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.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.
In The Spotlight: Danielle
TheAdultWebmaster.com
YNOT: What drew you to the industry?
Danielle: The same thing that continues to draw people to this industry and will for a long time – money. When I first started working for Oz I had NONE! Since then I have found that the people, more than the money is what keeps me here. It still boggles my mind to know that before I started working with Oz, I could barely surf the internet!
YNOT: What type of work were you doing before you started in the biz?
Danielle: Before I started in this business I was working as a customer service rep for a cellular company that I hated. I quit that and was out of work for about 4 months. That’s when things got weird – I was dying for work and took to answering newspaper ads. That’s where I met Oz! I answered his ad for a customer service position! Two days later I am working in porn!! Now, I can’t imagine doing work in the “real” world!
YNOT: When did you get your start in the online adult business?
Danielle: I can’t believe it, but it has been almost 2 years! Even after all this time I still feel like such a newbie!
YNOT: What types of sites and/or targeted business did you start with?
Danielle: I was very lucky with the way that I broke into this business. I started out doing customer service for the truecash sites (www.truecash.com ). When that wasn’t enough to keep me busy, Oz started bringing me into TheAdultWebmaster (www.theadultwebmaster.com ) where I found my “niche” in sales. Since then I have taken over all the sales and marketing aspects company including our dedicated e-mail service trafficpump (www.trafficpump.com ), and our soon to be released products TrafficIQ (www.trafficiq.com, a free webmaster toolbox), and LoadTime (fully customizable content) which we are doing in conjunction with Igallery .
YNOT: Where did you begin gathering info about the business?
YNOT: Did you already have friends in the business?
Danielle: Friends?…no. I had the guys I was working with as a reference point, but didn’t really meet anyone else in the biz until I started getting out there and networking. Making friends in this industry was one of the hardest things I had to do. I knew where to find people, but not how to approach them. My e-mails sounded spammy, my posts were much worst, and I was sure that everyone was going to think I am stupid – boy was I wrong! Once I started loosening up and talking to people I found LOTS of friends willing to help me!
YNOT: Give us your thoughts on how easy or difficult it was for you to get started.
Danielle: It was pretty easy for me to get started, but I think I am the exception to the rule. Anyone who tells you there is “easy money” in this business is LYING! Don’t get me wrong; there is plenty of money to be made, but only if you are willing to work your butt off for it! It is important to find other people in this business as fast as you can when you get started – People are the biggest resource in this industry.
YNOT: Any funny or interesting stories about the business that you’d like to share?
Danielle: Anyone in this biz more than a month has funny stories I am sure! Most of mine start with…”so I was at this convention when YNOTBob….” Unfortunately after that point they become unfit for print!
YNOT: What changes would you like to see made in the adult Internet industry?
Danielle: I would like to see the businesses in this industry pull together more for the common good. There is too much squabbling over the way people think things SHOULD be done, that very little actually gets accomplished. I think that if people put there differences (and ego’s) aside a bit more, our industry would benefit 1000%.
YNOT: What do you love about the adult internet industry?
Danielle: Just about everything! I love the way people come together for a common cause. I love the fact that we are all basically in our own not-so-little cyberworld. I love that no matter what you think can’t be done – someone will do it. This industry breed’s creativity and that is a huge draw for me!
YNOT: What do you dislike?
Danielle: Child Porn is the big one. As an industry we should’ve crushed these creeps a longtime ago. The other thing (and I am sure I will get a lot of crap about this) is pissing on the messageboards. I really don’t see any reason for it. If you have a problem, talk to that person and move on. I don’t need to go to any message board and see a bunch of people just telling each other to f*ckoff.
YNOT: What are your thoughts on the future of the adult Internet industry?
Danielle: I think that we are in for a rocky time ahead, but if we pull together things will get better as a whole. You will see the virtual disappearance of CP and you will see the government get off our backs. That is still a long way in coming though. It will get worse before it gets better, but that will help to weed out the people who are just in this business to scam everyone.
YNOT: If you had one bit advice you could offer new Webmasters, what would it be?
Danielle: Read TheAdultWebmaster! Read YNOT News … Seriously, use the resources at your disposal – the sites, the people, the shows EVERYTHING! It is not easy to make it in this business, but the tools are available.
