Both entertaining and insightful, YNOT Bob is one of the adult Internet industry’s most interesting leaders, always ready to discuss the important issues and emerging trends.
We recently caught up with YNOT Bob to chat about his new role at the YNOT Network, 2257, the future of YNOT and other entertaining and insightful information.
Tripp Daniels: What's the latest news at YNOT? Any interesting developments?
YNOT Bob: The latest news at YNOT is that I have stepped aside as President of YNOT Network. This was necessary due to my new appointment as President of YNOT Payment. YNOT Payment will now receive 100% of my attention. It is an incredible payment solution, and I am looking forward to educating Webmasters on its benefits, such as the lowest rates and fraud scrubbing.
YNOT Network is in great hands, for my title and job description has been handed off to our long term C.O.O., Jim Ruga. Jim has been an invaluable part of YNOT's growth and very capable of continuing our vision.
The VP of Sales for all YNOT properties will now fall on the steadfast shoulders of Jay Kopita. We are very confident in his abilities as well.
For the most part, I foresee a new player on the block as far as processing, and Webmasters can truly take advantage with our new, truly global, eWallet solution, YNOT Payment.
Do you foresee any specific trends forthcoming in the adult Internet biz in the next year or two?
Of course! These new 2257 laws will create a new market for "2257 compliant content" or as a new marketing tool for affiliates "2257 content to promote." I can also see a new genre in pre-1995 content and sites.
I also foresee some dark times coming with the new .XXX proposals. This will do serious damage to our Industry. The .XXX will bring about expensive and lengthy legal battles, intrusive governmental regulations, and strict operating guidelines, which could be very detrimental to US Webmasters.
Regardless of these two threats to our Industry, the Net has never been stronger. I see more newbies focused on the right way to do business, hopefully a few of the scammers still out there forced from the Industry, and ignorance not being tolerated when it comes to the laws of our country.
Regarding the type of business/consumer model at YNOT, what's is the key(s) to success in your increasingly crowded sector of the adult market?
If you are referring to the chat board industry, then we don't consider ourselves simply a chat board, and yes, that sector is very crowded. While there are literally a hundred or so adult industry chat boards, we are first and foremost a resource site. Our model is and always has been to educate Webmasters the legal and ethical way to become successful.
We have added more writers, and programmers, to offer more services for adult Webmasters. We have completely redesigned our website and introduced some new and innovative advertising models, and we have integrated even more articles for education.
This must be working because our stats are growing daily, our community is now over 20,000 registered, and our Webmasters are receiving the best possible information and networking opportunities every day.
Let's say someone visits your site for the first time. After they've spent time surfing the site and checking it out, what would you like them to take away from their first experience at YNOT.com?
I take pride in the fact that new visitors can quickly tell YNOT is about business. We have been treating this Industry as a business since the beginning. We have very high standards and it shows with our board moderators, our articles, and our approach to the Webmaster community.
We also have built in checks and balances to keep our community as safe as possible from potential fraud. This can eliminate some of the scams new Webmasters fall prey. We have some of the best, hardest working, and Industry known employees working with us, and I am very proud of the team we have here. This will help new visitors should they have answers needing to be addressed.
So overall, I would like to think new visitors find our community one with like minded individuals when it concerns integrity and ethics, and who all are trying hard to make it in this crazy adult internet Industry.
Since you were once in the restaurant game, is there any correlation between running a quality restaurant and running a quality website?
Oh sure, both businesses rely on education and experience. I remember when I was in the restaurant business and people would tell me how easy this business is. Little did they know about costs, percentages, marketing, revenues, payroll taxes, etc. I started off as a busboy in the restaurant Industry. Then moved up the ladder to eventually be a General Manager. This experience taught me every aspect of the business, which led to my success in this field.
Likewise, in order to be successful in the restaurant business, or in the adult industry, you have to know everything about everything about your company. You have to educate yourself on your product and services. I actually attended Bar and Restaurant trade shows in Vegas long before Internext (and I have to tell you, there is much more nudity at those shows than our shows…). You need to know how to cook every entrée on your menu, and similarly, how to build every page on your website, how to promote your Happy Hour, and how to get traffic to your pay site.
Both the restaurant business and the adult Internet business can rely on basic business principles of education and experience…and a little bit of luck.
Is there a CEO at a mainstream, or adult, company that you admire for their business insight or what they have achieved?
Yes, I would have to say it is Paul Hennessey. Paul started off by buying a small Irish tavern, years ago, and has turned it into a mega company. He now has restaurants up and down the California coast, resort locations, and now in Las Vegas. He has turned his business savvy into land development and innovative restaurants. He also taught me everything I knew about the restaurant business, and in part, about life. I owe a great deal to this man.
Looking back to when you started in this business, is there anything you would have done differently?
Differently? Well hindsight certainly would be a great attribute to have, but every experience I have been through has led me to this point in my life. If I changed any of them, I may not be where I am today.
There were a few people I should have never relied upon, and a few experiences err hangovers, I wish I could forget, but for the most part I feel it has been an incredible journey thus far.
Have any advice for future business leaders out there?
Two great quotes come to mind when I am asked this question…the first being "Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer." And "Simple minds discuss people and places, great minds discuss concepts."
If you were to one day be on the cover of Forbes what would you like the headline to read?
"Good Guys Don't Finish Last"
Where do you see YNOT three years from now?
YNOT will definitely be a global player, but I won't divulge any more information this. I can let you know, though, we will continue to develop innovative tools to help Webmasters succeed, and always bring you the latest breaking Industry news, as well as educational articles to maximize your efforts.
