Putting Your face on it - Opinions Wanted!

by Brock Poling

Posted: 13 years ago 18 replies

INTERNET MARKETING

I am looking for some input on this from other IMers. I have a new product / sales letter site that I am launching that will set at the crossroads of 3 popular niches - Fitness/Nutrition, Career/$$, and Love/Sex/Relationships.

It is sort of a life coaching project.

I think the site will have a better conversion rate and help readers fall into "the story" more if there is a face on it to humanize the experience. Due to the subject matter I have reservations putting *my* face on this.

I have a day job, co-workers, clients, kids, etc. and some of the content I am going to be advocating moves into areas that should be considered private. It isn't anything bad... just sensitive. I believe 100% in the quality of the products, I just have reservations about becoming the face of this.

I have also considered developing an alter ego, but somehow that feels dishonest.

I am sure others have dealt with this issue. I am curious to know what you are marketing and how you handled this.

#face #opinions #putting #wanted

ReachOneMedia 13 years ago

depend on what your overall career plan is.

If you want to brand yourself in one particular niche and stay in that niche... Showing yourself can be a great idea to make your customer feels good and have more confidence.

But if you want to create product in multiple niches I suggest that you stay "behind the scene" and chose the alter ego option.

hope this help
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- Brock Poling 13 years ago
  
  Yeah, I am for sure going to be in multiple niches. In some ways I already am. I have several off line professional ventures and I don't want to mix my signals too much.
  
  What do you think about creating personas / alter egos? Good work around or dishonest?
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
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  Kay King 13 years ago
  
  Using different pen names for different niches is common online (and offline, too). I would not use someone else's photo but some may find that acceptable.
  
  I know some marketers create "alter egos" complete with photos and stories, etc - but going too far with that means being discredited if you are exposed.
  It's something to consider.
  
  kay
  
  Thanks
  
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Greenwarrior 13 years ago

You are stuck in between.You believe in the product but have reservations about posting your picture. If its a coaching product people will want to know who they are dealing with. if you post an alter ego,and they find out ,the consequences can be detrimental to your business. Another problem I see is anything you post stays with you good or bad. Most people do not know how bad it is to keep posting things all over the net.We all have to be careful what we post. There is no right or wrong answer. You are the only one who has to be comfortable with your decision.

Best wishes,
Ian
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Alexd10 13 years ago

Research what other products out there do, if lots of them put their face on it you may have to do so as well. However if they don't then you might want to as it may make yours stand out more.
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Brock Poling 13 years ago

I agree you have to be careful what you post online under your own name (like this thread) and that is the source of my reservation. If it was just between me and my customers then I would have no problem letting them know me, but thanks to Google this reaches a world wide audience and one quick Google check on my name will show this to people who I would rather not be aware of it.

In addition to all the normal things, day job, clients, neighbors, kids, etc. I also build high end instruments professionally and market them under my name. This is one of my primary concerns. My "brand" is my instruments and I don't want these paths crossing.

I appreciate the advice. You are confirming my concerns. I just wish I could find a nice resolution to this.
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JasonWestwick

13 years ago

There are many niches where an alter ego under a pen name can suffice, particularly in niches where the reader wants to keep some sort of anonymity themselves. The IM niche or any embarrassing problem niche, is not required to have a face to the name, so long as the content is solid and can help your readership.

Likewise there are other niches where a face to the product/programme is almost demanded. If I'm going to buy a product or programme on bulking up and building muscle I want to see the programme creator is a muscle clad athlete.

The lifestyle design/personal development niche is one of those niches where you have to have a face to the product, if you look at any of your peers/competitors in this field, any bloggers, speakers e.t.c. What they are selling is themselves, they showcase a picture of great health, wealth and confidence that people need to be able to aspire to. A face to your product will add credibility and trust.

Just my take on things.

Thanks
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chino007

13 years ago

Hello,

I think there is not big problem, since you are not worried about to sell something that you don't trust, or something to be shamed, this is not your main concern. For example some people who sells penis enlargement things or something like that on internet and they have a different "real" life.

