Writing an Ebook Using a Pen Name: 3 Drawbacks to Consider

I've been writing and selling ebooks online since 2004. Of the over 50 ebooks I've self-published, only one has been written using a pen name. Following are 3 things I've experienced that may help you decide if this is the right way for you to go.
By: Inkwell Editorial
 
April 23, 2012 - PRLog -- I’ve been writing and selling ebooks online since 2004. Of the over 50 ebooks I’ve self-published, only one has been written using a pen name. There are some pros and cons to using a pen name when writing an ebook. Following are three things I’ve experienced that may help you decide if this is the right way for you to go.

I. Ebook Marketing: One of the major hurdles I’ve run into by not using my real name for the ebook I wrote using a pseudonym has been that marketing this title.

To explain, one of my most effective ebook marketing methods is article marketing.

When you set up accounts on different sites like EzineArticles, PRLog, etc., you have to “identify” yourself. Many of my accounts have been set up for years – under my real name.

So I can’t write and distribute articles under these existing accounts. I need to set up a completely separate online identity. This requires opening new accounts – under my pen name. And in some instances, this can cost (eg, using an article distribution service like ArticleMarketer or ContentCrooner).

II. Website Sales: I sell the ebook I wrote under a pen name on Amazon (as well as a lot of my other ebooks).

I can’t sell it from my own website. Why? Because the PayPal receipt would show my name; hence, outing me as the ebook author. When you consider that my freelance writing website (InkwellEditorial.com) accounts for about 90 percent of my ebook sales, this means I’m missing out on a lot of sales.

To remedy this situation, I’d need to set up a separate PayPal account using my pen name (or let another publisher upload the ebook for me under their account). This can not only convolute recordkeeping, but it means paying another publisher commissions if I decided to go that route.

III. Cross Promotion: Many of my ebook sales come from cross-promotion. What I mean by this is, someone may purchase one of my ebooks, then if they like it, come back and buy more because I list other titles at the end of every ebook I write.

When you write an ebook using a pen name, unless you plan to continue to write under that name, you lose the ability to cross promote. This has been a particularly hard pill for me to swallow because the title I wrote is evergreen (it's a relationship ebook) and has become my best seller on Amazon -- regularly accounting for 25-30 percent of my overall sales there. I have other relationship titles planned, but won't be able to capitalize off the steam this one has gathered/continues to gather.

Writing an Ebook Using a Pen Name: Conclusion

I’m not sure if I’ll continue writing ebooks under a pseudonym. While I don’t regret publishing the one title using one, it’s interfered with the ebook marketing systems I have in place. This, of course, has given me a lot to think about.

So, my final piece of advice is -- be sure to weigh the pros and cons diligently if you decide to use a pen name when writing ebooks.

Get everything you need to start making a living writing ebooks at http://inkwelleditorial.com/ebook-publishing-package-get-....
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Source:Inkwell Editorial
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Tags:Writing An Ebook, Writing Ebook, Ebook Marketing, Self-publishing, How To Write An Ebook, Selling Ebooks
Industry:Books, Careers
Location:United States
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