GPWA Times Magazine - Issue 32 - June 2015

What’s your preferred method of com- munication with affiliate managers? Do you like to talk on the phone, by e-mail or via Skype? We prefer to communicate via Skype chat as it is almost as fast as call- ing and has the advantage of being writ- ten and can be consulted in the future. Also, whenever it’s not possible to answer right away, it’s registered and can be an- swered as soon as possible. But of course we use all those communication channels; some things have to be done by e-mail and some others by phone. The most im- portant thing is to have an answer in the same or the next day. What prompted you to join the GPWA? How has it helped you? We registered on the GPWA just before the first affiliate conference we could attend in Barcelona in 2013. That was when the work pace slowed down a bit and things were finally on track. We searched for a different approach and a global view from the industry; of course we ran into the GPWA website, which has the best information on this industry. With the GPWA we can always follow the news and gather information on new af- filiate programs and new bookmakers. We think the GPWA is the right place to search for that information. What do you like about the industry? The ability to create our own project, with our own plan, and watch it grow. We provide the tools to help our members and visitors find the most efficient way possible to bet. In a way we help people, and through the forum and the community we are respon- sible for great friendships! If you could change one thing about the industry, what would it be and why? This one is hard to answer; in an ideal world, there would be unique regulations in sev- eral countries and the companies work- ing there would be more transparent and the owners of those companies would be known. Sometimes we advertise a new bookmaker to our community, and after some months they decide to pull back, or even shut down the company. We like to build trust and we want partners for a long relationship. The ideal would be to have a wide legal framework and recognition of the betting activity, and everything in the industry could be more transparent. What do your families and friends think of your work as affiliates? To outside people, our affiliate work is a regular Internet-based occupation. We create and develop websites, and that’s com- mon and accepted here in Portugal. In Portugal there is a certain fascination with people who do different things and who are entrepreneurs. For our families, the fact that we have al- ways been motivated may have helped. There was never a moment of stagnation since we started this project, and if they see us working hard they believe good things will happen and the results will come. Do you gamble online? If so, what do you play? Rui: I like to bet football whenever I can watch the match, as I like the extra spice it brings to the evening! Pedro: I don’t make sports bets; I think it’s mainly because I spend the entire day talking about sports bets that I get tired of it and when I come home I have no joy in betting. When I can I like to play online poker. How long do you give yourself to answer e-mail? What e-mail tips can you offer? Rui: I answer my e-mail in the morning, once a day, but I keep an eye on Outlook and some important e-mail has to be an- swered right away. Pedro: There's more than one of us an- swering e-mail, so it’s easy to keep an- swering throughout the day and have them answered within minutes. Advice: Everybody should adapt to what’s best for him or her, and try at least to answer e-mail once a day. Avoid accu- mulating e-mail over several days because it’s going to be hard to answer all of them, and some will get lost in the process. How do you manage your “to-do” lists? Do you use any special software to help you out? Rui: I use Windows “sticky notes.” Pedro: I’m old school and write the imme- diate tasks on a piece of paper where I can scratch out each when done. For medium- or long-term tasks we have other methods that include a whiteboard in the office. GPWA AFFILIATE INTERVIEW SERIES GPWA Affiliate Interview Series