IN THE SPOTLIGHT

www.searchenginematrix.com

YNOT News is proud to bring you our webmaster interview series, In The Spotlight. Through these questions and answers you’ll learn a bit about familiar names in the adult Internet business, how they got started, what they love about the biz, and where they see the adult Web in five years.IN THE SPOTLIGHT

www.searchenginematrix.com

YNOT News is proud to bring you our webmaster interview series, In The Spotlight. Through these questions and answers you’ll learn a bit about familiar names in the adult Internet business, how they got started, what they love about the biz, and where they see the adult Web in five years. If there’s a particular someone you’d like to know more about, or if you’re interested in doing your own interview, please contact Bob.

SE Matrix provides free search engine information. Many webmasters don’t know how to submit to and work with major mainstream search engines. That’s where Magick steps in.

YNOT: What drew you to the industry?
Magick: The same thing that draws everyone…the ability to make fast cash, and lots of it, by working from your home. My views on that have changed dramatically over the past two years..I now realize that it takes a lot of work and a little luck!

YNOT: What type of work were you doing before you started in the biz? When did you start?
Magick: I was a pediatric nurse for five years prior to coming into the industry. It was rewarding, but exhausting, and the pay was little to nothing! My goal when getting into the biz was initially to be able to generate enough income in order to be able to stay home with my two daughters. I was able to fulfill that goal about a year ago now…and no regrets! I first started in the adult industry almost two years ago, and almost quit a year into it. That is, until YNOT and some friendly webmasters “showed me the way.”

YNOT: What types of sites and/or targeted business did you start with?
Magick: Initially I purchased a turn-key paysite for $2000. Needless to say, I was shafted. The paysite was horrible, and the supposed “training methods” the company supplied were terribly misleading and inadequate. I spent the first year battling bandwidth bills and endless hours trying to make the stupid thing work. Then I found the YNOT board… and met so many webmasters that I now call friends. If not for the help of many people, I would have given up long ago.

YNOT: Did you already have friends in the business?
Magick: I knew absolutely no one in the business. In fact, it was quite the opposite…I live in a fairly small town in the middle of the “bible belt,” so I have been very selective on choosing who I am able to talk to about the biz.

YNOT: Give us your thoughts on how easy or difficult it was for you to get started.
Magick: The first year was extremely difficult–but only for the reason of that I did not have any reliable resources to guide me. Once I had access to the information, I realized that all it took was some hard work and very little cash. It was basically like the old cartoons…a light bulb going off above my head. From there, it has become much, much easier.

YNOT: Where did you begin gathering info about the business?
Magick: YNOT was the first adult webmaster resource I came across. I poured through the site religiously everyday, learning everything I possibly could. Then I finally worked up the courage to make my first post, made contact with some great people, and the rest is…history. Of course, I have since discovered numerous webmaster boards that are also highly informative, most of which I frequent quite often, but YNOT will always be “my baby.”

YNOT: Any interesting stories about the business that you’d like to share?
Magick: Well, I do have an odd story. What initially sparked my interest in the industry was a TV news mag that featured a story about two nurses that had been fired by their employer for doing online porn. The report stated that their income was upwards of 30 thousand per month…and I thought to myself, “I am definitely in the wrong career!” Now that one nurse is known as Dakota Rae–and my youngest daughter, who is 4 years old, is named Dakotah Rae. Of course I didn’t name her after the performer, but it has always struck me as such an odd coincidence.

YNOT: What changes would you like to see made in the adult Internet industry?
Magick: I would like to see less hardcore freely available. Not only does it increase the danger that children may inadvertently stumble across it, it damages conversion rates and makes the government look much harder at the industry as a whole than is comfortable for my taste. However, as hardcore is what draws in traffic, I do not see webmasters voluntarily taking down free hardcore content. I fear this is what will make the government intervene in the future.

YNOT: What do you love about the adult Internet industry?
Magick: The people, definitely. Never in my life have I met so many people that will go out of their way to help a person. Usually in any type of business, “trade secrets” are just that…secrets. However, in this business, people that have had great success are willing to teach and guide, with basically nothing in return. The rest of the world should be half as kind and generous as the people in this industry. We are family.

YNOT: What do you dislike?
Magick: How quickly some people will turn on a trusted sponsor or “friend” at the first hint of trouble. Most of the webmasters I know are loyal and stand behind each other, but there is always those few that like to “stir the shit” so to speak. I am a great fan of “live and let live.” One thing I have learned is to never burn your bridges in this business.

YNOT: Where do you see yourself in one year? Five years?
Magick: I see myself continuing to progress in the industry, more sites, more opportunities, more income. I look forward every day to learning something new about the industry, and I do not foresee that changing.

YNOT: What are your thoughts on the future of the adult Internet industry?
Magick: The adult internet industry will never, ever go away. However, I feel that unless some things change, and soon, that the government will most certainly become much more active in policing the biz. If and when that does happen, we will lose some people, I’m sure. However, if you play by the rules, stay legit, legal, and ethical (yes, ethical!), I think any changes could be weathered quite well.

YNOT: If you had one bit advice you could offer new Webmasters, what would it be?
Magick: Never give up. Learn as much as you can, as fast as you can, but make sure what you are learning is correct! Stay legal, stay informed, and stay honest. Make friends, share ideas, and keep building those sites. If you have dedication and information, then you have it made.