Pen Name vs Real Name or Brand Name for Your Self Published Book? (Amazon KDP)

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In this week’s video, I go over the major differences, disadvantages and advantages when it comes to choosing a pen name, your own name or a brand name for your self published books through Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing and Audible ACX.
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I am not a financial advisor. The ideas presented in this video are personal opinions and for entertainment purposes only. You (and only you) are responsible for the financial decisions that you make.

[@DaneMcBeth]

Which of the three best suits you? Let me know below! 👇🏼

[@thegmkitchen212]

My real name🙂

[@magicimaginations]

I think i'm going to make a super cool pen name!

[@EmmanuelGakiza]

Brand name for me. I don't feel comfortable with the idea of having a fake/unreal name on my books. But I like the idea of a brand name cause that can turn into a real full on business in the future. Thanks for sharing

[@thewisediaries]

Dane can you give example of pen name associated with brand name??? How to write that exactly?

[@Emmasbestbooks]

Dane my surname is Shakespeare. Is that a good thing to keep I Don’t know if it will be associated with William shakespeare or not?

[@magicimaginations]

Thank you, this is really helpful info! 🤩

[@mikicasains2309]

Very useful, it's important to define the name beforehand, cheers!

[@brandonestelle9029]

Absolutely great content!

[@leaenglish]

hi Dane. this video was very interesting 👌thanks a lot

[@Manhwamichin2]

This is just out of topic : but you've got one of the best eye color I ever seen , gives a kind of feeling like if you're floating in a wonder word . Anyway back to our topic I prefer to have a brand name . Thanks foe the vid

[@Cri11e]

Perfect timing 👍

[@chariots8x230]

What confuses me about brand names is that I don’t know whether or not they would violate Amazon’s Terms of Service, since Amazon says that they don’t want keywords in the author name. I just don’t know what would be considered keywords in the author name, and what wouldn’t. Even though I prefer to use a brand name for the author name, I’m hesitant to do it because I’m not sure if it would be against Amazon’s Terms of Service. I don’t want to publish books and then get an email from Amazon later on saying that my author name violates their Terms of Service, and I have to take down my books under that author name. What are considered acceptable brand names, and what aren’t, according to Amazon’s policy on author names?

[@victoriavangchannel]

Do u have to trademark your pen name?

[@thomascastle1311]

Thanks for another good video. I have a question: From what you covered am I right to assume that a brand name with different author names for different niches would be best if I might someday sell my portfolio?

[@deannawilson3421]

Hi Dane. Great info! I’m planning on re-starting my music career using a moniker. I will probably start active as a musician before I launch my first book. That being said, should I use my moniker as my pen name as well? Or should I still be able to have a brand with the same followers if I use my real name to publish books?

[@camillatubertini6322]

Good info but also quite confusing - a few examples of pennnames, brand names etc here and there would have made this video easier to follow.

[@terjibeder6871]

Thank you Dane for this video. Question: Could you perhaps make a video on how to tune up the author profile for pen names?

[@faithful611]

Yeah I’m confused on how to go about making an author profile for pen names

[@mixedreviewspodcast8274]

Based off of your experience with low content books in niches with high demand and competition, how much should i prepare to spend or lose on amazon ads? Thank you!

[@getkraken8064]

I am so tempted to write a book about how to use various cheeses under the pen name Val Vita.

[@dennisbergkamp6335]

Hello how much do you spend for editing and proofreading ?

[@chariots8x230]

On your last point, how would you include both a brand name and a pen name in one book? 10:10 I thought we could only pick one. I’m not sure how to include both.

[@analyst1777]

When I make up the name, how do I connect it to my company. How do I protect it?

[@juliadawn33]

I have seen some have a lot of success focussing on branding rather than pen name. So they will use their own name as the pen name but incorporate a brand name onto the title and on the book with a logo for things like coloring books. An example would be the Creative Haven coloring books. If someone is moving into novels though from low and medium content books I guess it would be smart to use a pen name rather than someones own name to separate the two. It just really depends what you are publishiing

[@thomascastle1311]

Another thought: If I want to sell just a part of my portfolio using different pen names for different niches seems like a smart move.

