GPWA Times Magazine - Issue 22 - October 2012

If you had to pick five keys to success as an affiliate, what would they be? Willingness to work hard, experience in the subject they cover, willingness to generate original content rather than having it provided, being player focused rather than money focused and a keen willingness to keep editorial integ- rity in their content. What prompted you to join the GPWA? How has it helped you? Having picked up the magazine at various conferences, and seeing the badge as a positive sign of quality, I decided to join and see if I could get one. I also like forums as a way of getting the skinny on the industry – I read them often, but post less so due to time constraints. What do you like about the industry? It’s something I can do. To be honest, there’s a lot more I dislike about the industry than I like. I have made some good friends though, and that for me is the best thing. I also like the fact that I can work to my own time- table, in my joggers, at home. If I want to go down to the beach with the kids or pick them up from school, I can. I don’t work well for others so this is ideal for me. If you could change one thing about the industry, what would it be? That’s easy: Only people with an interest in the niche and its players would make sites with affiliate links. I hate some of the useless, dishonest content I see on some sites, either supplied by the affiliate programs or slavishly copied by affiliates who care only for money. Not a popular view, I know. What surprised you most about the industry? The fact that I could make a living out of it! What do your family and friends think of your work as an af- filiate? Many of them are regular retail bingo players; they know my past experience in the game so it seems quite natural to them that I’d do this. They don’t really understand the nuts and bolts of it, but they see me making a living at it so they are supportive. I often use their experience as a barometer to what I do and what I want to see from online bingo sites, so it cuts both ways. How long do you give yourself for answering e-mail? What e-mail tips can you offer? If it’s worthy of a reply, then I reply within a couple of hours of receiving it – instantly if I’m online and I think it needs a reply. If it’s not hit my e-mail on my iMac, GPWA AFFILIATE INTERVIEW SERIES GPWA Affiliate Interview Series