Mark Hainsworth writes:

Great for establishing and maintaining your online presence. Personal branding are buzz words at the moment and this can only help.
Many thanks

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Susan writes:

If we use pen names, and have a few, what do you suggest we do about the photo issue?

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Lynn Rader writes:

Thank you for the reminder. I’ve been meaning to add my photo to my profile for some time now. Say cheese!

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Marc writes:

Susan,

A good question, but I’m not sure there’s really an issue.

Multiple pen names serve the purpose of connecting one name with one niche – so that the reader doesn’t wonder why, for example, their favorite author for organic gardening also writes about finding the best deals on junk food.

Since articles can’t be searched by the author’s photo, there’s little chance that somebody searching for articles on organic gardening will stumble across the same author picture in the junk food niche. And if they do, will they even notice?

Finally, for the sake of credibility, there should always be a real person with a real face behind every article. In the case of multiple pen names, the “real person” doesn’t change, hence the picture shouldn’t either, no matter what name they use.

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Susan writes:

Thanks Marc.

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Christopher M. Knight writes:

Susan,

I agree with Marc and I’ve seen some members with multiple pen names or variations of their name do this:

They take different professional photos for each niche they are in… Example: Fitness niche vs. Business niche might have a Fitness photo of themselves in fitness gear vs. Professional business photo head shot.

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watzabatza writes:

But still there are users or members won’t upload there photo. Or they don’t like to be seen by the others. I don’t know why..

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Imran writes:

Thats a good reminder :-)

thanks.

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Eric Bonnici - AJ2000 writes:

I can’t believe how easy it is to set up multiple pen names on EzineArticles. I’ve been wrestling with what do since I’m in the Internet Marketing/Web Design industry and also interested in Renewable Energy. Now I can have pen names for both!

My issue is that on sites like twitter I use my photo with my company logo next to my headshot.

After reading the TOS it says that logos are not allowed as a profile pic.

Mine is not a logo, its me and my logo. So would that be ok to use.

You can see the one I have on Twitter. Its the same one I’d like to use here on EzineArticles.com

Please let me know and thanks
Eric Bonnici

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Penny, Managing Editor writes:

Eric Bonnici,

This photo cannot be displayed as your primary photo however, it can be added to be part of your professional photo gallery. Your main photo can only be a picture of you or have you in it and it cannot include logos.

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Teri writes:

I do research in a few different niches and have created pen names for each. For one particular niche, the pen name is male — Can I use a picture of my husband or son to go with this particular pen name? (<– With their permission of course.)

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Marc, Product Marketing Manager writes:

Teri –

When uploading an author photo, you are associating that image with the brand created by your articles. We would advise against using photos of another person (like your husband or son), because their image could be associated with the brand long-term, and this may not be favorable for them in the future.

If you must use a male pen name for your niche, you may want to leave the photo blank. However, the best option – and the one that appears most credible to your readers – is to always represent your own brand. This would mean updating the pen name to be a version of your own name, and using a photo of yourself.

Alternate authors are great way to keep your niches and brands separate and organized, but still ‘own’ each niche. For each alternate author, you could use a version of your own name (for example: Teri H. Cooper, Teri Cooper, or something gender-neutral like T.H. Cooper), and a different photo of yourself.

– Marc

June 20, 2012 at 10:16 AM

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Teri writes:

Guess I don’t understand the branding plan you’re suggesting. My own photo for female pen names is fine of course, but when it makes sense to use a male pen name (and I know for a fact that other article marketers sometimes publish under opposite-gender pen names), I guess I’ll just leave the photo blank.

Thanks very much for the feedback.

June 21, 2012 at 11:29 AM

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