Affiliate Manager Interviews
Affiliate Managers under interrogation by GAV: Dobri Ugrenov, Affiliate Manager at Condor Affiliates
Dobri Ugrenov is Affiliate Manager at Condor Affiliates, who started by chance in this industry as a customer support agent in a leading company and within 8 short months he was promoted to Affiliate Manager and Affiliate Team Leader afterwards.
GAV: Hi Dobri, first of all, tell us and our readers a bit about yourself. How did your career start in the industry? What determined you to engage in this activity and start working at Condor Affiliates?
Dobri: I started by chance in this industry as a customer support agent in a leading company, and within 8 short months I had been promoted to Affiliate manager and Affiliate Team Leader afterwards. 5 years later, I decided to look for a new challenge and Condor Affiliates was the perfect match for me – bold and innovative brands that give me the opportunity to unleash my full potential. The makers of and people behind our brands are so passionate, it feels like a family business which is something very rare in this industry nowadays.
GAV: Condor Affiliates is the affiliate program for online casino brands Rembrandt Casino, Casino Sieger and b-Bets. What do you think is the key aspect affiliates appreciate regarding your affiliate program?
Dobri: We also have added 24Bettle which was launched in Jan 2016 – a unique, innovative brand based on the gamification concept. I believe one of our key aspects is working very closely with each one of our partners. Our devotion to this project cannot be measured, and it shows in everything we do – from promotional materials, constant improvements to our brands to the ongoing communication with our affiliates. Secondly we try to bring something new to the market. Also affiliates see that players are developing, and are getting intrigued by gamification, exactly something what we offer with 24Bettle.
GAV: What is your personal opinion about fair gaming? Do you think there is room to improve the general view and perception of the gambling industry? I mean, is there a new generation prepared to do that? Both Affiliate Manager and Affiliates.
Dobri: Fair gaming is a wide term. There is the side of the social and moral judgments and there is the side of the fairness of the games and terms. In my opinion the industry made a huge step forward in the last 5 years. Everyone knows the cowboy stories from a decade ago, in where the game providers delivered their games without an RNG, to mention an example. You will not see this happening again nowadays, at least not at the companies which are here for the long run. This is exactly reflecting what I wanted to say about this topic.
I think that this growth will continue to the new generation to get back to your question. But fair gaming is also a matter of education: there have to be terms in place to arrange for instant multiple account fraud – and people (players and affiliates) have to understand this.
GAV: Could you fill us in on your current offer for affiliates and maybe a brief description of your program?
Dobri: Condor Affiliates has a special offer for all new partners which is a 45% rev share for the first three months of our partnership. The idea is to give the best start to all of our new affiliates and lay solid foundation for a long-term cooperation. We have 4 brands: Rembrandt Casino, Casino Sieger, b-Bets and 24Bettle, of which each brand offers a Sportsbook, Casino (slots and table games) and Live Casino section. Every brand offers unique bonuses and an overall different experience to its players. Beside the gamification from 24Bettle, we auction Bonuses against loyalty points on b-Bets. Yes, a very unique feature. After 3 months, we will negotiate a custom made deal with our affiliates, based on extra services as unique content we can provide, method of promotion, and of course results. We aim to work closely with the affiliates by coaching them actively as well, so we can work towards a long term relationship, which will benefit both parties because at the end of the day, that is what doing business is about.
GAV: What markets does Condor Affiliates target, and what makes it stand out in the ever growing crowd of sports betting and casino affiliate programs?
Dobri: Currently we have our website translated in the following languages: German, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish and English of course. But in general, we welcome players from all over the world as far as it is sustained.
What makes our brands stand out is the people behind them, the constant exchange of ideas and innovation – the urge to develop and always turn ”okay “ in „better“ into „the best“.
GAV: Since the London Affiliate Conference is almost here, we would like to ask your opinion on this event, are you guys attending these conferences or are you going to be in Berlin? How about SiGMA and the brand new Nordic Affiliate Conference?
Dobri: LAC is the best Affiliate event there is. So if anybody has not scheduled a meeting with our team yet, hurry, time is running out. Regarding AAC, BAC and SiGMA we will attend all, as for us it is extremely important to keep a close relationship with our partners and arrange meetings in person as regularly as possible. The Nordic Affiliate Conference is a very interesting idea, and we are planning to attend this one as well to meet new and existing partners. In Berlin we will be welcoming affiliates on our booth, just like our Oktoberfest themed stand last year!
GAV: Where do you think the online sports betting/casino industry will be in 3 years, and of course, on which scale do you see Condor Affiliates?
