To hide or not to hide identity???

by izzyand87

Posted: 8 years ago 14 replies

INTERNET MARKETING

Hello everyone

Just looking for some advice/ opinions.

I'm going to start up a youtube channel very soon and I'm wondering what the pros and cons of showing or hiding my identity would be. If I don't show my face, do I risk losing views, subscribers and money by not "building a connection" with the audience??

To be honest, I really don't want to show my face and I've been trying to come up with a clever way of hiding my face but I haven't been able to think of anything really good yet. http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...l#post10265570 check out this thread I started and possibly offer some input.

Thanks

#hide #identity

Brent Stangel 8 years ago

If I don't show my face, do I risk losing views, subscribers and money

You may risk it by showing your face.

I really don't want to show my face

Then don't.
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- Nico Puegher 8 years ago
  
  You don't need to show your face to create a relationship, if you can create awesome content people will love it.
  
  When you're listening to a radio, you don't need a face to create a relatipship or be entertainment.
  
  Find your best skill and stick with it, maybe you can make awesome graphics so add them to your videos, maybe you have a great voice, add your personality to it, that kind of things.
  
  They don't really care if you show your face or not, they only want value and cool information, if you can provide them what they want, they will like, they will sub and they will be actives followers.
  
  Thanks
  
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Markets 8 years ago

It all depends on the type of videos you make, as well as the unique touch you bring to your channel which makes you stand out.

Care to share what you will be making videos for?
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bleek7712 8 years ago

I'd suggest showing your face. Once your audience knows what you look like they can make more of a connection with you as a person.

People like seeing a person instead of just a YouTube channel. But, like markets said, it's all about the type of videos you make.

Don't be camera shy. I was the same when I first started IM. I never wanted to show my face, but now i show my face on anything an everything.

You could try showing your face in some videos and not showing it in others and see if there's a noticeable difference in views, shares, etc.
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- JohnMcCabe 8 years ago
  
  Long before most of the current crop of Warriors was born, there was a TV talent show called "The Gong Show", complete with a panel of B-list celebrity judges. If the performer made it thought their gig, they won a prize. If they were so bad that the judges wanted to end it, the judge rang a large gong. (Sound a bit like "America's Got Talent" auditions?)
  
  Anyway, one performer was so popular that he appeared on the show multiple times.
  
  He was a comic who billed himself as The Unknown Comic, and he performed with a paper sack covering his face. Complete with cutouts for his eyes and mouth.
  
  Who's to say you couldn't do something similar? Just use your imagination.
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
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  bionictortoise 8 years ago
  
  If you're making tutorial videos, you don't need to show your face in the video, because you can do screen capture. Also lots of people do practical, hands-on tutorial videos that just show their hands, tools and materials.
  
  But I would have at least a still image of yourself as your avatar, if you want to grow your subscriber list. Not compulsory, but as you say, you want to build a connection. If you don't want a big close up of your face, choose a pic of your whole body or from the waist up, so your face is very small in the frame. Then you'll be relatively anonymous.
  
  As you gain popularity, your confidence should grow and you won't mind showing your face later. Good luck!
  
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onlineworker11 8 years ago

It is very important that you show your face,that you show who you are for the sake of branding you. To get people to know,like and trust you you have to show your face,so that people get to know who you are and that you are a real person
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jessicandre234 8 years ago

I have series of YouTube channel, which I have never shown my face ..... Even did a simple video that had 1k views in days without any face on it.... So either of those way does not have any effect on your channel performance.
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r10gordon90 8 years ago

I never showed my face and my channel is growing day by day... Its all about "Valuable, good, entertaining content'.
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- MikeVietri 8 years ago
  
  Showing your face means putting your self and/or message out there.
  
  If you ware a mask while doing it, you are still doing the same work..
  
  It all depends on the niche, and what your goals are with your YouTube channel.
  
  For example:
  
  If you want to build relationships in the "make money online" niche then yea, you might want to show your audience who they are doing business with.
  
  But if you just want to make people laugh,
  
  then as long as you do what you do well, and make it part of your "brand"
  
  then it could work.
  
  Think of wrestlers that "never" take their mask off,
  
  and there are several famous DJ's that do this as well.
  
  Again it comes down to understanding who are the type of people you want to be watching your videos, and asking your self what would resonate better with them.
  
  But you are still going to have to interact with them if you want them to follow you!
  
  The only difference is that they will not see your face..
  
  Hope that helped
  
  Mike Vietri
  
  Thanks
  
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ChrisBa 8 years ago

What kind of videos do you plan on making?
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HelpingYouBeAnExpert 8 years ago

You can make millions of dollar by NOT showing your face!
You can make millions of dollar by showing your face!

So you pick what you like both are CORRECT choices for you!
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DustinInTheWind Banned 8 years ago

are you familiar with the PiP option on a TV? or Picture in Picture.

If youre planning a DIY Video or promoting stuff or a tutorial Video, it would be really great to have a Persona on that video, it may or not be your face but you get the picture.
The reason for that is people in general want to know who are they watching because that can be considered as a Legitimacy factor for the lack of description. In other words, make it personal. People WANT to connect to PEOPLE.

Also, there a TONS of videos with just their voices on it. In the end, its all up to you though. Just my 2 cents.
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Mattdawg841 8 years ago

That's great that you're making a Youtube channel! Congrats

Showing your face or not showing your face shouldn't make a real difference as long as the videos you're making are packed full of good, useful content. But if you wanted to eventually monetize your videos and start building it up, you should show your face as it gives the viewer that sense of 'I know who this person is' because they see YOU in all the videos….

Would help to build trust with your viewers…that plus people won't buy stuff from those they don't trust, would you?

I hope that helps and good luck!
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