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If PEN names are ethical, then is this ethical too?

by Nick Brighton
4 replies
So, I think we can all agree by majority and popular consensus that using pen names in marketing is perfectly ok, as long as you are not fabricating the truth.

But what about using an actor via audio or video?

For example, if someone comes to my site and they see a video of a lady saying "My name is Julie and I created the "X" product/website to help other people learn to...etc,etc"

Is that crossing the line?

Really, it's just a more advanced form of a pen name...and as long as she's not saying "Look at my abs, I got these from this product" or something of a similar nature, then is there any questionable ethics going on?

Regards,

Nick
#ethical #names #pen
  • Profile picture of the author Gene Pimentel
    Nick, this has been done by every major retailer on TV for decades. They hire actors to stand in for real people with real experiences. However, it's important to put a disclaimer on it saying this is an actor representing the actual person.
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  • Profile picture of the author Midas3 Consulting
    I don't see personally any problem with it personally but if
    you did feel there was an issue, why not simply remove the
    "I created the "x" product" part.

    Generally speaking people don't care about stuff like that
    they just want to know how "x" product is going to remove
    the pain they have.

    There's a popular product right now in the fitness niche
    with man and women doing an intro video who have zero
    connection to the products creation.

    It works fine and you're not crossing any lines at all.

    Hell I don't see anybody levelling criticism at Eban and
    Mr Angelo and that's far more of a sleight of hand.
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    • Profile picture of the author stask
      I wouldn't identify directly that the person is you, or that they started anything because what if later they leave or become unavailable?

      Any trust you've built up to that time might be questioned. Either that or you'd need another explanation as to why there is a new spokesperson.

      --Mike
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      • Profile picture of the author adamv
        Do you think that George Foreman really invented the George Foreman grill? He's out there in his garage every night tinkering with his tools so he can make the best grill where the fat just rolls off as you cook.

        I don't think Martha Stewart actually designed all of the clothes at Kmart with her name all over them either.

        Although, I suppose there's a difference between having other people make the product and then putting your name on it and you making the product and putting someone else's name on it. Hmmmmm....
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