What do you tell people you do?

The best answer I've come up with over the past few years... that kills the conversation dead in its tracks... so you don't have to explain what took you years to learn all in a few minutes... just because they don't understand the first thing about it... is...:

"I sell software."

Depends on where I am.

Sometimes I say "Nothing". Sometimes I say I'm a web-designer to people I know I will never see again.

If it is at a networking place, I say "Let's do it this way, tell me when you started your business." If they say "Oh, I don't own a business", I tell them "Oh then there is nothing I can do for you."

If they are a business owner, I say "I help businesses increase profits, but I'm not accepting clients right now".

I have use the software company line as well.

Sometimes I say "I'm a stripper". At other times I say "I make money". Or "What difference does it make?"

Once in a while I say "I'll tell you if I like you" (to women)

The fact is ALL entrepreneurs find it hard to answer this stupid question (as if it makes a difference)

I say I am translating and writing content for rich website owners that want their websites published in Spanish (I market to the Spansih speaking people mainly). So when they see me writing about the great benefits of green tea for weight loss I can't be seen as a scammer. I am just working for someone else

When I am ready to go full time I will just say that I decided to purchase the website to those people. But you shouldn't care about what others say.

I usually go with......

"Business Development and Marketing"

OR

"Lots.....much more than you really want to hear about....but thanks for asking."

I usually tell people I am a web designer - if they start with, "Oh I need a Website" I hand them a card and send them to my free report.

Seems to work - I used to say that I sell products online, but that became a hassle - so web designer does it for me

Well, once I told someone I was a paid escort and that went over like a lead balloon.

Actually I just tell them I write. If they ask, I write articles and informational guides. Not real hard from this end of the spectrum. I'm thinking web designers and graphic artists probably don't have many problems explaining their work, either.

Haha! Feels nice to know that I am not the only one in this situation.

People understand when I tell them I do marketing.. when I tell them I do online marketing they look at me wierd.

I guess most people do not understand the concept of marketing online

When people ask me, what do you do.. I say i Live life.. and most of them think i am a freak.. who cares about those people who are deep down in low awareness living.. They dont even understand the concept of freedom..

Then some of the smart ones will ask.. how do you make money.. i tell them..
I sell digital stuff..

I have stopped saying that I have a web based business because they always respond, 'so you design websites' and we can easily end up in a lengthy conversation.

These days, I prefer to just say, 'I am a writer'.

Will

Simple, i just say..

"I own an online marketing and publishing company..."

I too have a similar kind of room. I tell them that I would be available in a specific period of time. I normally turn up in that period.

A lot of people give me a bit of a blank stare as well. I usually just tell them that I have an online business. I wish there was a simple way to explain internet marketing because as soon as I open my mouth about keyword research and having my page show up in the search engines, I can tell I've lost the individual I'm speaking with.

hi
I tell them i am website designer which is total BS when someone else does my web pages.

"Honesty is the best policy - when there is money in it" Mark Twain.

This video sums it up perfectly

"I'm an Internet Marketer" Funny Video | Stuart Stirling

I just tell them that i help people make money online

Cheers,

~Gary

"I make it rain."

I just tell people when they ask, "I make my living online" if they ask "Doing What?" I simply reply "Providing Goods & Services to others helping them make a living online & offline.. But it's a lot to explain just know it's paying for your drink" lol

"I'm a professional writer."

This is good because it's totally true (I make money from blogging) and generally people know what it means.


Yeah but people sometimes think "writer" is code for unemployed. That's why I say professional writer - it just implies that I get *paid* for my work and I don't just sit around writing poetry that no one reads.

"I run the number one seo company in the world and I have the testimonials to back it up. In fact if you have a website you want ranked you need to sign up with us today so we can start generating some traffic to it."

That little elevator pitch netted me a $10k check after I muttered it to my dentist right before he pulled my wisdom tooth out.

Afterward he grilled me and hired me to run his local seo campaign at $10k a quarter. It never ceases to amaze me how easy it is to drum up new business if you have the fortitude to ask others for their business.

It all depends on who's asking and in what context. I generally tell people that I'm an entrepreneur, running several enterprises and I'll give them one or two examples if they ask.

If it's in a social setting, I usually give them a funny answer first before I tell them what I really do:

"I paint fire hydrants for a living. I'm so good at it that I'm the Van Gogh of fire hydrant painters! Clearly, you must have seen my work in 'The Daily Hydrant' "

"I sell crack, but not just any kind. I sell the good stuff."

"I'm the Laker you never hear about because they don't even let me sit on the bench......"

"Y'know that internet thingee that you use with all your Facebook friends? Well I use it to hypnotize people using a trade secret to get them to empty out their wallets....don't you just luv technology?"

"I'm a Victoria's Secret model, though I'm always in the background......."

"I'm a fluffer."

"I don't have a job. I make my living dating rich older women who like studly Latinos who can dance salsa like yours truly <pointing both thumbs at myself>."

Yes, I'm one sick puppy.

