While talking about bitcoin, I use the examples of online wallets of local currency (example – Freecharge, Paytm in India) and tell them this is same but it has difference. Responses I get are mostly focused on issues like security, return on investments, taxation, accessibility etc. Eventually most of them understand what it is all about but they are still conservative when it comes to investments.
I’m sure they will pop in soon in the future with the overall growth of the industry. I can see effective option to make people aware is growth of the industry.
Well in terms of security, I think you are going to lose that argument with your friends, especially if they have heard anything that has been going on with bitcoin lately and can compare that to visa and other payment forms... Debit/credit cards now have chips that are more secure, compared to bitcoin which has the problem of overcoming the block size bloat and miner frustrations due to halving and costs of running a mining company.
If I were you I would focus on the fact that there is no governmental agency trying to tax what you are paying, so you can pay someone over the internet tax free.... this is a huge deal when considering large purchases online.
ROI is kinda mehhh... I mean, if you make that case, it sounds like you are apart of some kind of internet ponzi scheme.