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JBM:
What are the odds of being named Ynot Bob, then finding a
company to work with also called YNOT?
Bob:
My parents were visionaries…they predicted
a total nirvana where people called “Webmasters”
from all walks of life could gather and collect wisdom to
make money on something called the “world wide web”…
their foresight truly was remarkable…
JBM:
Where are you from and what did you do before the internet?
Bob:
I call San Diego my home, I have lived here most
of my life. Before the internet I was a restaurateur…I
opened up a bunch of Irish taverns up and down the coast of
California, until I opened up my own place down at the beach.
It was a Mexican sea-food place with over 100 tequilas. It
won several awards and was always happening with beautiful
people. Before that I was a college graduate and surf bum,
traveling around the world in search of the perfect wave.
JBM:
How did you get started in the adult net?
Bob:
The restaurant I owned had tons of hot chicks in
it every night. It was “the” place to be at the
beach…So naturally, I ran into some guys back then in
search of hotties for websites…one guy was D$, and another
guy was Jeff from the old Busty-Amateurs site. D$ got me doing
keyword descriptions for some of his amateur footage, and
Jeff got me finding girls for his website. Those were the
days, I could tell you some STORIES…
JBM:
How did you get involved with Ynot?
Bob:
KB was a regular at the restaurant I owned and we
became good friends. At the time, he was working for Rick
Meunyong, owner and founder of YNOT.
KB came in and asked me if I knew of any good attorneys. Greg
Geelan was a friend of mine back then, so I recommended him.
Long story short, Rick hired Greg, Greg negotiated the sale
of YNOT
to FCI, Andy Edmonds, President of FCI hired Greg as President
of the company, and the Greg moved the company to San Diego.
Greg needed a marketing guy, so he came in the restaurant
one night, caught me doing mouth to mouth shots of tequila
with a GANG of hot chicks and said, “Bob, you HAVE to
be my new marketing guy.” I said sure…sold the
restaurant and the rest is history.
JBM:
Ynot used to be really the only place where we all gathered.
I still remember the day the big bang happened and people
started splitting up. Do you remember that day? Can you recall
what happened?
Bob:
Nope, I really don’t pay attention to drama.
Ask anyone…I don’t have time for drama, or politics
for that matter. If people don’t want to hang around
us, I cant force them. As for people splitting up? We still
have daily unique visitor stats which are climbing and a continually
growing community of registered Webmasters. People who left
YNOT
are missing out on some great work, by some fantastic people…their
loss.
JBM:
How did the buyout from Andy Edmonds work?
Bob:
I am under legal wrap to not talk about it…but
if you ever attend one of my “YP” events, Ill
go over with you in detail one of the best adult internet
stories around…reads like a cross between a Clive Cussler
adventure and a Joan Collins drama.
JBM:
Has anyone seen Andy Edmonds lately? What is he doing these
days?
Bob:
Last I heard he was living on an island up in Washington.
Andy was always very good to me. I know there are people out
there who detest him, but to me, I am grateful for what he
did for me. You wont catch me bagging on him.
JBM:
Everytime I see you, your nuts come out for some reason. I
once threw a football at you in Florida and you tried to catch
it with your nuts. KB once described your sack as a frozen
chicken, is that accurate?
Bob:
Hey, you gotta give the people what they want. KB’s
description of the frozen chicken is totally false…he
knows first hand how warm and cuddly “my boys”
are.
JBM:
How many chicks in this business have you banged? Tell the
truth!
Bob:
Oh man…I don’t think I should answer
this…I may run for public office some day. Again, one
more thing we can share during a YP “moment”.
JBM:
Give some names and rate them.
Bob:
I can tell you one thing, webmistresses are MUCH
better in bed than models are…
JBM:
What do you think about the proliferation of webmaster boards
over the years?
Bob:
If I am to answer this honestly, I would have to
say that it has definitely flooded the market as far as Webmaster
traffic goes. In my opinion, a Webmaster board has its need
and is great for networking, and building a business with
like minded individuals. On the other hand, I don’t
understand why people would do business with people on some
boards where they can post anonymously, and be anyone they
want to be? I get complaints weekly from people who have done
business on a board and then got screwed…then they come
to me for help. Im like “would you buy your Thanksgiving
turkey at a 7-11?” No? Then why would you do business
at a place where they have no system of legitimacy check to
insure you have the best chance of NOT getting ripped off?
Don’t get me wrong, I love some boards, JBM
included, but the advice and products being falsely given
out there in some places, by no-name idiots are sometimes
almost criminal.
YNOT
is not a “webmaster board” and the impression
we are, is totally wrong. We are first and foremost a resource
site. Our chat boards are just part of our community of services.
Webmasters today are confusing “resource site”
with “chat board.” Let me give you this analogy…to
YNOT,
the chat board is like Happy Hour is to a restaurant…it’s
a great part of the restaurant, but it is not all the restaurant
has to offer.
Our chats are not our top priority, our listings of ethical
webmasters, our service directory and our thousands of articles
are what we work the most on. We have every tool needed for
a webmaster to retain business and create a larger business.
