Jeremy

Ahhh yes, kids running around everywhere, getting to deep fry turkeys, seeing family members, brandy slushes, football..........................and oh shit, you know the dreaded question is only weeks away.

Random Relative: How's it going Jeremy?

Jeremy: Not bad, I hate this weather, but other than that everything is great.

Random Relative: How's Work?

Jeremy: Going real well, been quite busy.

Random Relative: What is it exactly that you do again?

Inevitably, whether you're a poker affiliate or a general internet marketer, this question is going to come up. And the deeper you get into the conversation and explanation, the more difficult it becomes. I remember when I first started in the business, I was so excited to tell everyone what I did.

I would go on and on about affiliate programs and how I actually got checks sent to me every month. After a few years however, I finally realized that trying to explain the business of poker affiliate programs was a futile effort. Half my family members still use AOL and dial-up, and even this is only once a week.

Anymore I have a blanket statement I use, "I do internet marketing for online poker websites." And I leave it at that. If they try to ask any further questions I usually just make it sound pretty boring and keep it simple. For example, "I just assist them in marketing on various websites, it's pretty boring actually, hey how about those Bears!"

The problem with trying to explain affiliate marketing is that it is a difficult concept for most people whom are not internet savvy to grasp. Then you throw in online poker, and how you earn either a CPA, or a % of the rake.......now you have just crossed the line and entered into the impossible explanation. And it gets even worse when the following happens. That one annoying aunt or uncle keeps pressing that gambling on the interweb is illegal because he saw a story about it in 2006.

So if this is your first year really having your feet in the affiliate business, do yourself a favor and take my advice. Keep any explanation of what you do to a third grade comprehension level. You'll save yourself lots of headaches between now and 2008. Besides, it's funner when they speculate and gossip about what it is you do when you're not around anyways.

Speaking of the holidays, here's the Griswold Family Portrait. My wife thought it would be a great idea to bring the whole family in the back yard with no coats in 20 degree weather. <-----Good times, not really. Those may look like smiles, but they are really "F*** it's freezing out here faces".