This article is a follow up to a post I wrote a few months ago about why you should use your real name on Twitter. Blog reader Eric emailed me and explained he’s worried giving his real name online might get him into trouble. The following is Eric’s question and my answer to him.
I wanted to start a personal blog like you have done about business, life, health, politics, history. Â Here’s the issue. Â If I use my real name, and then connect it with my username and then link it to a blog with that same username, my real name would be exposed. Â Do you think it’s a liability for an entrepreneur to have his personal and political views so openly espoused? Â I have a business partner, employers, vendors, sales prospects that assuredly do Google searches on me before doing business with me…Do I run the risk of jeopardizing business because of my personal views? Â And at what point does transparency become too much? Â I figure that I can write in a sterile business like fashion, but that’s not me. Â I’d love your insight.
You Are What You Say Online
Whatever you say or write online is a liability. There are many reasons why you wouldn’t want people to find out about your true identity. Eric’s problem is that he doesn’t want to associate his name with his political views, etc…
If you work for an employer and if you’re going to blog about hot topics (politics, religion, sex, etc…), make sure you don’t mind losing this job because it might get back at you faster than you think.
As Eric mentioned, people search more and more for names on Google. I do! When I meet someone I will potentially work or deal with, I Google them. That’s my way to do a quick informal background check.
This being said, if you work for the man and want to start your own blog about a hot topic, I suggest using a strong username.
A Username Can Be A Brand
A username for an online service or for a blog domain name doesn’t have to be something meaningless like “Eric1983”. If you want to hide your online identity behind a username, I suggest you choose one that may translate into a brand.
There are many examples of strong and smart usernames/URL that become their own brands: CopyBlogger, ProBlogger, TechCrunch, etc…
These guys chose to reveal their real identity but they didn’t have to. They could have chose to hide behind their usernames.
The Problem With Hiding Your Identity
There is a downside to hiding your identity and not being willing to reveal it. When I created my first website, I didn’t want my boss to find out what I was doing. The website, a franchise directory, was directly competing with the company who was employing me.
The problem is that the site started gaining popularity in the industry and people soon started offering me money to advertise on the site. I hadn’t created a legal entity and was just charging people with PayPal, which made it mandatory to reveal my identity, at least to the people who were paying me.
It became a little awkward when I once had to call a person on behalf of my employer and the guy on the other end of the line thought I was calling on behalf of my website.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that it’s really hard to hide behind a username and things may really well catch up with you one day or the other.
Real Name Vs Username
In the end, it all depends on your needs and goals. In the case of Eric, I’d recommend using a username. That will prevent people from linking him to content he wouldn’t want to be associated with.
If you’re going to write a blog about the iPhone for example, then it’s no use hiding your identity. In this case, using your real name is the way to go as it will most likely help you build your personal brand.
Do you use your real name or a username online? Why? I am curious to read what you think about this.
18 replies on “Real Name Vs Username – Which One Should You Go For Online?”
Hi Sebastien,
Great insight and very helpful. You have a knack for distilling issues.
Eric1983 :)
Thank you
I use my real name on social websites like Twitter & Facebook so I can be found. Luckily, I share the same politicle vies as my boss, so there’s nothing I’d type online that he’d hold against me
Some sites require “Free Registration” just to view theorem page. I that case I pie about EVEYTHING. I even have a separate email address that I uses for those sites. I delete the mail monthly w/o reading it!
(It’s 2:30 am here & I’m practically typing in my sleep! I apologize for spelling errors!)
No worries about the spelling errors. What are you still doing up?
Anyways, thanks for stopping by my personal blog :)
The reason i don’t use my real name is cos of haters, but in the other hand some haters have made me famous.
I maintain both real name, user name, and pseudonyms and therefore a great number of emails and passwords as well. I will use multiple names for the differing type of media I am dealing with so that a type of brand recognition is achieved. For example the use of the name Polemicist is quite apt for comments within blogs. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/polemics
Unfortunately I know what can be done with personal information and have used that knowledge to my advantage at every opportunity and have been shocked by the ease with which it can be used. Therefore I am what you would call a little paranoid about releasing details of a personal nature to people I don’t know physically. I’m even paranoid enough to read every contract I sign and ask for written clarification on points if I require it.
It is much easier to kick the butt of someone that wrongs you when you know where they live than to cyber kick someone… :)
I have been debating myself with this question, you have cleared it out for me, I been using my nick name ” HeadlessGeek” and been wondering if I should use my real name, But I think just like in showbiz Actors always use a different name or last name just because they are selling their image and if that is what you are doing as a blogger you should look for a name that represents what you are.
Great Article
online business is the future of making money. the rising number of internet users would mean that there would be more online transactions and online business oppurtunities.
User name, i never use my real name when posting or writing blogs, just feel safer that way.
Green Health is of course very ideal.~*;
Hi, I don’t like commenting on apple stuff but I did find this helpful on this topic. TY
I always use the name kettering plasterer.
As I am a plasterer from kettering and we are not well known for our intelligence!!!
link popularity is the most important aspect of SEO, you need to gain lots of backlinks:”.
Hi Sebastien,
I agree with the usernames you mentioned here… Copyblogger is one of my favorites!
That being said, I use my real name…
The thing is… if you’re not doing something you can be proud of (even if others don’t agree – maybe especially if others don’t agree) then why do it?
If you need to hide from your boss or be anonymous online I think its probably not a healthy thing.
Great post…
Sincerely,
Jay
Just a test comment
Twitter is of course the king of micro blogging. I frequently use twitter to give updates to my family member and friends. Twitter is very indispensable just like facebook. “*”
hi my name is Daniel Carmen.
I am a Jewish 34rd.
how live in Brooklyn new York.
I walk with a walker but I can do a lot by
my self.
I like to work on the computer
and play basketball.
you can text me at 1-850-225-5579.