Using pen names – good, bad or indifferent
Today’s question:
What is your opinion on revealing your identity in a niche blog? I’m interested in experimenting with building niche blogs and mini-sites, as you suggest, in the future. However, while I’m learning and experimenting, I don’t want my name to come up or to be associated with the niche blogs, as I already have a non-internet marketer identity online that I want to preserve. I know you say it’s important to build relationships, so I was wonder what your opinion was on this – can I have it both ways?
Personally I do it. I have specific niches that I use a pen name on for everything from the blog author, the email followups, articles, Squidoo lenses and Hub Pages.
For me it was a matter of building expertise for each persona.
I want my name known as the WordPress guy and as a marketer. If people start seeing me as the dog trainer expert, the tattoo expert, the relationship guy, etc along with the other titles you can’t be much of an expert in any field but rather a jack of all trades master of none.
The relationship can still be the same. Your personality will still come through just with a different name attached to that expertise that makes it more believable.
Love to hear what others think about this. Leave your comments and let me know.
Mike Paetzold
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8 comments
Ron Barrett on December 4, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Mike,
I would tend to agree with you about creating a different persona for different niches that you are in.
I think the ‘big dogs’ do it.
I could be wrong, but you read about how they have several sites in several different niches, but they will never mention which niches they are.
They will definitely tell you how they are doing in the IM niche, but when it comes to the others, their information is tough to come by.
Should we start calling you Inspector Clouseau? Or how about Mark Twain?
Ha!
Ron
Ron Barrett´s last blog post..Flipping PLR Videos into Your Own Product – Branding PLR Videos
[Reply]
Mike
Twitter: thewpmaven
Reply:
December 4th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
@Ron Barrett -
They both had too much hair for me to use those names
[Reply]
Luca - Reach Success Online
Twitter: rsonline
on December 4, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Hi there,
My name is Luca and I’m proud of it – no but seriously as you say if you’ve got multiple niches you may want multiple names. I’m not sure yet what I would do yet.
If you have a good reputation in one niche would that not carry over to another?
[Reply]
Mike
Twitter: thewpmaven
Reply:
December 4th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
@Luca -
It may help but…
How much of an expert can you be in varied areas though?
If they are related like Affiliate marketing and list building it is helpful and in all of my IM fields I am me but as something like the topics listed in the post that are very varied it would not carry over. Being a blog expert would carry no weight in say the tattoo niche or body poercing niche but the same person could be an expert in both of those as they are related and people into piercings are often into tattoos also.
[Reply]
Earl Netwal
Twitter: EarlNetwal
on December 4, 2008 at 3:19 pm
I think its a good idea to develop a separate persona, but discovered to my dismay, when I sent a broadcast message across multiple lists that I had complaints and unsubscribes from folks who did not recognize the other name. Now that was my own fault, but points to the need to keep track of what you are doing.
Earl Netwal´s last blog post..Quebec Tourtiere
[Reply]
Andre Arnett on December 4, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Hey Mike,
You make a good point about pen names. I guess I will have to wait before i have to worry about that right now. I am trying to establish an Identity.
Andre Arnett´s last blog post..New Breed Marketer Talks About Using PLR Video Bundle
[Reply]
Walter Gavurnik on December 4, 2008 at 6:41 pm
Hi Mike,
You bring up a good question here. Can I brand myself
in different niches as an expert in each using my own
name?
I have to say yes and no…
Being considered an expert in too many niches is tough
to do and retain credibility. Personally I’m considered
an expert in several niches by those who know me.
But…carrying that to online and those who never met
me is a more difficult challenge.
What I have attemted is to create an image of myself
under my company name. My company being able to provide
much more than me personally.
Using the perception of business adds credibility for
niches using “My Team” for depth of knowledge.
So, while I simply cannot know everything about
everything, my “Team” fills in for the knowledge I
simply do not possess.
To answer your question I would have to say that in
some cases a pen name would be wise. You simply don’t
want to attempt to look like a “Know It All”!
Should you have a team of people helping, you could
brand a name for that team of people. Your team will
now be recognized as a experts for each niche you
create, join, advertise in.
Oh, your name is still relevant in each niche as the
creator of the “Team” of experts for said niches.
Hopefully that didn’t sound too convoluted. It really
is a simple way to extend your “Personal” brand.
Walter Gavurnik
[Reply]
Paul Livingston on December 5, 2008 at 3:55 pm
I’m not at that point yet—don’t know if I ever want to be—but I agree. One shouldn’t spread one’s name too thin.
However, I don’t like the thought of using a pseudonym, either. It just seems a tad dishonest to me. I like Walter’s Team idea; I may use that…if I ever need to
Paul Livingston´s last blog post..21 Simple Ways to Make More with any size list!
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