So, do I HAVE to use my real name to make sales?

[theinfomaven]

CIP.

I've seen a lot of warriors insist on using their real names.

I'm not a fan of the idea. NO, I don't have anything to "hide", I just don't like the idea of my real name plastered all over google.

I don't even use facebook.

Managing a real life personal and business reputation is enough.

Is there another trustworthy, legitimate way to brand myself and keep in open touch with my customers?

Would a character or a persistent avatar work?

[Rich Struck]

Originally Posted by theinfomaven

CIP.

I've seen a lot of warriors insist on using their real names.

I'm not a fan of the idea. NO, I don't have anything to "hide", I just don't like the idea of my real name plastered all over google.

I don't even use facebook.

Managing a real life personal and business reputation is enough.

Is there another trustworthy, legitimate way to brand myself and keep in open touch with my customers?

Would a character or a persistent avatar work?

You don't have to use any name at all if you don't want to. I really don't think it makes a big difference to tell you the truth.

[Michael Franklin]

Hi Infomaven,

Most Internet Marketers do not use their real name when it comes to promoting affiliate products or even their own product.

If you did a whois lookup of many websites, you would find that the owner and the portrayed owner are different!

[Lawrh]

Personal branding is necessary if you provide a service or wish to become an authority.

It isn't needed at all for regular IM.

Why would'nt you want to use your real name ? It pretty much boils down to trust as all business does, online or offline..

James

[Stefan Vee]

Some names pronounce better than other names.
American or English names usually "sell" better than many foreign names.

[Marian Berghes]

You prove me that my name is easy to remember and easy to spell and I would gladly use my real name.

But, until then I am in the process of finding a pen-name, I won't hide the fact that it is a pen name but I would use it in everything I do in business.

[radio]

It really depends at what level of business you're conducting online. I recently began selling a product (see sig) and with it comes a great deal of support. I've been loosely anonymous thus far - but I suspect the nature of the business will require me to reveal my real name. It wouldn't be that hard to figure out. I've had some domains on my box that don't have private registration. So whatever. Don't have anything to hide.

[traxmaker]

90% of people in any type of marketing don't use their real name. Take anyone who has replied anywhere in this forum and even if their name shows John Smith as the user ID, odds are that John Smith is really Samuel Jones (just fictional examples of course). Create a pen name or image and you will do fine.

[Headfirst]

I'm all for personal branding, but don't use you're actual name, you'll never be able to sell that business/brand.

[Dan C. Rinnert]

John Wayne, Marilyn Monroe, Mark Twain, Voltaire, Lewis Carroll, David Copperfield, Carmen Electra, James Herriot, Charleton Heston, Larry King, George Orwell and Tom Wolfe.

None of those are their real names.

The more important part is why you are using a pseudonym. If it is to protect your privacy or to have a more memorable name, then it becomes a non-issue. You just have to remember to use it consistently.

In such a case, you have to treat a pseudonym as your real name. That means you don't do things you wouldn't do if everyone knew your real name.

You especially do NOT want to be in situations where you change your name periodically because you promoted a bad product or something.

If you use a pseudonym for deceptive purposes, then you can be in trouble, including legal trouble.

[traxmaker]

Originally Posted by Dan C. Rinnert

John Wayne, Marilyn Monroe, Mark Twain, Voltaire, Lewis Carroll, David Copperfield, Carmen Electra, James Herriot, Charleton Heston, Larry King, George Orwell and Tom Wolfe.

None of those are their real names.

The more important part is why you are using a pseudonym. If it is to protect your privacy or to have a more memorable name, then it becomes a non-issue. You just have to remember to use it consistently.

In such a case, you have to treat a pseudonym as your real name. That means you don't do things you wouldn't do if everyone knew your real name.

You especially do NOT want to be in situations where you change your name periodically because you promoted a bad product or something.

If you use a pseudonym for deceptive purposes, then you can be in trouble, including legal trouble.

Exactly what I wanted to say but couldn't find the proper words. Most very successful people didn't use their real name, for real legitimate reasons.

