Using your real name online

[bbrian017]

When I first start marketing online I never used my real name. I simply went by the name of bbrian017. My name is Brian so I thought that was appropriate. Three years have past and I still go my Brian but I also share my last name now on my websites.

On some level I find using your real name bring respect, trust and appreciation into the picture when trying to brand your website, product or service.

What's your opinion on this? Do you use your real name online when marketing or do you use a fake or brand name?

[Sudari]

well it really comes down to your goal at the end of the day, if you're building a brand it's important to get your name out there [or even use a pen name], however if you're not doing that there's no real reason to do that.

Although I would say it's important to read up on reputation management (there are many books on amazon on this subject" before you go brandishing your name on the web.

[robjones]

My real name is a closely guarded secret. I mean, hey, if adding a pair of glasses was foolproof for Clark Kent, removing a space should keep me perfectly anonymous.

[Dreamrage]

I use my name in my ezine articles etc. and for forums I use my deviant art name. (well its actually adreamrage, but I shortened it.) My real name is Samantha, and the thought of typing that out all the time is annoying
If I use Sami (which is what I prefer to be called), it makes me sound unprofessional.

[Dreamrage]

Originally Posted by YLac

it actually depends on what type you are into. Like Dreamrage mentioned, using your real name sometimes is irritating specially if it is too long or you are building a name or a status, say in ezine you want to be a known writer, Samantha is such a common name, sorry! so the chances are you would be linked as a different or another person unless you used a unique name, this comes the used of a pen name.

perhaps its better to have a pen name and only give your real name when the need arises. well there are really some events that would happen where you need to introduced your real name right?

No worries. It's common yes, and I don't like it because it is so long. So I use it as little as possible I actually thought of a pen name once or twice, but in the end nothing sounded right, so I stuck with Samantha.

[vasilisa]

i dont use my real name but my nickname is stable, i like it but i am tired of it, my brother always calls me Vasilisa, i like this name but cant be Vasilisa in my real life so i am glad to be she here

[kristaarm]

What's your opinion on this? Do you use your real name online when marketing or do you use a fake or brand name?

From the very beginning when I started to use Social Media I had a fake name, then I thought it is better I use my real name with modification. I feel more comfortable with my real name and in all my Social Networks I have the same name. My real name is Kristine & I've modified to "Kristaarm" Krista is the short of my name arm is Armenia from where I am...

[chizcurlz]

I think showing your real name in public is a great way to earn reputation and credibility not only in online community but outside the internet as well. Just an opinion.

[jimtsap]

Hi, If my name had any reputation at all then I would use it. For example if you are an artist or a writer and you promote your website, it will be best to use your own name. It's like a brand.

I use only nick names for my digital existance. I have a safety feeling with nick names. Don't forget, that from your full name, can someone find your phone number and adress...and this is something I wouldn't like to happen.

[Jim Gillum]

I use my real name for branding .......I believe it will help establish reputation...
Good one .....I hope.....lol...

[psdtowp.biz]

I haven't got any kind of problem yet using real name online but I prefer my company brand name before my name.

[Sudari]

Originally Posted by jimtsap

Hi, If my name had any reputation at all then I would use it. For example if you are an artist or a writer and you promote your website, it will be best to use your own name. It's like a brand.

I use only nick names for my digital existance. I have a safety feeling with nick names. Don't forget, that from your full name, can someone find your phone number and adress...and this is something I wouldn't like to happen.

I think the process works in reverse, you build up your brand by using it. You don't suddenly arrive at a super well known reputation out of the blue.

For me, and for my business model It's working perfectly fine being anonymous. Although I think in 2 years from now I would probably have some sort of business ecourses and I may start to put my name out there a little bit more, so when someone google's my name they get a long list of history and reputation that they can flick through.

Although for time time being I'm happy doing business anonymously, because I'm not banking on a reputation or my reputation.

[carol.prime]

Ive been using my real name since I worked in a web services business.

[Jon Alford]

I use my real name.

I think using your real name is up to you. It can work against you if you're trying to rank for it and a million other people have that name. Also, if you're a jerk in real life but try to pass off as a quality person online then someone may eventually "out" you.

But if you're going to take what you're doing seriously, your offerings are ethical, and you're investing a lot of time then why not become the authority using your real name?

[Dreamrage]

Originally Posted by Jon Alford

I use my real name.

I think using your real name is up to you. It can work against you if you're trying to rank for it and a million other people have that name. Also, if you're a jerk in real life but try to pass off as a quality person online then someone may eventually "out" you.

But if you're going to take what you're doing seriously, your offerings are ethical, and you're investing a lot of time then why not become the authority using your real name?

I think for me, the biggest reason why I don't use my real name all the time, regardless of how common it is or how long and annoying it is to write, is because of fear. If you build your reputation using your real name and something goes horribly wrong, and this can happen to the best of us, you are going to be remembered firstly for the mistake you made, and not the good things you did. Using a nickname or a pen name is disposable, so you can start over if things go wrong and your name isn't damaged online.

[Dan Williamson]

Originally Posted by Dreamrage

I think for me, the biggest reason why I don't use my real name all the time, regardless of how common it is or how long and annoying it is to write, is because of fear. If you build your reputation using your real name and something goes horribly wrong, and this can happen to the best of us, you are going to be remembered firstly for the mistake you made, and not the good things you did. Using a nickname or a pen name is disposable, so you can start over if things go wrong and your name isn't damaged online.

In some ways this is why I use my real name - if I make a mistake I don't want to hide behind it. I want to learn from it. I don't use my real name everywhere but 99% of the places I do.

Just look at some of my earlier posts, silly questions that I deem to be very basic now, but when I joined at 14 I still believed that I could learn from mistakes I made, I don't want to start again if I accidentally do something wrong, I am big enough to apologize if it requires it and learn from the mistake.

[Dreamrage]

Originally Posted by Dan Williamson

In some ways this is why I use my real name - if I make a mistake I don't want to hide behind it. I want to learn from it. I don't use my real name everywhere but 99% of the places I do.

Just look at some of my earlier posts, silly questions that I deem to be very basic now, but when I joined at 14 I still believed that I could learn from mistakes I made, I don't want to start again if I accidentally do something wrong, I am big enough to apologize if it requires it and learn from the mistake.

True, but not everyone is strong enough to be able to bear that. I have seen first hand how brutal people can be to others and can understand why someone would rather start over and just make sure they don't make that mistake again. It's not because they cannot be big enough to own up to a mistake and apologize. Its the circumstances they find themselves in if they ever have to apologize that might make them decide to start over and use a different name.

[ComputerGirl]

I do not use my real name, simply so far I have not seen the reason why I should do that. If something will change and my name will become some part of that what I am representing over the Internet then I probably have to change my approach!

[sarahk]

My name is fairly generic and those who actually know me know me. Hell, I got a comment on one forum "Hey sarahk didn't you used to be sarahh?" - nevermind that I traded the h for a k when the net was still an infant and guestbooks were high tech.

Brian - what does mystify me is why you have this both here and at atleast one other forum? By chance I saw your other post this morning and now have stumbled upon this - even though both threads have been around for a bit. Spooky.

[TheBrainchild]

If you're a professional marketer or own a business, sharing your full name adds a sense of transparency. I always share my name as I want people to know what I've done, and I want them to be able to search for me in Google. Nowadays this is important.