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Poll: Do you disclose your real name in your online profile(s)?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
SITE STAFF
Jan 31, 2018

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you disclose your real name in your online profile(s)?".

View the poll results »



 
neilmac
neilmac
Spain
Local time: 21:54
Spanish to English
+ ...
Other Jan 31, 2018

I usually try not to, but online registration is so intrusive nowadays that it's rather difficult.

 
Christopher Schröder
Christopher Schröder
United Kingdom
Member (2011)
Swedish to English
+ ...
Yes Jan 31, 2018

Always

 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 20:54
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Yes Jan 31, 2018

I use both my real name (well, my shortened real name; in Portugal it is usual for people to have very long names: I have two given names and four family surnames) and my business name…

 
Elizabeth Tamblin
Elizabeth Tamblin  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 20:54
French to English
Yes Jan 31, 2018

This is officially my name. In "real life" I'm known by my middle name.

 
Kay Denney
Kay Denney  Identity Verified
France
Local time: 21:54
French to English
nope Jan 31, 2018

been stalked in real life, not letting it happen online.
don't put a photo either because that's just asking for trouble
being gorgeous has its downsides


 
Angie Garbarino
Angie Garbarino  Identity Verified
Local time: 21:54
Member (2003)
French to Italian
+ ...
Me too, just shortened Jan 31, 2018

Teresa Borges wrote:

I use both my real name (well, my shortened real name; in Portugal it is usual for people to have very long names: I have two given names and four family surnames) and my business name…


Surname is real, Angie is shortened, because my official name is too difficult especially for non Italians


 
Ricki Farn
Ricki Farn
Germany
Local time: 21:54
English to German
Only professional ones Jan 31, 2018

... and I think I still haven't been able to have my identity verified by ProZ in spite of several attempts, because there's a long and a short version of my first name.

Chris S wrote:

Always


So your last name is "S"? You're lucky you're not German, then it might be "ß" and you would be thin chocolate slabs.

Angie Garbarino wrote:

Angie is shortened, because my official name is too difficult especially for non Italians


You're making me curious.

[Edited at 2018-01-31 11:34 GMT]


 
Anna Herbst
Anna Herbst  Identity Verified
Australia
Local time: 07:54
English to Swedish
+ ...

MODERATOR
SITE LOCALIZER
Yes Jan 31, 2018

Why would a professional want to hide behind a moniker? Very unprofessional if you ask me, but then I'm a baby boomer....

 
Muriel Vasconcellos
Muriel Vasconcellos  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 13:54
Member (2003)
Spanish to English
+ ...
Yes - it's good for business Jan 31, 2018

Just like a photo, people want to know who they're dealing with when they're going to be giving them money.

Also, it's important for search engine optimization--i.e., getting found by potential clients and colleagues. Many people that I've been very happy to hear from, including new clients, have found me by name on the Internet -- as in "I remember Muriel ...; she used to ... I wonder if she's still translating ..." That's how I got my very best client. Since I'm also an author, u
... See more
Just like a photo, people want to know who they're dealing with when they're going to be giving them money.

Also, it's important for search engine optimization--i.e., getting found by potential clients and colleagues. Many people that I've been very happy to hear from, including new clients, have found me by name on the Internet -- as in "I remember Muriel ...; she used to ... I wonder if she's still translating ..." That's how I got my very best client. Since I'm also an author, using my name is crucial for SEO - i.e., spreading word about my book (s) - two more percolating as we speak.

About long names, I legally ditched my maiden name (which I never liked) when I married a man with 12 letters in his surname. When I went to Brazil recently, the travel agency repeatedly asked me for my "legal" name and I kept saying "this is it!" They refused to believe me.

The only problem is that some people don't believe I'm a native speaker of English ... You can't win for tryin'
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Jasa Pipan
Jasa Pipan
Slovenia
Local time: 21:54
French to Slovenian
+ ...
Yes, but only in a professional setting! Jan 31, 2018

Muriel Vasconcellos wrote:

Just like a photo, people want to know who they're dealing with when they're going to be giving them money.


This! I agree 100% ... but then again, photos are a different story. My name is an extremely rare name in Slovenian and coupled with an actual photo of me, I might as well invite people over


 
Christopher Schröder
Christopher Schröder
United Kingdom
Member (2011)
Swedish to English
+ ...
Eszet mmmmmm! Jan 31, 2018

Ricki Farn wrote:
You're lucky you're not German

Trust me, with my name, being German would make life a lot easier!

Anna Herbst wrote:
Why would a professional want to hide behind a moniker? Very unprofessional if you ask me

Why?

I'm semi-anonymous here precisely because I value my professional reputation.

Why would I want to be associated with a clearinghouse for cheap and cheerful translations populated to a great extent by rank amateurs?


Khadhé
 
Kuochoe Nikoi-Kotei
Kuochoe Nikoi-Kotei  Identity Verified
Ghana
Local time: 20:54
Japanese to English
Only on Proz Jan 31, 2018

Only Proz, and even here sometimes I do, sometimes I use a nickname (TransAfrique). I haven't noticed any great change to my fortunes either way.

 
Linda Miranda
Linda Miranda  Identity Verified
Portugal
French to Portuguese
+ ...
Same here Jan 31, 2018

[quote]Teresa Borges wrote:

I use both my real name (well, my shortened real name; in Portugal it is usual for people to have very long names: I have two given names and four family surnames)...

[Editado em 2018-01-31 14:51 GMT]


 
DZiW (X)
DZiW (X)
Ukraine
English to Russian
+ ...
No branding Jan 31, 2018

I used to provide my real ID and send CVs/cover letters, but now I don't readily give out my real name and papers till it's right for communication and business.

As once I heard a biz-talk:
- I don't give a damn what's his name, references or credentials for I just want my job done timely and properly! So, IF it's OK, then I'd like to get in touch with the man and continue cooperation. Otherwise, we'll also have a talk with you, as a referral...
... See more
I used to provide my real ID and send CVs/cover letters, but now I don't readily give out my real name and papers till it's right for communication and business.

As once I heard a biz-talk:
- I don't give a damn what's his name, references or credentials for I just want my job done timely and properly! So, IF it's OK, then I'd like to get in touch with the man and continue cooperation. Otherwise, we'll also have a talk with you, as a referral...


Perhaps, working with direct clients did shape my POV
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Poll: Do you disclose your real name in your online profile(s)?






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