Anonymous blog: 20 pros and cons for you

Starting an anonymous blog can be tempting.  In the online world, there are reasons why you might prefer to use your name (or not).  There are both pros and cons to consider before venturing.

My site, Tips from Sharvi, has a part of my name in it.  My author’s name uses my first name and the first letter of my family name.  That’s something that I chose strategically.

Going anonymous is one extreme.  Even on social media, faceless accounts exist.  Showing your face and identity is the other extreme.  Some prefer somewhere in between.   

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There are reasons for choosing to what extent you’d like to put yourself out there.  How much personal or professional do you want to appear?  You may have the desire to share your experience but hesitate for valid reasons.

It can sometimes be easier to express yourself without revealing your identity.  This applies especially in some cases.  Certain fields may be more concerned than others, which I’ll come to later.

Can you start an anonymous blog?

Anyone can use a pen name.  It has helped many share their thoughts.  Writers are often known for this.  Harry Potter was created by one such great successful author, J. K. Rowling. 

When it comes to blogs, successful real-world examples tend to be harder to find.  While searching online for blogger examples, I found it difficult, compared to finding writers.  I, therefore, gave a famous pen name example of an author instead.

There are reasons for not revealing your identity if you choose to.  On the other hand, you might miss out on opportunities if you hide it.  Showing yourself also brings benefits. 

There are 2 sides of the coin

Consider both sides of the same coin.  These are benefits as well as drawbacks of the unknown.  Some are for the better, others, let’s say, for the worse.

As promised, I’ll list 20 pros and cons.  More specifically, 10 will be pros, and the rest 10 others, will be cons.  Both sides are valuable to ponder over.

10 pros of going incognito:

1. Freedom of expression 
2. Fearless opinions 
3. Genuineness
4. Honest points to share
5. Controversial topics
6. Personal space and privacy 
7. Higher quality with content creation 
8. Security and better safety
9. Whistleblowing reasons 
10. Liberation with better creativity 

The liberty to express yourself wholeheartedly is valuable.  In certain cases, such as whistleblowing, it’s difficult to show faces.  Other controversial topics also feel the same.

Not revealing your true name can also make honest opinions easier.  When people don’t generally share their thoughts, going incognito facilitates it.

Personal life and privacy can be a priority.  For example, mom content creators might not want to share photos of their kids.  However, for parenting blogs, many do share them when relevant.

When registering your site, use domain privacy.  It helps to protect your contact details from the public.  However, if you monetize your platforms, brands will have to know them.

How much of your life to show, often depends on you.  In some niches, doing so is more important than in others.  Therefore, a pen name helps.

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10 cons of going incognito:

1. Questions credibility
2. Risk of negative outcomes
3. Low engagement rates
4. A barrier to sponsorships and monetization
5. Hurdles in collaborations
6. Fewer backlinks for SEO
7. No networking opportunities
8. Isolation
9. No awards or recognition
10. Risk of abuse and misinformation (read about proofreading)

Can an anonymous blog make money?  It can happen, however, readers tend not to trust it easily.  I like to know who’s behind a site.

When you have to buy an online course, you want to see the vlogger talk about it.  You get to feel certain they know and have the experience.  When reading, it’s similar.

I get on webinars to watch course creators present their products.  They have to know what they’re offering inside out.  If not, what would I trust them?

Even if not on webinars, watching creators on YouTube helps.  With written content, an embedded video can complement.  So does seeing stats, facts, and infographics.

The compliance side of things

While pen names exist, there are also compliance needs.  If you ever choose to go obscure, ensure that you know and adhere to the rules.  Such advice comes from professionals in the field.  I, therefore, cannot add much about it.

Find out what applies, and take measures.  For example, you wouldn’t use a famous author’s name.  You also wouldn’t try to create a similar-looking domain.

Seeking professional advice is best.  Have disclaimers and other essential legal documents on your site.  Never spread misinformation, but do create high-quality content.

Examples of such sites

I’ll list some anonymous blog examples.  There are reasons why you might consider going for it.  In other cases, showing up as yourself might be best.

General examples:

• Personal life
• Customer experience 
• Community pressure

More examples:

• Revolutionary 
• Whistleblowing 
• Politics 

This list isn’t exhaustive, but gives an idea of the types.  As the trend shows, these are indeed mostly controversial topics or niches.  A personal blog might not be controversial.  However, protecting your identity for security and safety is natural when creating content about your daily life.

Anonymous blog platforms

There are lots of platforms to choose from.  Some are managed and others, self-hosted.  Even though I’m currently with a managed platform, I recommend going self-hosted from the start.  

Use WordPress.org with a reliable web hosting provider.  Doing so gives you full control of your site.  Others can make it easier by handling the tech side, but place limitations.

Some platform examples: 

• WordPress.org
• WordPress.com
• Wix
• Medium

Reddit is a forum social network.  Registered users post through sobriquets and avatars.  The platform communities are moderated, and users can upvote and downvote submissions.

Find a middle ground and balance

Choose which extreme you prefer.  Incognito or fully revealing your face and identity?  Maybe a mixture of both, to suit your taste.

In my case, I share self-improvement for digital solopreneurs.  There normally isn’t anything controversial.  I use my first name and the first letter of my family name.  

You can find my headshot as my Gravatar image.  On my Instagram, I publish reels.  Working from home, my experiences are about working smarter, not much personal.

Consider how you can find a balance in your specific case.  Anonymous blog names can encourage those who hesitate.  Balancing anonymity and transparency builds credibility.

Conclusion

Can anonymous blogging support you?  Ponder carefully, based on your goals.  Some niches might need them, while others don’t really.

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