RoD

This would be my answer

"I am an Internet marketer"

If they ask the details, this is what I say

I do business online. There are many different systems

1) I am an affiliate marketer : I sell someone else's product and get my commission

2) I am an information marketer : I can convert my knowledge in to a product(ebook, video etc) and sell it. People are ready to pay for information that solve their problems. It is a billion dollar industry

3) I can give services : I can help others by giving services like setting up a website. People are ready to pay for these services

4) Advertising : I can sell advertising space in my website

The main reasons I chose this field are

1) I can run my entire business from home
2) I can set my working time
3) I want to be my own boss
4) Unlimited possibility. I can reach all around the world
5) I have direct control over my income
6) I make money while I sleep (my favorite )
7) I will be paid in USD. $1000 = 43000 Indian Rupee, that is a great amount here. Salary of Indian president is $3340

I have every reason to stick to it and succeed.

Great to hear so many people have the same issue!!

I found the hardest person to actually explain all this to was my mom! To her a job has to be 9-5 in an office somewhere. But anyway I normally just tell people I run an online business, usually does the trick!

My first response is "have fun, what do you do?"

If someone is really curious to know more, they'll ask. If not, question is avoided

Best Answer for me: "I build websites for people and do SEO" After hearing SEO, they don't ask me as they have no idea about it.

I'm a ghostwriter. I write web content such as articles and ebooks for online companies.

I can also relate.. ) Most of the time I just stayed quite but of course beyond their curiosity of my close friends I also told them about my job. And I don't know where to start because our works are very broad and after I explain it clearly they will be amazed.

I just say I run a couple websites.

That's because they don't really care. They just want to know what mental box to put you in. They don't want to think too hard about that.

Meanwhile, you're trying to tell them something that will make them think better of you. That means you have to get them to put you into a mental box they think is respectable.

I say I'm an internet marketing coach and business consultant. This has three trigger words in it: internet, coach, and consultant. These translate to "technical," "important," and "expensive" for most people, and generally equate to a high degree of respect.

Most people in the world don't care about you. They only care about themselves. In fact, it's you only caring about yourself that leads you to think you should explain what you do to someone who doesn't really care - beyond sticking a label on you, so they know what you can do for them.

And if the answer to that is "nothing," it's just a status game, so say something that sounds important.

Almost 50 years ago, I started telling people I was a marketer. Even though "online" didn't exist, and it was the truth, (with a degree and credentials), it didn't go over well. And 20 years later it evoked thoughts of "marketeer".

So, I just started saying I was a writer. I was actually a serial entrepreneur by then, but hated the dumb questions about Cheerios versus Wheaties.

After helping bail out a few companies, my answer became "I'm a consultant to undercapitalized businesses". Which I still say to the uninitiated masses.

It sounds good and shuts them up.

Hello,
I tell them I make money.

I simply tell people that I am an internet marketer. When they ask what that is I explain the process of typing something into Google and seeing the top ten results--and then further explain that its my job to get on the front page for a variety of keywords.

And if that doesn't work, I simply tell them that I promote Asian porn and it pays for my car payment.

I say I'm a writer, which is basically what I am

When people ask me what I do, this is exactly where I send them.

i do blogging.

I found that 'Freelance writer' sounds far sexier and is received waayyy better than internet marketer, but after reading this thread I think that I am going to expand my title to

"Professional Online Marketing web designer, coach, consultant and author"

Well for me, I'm not shy about it at all. I just tell people I do Internet Marketing. Then they always ask me more questions and eventually I create yet another affiliate, LOL

I'm in this boat now, as an unemplyed teacher just starting out in IM. Hopefully I'll get to the stage where this actually becomes an income earner. Unfortunately similar to someone else, my Mum is the worst person. No one actually knows I've started doing IM, but earlier today I got a bit of a bollocking for "being on the cimputer all the time doin god knows what" instead of I dunno, going looting the shops or something. She doesn't realise I'm spending entire days getting websites set up and articles written. But I aint going to say owt just yet. I want to one day be opening a cheque in the post as she is nagging me, so I can just stuff it in her face and say, "YEP, BEEN WASTING ALLLLL THAT TIME ON THE COMPUTER, MUM!" After which I pay her her last rent and move into my own flat

I am in the online dating niche. Surprisingly, "I run a network of online dating sites" is very acceptable to people and most respond with "I met my boy/girlfriend on an online dating site!"

I am still fairly new to IM, but people so far have been forthcoming when I tell them I am into it. Most don't really understand it, but they don't have negative comments either.

I used to say "I run an article directory" but I would get a blank look. So then I tried I am a web designer (which I am, but try not to do so much of it for other people).

I tried "I'm an internet marketer" but that had most people think of MLM.

These days I give them my elevator intro:

"I educate and promote online article marketers through my online businesses"

But I'm still working on a really good one... maybe I will go back to "I run an article directory"

I simply say, "I'm an Entrepreneur".

...which leads to "Awesome! What kind of work do you do
as an entrepreneur?"

"I market and sell information that solves peoples problems
and people pay me very well to do it"

But...

I'm far more interested in other people and what they do
than I am about what I do, because I know what I do...I
don't need to hear me talk about it. It's more interesting
to hear other paths people take - I learn more from them.

...and yet still some insist they want to learn more about
my business - as if what they do would bore me...

If they are not a prospect for business, I tell them I train birds.

I tell them, I rob banks.