[@itumagideon8246]

What if someone is already answering the pen name you choose to be answering, will amazon close your amazon kdP account?

[@haridevrajesh7426]

So Idk if this is off topic but I've been trying to get my book published. Everything is set up, cover done and interior done. I'm filling out the info and I noticed how the author name field asked for first and last name. I'm using a pen name and it's only one word and it's already in the cover and pretty much too late to change anything now.. So what do I do in such a situation? Idts it is ok for the name to be different in the cover and the data being provided. It is making me reluctant in using a last name just to proceed further because Amazon isn't letting me use just a first name...

[@DrArundhatiHoskeri]

Hey Dane, I have a question I’m already a published author on Amazon KDP I write non fiction books. I also want to try other niche with a pen name How do I go about it? Is it allowed ? Can I use the same account for both ? Thanks in advance

[@aprildoucette2886]

Actually for me the thought of using,a penname makes,it easier to share,what I want to write...

[@janetcollins3563]

I haven't been paid my April royalty even after updating my account so many times. I have received payment twice from this account before….what can I do?

[@TheReviewLabOfficial]

I’m thinking of doing a mix between my j.L and a last name will be a pen name. And yes, I’m doing a middle grade horror series. My last name is not spooky enough for the series.

[@raym3325]

I don't think we can use brand names on KDP anymore ?

[@SunnyWinterz]

Thanks for this! How many people approx are in the private paid FB group?

[@DaneMcBeth]

Just passed 400 👍🏼

[@kyleb4327]

Great video, thanks! Question, if I'm creating a series of say, coloring books. Created a business with the name "Kyle's Coloring Books" .. can my pen name include the word "books" ?

[@kyleb4327]

"Kyle's Coloring Books" will also be my publisher name, as it's what I formed my business as. Any thoughts?

[@Zoldier92]

@@kyleb4327 "Kyle's Disney Books" sounds cooler.

[@TipsInTens]

Amazon might consider it as a keyword

[@gingersky3459]

One person several niches is by no means lacking.

[@martin4u2]

Dane, how many pen names can I have in my kdp account? I ask because I have many different niches in mind. Thanks

[@DaneMcBeth]

As many as you like. You can only have 3 assigned in Amazon Author though

[@rossyprim2336]

Thank u

[@brian-un2rg]

I uploaded several low content books using a pen name with a number in it. They told me I had to use a human name on two of the later ones. I said it was my pseudonym which is allowed and it went live. But after a discussion on KDP Community, I decided to unpublish all of them and re-publish using a more traditional human name as my pseudonym. I was warned another reviewer could easily not accept my logic and shut down my account. Not worth the risk.

[@sobeidalagrange7129]

Min 04:00

[@VirusTechKEKW]

A John Smith watching this video: Am I a joke to you?

[@Makeitgreat1]

**Dont use brand names, as your book can get rejected. Amazon recommended using pen name that is a name of a person** Just confirmed it with Amazon 30min ago.

[@DaneMcBeth]

I've done both pen names and brand names many many times.

[@Makeitgreat1]

@@DaneMcBeth Absolutely!! But now, people are reporting their new books are getting rejected when they publish and Amazon tells them its because their pen name is not a person name and sounds like a brand name. I took it upon myself to contact Amazon about this, and they told me the same thing, Pen Name has to be a person name (not brand) or my books can get rejected. Just spreading awareness about this matter!! I believe in long term solutions.

[@doreengayer5723]

@@Makeitgreat1 I contacted KDP Support & they told me I can only use a Brand Name if I have a bank account with that name & it has to be in the application for KDP.

[@j2shoes288]

What's the point of this video if you fail to even disclose the fundamental flaws and risks of using Brand names?