Sorry to ramble about this, but if we get called a chat board
one more time, I am gonna scream.
JBM:
Is the webmaster board still a profitable model?
Bob:
I wouldn’t know, I don’t run one.
JBM:
Take us through a typical day at work.
Bob:
I usually get online around 6am, after I have read
the paper and drank a pot of coffee…I’m one of
those freaks who don’t sleep. I turn on the PC, check
YNOT
first, turn on my emails, then both my ICQ’s.
I spend the first part of the morning hitting up a few boards
and checking on posts, as my email loads…then I spend
the next few hours answering emails and ICQ messages. I have
quite a few conversations going all at once for about 10 hours.
All the while we are working to launch new products, such
as the new YNOT
on 2/15, and a few others coming first quarter 2005.
I get input from my staff throughout the day, and we all
interact with each other to create the best successes we can.
Then I usually read the afternoon CNN to check out the world
and get cracking on the next batch of emails. Nothing really
exciting unless it’s a Humpday and we are a bit “loose”
around the YNOT
world.
JBM:
Anal sex hurts doesn't it?
Bob:
Only if done wrong…once again, come to a YP
and Ill show you the right way…
JBM:
What's the most important advice you would give to someone
just starting out.
Bob:
Great question, this is what I tell everyone who
is brand new…READ READ READ….get on YNOT and read
every article. Gather as much information as you can about
the Industry you are beginning to step into. Ask questions,
and don’t be shy. Same as any business, really. I mean,
would you buy a restaurant if you didn’t know how to
cook or bartend? Nowadays, I can also point them to our new
CD, www.MasteringtheAdultWeb.com.
The $50 they spend on this will save them thousands of dollars
and hours of wasted work effort.
JBM:
What's your most embarrasing moment?
Bob:
Wow, do I have one? I think you would have to ask
someone else what my most embarrassing moment is because I
don’t recall being embarrassed.
JBM:
Who do you admire in this business?
Bob:
You want names? It varies, from the obvious such
as my partner Gary Grigoryan, and COO Jim Ruga, to my incredible
staff here at YNOT,
to large Webmasters who have built an empire like Kevin at
TopBucks, or Mike at Silvercash, or Steve over at Lightspeed,
to small webmasters working hard to get to build their dream,
like Roy and Madame over at Bluetoon Media…there are
some great, fantastic people in this Industry…many of
whom I respect and admire incredibly. Its tough when you ask
for names, because you forget some, and then they don’t
think you admire or respect them…but those people know
who they are and know I do admire them as well..An easier
question is who do I not respect or admire…man, I could
write a book!
JBM:
What is new these days from Ynot?
Bob:
As I mentioned before, we just launched the Mastering the
Adult Web CD, http://www.masteringtheadultweb.com
. This is a multimedia interactive CD which shows you how
to become a productive Webmaster. Other similar items merely
tell you, this shows you. It also shows you the ethical, legal
way to start in the Adult Internet. This product is great
for large programs trying to stimulate their “sleeper”
affiliates, or for new Webmasters who need to know how to
get busy, or for people not even yet in the Industry who always
wanted to get into “porn”. It has a great affiliate
for it as well, so everyone can make money off of it.
The new YNOT
comes out on 2/15. This has been a huge effort from everyone
here at YNOT.
New design, new software, and new features. It will truly
change how adult Webmaster do their business and what an adult
portal is all about. We are already on a waiting list for
most of the advertising on this new site.
Then we have an even larger service coming out shortly after
this, which will once again change how Webmasters do business.
Stick close, its coming soon…
JBM:
What direction do you see YNOT
and the adult business taking in the future?
Bob:
The products and services I mentioned above are just the “tip
of the iceberg” for what YNOT
has planned for 2005. We have a vision which we keep working
towards, and along the way services to better help the adult
internet will be launched.
As for the adult business in the future? I am always an optimist.
As long as there are people wanting porn on the Internet,
there will be a vehicle for delivery. Just keep your business
ethical, always take the high road, and don’t let the
scum blemish your shoes.
JBM:
Will you bring me to the next Mexico get-together?
Bob:
If you want to come! The YP, www.wypd.com is awesome!! I would
love to have you come. Will Brad let you come? If you want
to get cheap and dirty with us, then bring it on! I will personally
be there to make sure your trip is worth the time.
JBM:
Have you ever been pepper sprayed by the cops?
Bob:
NO, but I pepper sprayed myself once. Does this count? Been
thrown in jail in three different countries too…but
I was INNOCENT! All in good fun.
JBM:
Tell us something unique about yourself that no one really
knows.
Bob:
I have four kids who mean the world to me, and I spend more
time trying to be a good Father than trying to be a good Webmaster.
JBM:
Anything else to plug?
Bob:
Check out the Humpday radio show next week on www.YNOTRADIO.com
when we interview Marilyn Chambers…man I love the Humpday!
JBM:
Thanks for your time Bob!
Bob:
Shoot man, thank you for wanting to hear what I had to say.
Don’t be such a stranger…
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