6 Questions to Ask Adult Companies

Blog, publish enough articles, or promote yourself on social media long enough, and eventually an adult company will reach out to you. Whether it’s a private message or an email, it’ll likely reference “partnership opportunities.” They’re asking a question that doesn’t always feel straight forward. They want to know one thing: Do you work with adult companies ?

While it’s important to have an idea of the services you offer – sponsored posts, affiliate partnerships, reviews, etc. – it’s also important to know what questions to ask, too. You can’t make a credible decision to work with an adult company until you have a sense of what they offer and what they want.

What Kind of Partnership Do You Want?

I tend to list everything I’m willing to do with and for a company and then ask, “What kind of partnership are you looking for?” I think it’s important to lay it all out on the table. Doing so gives them enough information to make a qualified decision whether to move forward or not. But asking the question in reverse can also signal that you’re flexible. If they had something different in mind, this is the time to let you know.

What Compensation Do You Offer?

It’s taken me a long time to get comfortable with making the ask, but it’s important. Don’t add a “Sorry to ask” or “I’m just curious” as a qualifier, either. Make the conversation about money as no-nonsense as possible. Adult companies need to get used to compensation being an automatic part of most work we provide (with rare exceptions). Discuss it as if you assume you’re going to be paid for your work (as you should) and you’ll find that many companies won’t even blink. Don’t apologize for expecting to be paid for your work. You have nothing to be sorry for.

What Materials Do You Provide?

This question will depend on your partnership with this company. If they’re offering an affiliate program, ask about banners and special coupon codes. My personal rule is to do a review of a product or service before I become an affiliate. This allows me to discuss a product or company with more enthusiasm which can lead to more sales. So when we’re discussing their affiliate program, I ask to do a review. Yes, it’s more work for me, but it results in more money later, too. What a company may provide might include graphics, logo, and other artwork, written copy they want used, links they want included in a post, products, etc.

Who Have You Worked With in the Past?

Lately I’ve noticed more companies offering this information automatically. If they received favorable reviews from well-known sex bloggers, it can add credibility to their company and their product which isn’t always a bad idea. When an unknown (to me) company reaches out, I do a quick Google search to make sure no one I respect has anything awful to say about them. If it’s important to you (and it doesn’t have to be) to know if they’ve worked with anyone else, ask. One reason to do it is so you can get a reference especially if they’re offering paid work. If they’re willing to share a name or two, make sure you follow up and check them out.

Do You Have a Deadline for This?

I hesitate to include this as a universal thing because most often the adult company needs to work on your schedule. Having your own publishing calendar of when and how you work is important. That being said, asking this question goes a long way toward building a good relationship. You can even modify this question to “How soon would you ideally like this?” Most will say “as soon as possible” and others will say “whenever you can.” I worked with a company one holiday season who had very clear deadlines which I was happy to honor – because they paid me well for it.

Are You Willing to Pay Extra For…?

This isn’t a question you’re going to ask often, but it goes along with the last one. A company may have a big promotion coming up and they’re trying to get content on your blog or something for their own website by a very specific deadline. You know that because you asked or they offered the information. If their deadline requires you to rush, move other projects to the side, or stress yourself out, an adult company should be willing to pay extra for it. Anytime you take on extra work (above and beyond the service you already provide), it’s fair to ask for extra compensation.

You won’t ask all of these questions with every single adult company who contacts you. Many times, they’ll provide this information for you. Sometimes, a question won’t be relevant. Every request a company makes will be slightly different, so you’ll need to come up with your own questions to ask. But before you say yes to an adult company, treat these questions like a checklist. Do you have the information you need and can you make a good decision?

Over to you, smutty writer friends! Do you have other questions you routinely ask an adult company before agreeing to work with them? Have you ever wished you’d asked these questions before agreeing to a partnership with an adult company? Share in the comments below!