Creating a Fake Online Identity?

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So heres a problem I have,

Im 22 years old and still have a young face. I've been doing internet marketing for about a year now and I have decided that I wanted to start building a list then sell products to that list. (heres is where I contradict myself) I want to build trust with the people on my list and I feel like showing a face behind the computer will really help do that.

The problem is, I also feel like 30-40 y/o people wouldnt want to take advice from someone whos only 22 with a young face such as mine (thus lowering my chance of getting a good list), so heres an Idea I thought. Can I buy a photo of someone and use it as myself with maybe a false name?

I wouldnt be writing any false claims or false back stories, I would just use it as a name and picture behind the product.

What do you guys think?
Please dont flame me.... I just want to get peoples opinions. lol
  • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
    Honest opinion here.

    I'm old school as I have passed the half century mark.

    Anyway, I would not pass by someone younger than myself just by age alone, especially when it deals with anything in internet marketing or computers in general. I realize the younger generations grew up on the computer and they were in every classroom all throughout school, where with my generation, they weren't.

    Some of the younger generations can be quite immature and pompous, just to use a few of the kinder terms that come to mind. Therefore I judge whether I will listen to them or not by reading what they have to say.

    See, I don't stereotype the younger generation and perhaps you shouldn't with the older generation. :p

    In a nutshell, I believe honesty is the best policy.

    Terra
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    I wouldn't object to a DBA at all. But if I found that someone was actually posting a pic of someone else, I'd not trust them one whit for anything else. That's just one step over the line for me. Yet I do understand your dilemma. If it makes you feel better - people my age (I'm old enough to be your grandmother) know that youth are more computer savvy than people our own age. You grew up with them, we had to change our ways to incorporate them into our lives.

    I wouldn't worry so much about your age - concentrate on your image and presentation. Instead of a pic of you in your tee-shirt and jeans, put on a nice white dress shirt - open the top button, or two if the third isn't real low and a business jacket, also open and unbuttoned. You want to look like a businessman, but you want the idea of "casual" to soak in, too.

    Age isn't the stigma that you might think when you are in internet marketing niches.
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    • Profile picture of the author ThomM
      Talk to Caleb.
      As far as I know age hasn't been an issue with him building a list and he's 4 years younger then you.
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  • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
    Theoretically I'm cool with it. Authors do it all the time. But I'll also say that when I find something of real value I don't care about the age, race, gender, weight, color, height, religion, political party, or planet of origin. If it's good, it's good. If you have the stuff it won't matter how old you are. Good luck.
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  • Profile picture of the author mohsinmallik
    I think, nobody is giving him a solution here. Everyone is exposing their personal opinions.
    I also do not judge anyone by their age though I myself am very young in age. Even I learn a lot of things from my younger brother who is only 12 years old now.
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    • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
      Originally Posted by mohsinmallik View Post

      I think, nobody is giving him a solution here. Everyone is exposing their personal opinions.
      I also do not judge anyone by their age though I myself am very young in age. Even I learn a lot of things from my younger brother who is only 12 years old now.
      That's probably because he asked us what we thought.

      No one can make the decision of what is right for him, except himself. That's why he is asking us our opinions, so he can read them, perhaps find something he hadn't considered before to aid him in his final decision.

      Terra
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    • Profile picture of the author KimW
      Originally Posted by mohsinmallik View Post

      I think, nobody is giving him a solution here. Everyone is exposing their personal opinions.
      I also do not judge anyone by their age though I myself am very young in age. Even I learn a lot of things from my younger brother who is only 12 years old now.
      I think there were several answers with the solution,you just have to think to reach it.
      But I will give him my solution,which is also as you say,just an opinion,which in reality anything anyone says is basically that.

      If you feel the need to use a picture, go to a professional photographer and have one done. It will cost you several hundred dollars probably but they will be able to present you in the best possible light.

      If you use a fake picture and when you finally get "old enough" to want to shoe the real you, you WILL lose your lists trust by switching over.

      My last words of advice are, be you,your the only one that can pull it off best.
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  • You mean zippi100 is your real name?

    I know Mark Zuckerberg must empathize with your problem...nobody takes him seriously either...:rolleyes:

    Steve Jobs initially had the same problem too...
    as well as Richard Branson, Mark Cuban, and that fellow, Bill Gates...

    Edit: here's some more food for thought...
    Summly: Teenager launches top-selling news app - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20181537
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  • Profile picture of the author PeterKell
    hey thanks guys. really helpful opinions (:
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    • Profile picture of the author pcalvert
      Something else to consider is that some people don't use a photograph, they have an artist create a drawing from a photograph of themselves and use that instead. Just an idea...

      Phil
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  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
    Banned
    To expand a little on Phil's excellent point, just above ...

    Originally Posted by zippi100 View Post

    Im 22 years old and still have a young face. I've been doing internet marketing for about a year now and I have decided that I wanted to start building a list then sell products to that list. (heres is where I contradict myself) I want to build trust with the people on my list and I feel like showing a face behind the computer will really help do that.
    You're in the same position that I was in, when I started, and for exactly the same reason.

    I was 18/19 (but looked 15) and wanted a photo for the same reasons, without losing credibility and "looking too young" in my visitors'/subscribers' eyes.

    I decided to use a pen-name (I have one for each niche, this and a couple of other forums are about the only places I use my real name online), and a selection of unrecognisable, non-age-showing photos of myself for avatars/images.

    I have silhouettes, drawings, outlines with the colors changed, and all sorts of things. They're all my own photos, of me, to which I own the copyright, but I had some of them made for me on Fiverr. There are some brilliant cartoon and sketch artists there, and for $5 and with a photo to start from, you can buy a picture of yourself there that "doesn't show your age".
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  • Profile picture of the author GBM
    I always automatically assume whatever face/name I see online is fake, and I have no problem with it. There's a reason why every Indian phone operator pretends to have an American name when they call.
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  • Profile picture of the author Virtualghost
    I say go with your photo and your true age and think you'll do well.I will tell you I am 55 years old and I admire people your age as I feel there are alot of bright talented people your age and can teach me and a lot of others a few things.You see I have 3 daughters youngest 20 years old and she can do videos,photoshop,and has competed in video productions sponsored by Apple and I admire her and she taught me everything I know about computers and I am not ashamed to admit it.So be yourself my friend.I don't use my photo here not photogenic rather post my dogs photo or one I'm using LOL!
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