All posts by Ashley Maule

How to block countries or regions?

All CAM4 broadcasters have the ability to block multiple locations or countries they do not wish to be viewed in. This means while
on CAM4, no one in your blocked locations is able to see you, look you up, or access your chat room from any computer, laptop, tablet, ipad, or mobile phone.

You can change your blocked countries at anytime.

Go to your Broadcaster Dashboard by clicking on your avatar on the right top side of our website. A drop down menu will appear.

Choose ‘Block Regions / Countries’ from your list of account options under ‘Performer Tools’ and choose the countries or regions you would like to block.

Once you save your settings, you are invisible in the  selected area.

To remove a location from your blocked countries, simply click on the bin behind the area or country.


~That’s all for this lesson!

Happy Camming!
Love, Your Coaching Team!

 

 

Lighting 101 (Video)

Great lighting is camming 101  – having a poorly lit room can affect the quality of your cam feed and result in an unflattering image. Using accent lights, like red or blue floodlights, will make your cam more noticeable on the homepage, and increase the amount of viewers in your room.

These are the things to consider when lighting your room:

    • What sources of light do I have already?
    •  Do I have enough lighting?
    • Is it flattering?
    • What “color” bulbs do I have in my light sources
    •  Are they all the same type and “color”?
    •  Where do I need to place my lights to get the best effect?

Chances are that you have lights around your home that will be very effective in creating a well-lit room. As much as possible, try NOT to use sunlight – it is inconsistent and may blow your cover if you are hiding your location.

These are some great lamps you can add to your collection if you don’t have what you need already:

beginners-guide-to-webcamming-light

Multi-head lamps are great for adjusting the light exactly where you need them.


 

 

lighting-101-multi 

This little guy is a great way to maximize your lamps you already have. It converts 1 light socket into 4! Use energy saving bulbs ONLY!


 

lighting-101-clamp

This disk light is very versatile with its clamp on the back you can use it in any space.


 

Bulbs

I recommend using a natural white or soft white bulb, they are the best choice when lighting for your cam and will flatter your skin tone.

 

lighting-101-energy

 

These A-Line bulbs are great because they are energy saving, low heat, and frosted to give off softer light.

Please make sure all your bulbs are the same color!


 

Lighting set up

Lighting-101-set-up

*In real life your lights will need to be turned towards your wall in order to get that soft flattering effect you are looking for. The light that reflects back off your walls will be perfect to light your room.

Your lights should never be visible in your cam window. The light will force your cam to make your image dark and no one will see you. It is best to have them behind and to the side of the cam, out of view.


~That’s all for this lesson!

Happy Camming!

Love, Your CAM4 Coaching TEAM

Using Twitter Analytics

Being successful means being connected to your fan base, to do this you need to utilize Twitter analytics.

Twitter Analytics

Analytics lets you see every impression, engagement, and engagement rate that is related to your twitter activity. Knowing who your fans are, where they are, and what they like is going to elevate your shows to the next level.

Impression – The number of times your tweet has been seen by Twitter users.

Engagement – The total number of times a user has interacted with a tweet. This includes all clicks anywhere on the tweet (including all hashtags, links, avatar, username, and tweet expansion), retweets, replies, follows, and favorites.

Engagement Rate – The number of engagements (clicks, re-tweets, replies, follows and favorites) divided by the total number of impressions.

Here is where you need to go to get started: https://analytics.twitter.com/about


Tips for using analytics info

Twitter-tweet-dashboard

Tweet Dashboard

  •    Shows you what tweets are getting the most attention
  •    What hashtags are working for you
  •    Pictures that are getting shared and clicked
  •    URL links that are getting attention

Use this to see what content is getting you the most views and edit future tweets to increase your success.


Follower Dashboard

  •    See your follower breakdown by country
  •    Shows you your fan base by what special interests they have (music, modeling, etc.)

Use this info to subtly customize your tweets to the location and interests of your fan base.


Twitter Cards

  •    Allows you to add media (like video) to your tweets and give you better insight as to how your content is being shared
  •    Learn how to improve metrics like URL clicks and retweets

Your followers will LOVE seeing videos of you on twitter and will be more likely to click the URL link you include to take them to your show. 


~That’s all for this lesson!

Happy Camming!

Love, Your CAM4 Coaching TEAM

 

 

Creating An Awesome Profile

Creating your unique CAM4 profile

First, let’s get all the technical info out of the way so we can move on to the fun creative part.

