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What Do You Tell People You Do?

by euhlir
8 replies
I recently was turning in an adsense check for well over $1,000 and the bank clerk looked really confused.

She saw the payee name as Google so she started asking me questions about it like...

Do you work for Google?

I told her no since I publish my own content and can remove adsense whenever I want, but that doesn't really explain what I do.

I then went a little further trying to explain how I made money through Google, but that also didn't really help because she knew nothing about owning websites and how random company ads magically appear on your site.

Anyways I've received questions like this before, but I've never really had a good answer for anyone.

So what do you tell people when they ask how you make money online?
#people
  • Profile picture of the author The Mysterious Marketer
    I just tell people: I'm a marketing and design consultant, and I work with companies to help them promote their products or services.

    End of discussion.
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  • Profile picture of the author Giftys
    I had a similar situation come up when we went to set up payment processing for Giftys.com. Bank of America declined me service at least 3 different times because they didn't understand our business model. They thought that we were bringing in money for the separate stores. I sent them dozens of e-mails explaining the program and even links to look at it themselves but for some reason they just couldn't wrap their head around it. Finally I started getting angry and wouldn't give in until I could get an upper-level manager on the phone. After explaining it several times and her asking tons of questions, she finally understood and it was all downhill from there.

    This wasn't a direct answer to your question but I related to your story. Indeed, sometimes it's difficult to explain to others what you do and/or how you're doing it.
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  • Profile picture of the author feliciayapsl
    I would tell people I'm an Internet Marketer promoting other people's products.
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  • Profile picture of the author iAmNameLess
    Profit Strategist and Web Designer.
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    • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
      I tell people what I do: I'm a writer.

      If they ask what I write, I tell them, "Some stuff on creativity and the like, but mostly for online businesses." If they ask more, I tell them it's boring unless they have something they want to sell online.

      I rarely get into the "marketer" thing. If you want to see someone's eyes glaze over fast, tell them that. Most people slip into a coma before you can finish the word.

      I only give them as much of an answer as they need to put whatever label they need on me. I'll explain for exactly as long as they actively want me to. Then I change the subject to something interesting, like the Yankees or the latest Chris Young album.

      Besides, telling people I'm a writer supplies them with immediate justification for anything eccentric I do or say, and makes it easy to understand when I don't see things the same way as everyone else.


      Paul
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      Stop by Paul's Pub - my little hangout on Facebook.

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  • Profile picture of the author darkwizgemz
    A lot of people ask me too but I don't have that right answer for the question. There are lots of ways on how to make money online but I give them a simple and common answer "sell products", though it may not really describe as what marketer do but it's the least close to.
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  • Profile picture of the author petevamp
    Just tell them the simplest thing You are a webmaster. You get paid to put other peoples ads on your site/s. If you simply keep it simple like that they get the picture better. They know webmasters work on websites. They know webmasters work for websites. They know that webmasters work for companies who run websites and so forth. Just keep it as simple as that and they will get a better picture. With out you having to explain everything in detail. So just tell them you are a webmaster and they will get a clear aspect of what you do. You do not have to be a master to call your self a webmaster you just have to have an understanding of how to get started. Yu then pick up the rest as you go along. This may not be the best answer but that is what I tell people.
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  • Profile picture of the author paulie888
    Originally Posted by euhlir View Post

    I recently was turning in an adsense check for well over $1,000 and the bank clerk looked really confused.

    She saw the payee name as Google so she started asking me questions about it like...

    Do you work for Google?

    I told her no since I publish my own content and can remove adsense whenever I want, but that doesn't really explain what I do.

    I then went a little further trying to explain how I made money through Google, but that also didn't really help because she knew nothing about owning websites and how random company ads magically appear on your site.

    Anyways I've received questions like this before, but I've never really had a good answer for anyone.

    So what do you tell people when they ask how you make money online?
    I try to stay away from the 'marketer' term, and just say that I help to promote online businesses or something along those lines. For some reason, that usually shuts down the conversation and keeps them from asking any more about what I do.

    You shouldn't have gone into that whole spiel about Google, just tell people that you're an independent contractor for Google (at least this is what I'd say....lol!)
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