[theinfomaven]

Awesome, thank you.

[dsmpublishing]

A well known internet marketer on here that i am good friends with uses her mums maiden name as she doesnt want her own full current name plastered all over the internet for everyone to see.

Like you she doesnt have anything to hide she just doesnt want to lose her privacy. I use my own and i am happy to do so and have found that those in the internet marketing niche use a pen name often get caught out and there subscribers often feel conned and may even unsubscribe.

If you dont like the idea of your identity being exposed keep your first name and change the surname to a family name.

kind regards


sam
X
Ps remember you will be wanting to build the brand for your name so make sure its something that suits you and your happy to keep!

[macD231]

I dont think using real mark is mandatory for gaining sells. Yes it is needed when you wanna get your nearest client, meaning client those who recognized you face to face. Otherwise if you can market you product in a organized manner than no need for real name.

[Rollover]

The ppl i work for have a call centre, they all use alias. Most change by their accent. Bcoz its useless if you use a British name with Chinese accent lolz (no offence to chinese)

[scraggz]

As has been noted by one well known marketer recently if you're selling in many varied niches it's necessary to use different pen names for each niche, as your expertise will be doubted if you're spotted in the different niches.

An expert in scrapbooking writes a book on mig welding whilst training a schitsu!?

False cred maybe but then isn't most of marketing an illusion?

As others have said, it really depends on your aim.

Stan

Eben Pagan's multi million dollar dating advice business runs under his pen name of David DeAngelo.

If you decide to use a pen name, make sure that it is good to remember and rhyming.

[Elmar Sandyck]

Personally, I don't think it is the name really but the relationships that matter.

[alisdairgreen]

I don't think eben pagan is a real name, sounds too catchy!

Originally Posted by alisdairgreen

I don't think eben pagan is a real name, sounds too catchy!

May be not. No one knows!

[alisdairgreen]

Originally Posted by Creative Thinker

May be not. No one knows!

Its the repeating name syndrome:

eb-en
pa-gan

da-vid
de-angelo

frank kern - kinda rolls off the tongue, don't you think?

what about mike filsame (feel (the) same?)

Jeff Johnson - another repeater, sticks in your head as well

Tellman Knudson - thats a serious stick-in-your-head-er!

There is a pattern somewhere

[marciayudkin]

90% of people in any type of marketing don't use their real name.

I'm sorry, but that is a ridiculous statement. Do you realize how small the Internet marketing world is compared with marketing in general?

Outside of the entertainment world, where I agree pen names and monikers are common, nearly all marketing experts use their real names.

If you're not an expert, it doesn't matter.

But if you're not an entertainer and you ever hope to be interviewed by traditional media, or taken seriously by a trade association that wants to bring you in for a speaking engagement, or hired by a corporation for consulting, or given a book contract from an established publisher, you'd better be using your real name.

Marcia Yudkin (my real name)

[Brad Gosse]

I think using your real name puts your credibility on the line and makes you naked in the world of marketing.

Using my real name creates a higher level of honesty and integrity.

[zankee]

Real names are good in certain social media it makes it more personal. In other instances you can use a "character name" or corporate name. Depends on what you like really

[Keith_Purkiss]

I use my real name for IM, eBay, Amazon etc and a pen name in a niche I am experimenting in.

Arnold Schwarzenegger was once told to change his name because nobody would remember it. If you're trying to spell it to search on Google it's a different matter!
If you have a very common name you may want to use another one as it makes it easier to check you search results, get an own name domain etc.

[shirland]

Originally Posted by Brad Gosse

I think using your real name puts your credibility on the line and makes you naked in the world of marketing.

Using my real name creates a higher level of honesty and integrity.

Yes, I agree if you are marketing your business for the long term ,then being open will only help you. There are many different marketing strategies so if you don't use Social Media, then that is okay.

[sitywyde]

Most people on the internet aren't real anyway...so come up with a sort of real name?

[Tyrus Antas]

You don't need to use your real name, a pen name can work too.