How you do it:

  1. Design your images using programs like
    Pizap, Gimp, Pixlr etc… These are all free program options if you don’t have existing image editing software on your computer.
  2. Upload your finished images to hosting sites like Imgaeshack , some sites like Imgur won’t allow you to post your images to adult sites like CAM4 so that’s why I recommend using Imageshack.
  3. Copy the ‘Direct Image Link’ from Image shack and paste it into the CAM4 profile toolbar seen below, you will find this under ‘Profile Info’ in your Account Options.

4. I recommend making all your images the same width – 700

5. Press Save Changes and you’re done!

Profile design tips

Your profile is a great communication tool that can do some of the talking for you. Follow these simple design guidelines that will allow you to keep your focus on your show, instead of answering the same question over and over while you’re trying to perform.

  1. Have both SFW (Safe for work) and NSFW (Non-safe for work) images on your profile. This way CAM4 can display your SFW profile images to people who have adult content firewalls up on their computer.
  2. Use your CAM4 Calendar to let people know when you’re online. If you’re not sure of the exact times you’ll be on, you can put something like this on your profile.

  3. Use your image gallery like a catalogue to show your viewers what outfits/costumes/toys you have. That way they can flip through it instead of having you drag everything out of your closet. I would even name your images so they can refer to them and you know which images they’re talking about.

4.  Add a price list, but instead of writing 25tkns for titty flash, etc… Use pics to describe what you want! This will increase the chances of viewers reading it

5. And finally, your bio ? Here are a few things you can write about yourself.

-How long have you been performing?
-What do you do in your public shows? Private shows?
-Is there a special way I can show my appreciation to you?
-Do you have any favorite CAM4 gifts you want?
-What are your room rules?
-Social media! Tell them to follow you and what you tweet about!
-What are your favorite things to do on cam? Favorite props? Toys?

You are the star so make it all about you!

 


 ~That’s all for this lesson!

Happy Camming!
Love, Your Coaching Team!

 

Starter Checklist (Video)

If you’re new to CAM4 or just want to make sure you have the basics, here is what you need to get started.

Webcams

Your computer’s built-in webcam is great for when your are first starting out, but eventually you should get an upgrade. When shopping for a webcam make sure you take your computer into consideration, an HD webcam on an older computer might not be a good match. You can always google the best options for the make and model of your computer.

Here are two entry level webcams we love:

Microsoft Lifecam Studio Webcam   

 A basic starter cam with a 1080p HD widescreen sensor for sharpness and image quality. Features include auto-focus, glass lens, TrueColor Technology for crisp colors in most lighting conditions, and a built-in mic.                                                                                                            
                           

Logitech HD Portable Webcam

 Logitech HD Portable Webcam

  Full 1080p HD video recording and dazzling 8 MP photos all in a portable webcam. Comes with Auto Focus for extreme close-ups, a 360-degree full motion rotational camera, fold-and-go portability and tripod-ready base. Works with PC and MAC                                                                                                                                                                   Want something more advanced? Check out the advanced and pro guides for more options.



Internet

www.speedtest.net

Having a smooth stream on CAM4 is all about your Internet upload speed, you need a minimum of 2MBs upload speed to have a clear broadcast image. 

To find out what your upload speed is visit:
www.speedtest.net



Lighting

beginners-guide-to-webcamming-light

 Grab a lamp or two and make sure the bulbs are the same color. This is a good time to go out and buy a new box of compact fluorescent bulbs, these allow you to choose your color temperature and brightness levels, plus they’re energy efficient!

 

Lighting-101-set-up

Lighting check list:

-You have 2 or more sources of light.
-Your light bulbs are all the same color.
-Your lights are set up behind your webcam so they are not seen in your broadcast window.
-Your lights are pointed away from you so the light bounces off the wall/floor/ceiling, this creates a soft, flattering light effect.
-Turn the brightness of your computer monitor down to reduce light pollution from your screen. This light pollution can cause your webcam to auto-focus and auto color-correct all the time.


 

Music

Playing music is fun but make sure it isn’t so loud that they cant hear you having fun!

Avoid using your computer as a source, playing music from your computer slows your connection and is very loud to your viewers. You want your music to be background noise, so use your phone or iPod, TV, stereo system etc.


~That’s all for this lesson!