What you are worried about is your brand name, so you can have several brands as a person, you can brand several products with differents names. Of course don't be abusive with this and everthing wil be ok.

I think that 3 products in 3 different niches can be handled well with 3 differents names and the same picture of you.

It's all about good marketing, you have to really know what you are doing and then will not be any problem at all.

Take a look for example to Eben pagan, one of the best internet marketers:
ignition. info
In this product is selling a internet marketing product and his name is eben. And in this other website is selling a dating program:
double your dating . com and his name is david d' angelo.
Both products sell millions of dollars every year, so this can be done with success.

Note that double your dating and david d' angelo sounds good, that's is because eben knows what he is doing.

Hope this helps.

Thanks
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Bingo123 13 years ago

I know exactly what you mean about not being sure about adding your face to the product.
I think it definitely would increase sales, but it's not the be all and end all.
I personally wouldn't add my face and see how sales go as they are.

I also definitely wouldn't use someone elses photo.
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Brock Poling

13 years ago

Originally Posted by chino007

Take a look for example to Eben pagan, one of the best internet marketers:
ignition. info
In this product is selling a internet marketing product and his name is eben. And in this other website is selling a dating program:
double your dating . com and his name is david d' angelo.
Both products sell millions of dollars every year, so this can be done with success.

Note that double your dating and david d' angelo sounds good, that's is because eben knows what he is doing.

Hope this helps.

WAIT!!! David D' Angelo is a pen name? I had no idea.

I know a lot of guys in the seduction field use "handles" to (slightly) obscure who they really are (Mystery, Style, etc.) but I figured David D. was a real person.

That is interesting.

Thanks

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forexaffiliate 13 years ago

I don't think a face will sell more. There's so many examples that shows the oposite: that the no-face option is better, but every marketing project is different...

At least, in my experience, using your face will tell the customer: ok, this is a one-person operation, nothing big... and if you don't they might get the feeling that it's a solid corporation. I'm not just throwing my thoughts out, this is from 5+ years of affiliate marketing experience.
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- cody123 13 years ago
  
  Hey Brock:
  
  If you don't want to put your image on the page, why not just insert an audio file so visitors can at least hear your recording? This way, it's you and it's credible.
  
  That will help remove some of the barrier between you and the buyer and allow them to gain a little trust.
  
  Hope that helps.
  
  Thanks
  
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jasonmorgan 13 years ago

I figured David D. was a real person.

Funny.

It's Eben Pagan, if that is even his real name. He has a lot of pen names... male and female.

Back to the OP.... just grab an appropriate stock photo.

Nobody is going to know the difference just like nobody really knows if any of the pics and avatars here are real... I'll betcha a cookie some of them are not. Why be Akbar Jimbabwe when Steve Smith is more credible and attractive to western buyers.
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MrktTimingAcdmy 13 years ago

Definitely put a face on it to humanize the product. You could use a happy family or individual giving the impression of happy customer rather than the product creator.
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jasonmorgan 13 years ago

There was a post here once from a guy who sold a product related to womens issues. When he used his real name, sales sucked and he even received negative reactions from some women who didn't feel a man should be in that niche.

He started using a female pen name, sales went up and all his sisters were thanking him for his help.
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newbim 13 years ago

Hi,

You have to be careful when using a stock image - for the sole reason that a lot of sites have a kind of 'model clause' stating that if it's going to be used for advertising, you may have to obtain the model's permission before using it.

I'd check the small print before you use the image.

Good luck with it .

Cheers,

Newbim.
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Sardent 13 years ago

People like seeing a photo, it makes a connection for them. Images are brandable.
Doesn't mean it has to be of you.
I probably wouldn't use a stock agency, too much usage, just have a fiverr who's good at photography sell you rights to one of a nice looking person, dressed in the way that presents the image you want. Then make sure to use that image on everything for that product.
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