At a loss… As the GPWA team kicks off 2023 and prepares to head across the pond for ICE London and iGBAffiliate London, we do sowith heavy hearts. Back in November, just a few days after SiGMA Europe came to a close and I said my goodbyes to GPWA Program Manager Maria Florides in Malta, we received the terrible news that Maria had suddenly passed away in her sleep. It’s impossible to overstate the shock and sadness we have all felt here at the GPWA. In addition to being a tremendous ambassador for exactly what the GPWA stands for, Maria was a gem of a person. She was beloved by so many throughout the industry and it was not surprising to see numerous friends reach out to us and post their memories of Maria on social media and in the GPWA forums. We share some of those comments in this issue and we will most certainly feel a void at our stands at both events in London as we continue to mourn her loss and send positive thoughts to Maria’s family. Nonetheless, the show must go on, as they say, and in our first issue of 2023, which marks the 55th edition of the GPWA Times Magazine, we present an array of content that we hope will be helpful to your affiliate business in the coming year. To that end, our cover story, written by regular contributor Lee-Ann Johnstone, breaks down some industry trends she expects to see in 2023 and how affiliates and affiliate programs should be reacting. Also, GPWA member and Legalbet.uk site manager Andy Heaford discusses the conundrum of whether or not it’s possible to consistently offer quality content while also satisfying Google’s algorithm and obtaining high rankings. In addition, we have our customary collection of departments, including two more GPWA affiliate Q&As and a pair of affiliate manager interviews, as well as a photo recap from the aforementioned SiGMA Europe, results from one of the most active polls we’ve ever posted on the GPWA forum, and another deserving inductee into our APCWWall of Shame. We also present the most recent additions to our list of GPWA Seal of Approval sites, a program that now boasts more than 2,500 portals. If you are attending either of the events in London, we hope you’ll be able to swing by the GPWA stand and say hello. And if you are not already a subscriber to our magazine, please remember it’s free! All you have to do is visit GPWAtimes.org/subscribe/ Here’s to a prosperous and healthy 2023! Sincerely, Michael Corfman Maria Florides 1970 – 2 022 SUBSCRIPTIONS For a FREE subscription to the GPWA Times Magazine, visit GPWAtimes.org ADVERTISING To advertise in the GPWA Times Magazine, please e-mail: sales@gpwa.org ISSN 1941-9872 (print) ISSN 2834-2348 (online) Executive Director: Michael Corfman Program Director: Anthony Telesca Member Services: Richard Bard Nancy Troy Marketing Director: Andrea Mullaney Editor-in-Chief: Gary Trask Associate Editors: Dan Ippolito Jarrod LeBlanc Designers: George Choi Zoran Maksimovic´ LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR 4 G P W A t i m e s . o r g
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