How Much Is Your Identity Worth? | Bloggers Lair | Yakezie Forums

I've addressed this topic with my personal thoughts many times. I started my site with an alias because my intent was to post my monthly financial reports… net worth, and the like… and this was not information I wanted to be available to, say, potential employers who did their due diligence by searching for my name online.

It stuck, and is somewhat of a "brand" now, but when other media outlets balk at publishing an article with a Flexo by-line, I use a real name.

I have been semi-unmasked forever as Crystal but only recently started signing some stuff and interviewing with my full name (Crystal Stemberger).  I "came out" because I am doing this full time now and figured that if I am ever published, I want my full name on it.   I do share all my income numbers and stuff, but I'm not too worried about anything in particular happening now as opposed to when I was just Crystal.

Flexo said:

I've addressed this topic with my personal thoughts many times. I started my site with an alias because my intent was to post my monthly financial reports… net worth, and the like… and this was not information I wanted to be available to, say, potential employers who did their due diligence by searching for my name online.

 

It stuck, and is somewhat of a "brand" now, but when other media outlets balk at publishing an article with a Flexo by-line, I use a real name.

Flexo,

Congrats on your excellent brand. Guess I know where you stand, but do you feel your path would have been easier if you had used your real name?

Budgeting in the Fun Stuff said:

I have been semi-unmasked forever as Crystal but only recently started signing some stuff and interviewing with my full name (Crystal Stemberger).  I "came out" because I am doing this full time now and figured that if I am ever published, I want my full name on it.   I do share all my income numbers and stuff, but I'm not too worried about anything in particular happening now as opposed to when I was just Crystal.

That's so awesome.  I think it works for you because you have fully embraced being a full time blogger.  Plus your passion and attitude seems to carry you above other bloggers' fear and worry.

Post edited 5:29 pm – August 6, 2011 by Buck Inspire

sooverdebt said:

I use my real first name, and a person wouldn't have to try too hard to find out my full name. I share quite a bit of personal information (not just financial) on my site.

 

For me, the main reason I wanted to be semi-anonymous is to keep friends and family from finding my blog. When I was a kid I wanted to be a writer until I overheard my mom on the phone laughing about something I wrote. (I don't think she was laughing to be malicious, but I was a kid and it traumatized me.) I didn't stop writing completely, but I cut back a lot and was very selective about my audience after that. If I ever got to a point that I was doing this full time, I guess I wouldn't care. If strangers are okay enough with my writing that my site becomes super popular (pipe dream!) I won't be as skittish.

 

Hi Andrea,

 

Thanks for sharing your personal story.  Funny, you had a real memory.  My imagination is getting the best of me.  Like I said earlier, I am worried that my thin skin might take harsh criticism too seriously and not be able to recover.  What's funny is most of my post aren't controversial to begin with.  Perhaps we should both be more confident in our writing and then we'll be better off!

Just keep working hard and enjoying the ride.  To be honest, none of the fears I had when I first started blogging have come close to happening.  We really are our own worst critic!

sooverdebt:

That sounds like it was a painful experience–I am sorry to hear it. Things like that make me nervous about ever becoming a mother!

My husband has a small business in a luxury niche, and my "we live on a crazy low income" blog just wouldn't help his business! We have an uncommon last name so a quick search quickly turns up his business. I stay anonymous for his privacy.  I don't use our kids' names/pictures for the same reason – to protect their privacy, as the blog isn't their choice and I don't want it to affect their lives. 

I also share private information that I'd be less likely to share if I were to go public with my identity.

I don't think that I connect with readers less because I have a pseudonym (Penny Saver) and I am certainly easy to contact privately. I've developed quite a few personal relationships from the blog!

As for criticism, I've gotten some negative comments. I try to explain myself, but not everyone thinks the way I do and I can't expect that everyone will agree with the way I do things. Sometimes it is unpleasant, especially when I feel like things I've posted are taken out of context or misunderstood. I try to reply as positively as possible, but I have a small group of those personal relationships I've made on the blog and I do bitch behind the scenes with them! :)                                                                                                                                                                               

This is a very interesting topic.  I can see where transparency has a lot of value–I like blogs that have a personal "about" page.  Then again, I read several that don't.

People seem to like to see who is behind each article.  Each time I post a controversial post (most of them on the topic of Dave Ramsey) my "About" page gets the most visitors.  I don't think my "about" page does much to boost my credibility on a topic, though, as it's easy to see my profile and click away once you read "college student."  

It would be interesting to see the difference in reaction with an "About" page with a 40-50 year old person, and then one who is supposedly a 20-something.  Or maybe a personal finance blog with a financial analyst as the supposed author, and another with a stay at home mom.