GPWA Times Magazine - Issue 14 - October 2010

take the advice I got from several web- masters and register in programs that they recommended. I will completely change those things that aren’t generat- ing any revenue. I’ve been planning to do that for a long time, but I don’t have the time because my priority has been the European market. How long do you give yourself for re- sponding to e-mail? And what e-mail management tips can you offer? I learned to recognize spam. I only reply to what in- terests me. Sometimes I reply with a no. Generally, I’m pretty hard to get a hold of. I spend about 15 minutes to an hour and a half per day on e-mail. How do you manage your “to-do” lists? Do you use any special software to help you out? I always know what I need to do. I don’t use any software; all my priorities are sorted in my brain. I guess you could say I work on “autopilot.” How much time does it take to keep your sites updated? Do you use a content man- agement system to manage your site? Sometimes I have to work from when I wake up in the morning until my brain just shuts down. Recently I began using ModX CMS – it was recommended by a webmaster on GPWA. I also use Word- Press and Joomla! What does your family think about your chosen profession? In the beginning my family had great distrust of this new endeavor, but I proved to them that you can earn money on the Internet. My wife has no problems with my profession. She actually does some of the graphics for my sites. She’s a designer by profession, but she’s a talented graphic artist also. How long have you been a GPWA member? Has membership helped you in any way? I registered for the GPWA in 2003. With the help of forums such as GPWA, I got to know the industry. This kind of networking greatly expands opportunities. What one thing would you change about the online gambling industry? I think there is a need for strict controls being imposed on affiliate programs and casinos to elimi- nate all types of fraudulent practices. But, it’s probably just a pipe dream. What’s your favorite vacation spot? I don’t know, I always like discovering new places. What’s your favorite movie? I like science fiction, but I don’t think my favorite movie has been made yet. If someone were visiting you, what’s the one place you would definitely take them to see? It would depend on who was com- ing to visit. Here, I would probably show them the mountains. It’s very beautiful – the river, fresh air and shish kebabs. If friends came to visit in England, I would take them to the sea. If you could visit any five places in the world, what would they be? Goa, India – I hear it’s very beautiful there. I’d like to go to Canada for a few weeks. Go fishing and hunting, make some shish kebabs. Amsterdam – I’d like to go to the “Sen- sation Party.” China – I’d like to see the Great Wall. Abkhazia – very beautiful – they have fruit, sea and sun. Last but not least, what are three things that nobody knows about you? There are no such things; I’m a very open person. (Translated from Russian by Paul Mogilevsky) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. “Because of the situation in the city, we had to forget about taking walks, going to the doctor, hanging out with friends or going to the movies. Those memories are very unpleasant; I only made it through without losing my mind because I had my wife there to support me.” 45 GPWA Affiliate Interview Series