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pen name...

by sb06
17 replies
Would it be okay to build a blog/website and use a pen name? I'm thinking about creating my own product and building a "funnel" using email marketing and such... but I don't want to use my real name. In all honestly I just don't want my name showing up on google and tying me to this product. I plan on getting a job in the "real world" soon as well as focusing on IM and I don't want future employers to be able to find me on google and associate me with my IM product. Was wondering if anyone else uses a fake name on their blog/website or if most people just stick with their real name. thanks!
#pen #pen name
  • Profile picture of the author Sue McDonald
    No I stick with my real name but I do know of a well known marketer in the UK who created a product and used a female name on it.

    I personally cannot see why if it is a legitimate product you don't want to use your own name.
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    • Profile picture of the author sb06
      Originally Posted by Sue McDonald View Post

      No I stick with my real name but I do know of a well known marketer in the UK who created a product and used a female name on it.

      I personally cannot see why if it is a legitimate product you don't want to use your own name.
      A great example is the adult niche... there are a ton of legit products that I wouldn't mind promoting or even creating myself (if I could) but I definitely wouldn't want my real name tied to it.
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    • Profile picture of the author ScottWatson
      Originally Posted by Sue McDonald View Post

      I do know of a well known marketer in the UK who created a product and used a female name on it.
      Without getting into the whole 'sexist pig' domain Do we think this is perhaps because women in general (of course there are always exceptions to the rule) are perceived as a more trustworthy source of information or individual to do business with online?
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  • Profile picture of the author miklanderson2
    I know for a fact plenty of authors use pen names and have websites. As long as you aren't aren't doing anything illegal or misrepresenting yourself as something you're not (like a lawyer or doctor), I really don't think it's a problem. It's probably a good idea to maintain at least some level on anonymity online, especially if you're dealing with adult products you don't want tied to your real name.
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  • Profile picture of the author writeaway
    As long as you are not doing anything shady, you should be okay.
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  • Profile picture of the author sb06
    Ok guys thanks for your answers! I was assuming it was okay and was common, but I just wanted to ask
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  • Profile picture of the author Val Wilson
    There is no problem with using a different pen name - lots of marketers who work in different niches use a different pen name for each one.
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  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
    Banned
    Originally Posted by sb06 View Post

    Would it be okay to build a blog/website and use a pen name?
    Yes.

    Originally Posted by sb06 View Post

    I'm thinking about creating my own product and building a "funnel" using email marketing and such... but I don't want to use my real name.
    You need to think about how you're going to be paid for selling your product, too. For example, if you're planning to use PayPal, you'd need a business account, for your real name not to show to your customers after they've paid.

    Originally Posted by sb06 View Post

    In all honestly I just don't want my name showing up on google and tying me to this product. I plan on getting a job in the "real world" soon as well as focusing on IM and I don't want future employers to be able to find me on google and associate me with my IM product.
    I think you're very wise, in principle, about this. I'm an affiliate, not a vendor, but I've always used a (different) pen-name throughout each different niche of my business (and I even deeply regret making the mistake of using my real name in this forum, when I joined it, so well done for avoiding that, too!).
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  • Profile picture of the author StevenJones
    Steven Jones is my pen name.. A hell lot easier to brand in comparison with my native dutch name.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kim Standerline
    If I was starting in IM now instead of back in 2002, I'd do a number of things differently and the main one would be I'd use a pen name for my online business.

    You get to keep your private and personal life separate then

    Kim
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  • Profile picture of the author Sushiman1111
    Pen names are fine. There are plenty of good reasons to use one, not the least of which being the matter of keeping your online and offline lives separate (if that's what you want to do).
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  • Profile picture of the author Cyber Star
    I keep my personal name for the real world and use alias for the internet world. simply because not all people in the internet are good, some of the bad one will probably cause trouble for us in the future. We can also skip the while pen name and just use what ever you want, as long as it can drive interest to anyone who sees it. Anyway, my name is definitely not cyber star, and I do this to protect myself.
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  • Profile picture of the author kindsvater
    I use many different pen names in various niches. One suggestion is to search for the name to see if there are any results, and what the results are. I like unique names where there is no issue of mistakenly impersonating someone.

    .
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  • Profile picture of the author Kurt
    My pen name is Bic Papermate.
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    • Profile picture of the author AdaGirl
      ! to "Bic Papermate"!

      But in all seriousness, how do you get paid? Business Account in Paypal, okay.

      But what about for other entities: CJ, Amazon, CB etc.?

      And what about WHOIS? How do you protect that information? And what about IP lookup?

      Can you really create anonymity? If so, please, please do share with the group. :confused:

      Hmm, this could be a very useful ebook etc. It's probably out there somewhere. . .
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      • Profile picture of the author LilBlackDress
        Yes of course it is fine to develop a website for your pen names. You will want to consider scooping up a Facebook page (made from your personal account - no one can connect you) Twitter and other social media accounts.

        You can run the name thru Namechk.com to see what is available.
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    • Profile picture of the author Daniel Evans
      Originally Posted by Kurt View Post

      My pen name is Bic Papermate.
      I clicked in to post exactly this.

      Ok, maybe not the "papermate" part...


      Daniel
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