Using your pen name for affiliate signup?

[Jason H]

Do you ever use your pen name when signing up for to be an affiliate for a particular product?

I sell a product in a specific niche where I am known by a certain pen name, but I want to promote a similar niche product on my site, and want to sign up as an affiliate using that same pen name.

Will that be a problem, like in regards to the payouts, where the bank only cash checks under our real name?

[Big Al]

Hey mate... not sure what the point is?

Usually when you sign up - your name isn't in the link or anything like that anyway so none of your customers will know your real name anyway. They'll only ever know your affiliate ID (if you dont cloak it).

Doubt it will cause any problems for payments because affiliate networks often ask who cheques should be made out to or for your paypal account.

Al

[JMPruitt]

I use my real name. Usually after setting up my site, I send a message to the affiliate manager introducing my self. I use my real name and let them know I am writing under the pen name I use. Doing this helps you to build a relationship with your affiliate managers and helps you get to know people. Sometimes they don't care or never respond, but doing this has helped me learn even more and build some very profitable relationships with others.

[Jason H]

Hey thanks for the reply.

I should I have made it more clear…

For example, you know how in the IM niche, there are some people who go by the pen name, like example, Mr. X, Mr. A, Anonymous Blake, Rich Jerk, etc, where they don’t reveal their real name?

Well, I have a pen name like those examples in one particular niche, but I do use my real name in another different niche.

Lets say for example, the pen name I use for the IM niche was “The Super Rich Dude”, and I use “my real name” for the golfing niche.

In terms of like JVing-up with partners else in a similar niche to be their affiliate, but you still want to keep your real name/identity from that JV partner so they won’t know what other niche you’re in, will that be a problem in terms of getting paid?

Because when those JV affiliate partners send the check to you as “The Super Rich Dude”, like the bank is actually going to cash them?

[AffiliateInABox1]

Generally speaking -- eventually you\'ll need to provide your real name, at least when you want to cash your cheques. If you want to cash a cheque under \"The Super Rich Dude\", you will normally need to set up a bank account with a business name called \'The Super Rich Dude\', although technically speaking the \'bank\' will still have your personal details on file. But, it makes it more difficult (not impossible) for casual onlookers (i.e., the product developer) to see your real identity.

[InternetMarketingIQ]

It will only matter come tax time when this weird name is associated with your Social Security Number or if you get checks at the wrong name on them.


This is why I have chosen the pen name "Johnny Cash" and I just say make that check out to CASH!

This is not a problem if you incorporate your business then all your checks are made out in the business name and your EIN is used not your social security number.

Just one more reason to treat your marketing like a real business.

[Jason H]

Originally Posted by Xtreme23k

Not sure why you would want to use a pen name for affiliate marketing. If you were writing articles then thats another story but usually when you do affiliate marketing your name isnt included in anything or in anylinks...so i would say there is no need for it

What I meant was in terms of JV-partner affiliates, like one example would be the Rich Jerk being JV-partners with other marketers as affiliates, where he wants to keep his identity a secret from that JV-partner affiliate, during sign-up and check/payment payout, because you are in other niches and have totally different character/persona for that market, and don't want that to be known.