When I first start marketing online I never used my real name. I simply went by the name of bbrian017. My name is Brian so I thought that was appropriate. Three years have past and I still go my Brian but I also share my last name now on my websites. On some level I find using your real name bring respect, trust and appreciation into the picture when trying to brand your website, product or service. What's your opinion on this? Do you use your real name online when marketing or do you use a fake or brand name?
Hey Brian, What an interesting topic you've raised here. I would always try and use my real name, as I believe that today is 'The Age of Transparency' and people want to know who you are, not only what you are. People are buying from people, and the best way to sell to them and to build trust is by letting them know more about yourself, and showing yourself. Follow marketers you appreciate on-line and you'll probably see a common thread - most of them show their faces in photos or videos, and give their real names, as they have nothing to hide. That said, in some cases I wouldn't use my real name. I would use my real name and identity for the niche you want to come across as an expert in. But when you spread to other niches, I think it's better to use a nickname or a pen-name, if you do article marketing. The reason being that if you used your real name for every niche under the sun, people would Google your real name or come across it and you'll come across as an amateur or a charlatan. Think about it - Say you've established yourself as an expert in Making Money Online. Then you use the same name and you build up a Dating website and build up a following, and then you move on to Back Pain and to Personal Development. Now, your name will start appearing all over the place. People will start saying - "This guy ain't an expert. He's a Jack-of-all-trades!". But it is a dilema, though. Unless you pick only one niche, I guess... P.S. I know I might come across as silly here as I'm using a nick-name. Well, I would change it now if it weren't against DP's TOS.
I am a firm believer in using your name when marketing also, it definitely builds trust and allows you to brand yourself. In this day and time, as stated above it is becoming more important for people to know, like, and trust you. I also believe in using my picture when possible also. Think about this, when you use a fake name what you are actually doing is using someone Else's. No matter what name you use if you search it, your probably going to find it. I would rather be branded as an expert rather than an impostor. Just my 2 cents.
Why not use a pen name instead? No-one will know the difference and it can still build trust and allow you to brand yourself.
Maybe I am a little old fashioned, having been in the public eye so to speak. When working with the general public, as in car sales and other jobs I've held you get used to selling yourself also. And yes it does to some extent depend on what kind of marketing you are doing. Some of what I will be doing will be a mix of on and offline marketing.
I agree with the pen name idea. If its a niche you actually do love and have a vested interest in, use your real name. But it you have your fingers in a lot of pies/niches, I think you do run the risk of people seeing you as a con artist. Not only that, it would be easy for other marketers to track you and move in on all your niches. Too many footprints for my liking. I think as long as you provide a good service, it shouldn't matter what name you use.