Name of your website?Rob Rivera.com
Your name?
Rob Rivera
Your Location (city, etc)
Panama City
Please give us a short summary of your website?
Rob-rivera.com is the official site of panamanian author/editor/copywriter Rob Rivera, where I have all my published works of fiction and articles online for everyone to see, as well as the Panama Tourist Guide, your one stop for information on the REAL Panama and how it works from the inside. Snark and fun times within. Also, you can find my resume and contact information for questions, suggestions and job offers.~
What inspired you to launch your own website?
I need an outlet where I can express myself in regards to Panamanian culture and society. I also believe in being read if that means not gettin paid for it. With the Internet under my sleeve I have no censors and no restrictions as to what I can or cannot say. this has put the Rob-Rivera.com website within the top ten searches as far as Panama tourism and society is concerned.
When did you launch your first website, and what was it?
I launched the Rob-Rivera.com site in June 2006, a little after the birth of PortoDiao.com, my side project. The design/layout hasn't changed much since then, aside from some tweaks in the layout for SEO purposes. My first website was back when I was 14 or so, and the less we talk about it, the better.
How did you decide on a name for your website?
Well, I have a name and people seem to know who I was, so it seemed appropiate at the time. I have been told I do sharp insight and criticism, so I decided I would become the brand of my site.
What makes it different from other, similar offerings?
I believe Rob-Rivera.com is unique because of the content within; the type of information found in the site can't be found anywhere else, as it all comes from first-hand experience. the articles are of an anecdotal nature (most of them) so they are fun reads that educate on things every EXPAT should know before coming to Panama (or any Latin American country, for that matter).
What is your eventual goal? (To sell it, keep it for income, secure a book or other mainstream media deal?)
I would like to get my name farther out there and enter foreign markets. Ideally, I would like to get an eventual book deal be it for my articles or my fiction, which I believe to be quite good (nevermind the ridiculous amounts of ego on display here). As long as there is an Internet, there will be a Rob-Rivera.com for me to express myself.
How does your investment of time and money balance against your success?
I think the biggest benefit I have garneded from the website is recognition. I am very grateful that people from all over the world have fun and enjoy themselves reading my work, and most importantly, they have told their friends about me. You would not believe the amount of people I have met through the website!
If you had an unlimited development budget for development, how would you change your site?
I would make iut load a little faster, maybe get rid of the banner ads and give myself more time to finish and publish stuff in it! I would just use the rest of that unlimited money fund to fund PortoDiao.com events... we sure as hell need the economical influx!
If your site got really big, really quickly, would you be able to keep up with the demand?
If only I could have it give me money at the end of the day, I would surely find the way to do so!
What unexpected costs and headaches have you had to deal with?
The biggest headaches have been commenters that are convinced I'm an EXPAT gringo that thinks all Panamanians are stupid. Every time their angers comes from bad translation, though I'm not sure if it's because of the online translator I've set up on the site or because their understanding of English is flawed, but I usually get a kick out of them because they're generally so off the mark it's funny to me.
What has been your biggest challenge?
Having time to keep writing. The demand has thankfully gotten greater since I first started the site, and it's a shame that I can't find the time to do as much content as I would like anymore.
What method has been most successful for promoting your website?
Word of mouth, good reputation and getting out there to meet people, as well as PortoDiao.com and the events we do. As a result I've been called "an artist of human behavior" or something of the sort, and I think it has a nice ring to it.
How has running your website differed from your expectations?
I'm amazed that people actually like what I write, actually. It's very encouraging and gratifying to know someone out there agrees with me and, if the situation presents itself, can express in what points I am wrong.
How long have you run the site already, and how long will you continue to keep it up if you don't enjoy big gains in traffic, income or popularity?
I'm a writer, so the need to express myself will never falter. I think there will always be a spot for the online media in my career, no matter what happens. I've been running the site for a year and a half almost, and the response has been mostly positive (opinions are powder kegs waiting to explode on people's faces so you'll always garner people who don't agree with you).
What's it like to be an artist in Panama, Rob?
It's more complicated than it should be.
What is your website address?
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