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No one 'gets' IM - do you bother explaining what you do to people that arent in the industry?

by AussieCoz
13 replies
I find that people don't really understand what internet marketing is.

They get a little caught up in the idea that you're working from home, free as a bird, playing around on your computer - it seems to them like your profession is just a joke really, how could anyone make money from a website or a blog and 'playing around on the internet'.

I don't know what it matters to me, but I want to explain to people that there is a lot more to it than that and it really is a very difficult skill to master and the industry is constantly changing yadda yadda yadda.

My question is, do you bother explaining what you do to people outside the IM industry or do you just give a vague description and leave it at that?

It's not like my previous corporate life where I had a title and a role and it was easily explained, I find that the world of IM is a little unknown and people out of IM really don't know that much about it.

I don't mind that people think I just swan around drinking coffee all day and tinkering around online but at the same time this is a serious business I am in and it is my job and I do want it to be taken seriously as it is a massive industry with heaps of potential.

Either way, do you explain what you do and how you do it or do you keep it all fairly vague?
#bother #explaining #industry #people
  • Profile picture of the author agmccall
    this has been discussed before many times. Why do you need to explain anything to anyone. If they do not understand then who cares. I bet that instead of saying "I am an internet marketer" you said "I own an internet business" They would understand without any further explanation.

    al
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    "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." Thomas Edison

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  • Profile picture of the author Coby
    I usually just give a vague answer like "I sell software" or "I build websites"...

    Most people don't understand so I don't bother to get more technical. Rarely does someone press further - if they do I will gladly give them as much detail as they can handle.

    However, like you said, some people think of "working from home" as a fairy tale. They obviously aren't our target market, lol.

    Cheers,
    Coby
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  • Profile picture of the author JohnZ
    I'd say it depends on what you do... "Internet Marketing" doesn't really explain much, so even Internet Marketers would likely be confused by a general statement like that... Really, it shouldn't be that difficult to define what you're doing if you're building towards or have a functional business marketing or selling things online.

    In addition, it would depend on the person you're talking to, which is no different for anything you do in life that people may or may not already understand...

    However if someone is still in the tinkering around stages and doing all sorts of stuff trying to make money in different ways without focus, then I can see how it becomes more difficult to explain.

    In that case, I'd say it would be a very worth while exercise to take some time to figure out how you can easily define what it is that you ARE doing and maybe that will also help give you some clarity on what to focus on - or the realization you may not be focusing on anything at all...

    Just my opinions of course.
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  • Profile picture of the author oppyeaunome
    I know the feeling. You're at the dinner party and the people around you ask "so what do you do for a living?". You tell them that you make money through the internet. Some look at you like you're speaking a foreign language and some with the eyes that say "tell me more".

    I know exactly what you're talking about. I've had people tell me "Man I wish I could live and work like you". The thing is like most of them this was the mindset I first had when I came into internet marketing.

    With all of the glittering sales pages that promised me "instant riches" to the push button money making schemes I was fooled into thinking that it was that easy.

    The truth is internet marketing is hard!

    It is not easy. If it was, then we'd never need another course or ebook.

    Sometimes I try to take the time to tell them about it and how it works, but most of the time I tell them I run an online company.

    I try to stay away from saying I make money online from home.
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  • Profile picture of the author discrat
    I tell them I have loads of Porn Sites and sell Adult Toys all day long everyday

    Seriously, Al is right this has been discussed incessantly here.

    I think you probably think about it a little too much. Tell them exactly what you do and if they don't get it or think badly of it...who really cares


    - Robert Andrew
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    • Profile picture of the author yukon
      Banned
      Originally Posted by discrat View Post

      I tell them I have loads of Porn Sites and sell Adult Toys all day long everyday

      Seriously, Al is right this has been discusses incessantly here.

      I think you probably think about it a little too much. Tell them exactly what you do and if they don't get it or think badly of it...who really cares


      - Robert Andrew
      Ha, ha, I swear I posted before reading your comment.
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    • Profile picture of the author agmccall
      Originally Posted by discrat View Post

      I tell them I have loads of Porn Sites and sell Adult Toys all day long everyday
      I am going to have to use this one at Thanksgiving dinner this year. Right after we say grace

      al
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  • Profile picture of the author yukon
    Banned
    Just tell them you own a porn site, they'll know what you're talking about.
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  • Profile picture of the author neshaword
    To tell you the truth, first, I have to explain it to myself in order to be able to explain it successfully and understandably to the others, lol. At the same time, I have also become aware that some people simply don't share the IM enthusiasm. They are maybe using or depending on it, but they don't realize it. And honestly, I think that they don't care. For some time, I had this obsession with the so-called "missionary" role of IM. Then, I suddenly realized. Those who want will find a way to learn more about IM as simple as that. Those who aren't interested will be like a rock solid wall you are going to hit over and over again with no success. So, we shouldn't worry about IM, it can take care of itself. Cheers!
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  • Profile picture of the author Sid Hale
    If you're a product creator, or sell a service, it's pretty easy to explain.

    You are just selling your product (digital or physical) online. Most people have at least some experience with ordering physical products from Walmart, Amazon, etc. If you sell your own info products, you can explain it as "Similar to Amazon Kindle".

    If you are an affiliate, think of yourself as an "outside sales rep", because that's exactly what you are.

    Explain it in those terms and add that you simply find your prospects by advertising online rather than by telephone contact or postal mail.
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    • Profile picture of the author AussieCoz
      Originally Posted by Sid Hale View Post

      If you're a product creator, or sell a service, it's pretty easy to explain.

      You are just selling your product (digital or physical) online. Most people have at least some experience with ordering physical products from Walmart, Amazon, etc. If you sell your own info products, you can explain it as "Similar to Amazon Kindle".

      If you are an affiliate, think of yourself as an "outside sales rep", because that's exactly what you are.

      Explain it in those terms and add that you simply find your prospects by advertising online rather than by telephone contact or postal mail.
      Yep, the sales rep idea is probably what most people get the easiest.



      Thanks for your input.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve B
    Originally Posted by AussieCoz View Post

    I find that people don't really understand what internet marketing is.

    Neither do most of the people that come to this forum wanting to get rich quick in response to some Internet marketer that has fed them a pack of lies about all the money that can be theirs with no work.

    It's easy to explain what you do.

    Just tell people you have a small business in the ____your niche______ industry. If they persist just say you conduct your business online.

    Both statements are 100% true and I doubt if anyone will press you further. The point is . . . don't use marketing terms. Describe your business in terms that everyone understands.

    Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author AussieCoz
      Originally Posted by Steve B View Post

      Neither do most of the people that come to this forum wanting to get rich quick in response to some Internet marketer that has fed them a pack of lies about all the money that can be theirs with no work.

      It's easy to explain what you do.

      Just tell people you have a small business in the ____your niche______ industry. If they persist just say you conduct your business online.

      Both statements are 100% true and I doubt if anyone will press you further. The point is . . . don't use marketing terms. Describe your business in terms that everyone understands.

      Steve
      Yeah, good point. I just find people belittle anything that isn't traditional. The whole idea of our workplace, our hours, our lifestyle and the demands of what we do just seems bizarre to them.

      I had quite a bit of difficulty explaining what I am doing at first to my family and now they all want to do it.

      It's just something that niggles at me, especially going into the holiday season.
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