This article was written by Danielle

Vicky Ayala has been taking the internet by storm since the early 2000′s starting off with designing websites for the past 6 years, producing webisodes to creating online communities for Latinos in entertainment. Starting off in non-profit marketing, Vicky felt that the internet was the best place for someone who just wants to create and not have to worry about red tape or cliques. Check out the interview below to learn more about this sensational Internet entrepreneur!

Urbane Perspective Magazine: You call yourself the “Internet Mogal” can you elaborate on where the name came from, your background, and how you got started in online media?

Vicky Ayala: The name came about by accident. I was looking to create my blog and “InternetMogul.com” was taken. I remember someone I knew had used the word Mogal as a way of talking about a female mogul and I thought the name was catchy. So I chose InternetMogal.com for my professional blog. I love the name because it speaks to the heart of what I want to do which is to build an online empire. I love creating things and the digital space is something that has always fascinated me. I got involved in the online media space because I was doing marketing consultations for entrepreneurs. Since I also knew website design and development, it seemed like a natural progression into online marketing. I was always following Internet trends and learning new things such as SEO and viral marketing. I never stopped doing website design so it was easy to stay connected with what was going on in the digital world.

UPM: Can you tell us more about Latinos in Entertainment, Talking Latino, Latina Chronicles, and Internet Bodega?

Vicky Ayala: Latinos in Entertainment is positioned to serve as the online destination hub for Latinos within different verticals of the entertainment industry. I’ve had the domain name for several few years but never really did anything with it. I had been friends with Maria Nieto for some time and she was developing films that targeted the Latino community. At the time we didn’t see too many sites catering to the Latinos in the entertainment industry. Latinos In Entertainment bridges all gaps and aims to connect Latinos across different genres such as film, television, music, fashion, literary, visual arts, performance arts and theater communities all around the country.

Talking Latino is another website that I created with Maria to engage Latinos with each other directly to discuss about the issues that matter to our community. It offers the Latino community the opportunity to engage in topical, vital conversations surrounding lifestyle, health, culture, politics and entertainment that will help to shape the very future of the community.

Latina Chronicles is part ambitious, part experimental. I created the website to serve as a place where Latina characters can find an audience. In addition to all the web work I do I am also a writer and I have several stories I’ve developed. One of the goals for Latina Chronicles is to merge viral marketing with character development. Think of it as an online community of Latina characters. Many of the stories I’ve developed include characters who are Latinas and so I wanted to create a place where I could find an audience for them and use the platform to create a viral buzz. The idea grew into something bigger. It will serve as a place for the Latina voice to be heard, seen and experienced. I’m looking to start rolling it out late 2009/early 2010.

Internet Bodega is another ambitious website which aims to be the online news stand for Latino news across the world. There’s so many different outlets for news, some mainstream and some so obscure you would never know. Internet Bodega addresses that issue. You come to Internet Bodega and you get to see headlines from news sources from all over. You can also do searches for video and Twitter conversation streams. Visitors can subscribe to RSS feeds across different topics and get links to the original news source. It’s also a great opportunity for news sites that want to have their content accessible to a larger audience.

UPM: Why were those websites created and how do you think it will change the landscape of Latinos online?

Vicky Ayala: Why were these websites created? Why not? The Internet landscape is great in the sense that you can create anything you want. Some sites I’ve created for fun, some for profit. I got into website design years ago by accident and it was one of the turning points in my life. Online you can create and express yourself in a way that is true to who you are. By developing these Latino-centric websites, I give my community an outlet where they can be seen and heard. They give my community a place to connect with other Latinos across the world. The Internet lets us be a global community and I don’t see too many Latinas creating web properties. My hope is that these websites show the world that we’re more than just a “high spending power.” We can create, we can innovate, we can inspire and we can empower, not just ourselves but the world as well.

UPM: What accomplishments have you made as a producer?

Vicky Ayala: ‘ve produced various live performance shows including XiomaraTV, Spoken Corner and Lose Control. I was also a producer for Days of Joy! with Gene Moonfeather and I produced my first short film Unfinished Business.

How does this tie into the websites mentioned in this interview?
The projects I’ve produced have reinforced my desire to create stories. Working, often without a budget, I understood the value of building an audience with free resources such as the Internet. If it wasn’t for these projects I would not have created the websites that I have now.

UPM: What matters most to you as a Internet Mogul/Producer?

Vicky Ayala: What matters to me the most is being the change that I want to see in the world. Everything I do is to be able to create opportunities, whether it’s for myself or for others. Over the years I’ve learned that talk is cheap and I’ve outgrown the need for being so vocal about what needs to change. I find that leading by example is much more powerful because the do’ers will step up and follow.

UPM: What motivates you to put forth your greatest effort?

Vicky Ayala: Being able to design the lifestyle I want to have motivates me. I hate working in an office. I get claustrophobic. I was on unemployment once and when I went back to a cubicle-based job I cried at my desk for 2 weeks. That was the last time I worked in nonprofit. The jobs I had afterwards were in the digital marketing field since I was looking for opportunities that would help me better understand Internet marketing from the people who were doing it professionally. Being able to “own” my time and decide what I do, when and where is the core of what motivates me.

UPM: How can one be successful in this career path?

Vicky Ayala:

Read. Not just books but blogs and magazines. Being knowledgeable helps you identify opportunities before they happen.

Be willing to get your hands dirty and know your strengths and be original. Unless you’ve raised capital to hire a team, chances are you are going to be doing a lot of the grunt work yourself. Make sure to ask for help on the things you don’t know.

Get tech savvy. Spend some time learning other areas of the online world. There’s alot to know outside of Facebook and Twitter. If you want to create web properties, familiarize yourself with the online community. In this day and age, there’s no excuse for not knowing anything. Alot of information online and most of it is free. Connect with communities that are in your industry and be inquisitive.

For more information on Vicky Ayala check out: www.internetmogal.com and follow her on twitter.