Each month, industry news media organization XBIZ spotlights the career accomplishments and outstanding contributions of Women in Adult. WIA profiles offer an intimate look at the professional lives of the industry's most influential female executives.
Attendance at tradeshows in the online adult entertainment business makes a big difference.
I’m surrounded in my own office with a group of very smart, committed people that share their knowledge and support with me constantly. This inspires me on a daily basis and I’m lucky to have that.
Pussycash’s Marissa A notes that her top business connections are made at the various webmaster shows, which typically offer numerous events for networking opportunities.
Marissa A should know. She’s in charge of media buying for the company’s network of live cam sites, working all angles of online marketing while building client relations.
“In such a competitive industry and role sometimes it comes down to your relationship with your client,” Marissa A told XBIZ for this Q&A. “It’s so important to meet and follow up with current partners and also be there to personally get acquainted with new ones.”
XBIZ: What exactly do you do at Pussycash/ImLive?
Marissa A: I handle the media buying department for the Pussycash network of live cam sites.
XBIZ: What prepared you for what you are doing now?
Marissa A: My work experience in its entirety is in the online industry. I have experience in sales, marketing and management, so I have tackled online marketing from all angles. I think my experience in selling gives me the upper hand as a buyer as I use my experience to excel at negotiations, scaling ROI on all of my deals and being able to make well-rounded projections of what will come of different campaigns I consider running. Years of attending conferences and public speaking has also given me an edge on building client relations, which is proven beneficial from a media buying perspective.
XBIZ: What’s the best part of the job?
Marissa A: Definitely the people that I work with. My team, as well as our associates are all a pleasure to work with. The casual environment with a group of really driven individuals is what makes this industry so awesome. Being able to constantly expand my network as a media buyer is a major advantage. Of course seeing satisfying ROI is also a bonus (pun intended).
XBIZ: Who inspires you in this industry?
Marissa A: When I started working for Pussycash I knew very little about the people behind the companies in this industry, and I was surprised to see so many bright individuals from all around the world running all different kinds of businesses.
I love the fact that the industry has a sharp female business woman’s presence in all kinds of positions. I can’t pinpoint one but I would say all the WIA are really an inspiration to me.
Needless to say I’m also surrounded in my own office with a group of very smart, committed people that share their knowledge and support with me constantly. This inspires me on a daily basis and I’m lucky to have that.
XBIZ: How important is it to attend and get involved at industry tradeshows?
Marissa A: Crucial! Honestly, the top business connections I have made have been at the shows. Not only through pre-booked meetings, but the networking events have brought major business for us. In such a competitive industry and role sometimes it comes down to your relationship with your client. It’s so important to meet and follow up with current partners and also be there to personally get acquainted with new ones.
XBIZ: What’s a typical workday like?
Marissa A: I don’t think there is such thing as a “typical” working day for me. Every day is something new. We are constantly media buying from new angles, new verticals, with new partners and methods. I generally come into the office have my coffee and check my emails and Skype of course, then it’s just nonstop number crunching, recruiting new sites, checking on current numbers, monetizing and optimizing all campaigns, meetings to create new media buying structures and plans and more.
XBIZ: In your spare time, what do you like to do?
Marissa A: I like to do a lot of outdoor activities, which is easy as I’m lucky enough to live in Cyprus which has moderate weather year round. I love stand up paddle boarding, and spending as much time at the beach as possible. I also like to travel whenever I get the chance even if it’s only to the other side of the island. I spend a weird amount of time with my dog, Rupert. Still working on getting Shay to allow me to bring him to the office with me!
