What do you call yourself?

Do we really have a job title and a job description?

[m0thman]

Hey, here's a thread to divert our attentions a bit from doom and gloom.

I've been self employed for a few years now working on my sites and making a living as best I can. I've enjoyed my time out of the rat race and don't intend to give it up any time soon.

Occasionally though, you have to fill in a form or tell someone what you do for a living. Personally I find that quite challenging because there isn't really a box to tick or a name for this kind of thing that is easily recognisable.

You're a webmaster? Sounds a bit pretentious and like someone who is full of themselves. How can you master the web?

You're a publisher. Sounds dull and boring, you get this image of books, magazines, newspapers and stuffy people working to deadlines. Not exactly something exciting and cutting edge and cool.

Personally, I just mumble a bit about web publishing and hope no one has noticed. But it's a bit of a tough one though. I'd be interested to know how others describe the way they earn their daily crust!

[icedowl]

In my real offline life I am an IT Technician for my state. Online, my websites are my hobby. One earns me a living and the other makes living more fun. I wish my sites were the type that did earn me a living but I haven't found that motherlode yet.

[signor_john]

Writer, editor, and/or Web publisher, depending on the context of the conversation.

[incrediBILL]

I tell people I'm semi-retired living off webmaster welfare aka online advertising.

[dazzlindonna]

I usually say Web Developer. It's techy enough to make a few eyes glaze over; it's true enough in that I do develop web sites (though they are my own); and it's the actual title I had at one of those things I used to call a "real job" out there in the "real world". :)

[IanCP]

I describe myself as "Tired and Retired" but I see considerable value in Bill's:

"I'm semi-retired living off webmaster welfare aka online advertising."

[jetteroheller]

Scientific journalist or online publisher

[netmeg]

netmeg

[HuskyPup]

How can you master the web?

As much as many do not like Wikipedia their description of Webmaster is pretty good:

A webmaster (portmanteau of web and postmaster), also called a web architect, web developer, site author, website administrator, or (informally) webmeister, is a person responsible for maintaining a website(s). The duties of the webmaster may include ensuring that the web servers, hardware and software are operating accurately, designing the website, generating and revising web pages, replying to user comment, and examining traffic through the site.

Webmasters may be generalists with HTML expertise who manage most or all aspects of Web operations. Depending on the nature of the websites they manage, webmasters typically know scripting languages such as PHP, Perl and Javascript. They may also be required to know how to configure web servers such as Apache and serve as the server administrator.

An alternative definition of webmaster is a businessperson who uses online media to sell products and/or services. This broader definition of webmaster covers not just the technical aspects of overseeing Web site construction and maintenance but also management of content, advertising, marketing and order fulfilment for the Web site.[1]

Core responsibilities of the webmaster may include the regulation and management of access rights of different users of a website, the appearance and setting up website navigation. Content placement can be part of a webmaster's responsibilities, while content creation may not be.

If that's what you do then you're probably a Webmaster:-)

Revel in the glory and sunshine, it's a pity for many of us who have grown up with and realistically developed the web, that there is no actual formal qualification which we can use...how about Dr HuskyPup WSc[Hons]? :-) Lol...

[maximillianos]

While I fit Wiki's definition of a "webmaster", I too don't like the sound of it... Anything with "master" in it sounds a bit snooty... ;-)

I usually just say I'm a web developer... web publisher... or website owner... I typically confuse folks since I myself am confused as to what to call myself...

And then when they what does a "xyz" person do? Well then they really glaze over I as try to explain how I spend my time researching, testing, fighting spammers, scrapers and hackers, moderating, advertising (both buying and selling ad), software development, server maintenance and security...and running all aspects of the business side of things...

Then the subject usually changes at that point and I'm off the hook... ;-)

[ken_b]

It depends who is asking.

If it's just a casual small talk type question tend to say "I putz around on the web".

If it's a question from someone at a widget event, I tell them I have a widget website and see where it goes from there.

