicks with personality,” he points out, referring to the Jeremy site as an example. “Pepe’s Adventures is another of our new sites and another great example of where we’re adding some entertainment value, as well. So much adult material is obvious in this industry,” he confesses, “We’re trying to differentiate ourselves, and part of our nature is having a sense of humor.”

By adding a lighter approach to sexual content, PlatinumFeeds anticipates a resulting “depth” to emerge, which will permit members to “start enjoying it on multiple levels.” As a shy afterthought, he admits, “I personally enjoy it.”

And enjoyment is the ultimate product that PlatinumBucks and PlatinumFeeds aim to provide. Currently there are nine straight feeds and one gay feed, with two more gay sites being added shortly. All sites are updated at least twice a month and contain exclusive, outsourced content which, according to Paul, is proving enormously popular.

Interestingly enough, both men report that the most popular sites are those that rework familiar themes; most notably, solo sex on MeAndMyPussy.com and traditional boy/girl sex on HardcoreSweethearts.com. “We’re almost back to the roots here,” Paul states. “It seems very past tense in the adult industry, but it’s actually doing quite well. Instead of trying to reinvent the wheel, we’re trying to present the wheel in its best format: very high quality, very crisp, clean photos and good looking girls.”

While these elements are being launched anew, as well as added to previously existing sites, PlatinumBucks is also increasing its involvement in webmaster events, particularly by hosting dinners of appreciation and networking at major expos including the January Internext in Las Vegas and the upcoming Phoenix Forum, whose closing ceremonies the company will be deeply involved with.

“We’re constantly looking to promote and get our name out there and let everybody have a good time,” Mario enthuses, while explaining why the hosted dinners are so important to his company. In addition to reaffirming pre-existing relationships, showing appreciation, and meeting new people for prospective professional collaborations, “it’s just nice to have an opportunity to see who’s on the other side of the IM,” he admits. “We talk to them on a daily basis, so it’s really nice to finally meet these people in person.”

So, in addition to becoming the adult webmaster’s preferred “one-stop shop” for content, hosting, Video-on-Demand, anti-spoofing technology, and an assortment of other affiliate perks, PlatinumBucks and PlatinumFeeds hope to feed and socialize with the best of the best. As Mario points out, “You don’t get many people complaining about that,” although they also don’t necessarily stick around after dinner to talk too much shop.

That, however, is just part of what keeps the industry moving at light speed. “You can’t get bored,” Mario concludes. “That’s my main thrill; every day I come to work and face new challenges. It’s adult entertainment! It’s entertainment! If you’re bored doing entertainment…” he trails off, clearly too stunned by the concept to even find words to describe such an inconceivable notion.