GPWA Times Magazine - Issue 3 - January 2008

GPWA TIMES | GPWA Affiliate Interview Series 46 for the first time in 2006 I’ve never really had something that I created or that was mine and only mine until GamTrak software. It was like my baby, but more important it was my livelihood. My forum members are like an extended part of my family. I feel good when I see how they in- teract during competitions as well as helping to keep each other informed of the promotions, and that helps me to overlook the negatives. How long did it take for you to start earning money? It took me about a year before I made any money due to the fact that I was clueless about what it really took to be successful. When I started I thought that the money would come rolling in quickly, but when it didn’t I was already com- mitted to staying the course. How(besidesUIGEA) has the industry changed from when you first started in 2001 to now? The terms and con- ditions for bonuses have really been ruined by the no deposit offers, so I personally would never take a bonus due to the fact that I don’t want any restrictions on my deposit. If you had to pick five keys to success as an affiliate, what would they be and why? Patience – it takes time to build a player base in order to make money. Honesty – don’t try to cut corners by tak- ing advantage of someone else’s work. Set Goals – find a niche and learn as much as possible. Don’t try to do ev- erything out there. Don’t cheat yourself – invest whatever it takes in tools that will aid you with your business. Contribute – be willing to help new- bies in the industry. Beside the obvi- ous, it helps to keep up on the latest technology. You are relatively new to the GPWA. What prompted you to join? And how has it helped you so far? I found GPWA in 2003, but I was a lurker for a couple years. I applied for private membership about three times before I was approved in the fall of 2007. I spent the majority of my time in the Freshman Forum. Once I gained access to the private areas I was extremely excited and spent hours searching, sorting and reviewing past threads in General Chatter, Private Polls, Prospective New Members and Tech Talk, SEO and the Marketing Info forums. Do you gamble online? I enjoy play- ing craps and poker equally. When I first found online gambling I went through a phase where I’d play al- most every other day or so. Once I began working in the industry I cut back due to the lack of time. In 2003 Casino Blasters offered to build me a branded poker skin, which I named GamTrak Poker. That got me back online daily for awhile because I fell in love with Texas Hold’em. Since 90% of my staff gamble online frequently, they provide me with re- views of the various sites so I don’t have the worry of advertising a site that is not treating the players right. This is one reason that I hand picked them while they were members.