TL;DR
- Will Tantra's Pornhub Model rank jumped from #4,086 to #38 in just one day after our team helped optimize his account—primarily by updating his "Interested In" profile setting to ensure his content surfaced on PornhubGay instead of the straight site.
- His average monthly earnings grew by 38%. In 2025, that average climbed another 70%.
- His daily video views increased by 38% in the first year post-optimization and grew another 41% the year after that.
- Consistently uploading qualifying videos to Tiers further boosted his earnings and visibility.
- Will has since won Top Daddy Performer at the 6th Annual Pornhub Awards, holds a Top 40 Model rank, and was named PornhubGay Model of the Month in January 2025.
- Key takeaway: a small profile update—combined with a consistent content strategy—can have a significant impact on your rank, views, and income. Over 50 Models have already benefited from this same optimization.
Will Tantra was one of the first Models to participate in our account optimization initiative, and his journey is a powerful example of how targeted changes can unlock true potential.
In January 2024, Pornhub’s Content and Community Manager Freedom noticed that Will’s Model rank on Pornhub was sitting at 4,086—a surprisingly low position for someone with his reputation and a substantial social media following.
After a detailed review of his account, we worked closely with Will to update his profile settings and transition his content to PornhubGay, setting the stage for a dramatic turnaround.
Account Optimization
One of the most important—and often overlooked—factors in your Model Profile is the “Interested In” section. This detail determines how your content is categorized and discovered by viewers. By ensuring your profile accurately reflects your content and audience, you can significantly improve your visibility and reach.
If you’re mostly making content for a gay audience, listen up! Editing this setting is simple: just head to your Profile Details in your Core Settings, find the More About Me header, update your “Interested In” preferences to “Guys,” and save your changes. If you set your preferences to “Guys and Girls” then your content will surface on the straight site. If you set it to “Guys” only, your content will surface on PornhubGay.
Since launching this initiative, we’ve worked with close to 100 Models to optimize their accounts. Many, like Mtwunk, World Studz, Timothy Champagne, and Derek Kage, are now Top 100 Models on PornhubGay as a result of these updates.
Massive Improvement to Model Rank
The results for Will Tantra were immediate and impressive. After making this change, his Model rank skyrocketed from 4,086 to 38 in just one day! This leap in visibility opened up new opportunities and brought his content to a more targeted audience.
Realizing what happened, Will told us, “Honestly, I had to refresh the page because I thought it was a glitch! Going from buried in the thousands to a top 40 ranking in a single week was surreal. It was a real confidence boost and validation that the optimization actually moved the needle in a massive way.”
Since this update, Will has maintained a Top 40 rank, further establishing the improvement on earnings and ranking an account optimization can make.
An Increase in Earnings
We’ve tracked Will’s earnings over the past couple years and analyzed the data to see the real impact of these changes. In the year before the update, his average monthly payout on Pornhub was $290 USD—typically under $300, with only a few spikes. In the year following the optimization, his average monthly payout increased to $400, with some months approaching $600, representing an average increase of 38%.
In 2025, his payouts continued to increase. On average, Will was making $680. However, some months reached nearly $800 or more (an average of 70%). These increases are directly tied to a rise in daily video views and more active uploading to reach a higher Tier.
The data tells us after optimizing Will’s account, he began earning 2-3x what he was making prior. A simple change such as updating the “interested in” section of your account can have direct and measurable impacts on your content and where it surfaces.
Video Views Per Day
Before the optimization, Will was averaging around 10,000 video views per day. After we worked with him to optimize his account, the following year his video views grew by an incredible 38%. Over the course of the year, his video views grew by an additional 41%.
Talking to Will about the increase in daily video views, he said, “The increased views translated to a 25% income boost almost immediately, but the bigger shift was strategic. I learned through the Pornhub team to start treating my free content as a funnel rather than an endpoint, posting content that showcases my brand and drives curious viewers toward my paid platforms.”
This steady growth in views has had a direct and positive impact on his earnings, proving that visibility really does pay off.
The Power of Tiers
Another key factor in Will’s growth has been uploading more qualifying videos to Tiers. By consistently adding new, high-quality content, he’s been able to reach new audiences and maximize his earning potential.
Regarding his content strategy, Will said, “My approach is pretty straightforward: post as consistently and frequently as possible to reach the highest tier I can. The more content I upload, the higher my tier, and that translates into better page visibility and stronger ad revenue. It's a volume game, and once you commit to that consistency, the payouts reward you.”
For a refresher on how Tiers work and how to increase your monthly payouts, check out this blog.
Awards and Subscriber Visibility
Will Tantra’s success hasn’t gone unnoticed. He earned the title of Top Daddy Performer at the 6th Annual Pornhub Awards and currently holds a Model rank of 36 on PornhubGay.
He was also named PornhubGay Model of the Month in January 2025, further cementing his status as a very popular performer on the platform.
This has led to increased visibility as well as subscriber growth on Pornhub. From 2023 to 2024, Will’s total subscriber growth increased by 67%. From 2024 to 2026, it increased by another 67%. More subscribers can mean more views, which has the potential to also increase your rank.
What benefit does this have? With millions of daily visitors, Pornhub works as a powerful discovery platform for creators. Will noted, “My subscriber growth on my paid platforms noticeably accelerated once my Pornhub ranking climbed. Also, learning that I can advertise my paid platforms with links on my videos and profile bio has greatly increased visibility on my paid platforms. Viewers discover me here, get a sense of my style and personality, and then seek out more. Pornhub has become one of my top channels for funneling subscribers to my subscription sites.”
This highlights how Pornhub functions not just as a content-sharing site, but as a meaningful marketing tool for creators seeking audience growth and diversification. By leveraging visibility on a high-traffic platform, creators can funnel and convert casual viewers into loyal followers and paying subscribers, ultimately strengthening their brand presence and income streams.
If you feel like you’re leaving money on the table, request an account review by emailing our team at models@pornhub.com. Please note that in-depth recommendations may take up to 3 weeks, as we need to collect and review the relevant data.
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