GPWA Times Magazine - Issue 4 - April 2008

GPWA Affiliate Interview Series | GPWA TIMES 53 Terry W. Bolger | Continued from page 20 close to peaking. There will be new players but they will tend to be younger, smaller-stakes play- ers for the most part. To survive as an affiliate we’ll all have to be more focused on customer service and the “quality over quantity” approach to business. You feature a “Poker Site Black List” on your site. What went into the decision of having this feature? The blacklist was intro- duced when the Absolute Poker super user scandal first broke. I was stunned to see so many fo- rums and affiliate Web sites com- pletely ignore the story. At that time ThePokerkeep consisted of five web pages and a forum, so I created a special board in the forum just for listing rogue sites. Absolute Poker was the first site on that list and remains at the top of the list today. That board became one of the most popular, most read sections of my forum, so I decided to mi- grate the list to my home page, where it’s easier to find. I have recently closed the forum and am now considering creating a spe- cial “Blacklist” page where I can devote more space to those sites. What drew you to the GPWA and how has it been helpful to you? I happened to see the seal of ap- proval posted on a portal I was visiting one day and I thank God that I took the time to investigate. My regret is that it took me seven months to find it in the first place. I love the fact we are free to voice our opinions without fear of cen- sorship or being banned. I’ve learned more from the members than any other single source on the web. The GPWA is the most valuable online resource avail- able for our industry. What are your hobbies? Un- fortunately, 11 years ago I had a ladder collapse while doing some volunteer Christmas decorating in the village where our antiques store was located. I shattered my ankle and messed up some nerves in my back and shoulder so I’m not as physically active as I once was. The injuries are not debilitating, but they still let me know when I overdo it. My wife and I are avid antique collectors. We love early Canadian furniture. Just last week we were antiquing and found an awesome miniature cupboard. The work- manship was exquisite. The pride of workmanship was dripping from the piece, so we bought it. It’s now residing proudly in our front en- trance under a hand-carved walnut mirror we purchased years ago. Did you grow up in Canada? I grew up in Guelph, Ontario. We resided there until 2001, when we decided to move to Woodstock, Ontario. The move was motivat- ed by a desire to be closer to our daughter who had moved to Lon- don for college. Woodstock is lo- cated between Guelph and London, so it was perfect for visiting our kids in both cities. We never re- ally enjoyed Woodstock. It was too small, and since our courier ware- house was located in London we eventually decided to settle here. What’s the most common mis- conception about Canadians? I’d say it’s the climate. Most people think we have snow year round. In reality, we only see snow for three or four months a year. Our summers are hot and in Ontario it gets downright humid. The flowers are already bloom- ing in southern British Columbia. We do love our hockey and beer, though, they got that part right! Bruce Eicher | Continued from page 22 cessful. It is all about discovering what the customer (or Web site visitor) is looking for and deliv- ering it quickly, accurately and as smoothly as possible. I am a currently a store manager for Big Lots stores. I have held many po- sitions over the years, up to dis- trict manager for over 14 stores. And yes, Christmas is as bad as it may look for retailers, but it is the best time of year to have fun in your job. You’ve mentioned that your goal is to become a full-time webmas- ter in the next 18 months. How close are you to that goal? I am headed in the right direction. Some days when traffic is down or the stats for a certain month are discouraging I may get a lit- tle down in the mouth, but I try to keep in my mind my favor- ite quotes and stick to my plan. I have a note on my desk below the monitor that says “refuse to lose.” It was originally a note to me for my poker games but has transformed into my daily life now. I know this business is not one in which you make millions overnight and remind myself of this when the chips are down. I gave myself a time frame to make it or break it simply because you need to have clear cut goals in all aspects of your life if you want to be successful. What’s the difference between marketing poker sites vs. casi- nos? I have just started casino marketing and to me it appears that the visitor is looking for more information before going to the site. Since I operate a fo- rum I find casinos easier as I do not have to set up games for the members. Casino players appear to be looking for stable software, fair play and easy cash outs. The casino player base is not as much community focused. This is be- cause a casino game is man ver- sus machine whereas poker is a group of people facing off against each other. If you had to pick five keys to suc- cess as an affiliate, what would they be and why? 1. Have a sense of urgency; 2. Maintain a high level of integrity; 3. Develop a database of opted in members; 4. Don’t promote a site regardless of the free cash just for a sign up; 5. Set a goal, make it obtainable and stick to it. How does the GPWA help you in your work as an affiliate? I could write a book on this ques- tion. The GPWA helps in so many ways. I try to get by daily and look through the “today’s posts” option (thanks for having that). I use the forum to interact with the other members. So many have much more experience than I and have fallen into the same holes I have. Since I became a private member I look to the senior af- filiates for advice, criticism, and to stay abreast of industry hap- penings. What’s your favorite activity away from work? And why? I have many activities all equally important depending on the season. I really enjoy cooking, when I can find the time. I enjoy preparing meals other than the basic “meat and pota- to” dinners. Some of my favor- ite dishes to make are Chicken Cordon Bleu in a mushroom and white wine sauce, and shrimp in many varieties: fried, cocktail, scampi, shrimp fried rice all in one meal. A nice juicy rib eye on the grill is the “basic” for me.