I did search the forum so sorry if this has already been discussed, but I find myself wondering, "Why no nipples?"
I know that LH make it forum policy that avatar photos can't have female nipple showing, (which is there prerogative bieng their site and all!), but I wonder why the product photos are subject to this rule too? I know other lingerie sites sometimes do it to, and I would have the same question for them.
When it comes to buying sheer, or lace bras my OH quite likes the unlined ones, so where the lace is directly over the breast. A LOT of the time it is not clear from the description as to whether this is the style of the cup or not, and usually the best way to tell is to check the image; visible nipple = unlined, no visible nipple = lined. However with the various forms of nipple shields, nipple air-brushing, and other 'nipple obscuring techniques' it makes it a whole lot more difficult to determine what it (the clothing!) is actually like.
So... why can there be images of many weird(?) and wonderful toys etc, but nipples are taboo?
I'm not certain, but I think it has to do with Google search and Google's definitions of "family friendly".
I would agree that it's slightly nuts that they can have a picture of (sometimes freakily) lifelike dildos (and fake vaginas, come to think of it) but can't show a real woman's nipple through lace, but I think it's one of those weird things of what is and is not considered family friendly, possibly (Google being an American company) an imported bit of weirdness from over t'pond.
(I saw a post recently where someone was attempting to review tampons, I forget on which site, and their review wasn't allowed through because she used the word "vagina". Madness, no? Nowt as queer as folk.)
If there are a couple of items that your woman is interested in but unsure about the product detail (lined or unlined cups) you could always live chat I'm sure lovehiney would be more than happy to help.
personally I don't see the big deal with showing nipples, but I'm quite open and could be a nudist if my life and OH would allow.
Nipples are the devils work all nippley and such. Have too many and you get awful heartburn and looking at one is comparable to a glance from Medusa :-)
Think it's just one of those concessions by the sensors but stay away from them mind they could have an eye out!
The simple answer is, Google. Google ranks websites based on all sorts of factors, such as the amount of unique content your site has, how often it's updated and what types of images you share.
The more nudity, the lower down we rank. Basically, Google doesn't like nipple!
Here is a great blog by our director of Ecommerce (aka in-house internet wizard) Matty Curry, talking about Google, rankings, and nipples!
Oh I didn't know that! I always thought it was because not showing nipples is generally more tasteful, at least in my opinion. I would prefer that Lovehoney didn't show nipples because in some way it feels more respectful, and makes it easier for me to look at the photos! :P
The simple answer is, Google. Google ranks websites based on all sorts of factors, such as the amount of unique content your site has, how often it's updated and what types of images you share.
The more nudity, the lower down we rank. Basically, Google doesn't like nipple!
Here is a great blog by our director of Ecommerce (aka in-house internet wizard) Matty Curry, talking about Google, rankings, and nipples!
Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed reading this article! It's really informative in such an interesting way.
The Adwords stuff makes me kind of worried about my business though, can see if BDSM-y words fall out of favour I'll be in massive trouble.
I was really surprised at how there seems to be the perception of sex toy retailers being sleazy, because obviously LH particularly has branding that's really inoffensive. In the past I've thought that I kind of miss the naughtier pictures that other shops have, but then I've actually tried browsing other adult toy websites and find the overt sexual-ness really offputting. For some reason it just makes all of the products look cheaper and lower quality!
I've wonderered for a while about why LH doesn't have adult DVDs like some other companies have, so would love to ask about it here since it seems like the perfect place! I've always speculated on whether it was to do with postal rules, the sort of branding that LH goes for, or whether they're just not profitable because of free porn sites. Same for more old-school sort of materials like pornographic playing cards or naughty magazines.
I'm also interested in how LH got their facebook presence back after all that went on, since there's a LH page now! I guess the decision wasn't so final afterall ;)
The simple answer is, Google. Google ranks websites based on all sorts of factors, such as the amount of unique content your site has, how often it's updated and what types of images you share.
