Community Profile

Community Profile:
12 Questions from LAJ at YnotMasters.com

1. Can you give our readers a little background about yourself. What did you do before you got in this business?

LAJ: My most recent work before I started in the adult Internet back in May 2000, was as an entertainment industry publicist for syndicated television programming, a variety of home video and dvd products (most notably for MTV) and B-list television stars. I also organized press tours at various studios in Hollywood for television critics from primarily the U.S. and Canada. I did that for 2 1/2 years before leaving it behind for the world of adult.

2. How did your previous job/profession help you in what you do today?

LAJ: It was phenomenal boot camp into the world of public relations and dealing with all of the corporate BS and egos that can often accompany it. I was fortunate enough to take the marketing, networking and public relations skills I had developed and artfully apply them to the adult Internet, so it really prepared me mentally as well as professionally. In addition because I am given so much freedom in what I do at YNOT, I have picked up countless other skills in the 4 1/2 years that I have been here..

3. What is YNOT and what do you offer?

LAJ: In a nutshell, YNOT is two things. First and foremost, YNOT is known for YNOTMASTERS.com, the largest and oldest adult Webmaster resource portal on the Internet. We offer all of the tools an adult Webmaster needs to get started in this business, as well as for established Webmasters looking to maintain or build on the business they already have or are employed with. We have extensive service and Webmaster directories, important and relevant daily news updates, a regular weekly publication filled with news and tutorials (YNOT News), and a very thorough article database covering nearly every topic imaginable for Webmasters. We also offer classified ads, a lively and professional chat community with some of the most helpful Webmasters offering support on it, as well as several other YNOT properties including our sister resource site  www.theadultwebmaster.com, several radio shows (including the YNOT Bob Humpday Lunch where I am the co-host) on the YNOT Radio network www.ynotradio.com, and the famous YP events where I am the principal organizer. Details on our Jamaica party can be found at www.wypd.com/jamaica As well, the name "YNOT" itself is a very powerful brand that was developed in 1996 and has not only stood the test of time, but is getting better and better with age. YNOT is synonymous with legitimacy and ethical Webmastering. Old timers and newbies alike know that anything that carries the YNOT stamp of approval means that the product or company in question is at the very least, worth investigating. It has always been our policy that we will only promote, list and advertise services that pass our strict screening process and even have a complaint system in place should anyone provide evidence that a company in question might not be on the up and up. If YNOT determines something to be fraudulent or deceptive to Webmasters we won't allow it to be on our sites. I know of no other Webmaster resource site with a policy like that. It amazes me how many people in this industry find out about a company simply because they saw an ad for it on some chatboard elsewhere, spent money on the services and then later got ripped off. This is why branding on YNOT is very valuable.

4. What is your daily routine - of and with the maintenance of your website?

LAJ: My daily routine varies from day to day, but every day it's a guarantee that I answer YNOT support email and answer questions on ICQ all day long, monitor our chat boards (I'm the administrator), quality control, and handle all Webmaster directory requests. I'm also responsible for all advertising sales on TheAdultWebmaster.com so I make sales pitches every day. Right now my big projects are running and maintaining our event website at www.wypd.com as well as taking the lead in marketing and selling and running the Website of the upcoming Cybernet Expo in San Diego (www.cybernetexpo.com). I'm involved in several other things, but none of those require maintenance of the YNOT website.

5. What is the most important thing you have learned over the years in this industry?

LAJ: Loyalty and honesty are very important. Know who your friends are and stick to them. Surround yourself with positive, ethical and upbeat people who are here for the long run. This industry can be a
very lonely, dramatic and hard place to exist in if you hang out with the wrong people or you screw anyone over. Establishing a great reputation requires a lot of work. But overcoming a bad one it would
seem, would be even harder. Lets just say that my list of people never to do business with is growing all of the time.

