Pros and Cons of Using a Pen Name

by P.A. Smith

Posted: 15 years ago 23 replies

INTERNET MARKETING

Hi Warriors-

Can anyone tell me what may be some of the advantages and drawbacks of using a Pen Name while marketing.

With a last name like "Smith", I sometimes have a hard time with people believing I'm not making my name up. Therefore, I'm entertaining the thought of using a pen name while marketing.

Very interested in hearing your thoughts on this matter.

Thanks,
P.A.

#cons #pen #pros

MosaicDan

15 years ago

Hi P.A.,

I think the answer to your question depends on what type of marketing you are doing.

If you are trying to build a name for yourself as, say, someone who teaches Internet marketing, then I think using your real name is the way to go. But that's probably pretty obvious.

If you are marketing different kinds of affiliate offers, then I would absolutely use various pen names.

I tell my students in article marketing to use a different pen name for each new product we promote. It's a fact, for whatever reason, that people have a difficult time believing you can be an expert on more than one subject (even if you are).

Ezinearticles has even pointed this human tendency out.

Therefore, let's say you are promoting skin care products as one affiliate offer, and golf clubs as another. If you are writing under the same name for both offers and people see that (and they easily can), you will lose credibility, EVEN IF you happen to be knowledgable about both.

So, in my opinion, create a new pen name for each affiliate offer you are promoting.

Regards,
Dan

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2 replies

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Tom B

Banned 15 years ago

I have been using the name Bic in a few niches. I find it is the best pen name out there.

Thanks
3 replies

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Kris Turner 15 years ago

Originally Posted by Thomas Belknap

I have been using the name Bic in a few niches. I find it is the best pen name out there.

Surely Parker is better!
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P.A. Smith 15 years ago

Originally Posted by Thomas Belknap

I have been using the name Bic in a few niches. I find it is the best pen name out there.

Hahahaha... I prefer Pilot, myself...

-P.A.
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Kevin Riley

15 years ago

Originally Posted by Thomas Belknap

I have been using the name Bic in a few niches. I find it is the best pen name out there.

The cheap throwaway pen? Hmmmm

Thanks
2 replies

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Kevin Riley, long-time Warrior living in Osaka, Japan

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MosaicDan

15 years ago

Hi P.A.,

If you're sticking in the same niche (but different products), then I'd just keep using the same name.

As long as it's a true, narrowly defined niche. If the niche is something broad like "health" then no, I'd be writing under various pen names myself.

Regards,
Dan

Thanks
2 replies

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edhan

15 years ago

Using your own name can be branding. I do not want to use pen name as I am considering building branding with my name. At the same time, branding is also for my company name.

There is nothing wrong using pen name but you may not get much recognition as others can also use the same pen name. In my article directory, I can see alot of people using pen name. Basically the only disadvantage will be not branding yourself when using pen name.

Thanks
1 reply

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P.A. Smith

15 years ago

Originally Posted by edhan

Hi Edhan-

Yes, I can see how that would be a big disadvantage if I wanted to build a brand on my name. But wouldn't I be able to build the pen name into a brand if I wanted to?

Thanks for the reply,
-P.A.

Thanks
1 reply

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edhan

15 years ago

Originally Posted by P.A. Smith

Yes. If that is your intention. As for me, I want people to remember me as myself rather than pen name.

Once I have established my name then maybe I will consider giving myself a pen name. I do believe this way, people will have a deeper impression.

Thanks
1 reply

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P.A. Smith

15 years ago

Originally Posted by edhan

Hmm... That is the problem I keep coming up against. If I want to stay relatively obscure in my niche and just do affiliate marketing, it seems a pen name would do no harm.

But if I really want to interact at a high level, I think it might hurt my credibility. Such as, if I were to attend live events, conference calls, audio/video interviews...

You give me a lot to think about.

Thanks,
-P.A.

Thanks

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P.A. Smith

15 years ago

Originally Posted by MosaicDan

Thanks Dan-

Good insight.

-P.A.

Thanks

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Tom B Banned 15 years ago

Originally Posted by Kevin Riley

The cheap throwaway pen? Hmmmm

Yes, it is for a continuity program. hehe
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P.A. Smith

15 years ago

Originally Posted by MosaicDan

Hi Dan-

That's sound advice. Please help me by clarifying a bit, tho...

Golf clubs and skin care products are from two very different niches. What if I'm promoting several products from the same niche? My assumption would be to keep the same pen name throughout a niche with related products and then switch up when in a completely different niche.

Sound right?

Thanks for your reply,
P.A.

Thanks

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Tony Shipp

15 years ago

I use pen names for article tracking in serps, privacy, and to not spread my expertise too thin. If you wanted to brand yourself, I would stick with real name.

Tony

Thanks
2 replies

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REHughes

15 years ago

Just a quick thought on this.

I'm not a seasoned veteran on this, so I am sure others have a differing opinion, but last year I was following a certain marketer (won't mention name) and receiving his e-mails on a regular basis.

Then, somehow, I am not sure how, but through a series of communications, I wound up on another list that turned out to be his also, but was under another name.

As it wound up, I had been on one of his Pen Name lists at first.

Problem is, he would regularly refer to his own products from one name to the other, and state that HIS GOOD FRIEND had recommended this or that - you get the picture.

My real problem with this is I for one DESPISE dishonesty in any form,

I know, there are some who are saying that this is just marketing, but it still left me with a taste of distrust for anything he had to say, and in the end, he lost a subscriber off of two lists.