Dobri: There are so many technological opportunities such as the augmented reality; we all saw what Pokémon Go did. I believe in three years from now, we will be looking at a very different betting/casino industry, developed in such a futuristic and fun-tastic (gamification) way that no one can predict at this point. As for Condor Affiliates – 3 years from now, we will be the top partner for big and small affiliates, we will be on the edge of this technological enhancement in the betting/casino industry I just mentioned above. We don’t aim to be the biggest, but we aim to be the best! The sky is our limit!
GAV: Tell us a bit about your team? As we know it’s quite made of enthusiastic professionals, who think out of the box, and deploy even the wildest ideas, thus transforming the online gaming market, through innovation and reliability.
Dobri: Thank you! I could not have said it better myself. Every person in our team from the customer support agent to the CEO is always open to share ideas that might help improve our brands. To me personally, this is our greatest asset: the ability and power to change and develop ourselves and the company.
What we encourage most is the creativeness of solutions. A problem is only a problem when the solution is not creative enough. So we challenge one another to come up with exciting and outrageous ideas. Sometimes they are not practical enough, and we need to narrow it down. But take for instance 24Bettle: the originality of the features and gamification is a perfect example. And there will be more!
And that again is the beauty of developing our own system: everything is possible (but everything takes time ..!)!
GAV: Since Central and Eastern Europe offers a large pool of successful affiliates in the industry, do you think that this region is somehow overlooked by brands that are not applying for licenses in the demographic and are there many super-affiliates that you managed coming from this region?
Dobri: Being from an Eastern European country myself, I think the market is a bit overlooked. There are many reasons for it, and I don’t believe it depends only on the operators themselves to get the license or enter the market – local politics and law structure is still quite vague in some countries which gives a big uncertainty to operators. And we all know that uncertainty is not fancied by any business. Plus, there is the additional fact that the marketing and segmented approach to some regions is different. You have to know your players in order to cater them and also what is the best way to make them convert. This being said – as an operator, you have to take all of this into account when you determine your focus markets.
GAV: Who is your favorite celebrity and if you’d have to a pick a destination in Eastern Europe, where would you travel?
Dobri: Favorite celebrity? I would rather say favorite artist: Jack White. I have been to a few Eastern European countries, so would visit Russia – Saint-Petersburg.
GAV: Where you wouldn’t want to travel?
Dobri: Tough question, South Pole
GAV: What is your opinion about GAV (GamblingAffiliateVoice.com)?
Dobri: I like the concept of interviews and getting to know other affiliate managers and affiliates because it’s very informative and fun at the same time. I always find something or someone interesting to read about. Keep up the good work!
This interview Affiliate Manager Interviews: Dobri Ugrenov-Condor Affiliates appeared first on EEGReport Magazine.
Affiliate Manager Interviews
Affiliate Managers under interrogation by GAV: Keith Zammit, Affiliate Manager at Condor Affiliates
Keith Zammit is Affiliate Manager at Condor affiliates, business oriented, neighbour loving, quiet conflict solver, with a deep entrepreneurship vain, a passion for all things Digital and a love for writing!
Name: Keith Zammit
Age: 29
Hometown: Swieqi Malta
Living in: Swieqi Malta
Favourite Food: Green Thai Curry Chicken
Must Read Book: How to win Friends and Influence People. Dale Carnegie
Affiliate Manager at: Condor Affiliates.
GAV: Hello Keith, first of all, tell us and our readers a bit about yourself. How did your career start in the industry? What determined you to engage in this activity and start working at Condor Affiliates?
KZ: I was born and raised on the island of Malta, but I do not have a typical island mentality. Adventure, Open Source, foreign influence… these things excite me… However, that does not mean that I don’t have a Maltese approach to life. I love fine wine and great food by the sea, and I look forward to the village feasts with cold beer and amazing firework displays all summer long.
My Career in Affiliate Marketing started way back in 2010, when a friend of mine and I started building niche websites as a side income at Uni. During the glory days of online poker we built a network of Poker Niche sites that was eventually acquired by a Network.
Having been in contact with a number of affiliate managers over the years, I always said that one day I would cross the fence and join the casino side. I was eventually contacted by Condor Affiliates and decided to take on the challenge.
GAV: Condor Affiliates is the affiliate program for online casino brands Rembrandt Casino, Casino Sieger, b-Bets and 24Bettle. What do you think is the key aspect that affiliates appreciate regarding your affiliate program?
