Should bloggers use their real names or not?

[guardianangel]

After blogging for almost a year, I noticed that there are two types of bloggers - the ones who use their real name and the ones who are hiding from their chosen pen name.

One time, I came across to Darren Rowse's post at Problogger about The Choice of Associating Your Name with Your Blog. With this, I made my own analysis and here they are.

Advantages

1.0 If your blog becomes successful, your name will follow. It is easy to identify that the blog is yours. It is quite easier to be engaged in other businesses or if you have been invited to be a conference speaker.

2.0 Transparency is one of the best approaches to readers. They tend to like you more simply because they are responding to a real person. It is like baring all.

3.0 It personalizes your blogging style more. It is as if you are just talking in front of your audience.

4.0 It is a better thing to do if your blog is to share your experiences and want others to learn from you. Say, if you are survivor of the 9 -11 attack.

5.0 It looks more professional especially if you have a very serious blog topic like health concerns and religion.

Disadvantages

1.0 You will loose your privacy for sure. Although it feels good to be popular, there are times you wish someone does not know about you.

2.0 It is quite humiliating if your blog is not working out right. There are rude people around who thinks that teasing is fun.

3.0 It will not help if your name is hard to spell or write at Google Search. Arnold Swarzenneger is an exemption though.

4.0 It will be difficult for you to have a co-author to your blog. Your potential partner would not want his name not included in your blog.

5.0 For obvious reasons, it is hard to sell your blog if you decide to do so.

So what do you suggest?

[my_misyel]

Hmmm, i use a pen name on my blog. Unless you are a writer who needs citation then use your real name =)

[wdillsmith]

I wouldn't use my real name, unless it was really common. Last thing you need are actual stalkers or "fans" hunting you down in real life. Think of it as your alter ego. Also, you are going to want to check your domain registration to make sure it only lists your hosting provider or you have some kind of privacy guard.

[guardianangel]

How about considering transparency? Some on-business opportunities require real blogger's name.

[hbixler03]

I say how do they know it's NOT your real name? If you are trying to work in some brand recognition then use the same name everywhere, but no one has to know if it is your real name or not.

[guardianangel]

You may be right. But what if they will know that you're telling a lie? Trust is very hard earn to hard especially on-line.

[my_misyel]

Its also one way of protecting ourselves. Your competitors/enemies might use your name and spam around =)

[menj]

I use my initials to identify myself but I never make an effort to consciously hide my real name.

[guardianangel]

Originally Posted by my_misyel

Its also one way of protecting ourselves. Your competitors/enemies might use your name and spam around =)

I think this is the major fear of anyone using his real name. I know some bloggers who have been complaining on this.

Nice add!

[Locomotive]

I think that any writer on the blog can use any name he likes. Most of offline authors do not use real names often.

[hbixler03]

I don't think there is anything wrong with having a "pen name" because like locomotive suggested, most authors don't use their real names.

I think it would be hard for me to find out if someone is using their real name or not.

I also don't think it could be along the lines of being deceitful, this is the Internet I think that most people would understand the need for privacy.

I once had a business coach who used their middle name and last name, then one day - just by chance, I had found out that she was using a "fake name" but I wasn't offended she was doing what she felt she needed to do in order to keep herself protected.

I don't think it is betraying anyones trust.

[C.Whyte]

I think it's cool to use your real name. If you get big enough, people are going to find it out anyways.

[beacon]

i always use my pen name... but i like the idea of people googling your name to know you more.

[whojaybe]

I believe a lot of people treat it like celebrity real names in the sense that they use a different name rather than their real names... personally, I just stick by my nickname when I blog...

[alex27]

I guess it depends on what type of blog you have.

[morph07]

Im hiding my identity hahahaha LOL

[whojaybe]

Originally Posted by morph07

Im hiding my identity hahahaha LOL

LOL! A lot of people do... and I know this one guy who got offended when I asked how old he was lol... damn, it's only an age... lol

[EBORG9]

I struggled with this for over a year. Putting your self out there can be really scary, but the conclusion that i came to is that I like and believe in what I do, and I am proud of what I have online.

Loosing my identity ? Anonymity ? Stalkers? I grew up in Detroit, MI, was Army MP, and spent years as a Bartender and Limo Driver in the Las Vegas Trenches. There are not many people that can scare me. I have already been called all the names, had all threats of injury and death...there isn't really a whole lot left that will make me uncomfortable.

So I have one blog that is my name, and I make my real name known on all of my profiles, and other websites, as the webmaster and editor.

You only get one shot at credibility, right? I don't many successful businessmen that use fake names.

[guardianangel]

Your philosophy is logical. It is not really advisable to hide from user names and expect a higher credibility here in blogging.

[enigma1805]

I think as it has both advantages and disadvantages so it totally depends on bloggers whether they use their real names or not.