The more nudity, the lower down we rank. Basically, Google doesn't like nipple!
Here is a great blog by our director of Ecommerce (aka in-house internet wizard) Matty Curry, talking about Google, rankings, and nipples!
Wow - thanks Jess, and what an insightful blog post too. It really shows how hard it is to advertise adult products in a world that frowns upon advertising adult products! (what a werid world we live in!) Time to campaign Google to free the nipple? - or perhaps just time for me to ask live chat about garments of interest.
Having read the rules, an interesting alternative would be to produce some bright coloured LH heart nipple pasties for the models to wear.
To anyone looking at the image these would then obviously not appear to be either nipples, nor part of the garment, but WOULD have the advantage of showing the level of transparency of the garment. - Just an idea, and one that I am actually now quite proud of 
The simple answer is, Google. Google ranks websites based on all sorts of factors, such as the amount of unique content your site has, how often it's updated and what types of images you share.
The more nudity, the lower down we rank. Basically, Google doesn't like nipple!
Here is a great blog by our director of Ecommerce (aka in-house internet wizard) Matty Curry, talking about Google, rankings, and nipples!
Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed reading this article! It's really informative in such an interesting way.
The Adwords stuff makes me kind of worried about my business though, can see if BDSM-y words fall out of favour I'll be in massive trouble.
I was really surprised at how there seems to be the perception of sex toy retailers being sleazy, because obviously LH particularly has branding that's really inoffensive. In the past I've thought that I kind of miss the naughtier pictures that other shops have, but then I've actually tried browsing other adult toy websites and find the overt sexual-ness really offputting. For some reason it just makes all of the products look cheaper and lower quality!
I've wonderered for a while about why LH doesn't have adult DVDs like some other companies have, so would love to ask about it here since it seems like the perfect place! I've always speculated on whether it was to do with postal rules, the sort of branding that LH goes for, or whether they're just not profitable because of free porn sites. Same for more old-school sort of materials like pornographic playing cards or naughty magazines.
I'm also interested in how LH got their facebook presence back after all that went on, since there's a LH page now! I guess the decision wasn't so final afterall ;)
It is interesting, isn't it?! It does make having an online sex toy shop a challenge at times though!
The reason Lovehoney don't sell porn is because we don't have a license to distribute pornographic materials. And before you ask, it's definitely not something we're looking to branch into I'm afraid ;)
Aa for Facebook, you know, I'm not sure on how we got Facebook back! It was probably a lot of grovelling and promising not to annoy them again! We have to be very careful with what we post on Facebook. Twitter, on the other hand, couldn't care less about what we post there - strange!
The simple answer is, Google. Google ranks websites based on all sorts of factors, such as the amount of unique content your site has, how often it's updated and what types of images you share.
The more nudity, the lower down we rank. Basically, Google doesn't like nipple!
Here is a great blog by our director of Ecommerce (aka in-house internet wizard) Matty Curry, talking about Google, rankings, and nipples!
Wow - thanks Jess, and what an insightful blog post too. It really shows how hard it is to advertise adult products in a world that frowns upon advertising adult products! (what a werid world we live in!) Time to campaign Google to free the nipple? - or perhaps just time for me to ask live chat about garments of interest.
Having read the rules, an interesting alternative would be to produce some bright coloured LH heart nipple pasties for the models to wear.
To anyone looking at the image these would then obviously not appear to be either nipples, nor part of the garment, but WOULD have the advantage of showing the level of transparency of the garment. - Just an idea, and one that I am actually now quite proud of 
Nipple pasties are definitely a great option, and when we photograph our own-brand products we have our models wear nipple pasties. However, most of the models you see on our website are not picked or photographed by us. Suppliers send us these images to use to sell their products.
A lot of the photos we receive are already modest enough to use online, however some brands do like to opt for extremely scantily clad ladies. In those instances our in-house photo editor spends some time re-touching the images to give the poor girls some coverage!