KZ: Our affiliate programme has 4 key factors to it:
1. We have a custom built back end system which allows us to show tailor-made reports to our affiliates.
2. Even though you have 4 brands to market, the revenue is separate, and we do not have a negative carry over… so should you have a negative balance on one brand, this will not affect your income on the other 3 brands.
3. Our brands all have something unique in character, from GEO targeted styles (Casino Sieger and Rembrandt Casino) to an Auctions Based Loyalty Program (b-Bets) and also a gamified platform in 24Bettle, which increases retention and re-deposits.
4. In addition, we have a strong Sports Betting pull, which allows us to cross-sell from Casino to Sports and back… increasing our affiliates Revenue.
GAV: What is your personal opinion about fair gaming? Do you think there is still room to improve the general view and perception of the gambling industry? I mean, is there a new generation prepared to do that? Both Affiliate Manager and Affiliates.
KZ: It is every gambler’s innate fear that online casinos can be rigged, and that the payouts can be meddled with and modified by the Casino Managers. In reality, when it comes to RNG and licensing many know that this area is heavily audited and that the game providers are always under scrutiny by the Gaming Authorities. In our case, we have a Malta License, which is very strict when it comes to fair gaming.
It is up to us as Affiliate Managers and the Affiliates to really push forward the reassurances that there is no interaction between the Casino and the Payout % and a chance of winning, and that Casinos who comply with Fair Gaming standards set out by the relevant gaming authorities should proudly display this, and make sure that the players are aware that the casino is running a fair game.
GAV: Could you fill us in on your current offer for affiliates and maybe a brief description of your program?
KZ: Our Program has been designed to help you maximize your income. We work on a revenue share model with no hidden fees and no additional hidden deductions. Thanks to our special welcome promotion, you can get a 45% revenue share for the first 3 months! There is no negative carry over and no player quota with us either!
At Condor Affiliates, our goal is to build long-lasting, trustworthy and mutually successful relationships with affiliate partners. As a partner, you’ll be promoting products which are worth your efforts and your time. Sending your traffic our way always translates into high ROI. This is why our focus is set on player retention by constantly launching fresh, exciting promotions and targeted rewards. We like to reward our affiliates too!
GAV: What markets does Condor Affiliates target, and what makes it stand out in the ever growing crowd of sports betting and casino affiliate programs?
KZ: Currently, our target Markets are mainly Central and Western Europe as well as the Nordic Countries. We also support quite a few languages on our websites. Having said that, we see players come from all over the world, with a few exceptions!
We are actively working on acquiring our UK Gaming License and look forward to start accepting UK Players in the very near future as well.
As mentioned previously, apart from our 45% Revenue Share deal, we offer you to promote 4 casinos that have no negative carry over, no player quotas, fast payouts and most of all statistics can be viewed inside one affiliate account for all brands.
GAV: Since the Amsterdam Affiliate Conference is almost here, we would like to ask your opinion on this event, are you guys attending these conferences or are you going to be in Berlin? How about SiGMA and the brand new Nordic Affiliate Conference?
KZ: We will be at AAC this year and we believe that participating at affiliate conferences allow us to meet our current and potential partners and get to know them on a more personal level. It is very easy to speak on Skype and arrange a quick meeting in person see the person, but in the buzzing atmosphere of the conferences, we can create a real connection, make them thrive and hopefully last for many years.
Berlin is one of the cities we really love and we will be surely attending conferences there too!
Since we are based in Malta, SiGMA is always a favourite of ours and we have built many new relationships through these events and look forward to being there again this year.
The Nordic Affiliate Conference is a very exciting one for us, since that is one of our largest target markets, and we are already discussing our participation there. Maybe we could find a bird handler who has a Condor? Hmmmm….
GAV: Where do you think the online sports betting/casino industry will be in 3 years, and of course, on which scale do you see Condor Affiliates?
KZ: The industry is always moving into a stronger position and with new casinos showing up every day, the market reach is getting better. There is always the slight worry that individual countries will limit the activities of Remote Gaming without a specific licence for each country, but here at Condor-Affiliates we are always building towards servicing as many countries as possible. I believe that over the years our brands will grow further and further. We have recently expanded our affiliate team and we have also opened a new office in Bulgaria… so definitely expect greater things from us shortly!
GAV: Tell us a bit about your team? As we know it’s quite made of enthusiastic professionals, who think out of the box, and deploy even the wildest ideas, thus transforming the the online gaming market, through innovation and reliability.
