Do you create products/ebooks as an Anonymous person?

[Andrew Davis]

Hi everyone! I'd like to ask a question.

Do you guys create Products/ebooks revealing your own identity? (Letting your readers know that you are the Author).

For example, you may want to create and ebook on something like "How to grow a more colorful garden". But you don't really want all your guy pals knowing that you write ebooks on flowers and more "womanly" stuff. (Just a weak example off the top of my head)

Or in the same way, you may create some Adult related Book/Product, and rather not let everyone know your identity, because it can give a bad reputation.

I guess in those cases, it's simpler to just be Anonymous if you wish.

But what about when you need to be the "Example" of success.

Say, you are creating an eBook about getting rid of Acne, but you don't exactly want to show your face to everyone.

That would seem to be less of an advantage to you, since you aren't showing yourself as proof that your method works, right?


How do you guys handle situations like this?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of being an "Anonymous Writer".

Do you create a fictional character and refer to yourself by that name in the ebook?
Eg, "Mr. Acne Free"

Please let me know if you understand what I'm asking.

I'm about to try creating my first Product, it's a very clean and simple niche, but I'm thinking of various reasons not to reveal identity, one reason being:

If I do get allot of success with my eBooks/Products, people can trace back and find all my product creations, re-make my products, and further add to my competition, etc...

Basically the same way people don't like to reveal their "Winning Niches" on these Forums, right?

What do you think about these concerns, is it something to worry about? Makes no difference being Anonymous? What advice can you give me?

Thanks and best regards!
-Andrew

[Ross James]

We have a guy that's a girl on this forum. I think if that's accepted in society I don't think writing a book under a different name should be frowned upon.

Take Eban Pagan for example, he writes under a pen name David DeAngelo in his Dating business.

I'd say it's OK.

-Ross

[Andrew Davis]

Hi Ross, thanks allot for your input!

Yup, I agree with what you said.

However, I'm not very much concerned with the "Moral Aspect" of being Anonymous.

I don't intend to write as another "Real Name", eg: Andre Bartholemy

But if I choose to use a Fictional Name, it would be like: Mr. Superhero, or something obviously fake, probably even with a Mascot added.


My main question, is how much does concealing yourself hurt your sales/conversions.

I'm sure many people here write ebooks about Marketing/Business strategies, but how willing are people to take your information seriously when they don't know who you are, what you look like, etc...

If I see a book stating "I'm going to show you how I made $100,000 in 1 month", the first thing I may want to know, is "Who exactly are you?", "Are you trustworthy?".

Sorry if I asked the question in confusing ways.
I realize that it would depend allot on what niche you are writing for.

But I'm still hoping for some further advice.

Thanks!

[Ross James]

Originally Posted by Andrew Davis

Hi Ross, thanks allot for your input!

Yup, I agree with what you said.

However, I'm not very much concerned with the "Moral Aspect" of being Anonymous.

I don't intend to write as another "Real Name", eg: Andre Bartholemy

But if I choose to use a Fictional Name, it would be like: Mr. Superhero, or something obviously fake, probably even with a Mascot added.


My main question, is how much does concealing yourself hurt your sales/conversions.

I'm sure many people here write ebooks about Marketing/Business strategies, but how willing are people to take your information seriously when they don't know who you are, what you look like, etc...

If I see a book stating "I'm going to show you how I made $100,000 in 1 month", the first thing I may want to know, is "Who exactly are you?", "Are you trustworthy?".

Sorry if I asked the question in confusing ways.
I realize that it would depend allot on what niche you are writing for.

But I'm still hoping for some further advice.

Thanks!

That's why I backed it up with empirical evidence, read up on Eban Pagan, he has pen names, hes very well established. A pen name could be anything you want, just don't pick the wrong one.

[Ross James]

A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her writings, or for any of a number of reasons related to the marketing or aesthetic presentation of the work. The author's name may be known only to the publisher, or may come to be common knowledge.

Here maybe this will help, I searched "pen name" on google and found this on Wikipedia. It's a great website for information.

Best,

Ross

[Pusateri]

Turn anonymity into a selling feature. Be mysterious about it. Mystery is intriguing. As long as you can establish that you know what you are talking about in your niche it will work.

[Andrew Davis]

Thanks very much Ross & Pusateri

So "Pen name" is what you call it then, cool, I always wanted to know that.

I got my questions answered now and feel more confident about trying the Anonymous route.

If one day I decide to make some Fitness eBook, I'll probably post as myself and see how it goes.

Thank you!
-Andrew

[Alex Cohen]

Andrew,

Unless there's a compelling reason to write under a pen name, I wouldn't. Authority and credibility are great persuasion elements. If you have expertise and experience in a given area, you want people to associate your name with the product.

Alex

[Andrew Davis]

Hi Alex, thanks!

I agree with what you said, that "Authority and credibility are great persuasion elements", that's why I was unsure in the first place and decided to ask here.

However, for my first product, I don't really have allot of "expertise and experience" at all in the Topic.

Well I have enough experience to know that the method works for me, and it can work for others. I'm no Guru in that niche, and I will be doing most of my learning and reading while I'm writing the book actually.

Thus, educating myself better to be able to teach others.


I'll probably think it over a bit, but in this case I may go with the Pen Name.

And later, if I write about Making Money Online, Health & Fitness, etc...
I'll write using myself as an example and authority.

Thanks!

[Ross James]

Yeah Alex, Good point, use it where it works, not where it doesn't. It probably wouldn't serve any great purpose in the make money niche, unless your avoiding the IRS but in dating and seduction you could add perceived value by creating a name that says, hey i'm a douche bag.

Hope that helps,

Ross

[Dima Kritchevski]

One benefit of using a pen name that I like a lot - is that you can Google that name in quotes and find out were your articles are being syndicated and were you get mentioned very quickly. Though to get this benefit you need to make sure you create a totally unique name

[oliviasmith]

Originally Posted by Ross James

We have a guy that's a girl on this forum. I think if that's accepted in society I don't think writing a book under a different name should be frowned upon.

Take Eban Pagan for example, he writes under a pen name David DeAngelo in his Dating business.

I'd say it's OK.

-Ross

Well, i completely agree with Andrew.