I don't. I just start explaining as if I were talking to a fellow warrior and watch as the person who asked the question starts to fidget as their eyes glaze over.
They never ask twice.

I also have a dayjob along with IM.
Most of my friends don't even know about my online earnings so they never ask.

But to those that know, I just tell them I have few sites that earn money from ads.

Hello Ladyl08,

I see your dilemma. My partner and I have a consulting firm that helps people who are having a hard time getting their messages out in business, or in life.

Here's a suggestion: Work Backwards from the Sale.

Imagine... You're talking to somebody and they ask what you do.

What you can say might sound like this.


"Let's say I suggest a product to you and you decide to buy it on the internet? To complete the sale you'd have to click the purchase button with your mouse. Right? Well, I have a business where I get a small payment for each of those completed sales."


Now this may seem simplistic at first, but the response you receive from your listener will let you know if he or she is wants further details, and what those details will be.

I hope this helps.

Practice this line until it's comfortable and natural. Let me know what happens.

Ike Krieger

I have replied to this many times before, and my answer is always:

"I sell animal porn to the elderly"

They never ask twice.

keith

I have given up telling my friends and family what I do. It's just too painful answering the same old questions over and over again then watching their eyes glaze over as they pretend they understand.

Instead I just show them my paypal and clickbank balance and say ''What I do online is bloody awsome''! Thanks for asking!

My family and friends think I am unemployed because I sit at home all the time

I tell everybody that i am a freelancer i do software promotion and marketing for a company named clickbank. Some understand, but those who dont dont show any interest. Anyways if you are earning good enough that does'nt matter

I don't think there is a requirement to explain to anybody (other than your direct family) what you do.

Most people ask this when you first meet them. Over and above my IM activities i also provide training seminars and IM services to local businesses. I simply say 'I have a Internet Marketing Training Company' - no more explanation needed.

For those who want to know exactly what you do and how you do - none of their business - just glaze over the question.

Riz

It really depends. IF they ask how I can make money from a website for example, I say: ''It's like TV. Corporations purchase Ads on Television because people watch it and their is a wide audience. My site is the same concept except it's not a TV channel and it's on the internet. People buy ads to advertise their products.

I once told someone I do online marketing and she responded, "Oh! You're like a geek!"

I'm not sure if it follows, but I like being branded as a geek.

I begin with something people can understand such as Amazon or Ebay, even though I'm not affiliates for either. I just tell people that I build websites to sell other peoples products, such as Amazon or Ebay. When I make a sale, I get paid.

The truth is nothing like that at all since I have a sizeable list, squeeze page, and my own products, but at least it answers the question quickly and painlessly.

Had the same problem, just tell people companies pay you market their product online. If they ask how, just tell them. It's complex.

Well mine is quite simple. Whenever they ask i tell them "i help people who have limited resources find unlimited clients over the internet".

Man this is one that I am dont like either.

I was on the plane coming back and the guy next to me is like one month is a long time to be away, when are you going back to work.....I dont like questions like that. I told him, self employed, so always working