It's easier to make a business successful if you use your personality behind it rather than just solely relying on your business brand name. Why? Because we're social creatures and therefore want to have relationships with other humans. Ever wondered where the "faceless corporation" expression comes from?

Tyrus

[Bugala]

Originally Posted by Dan C. Rinnert

If you use a pseudonym for deceptive purposes, then you can be in trouble, including legal trouble.

Hadnt even thought that before, thanks from that piece of info.

But otherwise on the subject.

Basically giving your real name creates trust, since you can then in theory get to the front door of that guy and hit him in the face if he screwed you.

So if hes willing to take that chance by giving his name and face, then theres better chance hes not screwing you.

But of course it also depends on your name.

Couple of examples:

"Hi! i got this great business idea, just send me 1 000 USD and we will make 10 000 USD!"

Gubuntu Mbuntu, - Nigeria


"Im not gona screw you, im not like all those arses who only try to get your money"

- Dick Conner


"Im an expert on Computer Technologies, been designing computer boards and website solutions for 10 years"

- Apu Njahripur

Would you buy from them?


and then theres also a chance that your real names might be so funny that people dont believe you.

In my country (Finland) there was this plant farm. The owner was something like Steve Vegetable (direct translation from my language and first name changed to english one) and he had employee called Kirk Greenthumb.

So when empoyee answered the phone he answered, "Vegetable plant, Greenthumb speaking" "- can i speak to manager?" "Okay, il lgo get Mr. Vegetable here" and due to that they lost lot of customers since many people thought they were kidding.


Obvious solution in unsuitable names case is of course to take another real name, like John Wayne and many others did.

But then theres also the possibility to get a fictional name or brand name.

examples:

"Insights to Future of Web Design"

Written by Google

"Server stability guide"

by Steve the geek


I could buy from either of those.

And especially Google is good example. Since thats no ones name, its just companys name. Even Apu Njahripur, Gubuntu Mbuntu and Dick conner might have all wrote it together, yet the brand Google works.

And same with Steve the Geek.

Its bit funny and obviously fictional, but its somewhat credible, depending on thing of course.

I might not let Steve the Geek in charge of my 10 Billion computer system, but some ebook related to computer technology, why not let him tell me about it.


So to sum up shortly.

- Real name creates creditability, especially if you can check it.
- But if you were simply named wrong, then you have to use fake name, fictional fake name, or brand name.
- And of course you can choose to use them anyway instead of real name.

[marciayudkin]

- But if you were simply named wrong, then you have to use fake name, fictional fake name, or brand name.

No, you do not have to use a fake name.

In the field of philosophy, there was one professor whose real last name was Brain (known as "Lord Brain," he was British), another one named John Wisdom and another one called J.J.C. Smart. Yes, it was kind of improbable and funny, but they each had long and illustrious academic careers.

Marcia Yudkin

[ricarde88]

Hmmm....if you want to sell a product of your own on Clickbank then its better to use your own name. However, if you are an affiliate then you can most likely use any name you want.

[adiknight]

Self promotion is a massively successful strategy in building sales - if your serious about success then I think its a must

[Zemalf]

It is good for you to promote and brand some name, your own, your business, or an alias name... So I think it's about whether or not you want to be known as yourself in that market/niche. In some niches it might be important that your "marketing alter ego" is in fact real and in some others it might be the other way around.

[talfighel]

Using your own name gives you a lot of credibility online. it is really your choice. Everyone who has their own business online can either "hide" behind their business or their website or they can come out and show the whole world who they are.

I always use a picture and my name. I have NOTHING to hide. This was my choice a few years ago.

There are a lot of scammers out there who use bogus picks of themselves and use names that isn't theirs either.

I personally suggest that you use your full name with a picture.

[Fernando Veloso]

I can say this: i don't buy stuff in groceries where the owner uses a mask.

[eddiejames]

I think it depends on what you're doing and so forth.

Eddie James isn't my real name, but it is a spin on my real name. My actual first name is James and my middle name is Edward.

I do prefer to keep my surname private sometimes, but if you looked around - wouldn't be too hard to find that out either.

