Webmaster's Corner

Interview with MorganaX

DFN: This week's interview is with MorganaX of VNWR's WFA Board and Platinum Pervert.

Lets get the real basic stuff first...
MorganaX My name is MorganaX, I'm 44, and I live in Hawaii.

DFN: Why did you pick the nick, MorganaX?
MorganaX "Morgana" was given to me by a chatfriend after King Arthur's step-sister. The "X" came later when I found that there were 40+ Morganas already registered on IRC.

DFN: How often do you try new building ideas, or using new sponsors?
MorganaX Home life has been hectic lately but I constantly have a few new projects. I tend to seriously try 2-3 new sponsors per season. During the summer, I tend to test more of the smaller sponsors. If it works out, I'll build more seriously for them during the rest of the year.

DFN: And how often do you build new sites?
MorganaX Over the last couple of years, my building has been focused on webmaster friendly sites and alternative traffic sources. If by "new site", you mean a regular feeder site with 20+ pics, then it's been at least a year since I've built one.

DFN: We know you are always busy... about how many hours a week are you able to put into your business?
MorganaX Before the grandbaby was born, I worked 68-70 hours a week. Eventually, I'll get back to being a workaholic but am savoring her wee-ness. :)

DFN: Do you do everything by hand? or do you use some scripts to automate your work?
MorganaX Most of my building is by hand using templates and other shortcuts. I use administrative type scripts for my list sites and a traffic trading script at my tgp.

DFN: Do you have any tips for us on how you stay focused and organized working for yourself?
MorganaX None that I can think of. My work schedule mutates around the family, including watching the granddaughter during her mid-morning feeding.

DFN: Can you touch on how and why you got involved into this industry, and how long you have been doing it?
MorganaX About 5 years ago, I started a bdsm resource site on a non-adult free host. When several free hosts threatened to ban bdsm sites from their services, whether or not they were porn-free, I decided to move to paid hosting. I earned just enough to pay the bills, then stumbled onto another webmaster board while learning. One thing led to another and I thought that I could turn my webmastering into a full-time income.

DFN: Can you give a brief background on your history in this business, and where do you see yourself in one year and several years from now?
MorganaX Briefly, I'd been an erotic writer for a big LL, field expert for a major sponsor and partnered with another webmaster in opening a set of topsites. My partner and I also individually owned links sites, mine being dedicated to bdsm sites. My own set of topsites were built almost overnight, with major motivation from one of Voltar's NPOWs and lots of help from friends, by way of feeder traffic and sites for content.

When list rules became stricter, we started Platinum Pervert as a private group of webmasters who own traffic sites that are webmaster friendly. Shortly thereafter, I opened Carnal Feast with a maximum 16 pics rule to further emphasize the need for webmasters to build webmaster friendly galleries.

Where do I see myself in one year? hmmm...As a site builder, I hope to have a solid foundation of alternate traffic. As for where I'll be several years from now, there is no end to the learning and dreaming. The internet is ever-changing and my business seems to have been built on a path of opportunities. Although I have a small idea of where I'd like it to be, I've had opportunities smack me in the face enough times to keep my mind wide open to the possibilities. *LOL*

DFN: What area in terms of site building do you specialize in, if any?
MorganaX Niche topsites.

DFN: What do you consider to be your strengths in this business?
MorganaX Perseverance.

DFN: What do you consider your 3 best niches?
MorganaX BDSM, Mature and Lesbian.

DFN: What is the best advice you were given when you were first getting started in this industry and what advice could you give a newbie just starting out these days?
MorganaX It's not advice per se and was posted to the masses at the time but one of my greatest motivators has been, "If you don't like it, learn how to make your own traffic." The second best advice would be to treat every doorway as a potential trading point.

Present times are tougher on newbies. I'd be tempted to say, "Don't quit the day job" or "Secure your personal finances first". Then, give yourself 3-6 months to learn, build, submit and find out if this business is suitable for you.

DFN: What do you think is the worst thing going on with future of our industry right now? ...and what is the best?
MorganaX The increasing costs of being a newbie worries me, as well as the enormous amount of cheating.

The best thing that's happening right now is webmaster friendly building and traffic sources.

DFN: And finally... do you have a URL you want to plug?
MorganaX Platinum Pervert