Happy Camming!
Love, Your Coaching Team!

Selling Your Own Videos On Cam4 (Video)

 

Stocking a library of videos increases your potential of being a successful Internet personality. Consider your videos a business card, promo content for live shows, gifts, and an additional source of income. 

 

How to Make Your Own Videos

Making a great video isn’t as complicated as it seems. You are ultimately the boss when it comes to the video content and length but here are a few suggestions.

1. How long should they be?
Anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes in length. You risk losing your audience if you go any longer.

2. What kind of videos should I have?
The more videos you make, the more videos fans will want. If you video tape it, they will cum. Record everything from PG13 all the way to XXX, your fans want to see every one of your good sides.

3. How do I start?
Make the videos about things YOU really like to do. The whole reason amateur webcam is so popular is because it’s NOT scripted a la traditional porn. Viewers want to see something honest, raw, even humorous.

4. Should I include music?
Refrain from having music in your videos. I know this sounds weird but it can be a big distraction for the viewer, they want to hear you and only you.

5. How detailed should it be?
Videos are meant to play on people’s fantasies so the more detail you put into your set and wardrobe the better. You don’t have to spend a lot, just get creative.

6. What if they upload my video somewhere else?
Watermark your videos! Watermarks make it difficult of r your videos it makes it difficult to upload them elsewhere. If you do find them somewhere, your watermark makes them extremely easy to remove so you can feel safe sending or sharing them with fans.

7. Should I watch my videos before sending them?
Watching your videos can be awkward but oh so necessary. If you have ever wanted to improve as a performer this is the fastest way to do it! You may see a few flaws but more importantly you see what you are doing right! After a while you will really start to enjoy watching yourself.


~That’s all for this lesson!

Happy Camming!

Love, Your CAM4 Coaching TEAM

Moderating Your Chat Room

CAM4 offers broadcasters, moderators, and chat members options to make their experience safer and more fun. Here’s a rundown of how each chat function works, and how to use it.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

To access your moderation tools click on the 3 dots seen on the right hand side of a username, or go to your user list and right click on a name. 

 

 
FEATURES
Add note

This little tool lets you keep a file on the viewers in your room for future use. You can even color code them as blue or red!


Ignore

This will stop you from seeing someones chat in the room but only you, everyone else will be able to see their chat. This function is better suited for viewers to ignore each other, performers should use silence instead.


Assign as moderator

You have the power to choose a helper in your shows. This person will be able to do some of your dirty work for you like banning and silencing negative people. This is a big responsibility though so make sure you communicate how you want your room run to your moderator so everything runs smoothly.


Silencing

This will completely silence the user  in the room, no one will be able to see their chat. A silence stays on a user till you remove it from your ‘Manage Silences’ list that is under the little gear icon in the top right hand corner.  Use this option if there’s someone abusing other members, has a negative attitude, spammers, or beggars.


 Kicking

When you kick someone out of your room they ca come right back in so this tool is best to get control of a situation if you need to. For example, two of your viewers are having an argument so you kick both of them out as a wake up call.


Banning

Only ban a user if no lesser functions have worked, and they’re still being abusive to your or your guests. Banning users shouldn’t be a first option for abusive chat members. Once you ban someone, they can’t come back into your room until you remove the ban. There’s no full site ban function.

Remember! It’s your room, your rules! Everyone is here to have fun, so don’t be afraid to use these tools if someone is bringing your room down. 


~That’s all for this lesson!

Happy Camming!

Love, Your CAM4 Coaching TEAM

 

Three Types of Bans on Cam4

banned
Learn about the types of bans used on Cam4 to keep the community inviting and safe for every member – and what you can do to ensure that you’re playing by the rules. 
 
Our administrators and automated programs monitor the entire site at all times to protect members from scammers, spammers and illegal activity. Administrators can ban the accounts of offenders when they find violations – keeping Cam4 safe and free from abuse for the vast majority of members who just want to have fun!
 

Types of Bans on Cam4


1. Administrator Site Ban

Cam4 administrators will ban your account from the site completely for illegal activity and violating Cam4’s Terms & Conditions. Underage users, URL spammers, scammers and members who use video capture software are subjected to site bans.

Administrators may also ban members after repeated warnings for other offences, such as playing videos or using still images.

These bans are complete site bans, and banned accounts will not be able to access the site again.



