GPWA Times Magazine - Issue 22 - October 2012

GPWA AFFILIATE INTERVIEW SERIES If you could change one thing about the industry, what would it be? Less competition, but then again that is never go- ing to happen! What surprised you most about the industry? I guess my big- gest surprise was the amount of revenue it can generate if you work hard, along with the versatility it offers to those who cannot actually go to a state or country that offers gambling. What do your family and friends think of your work as an affiliate? I don’t even try to explain anymore. Most people say, “You do what? Online marketing?” And then after a pause, “That sounds interesting.” My family was totally skeptical until they ac- tually saw the money coming in. Now they do see it as an actual job. How long do you give yourself for answering e-mail? I try to answer within 48 hours or sooner. It all depends onmy workload. How do you manage your “to-do” lists? Do you use any spe- cial software to help you out? I use Outlook and do notes on my tablet, and many times just scribble my tasks on a piece of paper. I am pretty good at multitasking and seem to never forget what needs to be done. How much time does it take to keep your sites updated? I would say I dedicate a minimum of three hours a week per site. How much time do you devote to SEO and/or social net- working in order to drive more traffic to your sites? This is hard for me to keep track of but probably a minimum of two hours per day, sometimes more. When I am sitting on the couch with my family, I usually have a tablet in my hand that I use to submit RSS feeds make site submissions and comment on Twitter and Facebook. Are you a Google person these days, or more of a Bing per- son? And what are your thoughts on the Penguin update of a few months ago? I have recently been using more Bing for searches. I am not a big Google fan. As I mentioned before, you optimize for what Google wants and then they change their algorithm, which really hurts. While Google says they are happy with the changes they have made, I think that their search results have deteriorated. Doing a search now will usually bring up Wikipedia and YouTube videos. Personally when searching I would rather read text than watch a video. This is just another way for Google to continue monetizing and become richer. They have come a long way from being just a simple Web crawler, but I guess they have to keep their shareholders happy. If someone were visiting you, what’s the one place you’d definitely take them to see? It would definitely be the city of Guadalajara, Mexico. There are lots of old colonial buildings and lots of history, along with great nightlife and great Mexican food. What’s your favorite vacation spot? I love a place called Melaque in Jalisco, Mexico. The beaches are beautiful and it’s really hard to find an Internet connection, which is great be- cause then I have total downtime from work – and the seafood is heavenly. You mention that you love taking trips to Las Vegas and that you love to gamble. What’s your game of choice? And do you play much online? I have not been to Vegas for a couple of years. I love online slots – they are cheap and I can play for hours and clear the mind – but I also love online poker and blackjack. I do play often because it keeps me in tune with current games and keeps what I promote real. If you could have one “superpower,”what would it be? I guess the ability to be a super healer, with the ability to cure people with severe ailments, especially children suffering from cancer. What’s your all-time favorite movie? Star Wars has always been my favorite, because I think George Lucas put out some- thing way before its time and it never seems dated. If you were casting a movie with yourself in the leading role, who would play your romantic interest? Meryl Streep. I think she is a very sophisticated woman with a lot of class and talent. If you could invite any five people, living or dead, to dinner, who would they be? Steve Jobs, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Henry Ford, Isaac Newton and Hedy Lamarr. I think that would be a great dinner party – tons of knowledge, and they were all innova- tors in what they did. What are three things that nobody knows about you? 1. Even though I might seemcalm in a crisis I do get really stressed. 2. I work really well under pressure. 3. While people may think I am social, I am a total introvert and don’t really like dealing with the public. GPWA Affiliate Interview Series