KZ: Currently our Affiliate Team is being expanded (is growing steadily) and we are always on a lookout for the creative geniuses to take our and our affiliate’s efforts to the next step. Being a flexible company we are focused heavily on the individuals and therefore we are more keen on creating custom tailored solutions for both, our players and our affiliates. This is where I believe innovation is created, as we get to hear it straight from the users and this is how we then create innovative plans designed specifically for them.
But of course there is more to it other than only the affiliate team. We have great colleagues in the company, who are also making the magic happen (behind the scenes). I have witnessed some great product training sessions, brainstorming events, and our conference room being invaded by teams who were working on truly exciting projects which are completely new and upcoming. I can not tell too much about this, but one thing i can already see: it will be revolutionary, out of the box, and the wildest ideas are coming truth!!
GAV: Since Central and Eastern Europe offers a large pool of successful affiliates in the industry, do you think that this region is somehow overlooked by brands that are not applying for licenses in the demographic and are there many super-affiliates that you managed coming from this region?
KZ: I do believe that there is definitely room for improvement from most of the Operators and Managers when it comes to Eastern Europe, but here at Condor we have already realized this potential and that is why we have set up our Bulgaria office, to be closer to this untapped market. We currently work with a few Super Affiliates from the East Europe region and we have had great success with these people… but we are always on the lookout for new affiliates, whether they have super affiliate status or not. We believe that together we can build up towards mutual success So if you’re a Junior, Senior or Super affiliate… get in touch 😉
When it comes to Licenses, we are always monitoring potential market opportunities. Now our priority is to get through the UK application and obtain UKGC License, which is going to be a very nice opportunity for our brands!
GAV: Who is your favourite celebrity and if you’d have to a pick a destination in Eastern Europe, where would you travel?
KZ: If I had to pick any celebrity I would have to go with Frank Sinatra. I am an avid lover of music and there is an old world gentleman charm that Sinatra portrays.
Eastern Europe destination would have to be Budapest… I’ve been there 4 times already and I think I would like to stay there for an extended period of time and get to experience living there.
GAV: Where you wouldn’t want to travel?
KZ: The Sahara desert. Malta already reaches temperatures of 40 Degrees Celsius and during our Summer months and I cannot stand the heat. So I cannot imagine myself traveling in the desert..
GAV: Tell us your opinion about GAV(GamblingAffiliateVoice.com)?
KZ: I get onto GAV everyday to read the latest news section as well as following the group discussions. I think it is very important to always be aware of the latest happenings in the Affiliate Industry, and GAV always have the latest… so for me it’s a must!
GAV: Thanks for your time Keith, we appreciate it and wish you and Condor Affiliates all the best!
Affiliate Manager Interviews
Affiliate Manager in the spotlight: Jessica Guether of Fortune Affiliates shares her story
Well, it doesn’t get any better than this, working at one of the industry’s giants and loving every part of your day and activity. Jessica Guether is one of the Affiliate Managers at Fortune Affiliates, an affiliate program that we like working with and I can promise you that if you join Fortune Affiliates, you too can share this experience.
Name: Jessica Guether
Age: 25
Hometown: Johannesburg, South Africa
Living in: Johannesburg, South Africa
Favorite Food: Mexican
Must Read Book: Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts
Affiliate Manager at: Fortune Affiliates
EEG: Hi Jessica, first of all, tell us and our readers a bit about yourself. How did your career start in the industry? What determined you to engage in this activity and start working at Fortune Affiliates?
Jessica: I have a degree in marketing and management and quickly found my way into Account Management. Through the years, I made the natural progression into the digital marketing arena. The rush and dynamic pull of the casino industry sucked me in. Fortune Affiliates has a young, vibrant corporate culture which is infectious and impossible to leave once in. After working with so many fantastic affiliates as part of an industry giant, I can definitely say I have one of the most rewarding job titles.
EEG: Fortune Affiliates is the affiliate program for a number brands, such as Royal Vegas Casino, Euro Palace Casino, Platinum Play Casino, WinTingo Casino, DizzyWin Casino, Red Flush Casino, 7 Sultans Casino, Vegas Palms Casino and Casino La Vida. What do you think is the key aspect affiliates appreciate regarding your affiliate program?
Jessica: Our brand portfolio is one of the key factors that makes Fortune Affiliates a great partner to work with. Each brand has been tailored to suit specific markets as opposed to a one-brand-fits-all approach. Couple this with one of the best retention, conversion and VIP teams in the business and you have a partnership that will extract as much value from your traffic as possible. Over and above this, our personal touch comes from our team of highly skilled Account Managers who are always at hand to assist our affiliates in any way possible. When partnering with us, you are signing up for a mutually beneficial relationship with a company that is trustworthy, ethically driven and has the capacity to pay our affiliates timeously for the traffic they have provided.