2. Broadcaster Bans

Performers have control over their room and are free to ban anyone from watching their cam. Usually viewers are only banned from a performer’s room for abusive behavior – so stay friendly to keep watching!

Broadcaster Bans only apply to the room of the performer that banned you – you are free to find another cam to watch and chat in.


3. Chat Bans
Cam4 uses an automated point system to limit abuse in chat. Entering rooms and watching cams gives you positive points, while being banned by broadcasters gives you negative points. If your points drop too low due to multiple Broadcaster Bans, your account is automatically restricted from using chat. You can still watch cams, but chat features are turned off until you earn enough positive points to reverse the chat ban.

Keep Cam4 Fun!

Remember, bans are used to keep the Cam4 Community safe from abuse, illegal activity, and annoying spammers – they are never taken lightly. If you, like most of the incredible Cam4 Community, are here to have some fun, watch some cams, and meet some amazing people from around the world, then you have nothing to worry about!

If you feel you’ve been banned by mistake, please contact Customer Support.


~That’s all for this lesson!

Happy Camming!
Love, Your Coaching Team!

 

Important settings in your account

Your CAM4 Account settings hold a wealth of opportunity when it comes to maximizing your success on CAM4. 

While a lot of these settings are self explanatory, there are a few that hold treasures inside. So, this article is going to dive into your account settings and show you what you might be missing.  

Click “My Account” on the top right corner to start.

 

My Library

Weather it’s purchased (or free), this is where you will find your personal library of My Shop videos. If you yourself sell videos, this is where viewers will have a copy of yours.

*Views of your video that happen inside someone’s personal library will count (and be added) to the total ‘views’ of that video. 

Profile Options



Profile Info

This is where you’re able to create a fancy CAM4 bio!

Here are the steps:

  • Using programs like Photoshop, Canva, or Pizap, create your custom Fancy profile image.
  • Upload your finished image to a 3rd party hosting site like Twitter, Imageshack, or Tumblr so you can get the direct image URL.

 

  • Copy and paste the image URL into CAM4 using the button on the far left of the toolbar seen above. (To fill the entire space provided, use 800 as your width for all your images)
  • Press save and Voila! 


My CAM4

Did you know you can customize your CAM4 experience by selecting what content you want to see when you come to the site? Did you also know you can customize what viewers see when they come to your profile?  All of these things are possible under My CAM4, you can evn mass delete comments you’ve made on others chat walls. 

 

Social Networks

Twitter connect allows you to link your twitter to CAM4 and create custom auto tweets for your shows! 

  • Tweet 15min before a SCHEDULED show
  • 5min after you’ve gone LIVE on CAM4
  • Add your referral link and images to your auto tweets!

This is also where you can link your other social networks that will appear on your profile like this:

Performer Tools



Insights

Insights let you see (and analyze) analytics related to your My Shop video sales. Finding out what videos are the most popular with your fans will give you more insight as to what kinds of videos you should make next!


Referral Program

Share your unique ‘Your Chat Room’ link and earn money each time someone uses them to create a new CAM4 account! 

Where to share your link:

  • Your social media bio’s.
  • Posts, blogs, tweets, etc…
  • Your CAM4 custom auto tweet.
  • Inside your chatroom! Invite viewers that aren’t logged in to support you by creating an account using your link and joining the fun!


Performer Dashboard

Here is where you will:

  • Upload ID
  • Choose payment method
  • Cashout your earnings
  • Add additional performers to your account!

Account Options


Email And Notification Settings

Wanna receive emails and (or) notifications about your CAM4 activity? Here is where you can opt-in (or out) of emails, browser notifications, and the CAM4 newsletter.  

Related articles: 

– Setting and Reaching Your Tip Goal.


 

~That’s all for this lesson!

Keep up to date with all my performer tips by following me!

   @nikki_night
@CoachNikkiNight
    nikkicam4

Don’t forget you can always email me with any questions at nikki@cam4.com

COACHING
Wednesdays @ 1 & 6pm EST

Coaching Profile
cam4coach_en
Password: nikkilove

*You will be asked for the password when you try to enter my chatroom

Happy Camming!

Love, Nikki

 

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Stay up to date with the Monthly Coaching Schedule and find the right coaching for you by scrolling down the page to view our coaching team. Make sure you write down the password to enter their room, and also subscribe to their CAM4 profile calendar to get your local show times.


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