With my banker and the IRS I'm a bit more specific up front. :)

[signor_john]

While I fit Wiki's definition of a "webmaster", I too don't like the sound of it... Anything with "master" in it sounds a bit snooty... ;-)

To me, it sounds like a hired hand. ("I'm the Webmaster at Widgetco--I keep an eye on the servers, update the pages, and delete comment spam from the customer blog.")

[tim222]

When you tell people you make money from a website, do it with a sly grin and raise your eyebrows a bit as if to imply that it's something illegal or immoral. Be vague if they ask for details, and they'll assume the worst ;)

[IanCP]

With my banker

You have a Banker Ken?

I haven't seen one since the early or mid 90's. Just a collection of helpful clerks nowadays at Witchbank.

[StoutFiles]

"Prospector"

[proboscis]

"webmaster welfare" lol I'm going to use that.

[Scurramunga]

Just a collection of helpful clerks nowadays at Witchbank.

Hey, watch it buddy, Witchbank staff are overworked and underpaid.

[edited by: Scurramunga at 8:33 am (utc) on June 15, 2009]

[vivalasvegas]

On my business cards I call myself a Web Marketing Freelancer and this is what I tell most people, that I work in Web Marketing. Generally I don't get asked anymore questions beyond that. I usually try to make it clear that I am not a Web Designer as most people tend to remember that they or someone they know needs a website:)

[HuskyPup]

remember that they or someone they know needs a website

Yep, an all singing and dancing full ecommerce site for less than $100 or even better, free!

<off topic moment>If you get enticed into doing one of those for free make sure it's something you enjoy. I run a couple for free for a local bar and a hotel and, honestly, on an annualised basis I get much more in value with free drinks than I could ever get paid for the sites!</off topic moment>

[jmccormac]

Same thing as I use on Twitter - Internet Cartographer. Sounds impressive but I only track and map domain names from 2000 to the present (In total, over 235 Million domains. (223.7 Million TLD/gTLD and 11.495 Million ccTLD domains.))

Regards...jmcc

[AnkitMaheshwari]

I generally say Web Marketing or Online Marketing, at times Internet Marketing if people stare on the first profile :)

[JasonD]

spammer

[herb]

janitor

[acac]

online publisher

[WolfLover]

Web Mistress! lol

[tim222]

Well I don't know about the rest of you, but I don't talk to anyone about the business aspect of it. Friends and coworkers know that I have websites as a hobby but none of them could even begin to imagine how much I'm making. I'm sure they would be startled by the amount. But it's not to my advantage to reveal it for a number of reasons.

First, I don't want to give out any info that can be used against me, even unintentionally. Nobody can keep a secret and word is bound to get around. Someone who's resentful could try to mess it up with bogus clicks. Why would someone do that? I don't know. People are weird.

Next, if my employer knew the amount then that might go against me at raise time. They might feel that my AdSense income already puts me at a financial advantage against my peers. They're not supposed to do that, but they're only human and they might be somehow compelled to help the other guy at my expense.

Call me paranoid, I know. But I just don't talk about my website income in the real world. Or even online, come to think of it...

[Jesdisciple]

I'm a web/software developer by trade, but in the context of my hobby sites (one for me, one for my dad's business, one for my church) I'm a webmaster. Although the only time (I think) I used the second in public it seemed to catch my pastor off guard.

[AdSenseAdvisor]

What do you call yourself if you don't actually publish websites, but your full-time job is evangelizing and helping people use AdSense and the Google Content Network?

Can I just use AdSense Advisor as my job title?

ASA

[netmeg]

Just say ASA and let 'em guess.

[LifeinAsia]

It depends on the type of person I'm talking to and the setting.

If it's Joe Blow Cashier and I don't want to chit-chat, I "work for an Internet company." If it's at a party and I'm talking to a hot girl, I "own my own Internet company." :)

Seriously, I'll usually start with something like I "have my own Internet company" or I "have an online travel agency." The way the conversation goes affect how I continue . If it's a technical person, I'll probably get into the details of the languages I use; otherwise, I keep it more vague (like development or programming or database work).