Pen Name vs Real Name (being judged as a "scammer")

I always believe that it's never the wrong time to do the right thing. Honesty, honesty, honesty...

Option 3 is the ONLY way to go...

Sounds like you've really put much thought into this. I can see the point to both. Real name is always key- however, if you are trying to protect your assets or other life may conflict, it would be good to have a pen name. Offline authors use pen names often... maybe onliners need to get with the times

Good luck... the final decision is yours.

The question is: are you a scammer?

No? Are you doing useful work in marketing? Selling products and services that you believe in, that help the customer?

Yes? Are you proud of your achievements in marketing?

Yes?

Then option three.

There are occasionally reasons to use a pseudonym. I don't see any above.

Just my opinion - but I practice what I preach! -

I run a consulting and custom software development business. I play guitar and keyboards in a rock/jazz jam band. I wrote a book about my adventures at South by Southwest. I wrote an ebook about landing pages. I'm working on a book about object-oriented programming.

I believe in what I'm doing in all 5 niches, thus, I don't use 5 different names.

You cannot change people's ignorance. Teaching marketers about upsells is no different than teaching quarterbacks about power sprinting. They're both useful tactics, appropriate in some contexts.

By contrast, using a pseudonym - to some degree - implies that you are trying to hide something; it's suspicious.

But hey, do what makes you comfortable!

Honesty is always the best policy. I am my real name every place I go online. If you are doing something unethical then I can understand your paranoia.

Many authors and actors use pen names or stage names without any problems. I see no problems with using one online.

I swear,, my real name is Robert X

You can use your real name, or a pen name. If someone asks if both names are yours - don't like about it. If someone is going to call you a scammer then they are going to do it regardless of what names you use. Anyone who is in IM for long will be called that - it may be from them actually being a scammer or it could be from a simple misunderstanding with a customer. It all boils down to how you handle the situation when it happens.

Many people use pen names for different niches, but if you are really worried about them finding out that is not your name, go with your real name.

Don't worry so much about Pen Name, lot of internet Marketer use Pen name of the their sake.

It's perfectly acceptable to use a pen name - in fact EzineArticles explains how you can use pen names to build brand...

Solidify Your Brand with Alternate Author Names

Have you ever heard of Richard Bachman?

How about John Swithen?

No?

Are you sure about that?

These are pen names used by the best-selling, horror-writer Stephen King.

I hope you are wrong that people believe that anyone who writes under a pen name is a scammer...

I write under more than three dozen pen names myself.

I started writing under pen names in 2004, because I am a writer with multiple interests...

I am most known for my writing about online marketing and SEO... Strangely, when I started writing in different niches, people complained to me about how I was wasting their time!!!

One lady summed it up well when she said:

I listened to my audience...

And since hearing those complaints, whenever I change the niche I am writing about, I change pen names.

I have up to 5 pen names in every niche I write about, and I create content in about 10 niches... Plus, as I noted previously, I have been using pen names for 7 years.

If that means people see me as a scammer, then so be it... But the reality is that no one knows what niches I write about or who my pen names really are... Shoot... To be honest, I have to double-check my records whenever I want to remember who all of my pen names are...

I'd tell you what my pen names are, but if I did that, I might have to kill this thread...

If you're not a genuine guru, but you market yourself as one, then you ARE a scammer.

Being a marketer has nothing to do with it. Not being what you market yourself as does.

Will people call you names either way? Sure. But they're stupid and they suck, so who cares?

I can understand the reasoning in using pen names for different markets. I only use 4 myself, but it's mainly so that I can track which of my 'personas' is having the best results, or to be better organised in different sectors.

However, when I'm talking to my peers, friends and colleagues, such as in the Forum, I always use my real name.

Yup, that really is my name up there.

I read this far....saw your biggest problem...

I am proud to be a marketer...DAMNED PROUD OF IT.

Besides...

If it is good enough for authors Silence Dogood, Mark Twain, Boz, Lewis Carroll, and Paul French...who am I to argue..

