I have a blog as well and I haven't put a face to my name either. However, I do believe that adding your picture will boost confidence in what you have to offer. I plan on adding my picture on my blog in the very near future. After a fabulous photoshoot of course. Lol

I think most affiliate marketers do that, with most of our niche sites.

I'm "hiding behind" 8 different pen-names mostly because I didn't want their customers/subscribers finding out that I have so many others, in case they felt it detracted from my credibility (and now partly because I don't want anyone else to find out what my niches are, either, to be honest ).

Probably not, but who knows, for sure?

It's not exactly something you can realistically split-test.

In my opinion it's better to have a photo than not to have one.

My solution is to use a range of drawings, sketches, silhouettes, and various other not-recognizable pictures of myself. I had most of them made by graphic artists on Fiverr. They provide some "visual identity", but even most people who've met me wouldn't know they're really made from photos of me (which all of them were).

I originally did this partly because I was 18/19 when I started, and looked about 15, and didn't want people thinking they have "nothing to learn from a teenager", so it was just an age-concealment trick. But with hindsight I'm very glad I did it (and just very sorry that I used my real name in this forum - with hindsight, I'd have avoided that, too, but that's a different matter). :rolleyes:

In my opinion as a professional online marketer, you should provide whatever trust symbols you can. But whether that should include your own photo depends on the content slant of your site. If your slant is a personal dialog between you and your visitors, and your goal is long-term business relationships with your visitors, then you should certainly display a personal photo.

As my favorite online marketing guru likes to say, "People don't buy from web pages. People buy from people.". With the exception of ATM robots and other vending machines, we usually buy out in the world from people, not from their physical retail stores - same thing online.

By the way, it's best to use a photo of you looking toward the page content - not looking directly "out of the page" at visitors. Visitors naturally stop and look closely at images of people making eye contact with them. This disrupts the eye path through your page's sales process. Perhaps this will also help with your shyness, as it deemphasizes the visual importance of the photo Vs other graphical elements on your page.

Other useful trust symbols include:
* Web page security emblems
* Trust certificates (like the BBB)
* Professional association emblems
* "Number of years in business" symbols
* Social network symbols
* Testimonials

Hope this helps...

I don't use a picture of me on the Warrior Forum. On other sites I may do so,
it all depends. But for the sake of this post, let me see if I can find a good pic of me,
so you all can see what I look like posting on the WF on a Sunday afternoon.

Ah, here's one...

Good point about split testing. If you want to know (rather than guess) at the results of including your photo, definitely do a good A/B split test, with and without your photo.

You could even try various photos by split testing.

[DELETED]

Ay!

Who reads my content about loss weight while my real figure is fat!
Who trust my Skin Whitening articles while I'm black.
Who believe my products recommendation while I'm younger than theirs.

I've always use the pen names & images instead of mind because my face looks unreliable that's even here I can't put my real face lol!

You are not alone I don't even like to have Facebook account for the same reason you stated above...I don't think it will effect anything on your blog & I believe it's actually good because you don't want people to judge your blog by your looks..

Member since 2008

Somebody I get behind when they speak.

Even if I am the butt of a joke on a forum.

Cheers to that!

I do not think makes a huge difference and the guys have already stated that it's the content that matters...

BUT

Because you have made a big deal about this to yourself, you have got to overcome this hurdle and just do it...prove to yourself that you want this to work, what's the worst that can happen!

If your content is good and appeals to people, there is no need to be shy...Be bold and make yourself feel uncomfortable on a regular basis. Keep pushing the boundaries!

Hi Peter,

I posted a reply to another of your questions recently. This one has created some welcome levity. Humor is one of the best ways to make a point and it seems that this point is being made that way..

You might try using an avatar that resembles you or your personality. Most people when they choose an avatar probably have that in mind in the first place. I believe that you can still be taken seriously without a photo or with something representing one.

Realize that this is the internet. It is like a reality show where you see all these things happening and nothing is really as it seems. May be that is being too over the top. There are some real things on the internet.

Thanks for the chance to read some of the fun stuff in this post and replies. In the long run, just be your shy self and do your best to promote yourself and your image as a straight shooter and have fun doing it.

A J

google is pushing for having identifiable authors of blogs. If you look at google SERPs you will see little pictures of the author popping up next to the articles. This means google has verified the author, this makes them look more credible. https://plus.google.com/authorship

I don't know if it makes a difference. But if I was going to put a picture of myself on my blog I would not obscure it in anyway. I will want people to know that I have nothing to hide and I look the part.

In other words, if you own a skin care website but your skin looks unhealthy you will lose credibility. However, if you have healthy skin people are more likely to buy your products. Similarly, if you own a muscle building blog and you don't look the part, your credibility will be questioned. I think you should only upload a pic of yourself if it is not obscured and proves the techniques or products you are selling work.

At least, that is just what I think.

Why not have a stand in, if you think it will enhance the trust factor and you don't want to do it yourself. Tv commercials use actors, companies have spokespersons, writers have ghostwriters. Get yourself some good shots of someone who can represent your product in a good way.

I guess, if you do not have a picture of yourself, it is not a problem if you structure your page well. However if you do have a profile picture, it will boost the confidence in the visitor for sure.

I don't think there is nothing wrong with that, as long as your blog is interesting and convincing to the readers.

Even just browsing this forum I feel more of a connection with people who post using a profile image compared to those who just use a product image or no image at all. That's just the way I feel.

You should really look at your photo as your logo. If you plan to brand yourself in a niche then using one photo across all sites such as forums, blogs, Facebook, etc can have a huge impact on your branding and make you instantly recognizable. I have been to many other websites where I have seen a photo I recognized from the Warrior Forum and so I knew that person right away without even knowing their name in many cases, just like you recognize the golden arches as McDonalds.

I think the question is not credibility, but branding yourself. It is for sure that people want to talk to a real and opened person. Most of the people are friendly, so don't shy.

Peter,

I'm a low profile kind of guy as well.

I set up my first web site in 1998 and I can tell you that it's not always the best posture (to be shy) for an Internet business owner. There is a certain advantage to developing a more open, friendly, and "lay it out there" persona when you're trying to sell something.

There is also an advantage to moving out of your comfort zone, taking a few manageable risks, and opening up to build relationships with others online. "Others" includes prospects, customers, potential partners, industry experts, and suppliers.

Sometimes we introverts tend to be wimps in our businesses and try to do everything alone. That's fine for mediocre success, but I can tell you that a certain amount of boldness and (dare I say) arrogance will sometimes serve you well as a business owner.

I would say put your picture up, be proud of who you are, and let that be a start to a more open, confident, and self-assured YOU. Remember, in this business (online) you are the business. You must step up and take what you want because no one is going to pamper you and volunteer to give you success.

I hope you do well,

Steve