Real photo or fake photo?

Depends, are your fake pics stolen or are they royalty-free/bought?

On the first, don't do it. On the second one, do it but bear in mind that someone may catch you.

Is there anyone here that manage more than one niche?
How do you guys do?

real name - real photo
real name - fake photo
fake name - real photo
fake name - fake photo ?

one facebook, twitter, google + profile
multiple facebook, twitter, google + profiles?

Thanks a lot

This is an interesting topic.

I, personally, would go for a small handful of sites and just be Me for all of them.

However, using a lot of sites and pen names, I imagine it would be best to have a unique identity for each. Using a fake photo, however, will always carry the risk of being caught; but, I don't suppose that matters if you are open about using a pen name with your fans.

However, being open with fans about using a pen name would probably lead to trust issues between you and your customers.

In today's climate of suspicion and distrust on all levels of life, not just IM, I'm inclined to always be honest and true to people; for the mutual good of all involved. In business, a pen name and/or fake photo is a disaster waiting to happen. There is no reason to think that a person can't be knowledgeable enough in multiple niches, therefore having multiple websites to support those niches.

If you use a pen name or fake photo, you may never be caught. But you might get caught. The worry over that alone can cause you to lose just enough focus on your IM efforts to keep you from reaching your goals. You might think you're not worried about it, but the subconscious mind pulls no punches. Dishonesty, no matter how minor, can bite you, even if no one else does.

I heard an author speaking at a book conference. He was promoting his newest book. On the projector / big screen they put up a picture of his book. His face was right on it.

The author, turned and looked up, saw his book and face, then turned to the audience and said, "You know it's a really good picture of you when it looks nothing like you"

Q: How does Clark Kent turn into Superman?
A: With a little help from Hollywood.

One compromise between Real or Fake is to use a cartoon representation of you.

It's still you. But it looks they way you need it to look for your niche/site etc.

Lots of caricature artists on Fiverr.com can do this for you.

For me, this is a tough one! On one of my blogs I have put my real picture but on the other I'm creating, I definitely won't. I still have a 9to5 and it would be in direct conflict of what I do. I already represent my company on the website, and my blog would not be a good reflection of them. The blog basically has "characters" in it, so I am just one of the characters. I think it will work because it isn't a serious focus like other blogs, where you want to get to know the writer.

I use a pen name, but my own photo in most cases -- I have enough to choose from, and it is no big deal to use a different candid shot -- the one in my avatar was shot by my 3yo, so it doesn't have to be fancy!
I do have professional headshots that I use for books and magazine contributer photos, the "real" headshots are much better quality and I took the time to brush my hair, so they don't particularly look like I look every day, if that makes sense.

BeFunky has a good cartoonizer, and it's free with no annoying toolbars to install. It also has some other cool features:
Select a photo effect or try goodies application | BeFunky

(For the cartoonizer, click on the "effects" button)

Another idea I use is to morph two or more images. This creates a "frankenperson" that isn't real, so you don't have to worry about model releases, etc. I generally mix a mugshot, since they are all looking forward, with a good looking celebrity, so the output is usually a pretty good looking person:

http://www.morphthing.com/

...And for extra measure, you can cartoonize your morph.

I say honesty is always the best policy.

I don't really care about using my real photo when am dealing with small niche sites unless if it's something big with brand then i showcase my self.

Am not much of a social media person and have very few FB accounts for my sites.

I prefer to use my own pictures....

And now for a reality check: The odds your dog customers find out you also sell gardening information will be slim to none; the odds they will care if they do find out are even less.

Now we have lot of tools and softwares to edit any kind of photographs and add your imagination in the photographs. So people can not judge easily whether the photo is real or fake.

One thing is for sure, my photo is real. You just can't fake that kind of good looks and charm. :p

I don't intend to use a photo for the particular project I have which is my first, but if I ever start something that requires a picture, I would get a real one taken by a professional photographer and I would use that one.

I prefer to efficiency, at the time I was too lazy to make 50 photo, names, and social accounts, then I would just make one and declared myself as the heads of 50 experts for each of that fields.

I think too many people are concerned about putting a face to a product or brand. This can be an asset if you are trying to become famous or a super authority figure, but no so much when you are building a product line brand.

Does NIKE have a company face attached to it? No, they have paid endorsers. Obviously, most businesses are not in the position to get Tiger Woods to be their face, but you do have another asset to be your face... your customers.

I think more folks in this space need to start thinking like a company, instead of always thinking of themselves as a one man shop, be it a real man or a fake man.

Personally I am against using fake photo's, because I see it as dishonest.

If somebody wants to use a pen name under the guise of remaining anonymous then so be it, a person can chose his name as he wills.

However, once somebody starts using a photo of somebody else, he enters the realm of lying and deception, and this is unethical.

Furthermore, the proof is in the pudding - let your content do the talking.

If your content backs up the fact that you are in fact knowledgeable of 50 niches then who can argue? and if you are not knowledgeable of 50 niches then stop what you are doing, because it would mean that you are telling lies to people.

Be honest, work hard.

IMHO: there is no need to enter 50 niches, why are you doing this? And how could you possibly have time to manage all 50, and create content for all 50, and supply good customer service for all 50? You must be a millionaire, and if this is the case, why are you here asking this question?

My advice would be to become established in one niche first (if you feel a burning desire to do more, then take on no more than 3). Build one successful business, that is all you need. It is smarter to build one stable business and become known for your good service, ethic and content before launching a second or third, than it is to try to profit from 50 different niches.

I hope my answer was helpful.

P.S: When have you ever read the story of a genuine, real life, self made millionaire (not the types that tell their stories on the internet, who could be lying, but the ones who are known and established in the real world) who turns around and says: "oh, how did I make my millions? I started 50 different businesses and ran them all" ?

No, this doesn't happen, it is unrealist and illogical to think and act this way.

Listen to the people who certainly have knowledge of the field you study. Most of them took one step at a time, one business at a time.

I think you should be fine using you're own picture (and it's the right thing to do) if required, as long as people know the meaning of "pen name" then you should be alright. If a real picture is not required, then go ahead and use some others non-copyrighted pictures but DON'T use pictures of other people or you could be pursued in court.

In social networks, I think it is unethical and against any site's terms and conditions for one person to have multiple "personal" accounts assuming different identities; besides, social networks usually only allow one person to have multiple accounts when the first account is full or compromised in some way. (In Facebook) The best way is to have a single personal account and then have various pages to handle each pen name or niche. I think. :-D


Good Luck!


~^_^~

interesting topic, i know people who use fake photo for fake name...
i think no one use real pic for fake name..

some use pic of nature or natural beauty like trees, weather and quotes pic also.

I would say it is your personal prefernce. Do you want to use your real name and photo or a pen name like many authors do. I am setting up some sites and I am undecided whether to use my real name and photo or a pen name and stock photo.

AB

Use real photos of you but tailor them to your niche:
Gardening ---> pic of you in garden
Dogs ---> pic of you with dog
Etc, etc

You can photoshop yourself into backgrounds
you can't get in real life. Easy peezy!