List of pen names - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I think the bottom line is that you have to be happy with the decision you make - you probably know deep down what you'd prefer, so stick with your gut instinct. There's nothing wrong with using either a pen name or your real name, as long as your intentions are good and you believe in what you're doing.

I'm thanking all of you for the help! I really appreciate it.

Different opinions, but I'm getting closer towards a decision.

I want to make it clear that I'm not doing anything "unethically". I have a very good success story related to the product I'm creating and I know my recipe will produce results. But I have to change my perception of marketing/selling.

It's just that my belief system says that some people outside of the marketing circle may think that conscious marketing/selling is unethical. The "scam" word is overused and gets thrown out for the need of attention, especially on niche forums where they're used to sharing secrets for free. And when they discuss a priced program, I've seen they called the program a scam or other variations of that word.

I believe that when people find out that my name is not really "pen name", at least a few of them will think "he's hiding something" and their trust in me is threatened. One scam entitlement to my name from one forum post is enough to lose a bunch of sales, even though it's just a misunderstanding or an exaggeration.

I read a book title once, "A happy customer tells three people, an unhappy customer tells a thousand" and it deserves a few seconds of reflection.

After reflection and and advice from all the nice people here, I think it's gonna be my real name. Not that using a pen name is bad, I just feel more comfortable with my own name, especially in this niche. The thing is though, that I have a less good-looking Scandinavian surname

don't worry about the scandinavian origin of your last name! obama is the american president - can't think of a worse last name than that (due to the associations with osama), so i think you're good! my last name is 'petersen' - also scandinavian in origin, and it hasn't hurt me yet...

Don't listen to anybody that says a pen name is scammy. Your nom de plume has nothing to do with the content that you write.

(The only exception would be if you used a title in your pen name that was not earned or given to you, i.e. Dr., Sir, Prof., Lady, Prince, etc.)

You can call yourself anything you want. You're either a scammer or you're not. Your pen name has nothing to do with it.

What could possibly be "scammy" about a pen name?

A pen name isn't impersonating someone else. That would be "scammy" imho.

I could also see using a pen name if you live in a tiny town where everyone knows you. It could make your day job difficult. (yes, these towns still exist). As long as it isn't scamming, I don't see anything wrong with it.

I don't think there is any problem with using pen names in general, authors do it all the time. However if you are worried I would just use my real name if that makes you feel more comfortable. I doubt anyone will look down at your for IM. Most people who are not actively involved don't really know what it is anyway

If you had my surname, you'd use a pen name, too.

Actually, I want to keep my private life somewhat separate from my business life, and I use a pen name (associated with a brick and mortar that I used to own). If that name becomes rich and famous, so be it. I don't need personal accolades when I do something well. My pen name is welcome to all the fame.

BTW, if you run an honest and forthright business, those occasional jibes won't ruin your reputation.

I ALWAYS use my real name in every niche and it's never backfired on me. I like to display honesty. However, I never build a site on a niche that I don't know about.

What about security? For those of you that use your real name, have you run into any situation where you've felt threatened? My kids live with me.....

I hear a lot of people telling you that option#3 is the best/only option, but fact is that when you open yourself up and you put yourself in a public space you take on a lot of risks. Especially if you become an industry leader, you have to be careful about people protecting yourself and your inner circle.

Without question, be honest. This should not even be debated. I use my real name both personally and professionally. I am proud of it, and I want to represent myself in the best way possible. Besides, I have way too much to handle to try and handle some type of undercover identity. Best wishes to you.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Eben Pagan yet... he's runs Double Your Dating (An 8 figure business in the dating niche) under the name David Deangelo.

He's also one of the most professional and respected marketers.

You want to use pen names so people don't get confused if they find out about your other niches.

in the end, you have to do what you feel is right...

I can understand that you have a lot on the line, so I wish you the best of luck

It depends. If you think you might ever want to sell the business, then using a pen name is the only way to go because otherwise, you might not ever be able to create a new business under your own name again.

I have done both, and I strongly prefer using my own name, but there are definite business reasons for using a made-up name, especially if you are creating a brand and you intend to sell it later.