6. Where do you see the YNOT web site 5 years from now?

LAJ: Still kicking ass as ever! It'll most likely go through a few more upgrades and additions. We are always adding and improving the site to make it the best it can possibly be for Webmasters. I would also have to say that our service directory, article directory, and webmaster directory will be much much larger.

7. What is your favorite part about working in this business?

LAJ: The freedoms, the subject matter and the people! I work with some of my best friends, have the creative freedom to do things how I want to do them, work for an incredible company, get to go to several exciting events every year, make great money dealing with porn (which I am a big fan of) AND get to work from home and live where I want and watch my infant son grow up since I'm around him all day long. Does it get any better than that???

8. If you were starting all over today, would you do anything differently? And if so what would that be?

LAJ: The only thing I would do differently is that I would have made some investments back in the day knowing what I know now.

9. What are three things you would like to see changed (be it positive or negative) in this industry, tomorrow, a week from now, or a year down  the road?

LAJ: 1. Better follow up and business practices. This industry is still too full of people who haven't learned the art of following through on a business deal to achieve results. A simple "no" i'm not interested goes a long way, especially if it saves everyone time. Working smart should be a class that everyone is required to take.   2. I'd like to see more unethical players ousted by their peers. If you know of a company or person to be fraudulent or totally unprofessional, why do business with them or even acknowledge them?   3. Less drama. Our industry has been called "low hanging fruit" for a reason. To an outsider, it may seem that our industry is full of smart business people (which it is), but the constant shit-stirring, in-fighting and lack of unity makes our industry look immature and an easy target. I stay away from all of the childish stuff.

10. What would you say are the biggest obstacle(s) facing in the adult industry today?

LAJ: There are three obstacles that threaten our industry: 1. The scammers, spammers and those that peddle CP and other illegal content, 2. The current U.S. government and the christian right-wing zealots (they all are one and the same nowadays), and 3. Non-government entities looking to take a chunk out of our industry or take away pieces of the pie as it were like Acacia, Visa, etc.

11. Any new projects in the near future you would like to share with our readers?

LAJ: Well, we always have something in the works here at YNOT, and instead of giving you the stock answer of "you'll have to wait and see", I'll let you know that we have an amazing newbie interactive CD in the works called "Mastering The Adult Web" which can be found at www.masteringtheadultweb.com as well as "The First Global eWallet Solution -- YNOT Payment"... that can be found at www.ynotpayment.com and will be available in the first quarter of 2005. That's all I can really say about both at this time. We will be promoting both of these properties at Internext in Las Vegas next month at the YNOT booth, #128, so come and check it out!

As well, I'm am currently organizing our next big YNOT Party in Negril, Jamaica. We do this twice a year and it is by far the best time you can have in this industry. The networking, partying, and relaxation
one can have at the YP (and all for a very reasonable price) is unmatched in my opinion. I'm currently about 1/2 sold out and nearly all sponsored up for our event in February 2005. Details can be found
at www.wypd.com/jamaica and all bookings are to be done through me directly at jay@ynot.com

And even though we are still six months out, Fay Sharp and I have started the marketing, sales and promotion for the 2005 Cybernet Expo in San Diego. This is the 2nd largest business show for adult
Webmasters. I am thoroughly excited to be doing the show in San Diego again as last year was a huge success. I urge everyone to go to www.cybernetexpo.com to learn more about the event and to clear their calendar for June 12-15, 2005! We are just now getting underway for sponsorships and seminars.

12. What is your number one secret for success?

LAJ:: HA! If I gave that away, it wouldn't be my #1 secret anymore ;-) I will offer this though... success involves much more than financial success. If you can concentrate on a successful business, successful mind, successful body and successful life outside of your work then you will truly enjoy your life. And when everything important in life is in balance, you will truly be successful.

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"LAJ"  Is a staple at one of the most popular adult portals around today
"LAJ" - has been working in the adult internet industry for four years and can be reached
by email LAJ or visiting the ynotmasters website.