When asked, "What do you do?" What do you answer

by Maddi
43 replies
Hey Warriors,

Just a quick one here.

Today when registering a new marketing firm I'm going to be a part of, my partners called me up and the conversation went something like this.

"Hey Maddi, we're filling in the form here for registrations, and we need to fill out Your current occupation/designation on the forms".

My first reaction was 'how much space have you got there to fill?'

to be honest I didn't know what to reply, I just went with 'Entrepreneur - Business and Marketing Consultant'.

I couldn't just fill 'Author, Coach, Consultant, Keynote Speaker, Trainer, Marketer and so on and so forth' (not meaning to brag)

But what I mean to say is there is so much we do online.

But here is one for you.

When asked at a social gathering, by family or friends how do you define/sum up what you do?

Internet Marketer won't cut it for 'regular people' anyway.

And then there is so many things one can be making a living with online, adsense, amazon, blogs, info products, offline consulting. I'd be very interested to know what you reply and why.

Interested in knowing your replies.

Maddi Murtaza
#answer #asked #what do you do
  • Profile picture of the author tpw
    Marketing Consultant works for me.
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    Bill Platt, Oklahoma USA, PlattPublishing.com
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  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
    Banned
    Originally Posted by Maddi View Post

    When asked at a social gathering, by family or friends how do you define/sum up what you do?
    I normally tell them I'm an "internet copywriter" (unless I suspect they'll think that has something to do with copyrights, in which case I sometimes just say "internet writer"). It's not exactly a comprehensive description of what I do, but everyone understands more or less what it means, and it's close enough.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ross Kenny
    "Online Entrepreneur or Consultant" works well

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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Oksa
    Hi Maddi,

    Answering that uestion can be a real challenge because a lot of people don't really understand what we do. However, they THINK they understand, which leads to confusion.

    I think "internet writer" and "marketing consultant" are pretty good answers.

    Trying to explain what you do? The shorter the answer, the better, as most people's eyes start to glaze over after the first 5 seconds anyway.

    All the best,
    Michael
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    "Ich bin en fuego!"
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    • Profile picture of the author blueonblue
      Very cool answer!
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    • Profile picture of the author blueonblue
      Originally Posted by Michael Oksa View Post

      Hi Maddi,

      Answering that uestion can be a real challenge because a lot of people don't really understand what we do. However, they THINK they understand, which leads to confusion.

      I think "internet writer" and "marketing consultant" are pretty good answers.

      Trying to explain what you do? The shorter the answer, the better, as most people's eyes start to glaze over after the first 5 seconds anyway.

      All the best,
      Michael
      Great answer!
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  • Profile picture of the author RichardF
    Oh wow I hate this question.. I usually start off with "Internet Marketer" and then they inevitably want to know more, which leads to a long boring description from me and blank stares from them. They usually never ask more after that
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    • Profile picture of the author myob
      I'm the CEO of Mind Your Own Business. That stops them in their tracks; no further questions.
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      • Profile picture of the author oneplusone
        I'm an internet surfer.

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        'If you hear a voice within you say "you cannot paint," then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.' Vincent Van Gogh.
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  • Profile picture of the author Gene Pimentel
    I sell electrons and pixels.
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  • Profile picture of the author Joyful Thiek
    I normally tell them I'm looking for a girlfriend. True story.

    When serious, I tell them I'm an internet marketer. If they ask more, I tell them I write ebooks, promote products and get commissions...blah blah..in short, I make money online. The more curious ones ask me how I do it. I tell them go to WF! True story.
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  • Profile picture of the author JamesW
    I was stopped the other day by a girl representing one of the main charities for deaf children, and when asked what I do for a living I said I run a few websites. She replied "Oh (followed by a long pause as she took a good look at me) ...... dirty websites?"

    So that's something you should definitely NOT say :-)
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  • Profile picture of the author ladywriter
    My financial goals aren't met yet, so it wouldn't occur to me to say anything IM/internet related.

    Eventually I hope to identify as a writer, publisher, or marketer. I won't qualify it with the word "internet" either.
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  • Profile picture of the author Snow_Predator
    bane of my life that question.

    I give a different answer each time.

    Every answer gets me either an awkward or sympathetic look
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  • Profile picture of the author mmcmahon
    "advertising" or "you know those annoying popup ads you see all over the internet? Thats me "
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  • Profile picture of the author MMWoodward
    I just respond that I'm in Internet marketing and that I intend to make it my full-time job. When people ask me further about what I do, I say that I mainly write articles but that I am exploring other ways of making income, too. It seems to intrigue them enough and I haven't really encountered any negativity about it, yet.
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  • Profile picture of the author bnwebm
    Web content development, internet marketing, website development, code monkey...
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  • Profile picture of the author Maddi
    Some rather interesting comments here. Keep them coming.