To me that is no different than all of these canned affiliate e-mails that say I Just Got Off The Phone With Google And They Said.....etc, etc, etc.

If I have got to lie to do my marketing, then I had rather not do it.

I ran offline businesses for years and the bulk of my business was built on a trust factor, not on marketing ploys.

I always try to give an honest opinion of anything, but I want the same in return from those that I turn to for information.

Just my thoughts.

Hope they help.

Robert

Thanks
2 replies

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P.A. Smith

15 years ago

Originally Posted by REHughes

Hi Robert-

I appreciate your response. I see you're very passionate about honesty and I like that a lot.

If I could, I'd like to get your honest opinion about "Dear Abby" and "Ann Landers". If you don't know who they are, they are opinion columnists that appear in most, if not all, major U.S. daily newspapers. They are trusted, branded, and highly respected authorities. (And I believe they are sisters.)

Most everyone is aware that their names are pen names, yet it doesn't seem to detract from their credibility or their status as experts. I'm just wondering why that might be socially acceptable whereas what you're describing seems to be a little shady and dishonest. Is it because the marketer didn't stay in character? Or because it was blatantly obvious that he was trying to be deceptive?

Looking forward to your reply,
-P.A.

Thanks
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Shannon Herod 15 years ago

I use pen names in all my various niche markets. The reason I use pen names in those markets, is twofold...

I do not want other marketers copying what I'm doing. That is the first

The second, is I do not want my customers from different niches knowing that I am just a marketer.

So, if I used my real name in all of my niches, it would be very easy to figure that out.

Talk soon,

Shannon Herod
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REHughes

15 years ago

Originally Posted by P.A. Smith

Hi, PA

Sure, I don't mind being honest.

That's what I do like about this forum is you can voice your opinion if done in a manner with integrity and you don't always get blasted. hey, that's what makes us all different.

To your point about Dear Abby and Ann Landers, yes - I am very familiar with them. They do have quite a following, and are well loved by many, and also probably have helped thousands, even millions.

I don't deny that.

But also so have people like Rush Limbaugh, Paul Harvey, Zig Ziglar, Napoleon Hill and many many other great personalities- in different arenas - that could have hidden under a pen name but have openly brought their help to the forefront.

As for Dear Abby, I never listen to that person, ( I've actually heard in the past it was a man- I don't know), nor Ann Landers for that matter. Personal preference.

Also, at the end of the day, if I have used a pen name or three, then I have to remember if, and I emphasize IF, I made a quote or helped someone in some way and it had an impact on their life, which one of me did it? And then, again, if I did it under a pen name, and found it could help me down the road in another area, I couldn't use it again under my Real Name, because then I would look like a plagerist - (I think that's the word I'm looking for.)

To me, then I have lost MY credibility. I don't have to try to remember who says or does what, because I know it is ME, and I know where it came from.

And then for my last point, I have seen some whose character might have been held in high esteem (IE - Christian minister or Sunday School teacher)- who have chosen under a pen name to promote something maybe less- should I say "uncharacteristic" of such a person - (IE- a gambling product or some other site maybe of a nature that they wouldn't promote it under their real name.)

And, again, I am NOT saying this is always or even usually the case. It is just my opinion that in the end, true transparency trumps any other character trait that I look at.

And again, folks, this is just MY OPINION! And it ain't always right. But for me, it works.

It's all about personal preference.

Hey, if a pen name works for you by all means keep using it.

But, please don't get offended if someone DOES find out that it is a pen name, and loses trust in you. It does happen. That's just life.

Like I said, it's just a matter of preference.

But one thing is for sure, I know which one of my evil profiles is writing this post!

Just kidding!

Have a GREAT DAY---
Robert ( I THINK)

Thanks

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edhan

15 years ago

Originally Posted by REHughes

Just a quick thought on this.

Then, somehow, I am not sure how, but through a series of communications, I wound up on another list that turned out to be his also, but was under another name.

As it wound up, I had been on one of his Pen Name lists at first.

Robert

Yes, Robert I do agree. I find it frustrating as well for this matter as I have unknowingly subscribed to the same person in numerous lists. Ended up receiving 4 - 5 same emails for the same promotion. So, what I did was to mark them as spam and goes into the spam folder to be deleted. I would prefer someone using Real name instead of pen name for this case.

Thanks

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P.A. Smith

15 years ago

Originally Posted by tshipp

I use pen names for article tracking in serps, privacy, and to not spread my expertise too thin. If you wanted to brand yourself, I would stick with real name.

Tony

Hi Tony-

Thanks for the reply. Would you mind elaborating on what it means to "spread my expertise too thin"?

Is that, perhaps, along the same lines as what was referred to earlier about the golf clubs and skin care products. That seems logical to me.

I appreciate the reply,
-P.A.

Thanks

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kevin1mil 15 years ago

Personally, I use different pen names for different niche. I think it is easier to differentiate.
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Lloyd Buchinski 15 years ago

Well ok this topic pops up repeatedly. Michael Green runs the "How
To" internet marketing forum. I forget his real name, but he is a
British member of parliament. I've also read at least a couple of
times that he is pretty casual about it also. If he is introduced to
someone as Michael Green he will tell them that is is just an
internet alias and that his real name is (whatever the heck it is).

But then, he doesn't sell hemorrhoid cream.
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Pros and Cons of Using a Pen Name

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