Overcoming Obstacles for International Models
International cam models (models outside the United States) face some challenges when it comes to working for cam sites, phone sex services, and clip sales sites. With the notable exception of AdultWork, most of the big live-streaming sites are based in the US, including Streamate, MyFreeCams, and Chaturbate. Even Skype sites like Cam Model Directory are US-based, which means that international models often have to find workarounds for common issues.
Time zones
Time zones come into play for 2 things: cam site traffic (and therefore your earnings), and site support hours. It is highly recommended that you test out a variety of different shifts if you are able to have a flexible schedule. Give yourself two weeks when testing a new shift before deciding whether or not it offers increased earning potential. You might find that a particular shift that seems odd in your timezone gets great traffic because it is peak hours in another timezone.
Accessing site support can also be a challenge for international cam models. Time zones and long distance charges often rule out calling model support phone lines, and support tickets dealt with via email can result in waiting days to clarify issues and arrive at a solution. Language barriers can also come into play for site support when models and staff speak different languages. If you’re struggling to access site support, consider waking up in the site’s time zone to deal with an issue. Also, take note of who you speak with at a site, and jot down their email addresses for future use. You may be able to bypass long support ticket queues by contacting a staff member directly.
Technology / Internet Speed
The increasing technology requirements of some sites can pose a problem. High-speed internet is a pipe dream in some areas, which can limit earnings on sites that determine placement by broadcast quality. The hardware can be a problem too–computers and webcams that are affordable in the US can be out of reach in other areas. Work with what you have: rather than continuing to slog on a site that is built for computer and internet specs that you don’t have, try doing Skype shows or working on sites that don’t require an encoder to broadcast.
Phone Sex
Doing phone sex means logging a lot of minutes talking. If you don’t have good landline or cell phone plans available in your area, this can get expensive–especially if the site you work for counts as long distance for an incoming call. Getting a Skype number can be extremely cheap for incoming calls, and you can answer calls using the app on your smartphone or use a headset to take calls on your computer. For texting, there are many apps that will give you a phone number you can use to send and receive SMS and MMS messages.
Getting Paid
The biggest challenge for international models is getting paid. Many sites offer limited options for payment to international models and the options they do offer often come with their own drawbacks.
Most international payment options come with fees. Some, like wire transfer and Paxum, have flat fees, and others have fees that are a percentage of your payment. Some sites charge fees for issuing cheques. Most sites will charge you for wire transfers, which covers their bank fees, but your bank will likely charge you a wire fee, too. To cut down on fees, consider raising your minimum payout amount, which will lower the % of your earnings that flat fees take. When choosing a payout option, make sure you check the fees for both receiving and withdrawing your money, as some options have fees on both ends.
Canadian camm odels can take advantage of US-held accounts for some sites that offer ACH/Direct Deposit to American accounts. Both Royal Bank and TD Canada Trust offer accounts held with US banks for Canadian residents which offer fee-free direct deposit and Royal Bank allows you to transfer money across the border to your Canadian account through online banking for free. Some sites do not currently offer ACH or DD to these bank accounts, so be sure to check with the sites you work with first.
Does Your Bank Offer USD Accounts?
If you receive US dollar cheques on a regular basis, find out if your bank offers USD accounts. It may be cheaper to deposit several USD cheques into a separate account, then transfer the money in one transaction if your bank charges fees for currency exchanges.
Cheques sent internationally can take forever to arrive. Using options like Paxum comes with fees, but you might decide that the reliability of knowing when your pay is coming might be worth it. Wire transfers take 24-48 hours to clear, but steep fees (up to $50 to the site, and anywhere from $15-50 from your bank) make them unattractive for smaller amounts of money. Canadian models can also set up a US account as I mentioned above. ACH and DD take just 24 hours to clear.
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