    This will also serve as a reminder for the 'new' people who haven't yet thought of what they are doing. Putting a designation or description to what you do almost gets you more focused on doing the actual thing.

    I remember I got more serious about my business when I started saying that 'I run an internet business'. Makes sense?

    'Copyrighters' and 'Dirty Website' was awesome. I actually know someone who says I'm an internet pornstar and she actually isn't but does the job to stop the further questioning LMAO
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    • Profile picture of the author bnwebm
      Hmmm, "Internet Exploitation Professional."


      Originally Posted by Maddi View Post

      Some rather interesting comments here. Keep them coming.

      This will also serve as a reminder for the 'new' people who haven't yet thought of what they are doing. Putting a designation or description to what you do almost gets you more focused on doing the actual thing.

      I remember I got more serious about my business when I started saying that 'I run an internet business'. Makes sense?

      'Copyrighters' and 'Dirty Website' was awesome. I actually know someone who says I'm an internet pornstar and she actually isn't but does the job to stop the further questioning LMAO
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      • Profile picture of the author dave stahly
        " I make websites make money"
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  • Profile picture of the author xMarkPro
    "Software Engineer". The engineer title seems to garnish some respect from people, and after 10 years of developing high-end, complex operations, I think I've earned it.
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  • Profile picture of the author KenThompson
    Professional assassin.

    Stops further inquiries.


    Ken
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  • Profile picture of the author Gene Pimentel
    My earlier reply was just being silly, but here's one that people understand immediately.

    "I help businesses find customers online"

    This covers a lot of ground. Whether you are an affiliate marketer, website developer, article writer/publisher, SEO consultant, copywriter, domain flipper, or one of a hundred other segments, this answers the question well enough to make perfect sense to ordinary people. Then you can elaborate if they want to know more.
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    • Profile picture of the author Jill Carpenter
      Originally Posted by Bradley J Anderson View Post

      Plant psychic to the stars...
      I just heard an ad today on the radio for some california psychic site and they are all screened and only take 2 out of every hundred who apply.
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    • Profile picture of the author myob
      Originally Posted by Bradley J Anderson View Post

      Plant psychic to the stars...
      I thought you looked familiar. It was 1975. You were running down Rodeo Dr carrying a Fern planter being chased by Burt Reynolds, Loni Anderson, David Hasselhoff, Pamela Anderson, Sylvester Stallone, Sean Penn, Madonna, George Clooney, Melanie Griffith, Gene Hackman and a few others. How did that work out?
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  • Profile picture of the author Marketing Cheetah
    I usually prefer a broader term of "Internet Marketer"
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  • Profile picture of the author tryinhere
    As a joke in a serious look and tone when asked I like to tell people i am studying for a diploma in nothingness and that each day i wake up and decide to do nothing, and that to date i have almost perfected it. I should pass with distinctions.
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    | > Choosing to go off the grid for a while to focus on family, work and life in general. Have a great 2020 < |
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    • Profile picture of the author Black Hat Cat
      Banned
      Once when I was called for jury duty, during vior dire, the defense lawyer asked what I do for a living, and to keep it simple, I told him I sold software online. The he proceeded to ask me what this software looks like. I told him it doesn't look like anything, it's digital, which brought a chuckle from the courtroom. Needless to say, I wasn't chosen for the jury, lol.

      At this point, I just tell people I sell stuff online.
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      • Profile picture of the author KenThompson
        Originally Posted by Black Hat Cat View Post

        Once when I was called for jury duty, during vior dire, the defense lawyer asked what I do for a living, and to keep it simple, I told him I sold software online. The he proceeded to ask me what this software looks like. I told him it doesn't look like anything, it's digital, which brought a chuckle from the courtroom. Needless to say, I wasn't chosen for the jury, lol.

        At this point, I just tell people I sell stuff online.

        If that was my defense lawyer, I would have fired him on the spot.


        Ken
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  • Profile picture of the author riorio
    Online Marketing Manager...since the word "Affiliate" flys over other's heads haha
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  • I usually tell people that I am a web design student and that I build websites and help people promote and sell their products / services online. I really am going to school to learn web design, but I also currently have a "job." So its all true, but sometimes I accidentally say internet marketing, or seo, and people think . . . .WhAt!! I suppose only we understand eachother. lol.
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  • Profile picture of the author JayWeir
    I say I work as an Internet Marketing Consultant who helps others market their products online by improving their websites. This usually works. And most people are actually very interested about offline marketing. They want to know more and so they do ask questions.
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