EEG: What is your personal opinion about fair gaming? Do you think there is room to improve the view of the gambling industry? I mean, is there a new generation prepared to do that? Both Affiliate Manager and Affiliates.
Jessica: In my opinion, the gambling industry is fair. Each casino needs to be registered with a gaming authority who regulates the market and a payout percentage will always be set. The reason why outsiders to the industry may perceive this differently is due to the common belief that casinos never payout or give you anything in return. This is where clear opening offers and wagering requirements from casinos need to come into play. The more transparent we are, the more trustworthy and less dubious our industry will become.
Fairness to the game also gives zen casino bonuscodes, which will provide the opportunity to receive additional bonuses and save money.
EEG: Could you fill us in on your current offer for affiliates and maybe a brief description of your program?
Jessica: Our program has been at the forefront of the gambling industry for the last 15 years with an impressive portfolio spanning over 9 casino brands. We offer online casino and casual games over a range of gaming providers such as Microgaming, Netent and PariPlay.
As part of our signup deal, new affiliates can enjoy 30 – 50% rev share deals spanning over 3 months. After this, they will be placed on our standard tiers which will be based on the amount of traffic they deliver, 25 – 40%.
As each and every affiliate is allocated a dedicated Account Manager, we can negotiate different deals such as CPAs, flat-rates and tailor made solutions.
EEG: What markets does Fortune Affiliates target, and what makes it stand out in the huge crowd of casino affiliate programs?
Jessica: Fortune Affiliates stands out from the crowd mostly because of reputation. After 15 years in the industry, we must be doing something right!!! As a tried and trusted brand, you are guaranteed the best service and expertise that you would expect from a casino giant.
The regions that we target are very extensive as we have all the different brands to suit a multitude of players. Our strongest would be Australia, Canada, Scandinavia and Europe but we are always looking to extend our reach.
EEG: Since the London Affiliate Conference is almost here, we would like to ask your opinion on these event, are you guys attending these conferences or are you going to be in London?
Jessica: Fortune Affiliates will always have a presence at these events. Our business is online however, a personal touch can never be replaced. These conferences are a great opportunity for us to meet and socialize with our affiliates as well as meet new affiliates interested in our program. We are all looking forward to LAC and hope to see many new faces at our photo booth and meeting room 5.
EEG: Where do you think the online casino industry will be in 3 years, and of course, on which scale do you see Fortune Affiliates?
Jessica: I am a huge fan of Fortune Affiliates and the brands we have built so I know that we will be at the forefront, whichever way the industry goes. In 3 years’ time, I predict a bigger focus on mobile as well as multi-gaming platforms.
EEG: Tell us a bit about your team? As we know it’s quite huge and well positioned in the industry with some skilled and experienced affiliate managers in the affiliate marketing sector.
Jessica: Our company is 400 strong with dedicated call center, conversion, retention, fraud, creative and VIP teams and we are still expanding daily! We have an eclectic team of account managers from varying backgrounds. Each of us is accomplished in digital marketing and account management and always looking for ways to upskill and keep ahead of a very dynamic environment.
EEG: Since Central and Eastern Europe offers a large pool of successful affiliates in the industry, do you think that this region is somehow overlooked by brands that are not applying for licenses in the demographic and are there many super-affiliates that you managed coming from this region?
Jessica: These days, affiliates come from all over the world and target many different regions, not just their own. It would be ignorant to disregard an affiliate simply based on their location. Some of the best affiliates we have had have been from Europe! I look forward to getting many, many more….
EEG: Who is your favorite celebrity and if you’d have to a pick a destination in Eastern Europe, where would you travel?
Jessica: My favorite celebrity is Sandra Bullock, has she ever done a bad movie?
If I had to choose a destination, it would have to be Bulgaria. The food, beaches and people are just amazing!
EEG: Where you wouldn’t want to travel?
Jessica: I don’t think there is a place I wouldn’t go 🙂
EEG: What is your opinion about EEG(eegaming.org)?
Jessica: EEG is a fantastic idea! I am very surprised that an initiative like this hasn’t been successfully done before. As we know, Central and Eastern Europe has a multitude of affiliates and is quickly making waves in the industry. To have a dedicated source of support and a trustworthy platform to engage with other affiliates is a great way of catapulting many potential affiliates into the bigtime.
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