On some of my business ventures, I also use my full real name - on others, I have characters that are used.

Even Frank Kern - isn't actually called Frank Kern - thats just his middle and last name. His legal first name is Irwin.

[Mustafa Khundmiri]

You don't have to use your real name to do business. I still don't know the name of the store owner next to my place, and I have no problem buying from him.

[chazmer]

I don't think it really matters if you use a false name or your real name. However if your real name is something exotic, then it's probably more beneficial to use an alias

[adiknight]

Looking at some of the biggest entrepreneurs in the country, I believe one of the reasons they are so succesful is because they are fantastic marketers. In marketing, their is a lot of money in turning yourself into a celebrity. Obviously you must want to live with the consequences of that, so if you dont want to then dont.

I also like the idea of pseudonyms. That could be the answer your looking for (tho I see your already doing it =)

[Mike Hill]

Originally Posted by theinfomaven

CIP.

I've seen a lot of warriors insist on using their real names.

I'm not a fan of the idea. NO, I don't have anything to "hide", I just don't like the idea of my real name plastered all over google.

I don't even use facebook.

Managing a real life personal and business reputation is enough.

Is there another trustworthy, legitimate way to brand myself and keep in open touch with my customers?

Would a character or a persistent avatar work?

I don't see the big deal... unless you're embarrassed to be an internet marketer which would say a lot about your level of seriousness in this business.

Furthermore, for those who believe using no name at all won't make much difference couldn't be further from the truth.

Using your name (or pseudonym) is marketing 101. Although I use my real name in the IM field because that's were I hang my hat. For other niches I am involved in I use pseudonyms, not to be dishonest but to cover my marketing tracks.

It's self-preservation from a business perspective because there are a lot of people who cannot (or refuse) to think for themselves and blatantly try to rip you off.

Mike Hill

[alisdairgreen]

What about 'Fake' names like 'The Rich Jerk' and 'Rich Dad' ?

[Scott Ames]

Using a real name or pen name shouldn't matter. Just build your brand. If your name is really hard to spell or pronounce you may wish to use a pen name. Some do, some don't, but I wouldn't get hung up about it.

As Dan C Rinnert pointed out, many have changed their name to make it easier or sound better. Arnold Schwarzenegger is one that didn't but he still is successful and everyone knows his name now. If only a name change would do it alone...

[Slyknight]

Originally Posted by theinfomaven

CIP.

I've seen a lot of warriors insist on using their real names.

I'm not a fan of the idea. NO, I don't have anything to "hide", I just don't like the idea of my real name plastered all over google.

I don't even use facebook.

Managing a real life personal and business reputation is enough.

Is there another trustworthy, legitimate way to brand myself and keep in open touch with my customers?

Would a character or a persistent avatar work?

Just use a name that sounds real. Something short and catchy like "Jameson Kade."

A bad name would be "Raphael DeLaghetto"

[RebeccaL]

I use my name on IM related stuff, but for other niches I have seperate pen names per niche.

[DotComSecretsTour]

I personally use my own name on everything, but as most people noted, many large marketers won't (and many will!) There is no need to use your own name if you keep a pen name consistent in that niche. I really enjoyed reading all the various points of view in this post...lots of discussion on this!

[MR. Bliss]

I use both my Real Name and an aka because I visit many forums and have made contacts.
I also want those who bragged so much at my first High School reunion
to see that I am doing great! If they don't believe me I will prove it
and they will want to know how I did it. New clients for me.

Sorry I got caught up in the revenge thing.

[TrvlPal]

OK if you dont use your real name then how do you cash your big checks? I guess thru your dba or LLC or Corp i would imagine

[LB]

Originally Posted by TrvlPal

OK if you dont use your real name then how do you cash your big checks? I guess thru your dba or LLC or Corp i would imagine

My pen name is "Cash".

Works best that way.

[Emma Ngin]

I really think that you must use your real name. Specially when you do intend to make sales. Otherwise, how will you be able to get the money from said sales. Thought, I'd voice out my opinion.