This is an interesting one, and stems from when I looked over at @L3gacy's Red Dead forum. He uses a name based on the site name, whilst here at Administrata, @Cedric and I use our real names. I even use my real picture. I think it's important that members can see 'the person behind the account' but there is the risk that it's 'too personal' and less official.
How do you strike a balance? Do you use your own name or a username? What works best?
I use an alias, it’s been my online identity for 25 years, and it suits me best. It holds personal meaning since it represents my dad’s country(Cape Verde) and I prefer using it over my real name. It can also be considered a shortened version of my actual name, especially since my name starts with a ‘C’.
I used to use random usernames on old Yu-Gi-Oh message boards, but once I dived into creating message boards I started using my real name. I feel it conveys a sense of "you" instead of anonymity.
I only use my username on forums. Some people know my real name and I'm okay with a few people knowing it. I like having a username, and I like the anonymity of having a username on communities.
It's an interesting topic for sure. I have a business website and forums, and now my hobby forum. On both, I keep my name private. For my business, my name is GN Support (on the forums, that is). My email has my first name, but for my gaming community, like AI said, I just use the domain. Now, there was a little thought behind that move. I want search engines to pick up on my domain as much as possible. I personally don't think it hurts you in any way, but that's just my opinion.
Well, I'm not pretty enough to use my picture like Al, so an avatar is just fine for the benefit of members.
As a new site I use a simple "Admin" named account, a website announcement account, and a breaking news account. I do have a few other accounts I setup to do testing and usergroup testing etc that I made while I did build out the site. (I have used them in conversational posts too sometimes untiI i get more activity.)
But I really want to end up using more or less a generic user account with a decent alias in the end as I consider my admin account username too generic and boring.
I haven't exactly have given that enough thought yet though so it is how it is for now.
I use the same screen name across all forums. I'm designated as Administrator on my own forum, which I believes gives me enough recognition within my own forum space, I don't think it's needed or appropriate on a hobby site to use a "curtain account". On a professional customer/owner/brand based site, then yes, I think it would be needed.
I do personalize the username to the forum. Sometimes a name just fits better on one forum than it would on another. I do stay true to myself when posting though, I don't pretend to be anyone else, I post as me, Ashley. My profile picture on this forum is a picture of myself, however on other forums I use other profile pictures because it suits the forum better. Though once I create a profile picture for the forum I'm about to open I will be using that one.
