How Would You Describe Your Profession?

[wsp9]

What do you tell people when they inevitably ask what you do? I used to tell people that I own a bunch of websites but that always draws a blank stare. It seems like only 1 out of 100 people get it. It's like I could be independently making millions a year from my websites and most people would still look down on it or just not understand it. The fact is that there are just too many bad connotations associated with owning websites, website development, or even making money off the web. So, my line is that I'm a writer. This is true in that I am writing a book. However, it's just something I toy around with from time to time and not a serious endeavor. But that's besides the point. It's still something that that people can understand.

[katcharles]

I know exactly how you feel! My mother's still asking me when I'm going to get a 'real job' and I've been making a full time living from AM for 3 years now.

I've tried telling people different things:

- Website Designer
- Online Publishing
- Independent Salesperson for several online companies

I love what I do but it's amazing to me how people misjudge what they don't understand - a small price to pay I guess for a dream job.

[Pirate]

>making money off the web

What you say "I'm making money off the web with affiliate marketing."

What they hear "I'm a filthy internet porn king and responsible for the decline in morale."

[wsp9]

It is a dream job. I love making like a K a day and happy that I made it but not sweating that i did. Perhaps my book gets published and published as a dirty memoir for oprah to kick around on her stage as gospel. Yeah, then everything will feel alright.

[thelastmuse]

This is my first post on this forum.

I also work on several sites like most of you guys and for the record, my most hated questions are:

1. What is your work?
2. Where do you work?

Several times I got blank stares from people. As much as I'd like to explain to them what I do, it's quite complicated.

One time someone asked me about my work and I answered, "I don't work" to make things simpler. He said, "What, you don't work? So how do you eat? How long have you been bumming around?" to which I replied, "It doesn't matter but I make 20x more than you do in a month."

Geez.I hope people will refrain asking me about my work.

[malachite]

There was a similar thread [webmasterworld.com] over on the Adsense forum recently. Some interesting responses!

[zivkovicp]

What you say "I'm making money off the web with affiliate marketing."

What they hear "I'm a filthy internet porn king and responsible for the decline in morale."

This is true, especially back in the day...

I've been earning $$ off of the Internet fulltime since 2001 and I've found the best answer to be:

#1. (if they are somewhat computer/internet literate) "I am a webmaster", or "I make money selling ad space and products on my websites"

#2. (if they have no clue) E-commerce.

It just makes life a lot easier that trying to explain the process... and then explaining why you can't teach them how to do it.

[madmatt69]

Online marketing. And leave it at that.

[Localizer]

Like earlier stated, if I say "e-commerce" or "online marketing", most time that's enough to stop the topic.

They pretend like they understand what you do. :)