Home > Paid Traffic Sources > eCommerce

Real name? (6)

12-15-2017 11:26 PM #1 nzbryant (AMC Alumnus)
Real name?

If you were making an online course, where you present in the videos (so people can see you) - would you use your real name, or a pseudonym (fictitious name) like some authors do?

I figure there is some risk in using your real name, but I'm having a hard time trying to be specific about what the risk really is, particularly if a postbox/mailing address different from your home address is used.

What do you think?

Rod

12-16-2017 06:37 AM #2 manu_adefy (Veteran Member)

The risk is people googling you, trying to connect on other platforms and such. Basically, you will have less privacy if you use your real name. The same goes for showing your face.

I'm not doing courses but I use my real name and show my face at conferences, on stage and on camera. I can tell you my Facebook gets a lot of friend requests by affiliate managers who have no real connection to what I do so I have in the hundreds of pending friend requests. I also get the same for LinkedIn. Skype requests are also common but not as much. That's the first and most obvious consequence.

In the longer term future, if you do make money, this will probably get worse and you might want more privacy. It's even more important if your family is affected by this.

12-16-2017 08:29 AM #3 TizUK (Member)

I've done both and am leaning more and more towards using my real name. Makes things MUCH easier and profitable...

12-16-2017 08:32 AM #4 manu_adefy (Veteran Member)

Quote Originally Posted by darthvader View Post
I've done both and am leaning more and more towards using my real name. Makes things MUCH easier and profitable...
You have a big trust benefit when you put your real name and face next to a product. You have a significant risk if you try to scam people or do shady stuff. That means it's easier for people to trust you. Essentially, you are your own testimonial.

12-16-2017 08:45 AM #5 cmdeal (Veteran Member)

Well, it really depends on what you are doing and why.

In many courses, what you are selling is ... well, you .. and your knowledge and your expertise and your ability to communicate all of this. Thus, for many training based courses, most people will want to look you up before they buy to make sure that you are legitimate.

Bottom line: if you are doing something that you are proud to attach your name to, and for which your background, credentials and reputation will be an advantage and selling point, then using your real name can provide a massive credibility boost.

Nevertheless, if you want to still use a pseudonym for privacy reasons in such cases, then you need to make this clear when you are selling the course.

Indeed, if you make up an instructor, a name and a background as a front for your product or course, you may even find yourself in hot legal water and--unless you make it absolutely clear that this is a pseudonym--subject to felony fraud laws, like these guys http://www.the-blockchain.com/2017/0...ointalk-crowd/ and http://uk.businessinsider.com/two-of...7-11?r=US&IR=T who created fake people as part of their blockchain ICO.

Of course, many affiliates and affiliate "product" owners use fake profiles, testimonials, doctors, etc, because ... well, I think I don't need to explain why.

12-16-2017 08:56 PM #6 nzbryant (AMC Alumnus)

Guys, thanks for the thoughtful responses based on experience. It's for this reason why STM is worth the $. Thanks. I think I will use my real name (but a managed address of course).

Home > Paid Traffic Sources > eCommerce