Affiliate managers are a sort of silent heroes; most of the time, they remain out of the spotlight. However, their contribution to the success of an online casino is immense, indispensable even.
We thought there isn’t a better way to honour the achievements made by these guys and gals than by instituting an AskGamblers Award for Best Affiliate Manager. Last year’s winner, Andreza Majela of Campeon Gaming, was kind enough to take the time to talk to us and answer a couple of questions about the AskGamblers Awards and the impact that recognition had on her work.
1) Andreza! This is not the first time we talk (we loved you in our podcast), and each time we do, you’ve got something smart and thought-provoking to say. Did you expect to win? Be honest!
Thank you for your kind words, and it’s always a pleasure chatting with you guys. Honestly, I am a little embarrassed to say that I somewhat forgot about this category at the AskGamblers Awards! Last year, we were working hard and hassling with the other teams trying to get our brands to win in the other categories of the AG awards, and this category slipped my mind! But, as you can imagine, it was a really amazing surprise when I heard my name announced!
2) How has the “Best Affiliate Manager” Award changed your work dynamic, if at all?
I think it gave me a boost in my confidence since I am still young and relatively new to the industry, and being recognized with such a prestigious award made me feel proud of what I have accomplished and motivated to continue working hard. It was a moment of stepping back and saying – ‘Wait, maybe I’m actually doing a good job, and I think that was the push I needed to believe that I could actually continue to do more.
3) In your opinion, what qualities make the best affiliate manager?
Everyone is different, so there is no one size fits all. Still, I think some of the characteristics a good affiliate manager should have is good social skills since this is a people’s job.
You are in constant contact with people, having numerical affinity and understanding patterns to provide correct answers and the most effective ways to push for a successful partnership. Lastly, but perhaps most important, always try to work with honesty and patience as it is the building block of any relationship.
4) Give us a little background – What life-changing moment inspired you to pursue this role and ultimately led you to success?
Honestly, at the moment when I started this job, I was unemployed and fresh out of university. I had previously worked for a tourism agency, so I had experience working with clients and closing deals, but when I started out in Campeon, I started as a customer support agent. Since, at the time, the company was small, I was able to slowly take on more responsibilities and help out in other areas. Once I started affiliation, I knew that this would be something I would be good at, which eventually led me to become an affiliate manager and now Head of Affiliates.
5) What are the benefits of working in the online gambling industry, would you say? Do you see yourself pursuing a career in other industries?
I think it’s hard to explain this to people that work outside of this industry, but once you are in it, you want to stay. There is something thrilling about it and how fast-paced it is. One of the benefits of working in this industry is that you learn a lot, very fast, and because it’s so fast-paced and online, a lot of the trends that you see in other industries, such as crypto or social media marketing, also become tools in the iGaming world. This is one of the reasons I do not see myself pursuing a career in other industries.
Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions. We wish you the best of luck!