Jess, may I ask why you lost Facebook in the first place? I wasn't aware of any of that!
Personally I'm glad LH don't sell porn or show nipples etc, it makes it seem like a much more welcoming environment for people like me, and a lot more tasteful :) I am so put off by other sex shops who are less modest, I just find them a bit tacky and eurgh.
Jess, may I ask why you lost Facebook in the first place? I wasn't aware of any of that!
Personally I'm glad LH don't sell porn or show nipples etc, it makes it seem like a much more welcoming environment for people like me, and a lot more tasteful :) I am so put off by other sex shops who are less modest, I just find them a bit tacky and eurgh.
Once again... Good job Lovehoney! :D
Totally agree plenty of other places for that kind of stuff if that is what you seek
Jess, may I ask why you lost Facebook in the first place? I wasn't aware of any of that!
Personally I'm glad LH don't sell porn or show nipples etc, it makes it seem like a much more welcoming environment for people like me, and a lot more tasteful :) I am so put off by other sex shops who are less modest, I just find them a bit tacky and eurgh.
Once again... Good job Lovehoney! :D
I'm not sure what it was that officially lost us the Facebook page, but I believe it was something to do with a phallic image. Facebook have some pretty stern rules when it comes to business advertising, images and competitions - especially when we're a company that sell sex toys. I run the Bettie Page Facebook page and have to be so careful with what I post, so as not to nark the big-boys at FBHQ.
Thanks for replying, Jess! That totally makes sense that LH doesn't want to branch into the porn side of things. I have nothing against porn, but it would definitely change the feel of the site. I've bought DVDs in the past from UK shops and I don't think the licensing really allows places to sell much that could in any way compete with the internet!
I'm not sure if it's to do with R18 categorising, but anything I've bought within the UK has always been extremely softcore, whereas US imports are waay different. I've never been too clear on what shops with the licenses are actually allowed to sell, which has always put me off buying anything much because it's so expensive when you don't know whether it's going to show anything at all.
It must be a total nightmare trying to navigate FB's policies as a business doing anything to do with sex or nudity, so big well done to those involved in getting the page back and maintaining it :D
The simple answer is, Google. Google ranks websites based on all sorts of factors, such as the amount of unique content your site has, how often it's updated and what types of images you share.
The more nudity, the lower down we rank. Basically, Google doesn't like nipple!
Here is a great blog by our director of Ecommerce (aka in-house internet wizard) Matty Curry, talking about Google, rankings, and nipples!
Wow - thanks Jess, and what an insightful blog post too. It really shows how hard it is to advertise adult products in a world that frowns upon advertising adult products! (what a werid world we live in!) Time to campaign Google to free the nipple? - or perhaps just time for me to ask live chat about garments of interest.
Having read the rules, an interesting alternative would be to produce some bright coloured LH heart nipple pasties for the models to wear.
To anyone looking at the image these would then obviously not appear to be either nipples, nor part of the garment, but WOULD have the advantage of showing the level of transparency of the garment. - Just an idea, and one that I am actually now quite proud of 
Nipple pasties are definitely a great option, and when we photograph our own-brand products we have our http://www.lovehoney.co.uk/product.cfm?p=30695. However, most of the models you see on our website are not picked or photographed by us. Suppliers send us these images to use to sell their products.
A lot of the photos we receive are already modest enough to use online, however some brands do like to opt for extremely scantily clad ladies. In those instances our in-house photo editor spends some time re-touching the images to give the poor girls some coverage!
Hi Jess - thanks for your response :)
If I had one comment it would be that when you (LH) do have control over the images, using pasties that are contrasting to the skin & lingerie would be an advantage. Quite often it seems that pasties are chosen that are either 'skin' coloured, or similar to the lingerie being shown, which still makes determining the transparency difficult.
As an aside, I can't help but wonder where the term "pastie" came from, in our travels to cornwall I've seen many pasties, and none bear any resemblance to the nipple pastie - lol