So, you want to start a blog to share your ideas with the world, but you‘re not quite ready to put your name on it. Maybe you want to discuss sensitive personal experiences, voice controversial opinions, or pursue a creative outlet unconnected to your professional life.
You‘re not alone. In fact, one survey found that over 50% of bloggers write under a pseudonym or anonymously for various reasons.[^1] Some are concerned about privacy and safety. Others fear judgment or negative impact on their career. And many simply crave the creative freedom of an alternate persona.
If any of that resonates with you, there‘s good news: it‘s very doable to blog anonymously using WordPress. As the most popular content management system in the world, WordPress offers the right balance of customizability and ease-of-use for anonymous bloggers.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll walk you through the exact steps to set up a secure anonymous WordPress blog. We‘ll also share tips for growing your audience and even monetizing your site – all without revealing your real name. Let‘s dive in!
Why Blog Anonymously? Pros, Cons & Examples
Before we get to the technical stuff, let‘s explore some of the key benefits and drawbacks of anonymous blogging. Blogging under a pseudonym can be incredibly liberating and empowering. Some of the top reasons people choose to do it include:
- Separating their personal musings/creative pursuits from their professional reputation
- Being able to discuss sensitive topics like mental health, sexuality or trauma without stigma
- Protecting their family‘s privacy while still building a public platform
- Having the freedom to voice controversial, unpopular or niche opinions
- Mitigating safety risks if writing about charged political issues or doing investigative reporting
There are countless examples of anonymous or pseudonymous bloggers who have made a real impact. For instance, the author behind the blog Belle de Jour, who wrote about her experiences as a sex worker, landed a book deal and TV show.[^2]
Political bloggers in restrictive regimes have used anonymity to expose corruption and advocate for change. Whistleblowers like Deep Throat (later revealed to be Mark Felt) have used anonymous platforms to get the truth out.[^3]
However, there are also valid reasons one might choose not to blog anonymously. Some of the potential drawbacks are:
- Difficulty leveraging your real-world reputation or credentials to establish authority
- Trolls and critics may dismiss your opinions as less credible due to your anonymity
- Potentially stunted blog growth due to lack of real-world networking opportunities
- Challenges monetizing the blog if you can‘t use your real identity for payments
- The small but non-zero risk of your identity being exposed against your wishes
Ultimately, you‘ll have to weigh the tradeoffs for your specific situation. But if the benefits of anonymity outweigh the costs for you, WordPress makes it simple to get started with anonymous blogging.
The Complete Guide to Anonymous Blogging on WordPress
Now for the actionable steps! Here‘s everything you need to do to launch a secure and untraceable WordPress blog:
Step 1: Devise Your Anonymous Persona
First things first, you need an alter ego – a pen name under which you‘ll publish your blog. Avoid choosing something too similar to your real name or common usernames you use online.
Aim for something unique and catchy but generic enough that it doesn‘t give away your location, age, profession or other identifying details. Feel free to get creative but keep it easy to remember and avoid overused cliches.
Some examples of interesting anonymous blog personas:
- The Frugal Vagabond
- Midnight Baker
- Polly Politico
- Nerdy Nomad
You‘ll also want to create a new email address to use for all blog-related activities, as your personal or work email could easily give away your identity. ProtonMail and Tutanota are popular options as they don‘t require personally identifying info to sign up and use end-to-end encryption.[^4] Avoid using this email for anything not related to the blog.
Step 2: Acquire An Anonymous Domain and Hosting
To set up a self-hosted WordPress site, you‘ll need two key components: a domain name (your blog‘s address on the web) and a hosting account (where your site‘s files live).
Many popular hosting and domain registrars require users to provide their real name and billing information, which somewhat defeats the purpose of an anonymous blog. However, there are a few providers that cater to privacy-conscious users:
- NordVPN Web Hosting – Offers anonymous WordPress hosting. Accepts crypto payments.
- Njalla – Registrar that allows domain registration without providing personal info.
- Orange Website – Anonymous domain registration and accepts crypto.
During the checkout process, avoid using your real name, address or phone number. Instead, just provide your pen name and anonymous email. Most importantly, pay with cryptocurrency like Bitcoin or Monero for maximum anonymity, as all other payment methods are tied to your real identity in some way.
Once you have a domain and hosting, look for an option to enable domain privacy protection (sometimes called "WHOIS privacy"). This prevents your personal info from being publicly accessible in the WHOIS directory. Most anonymous-friendly hosts provide this for free or a small fee.
Step 3: Install and Configure WordPress
With your anonymous hosting squared away, it‘s time to install WordPress and configure some key settings for privacy:
In your hosting account panel, look for an option to automatically install WordPress. If unavailable, you can always install manually following WordPress‘s instructions.
During the WordPress setup process, choose your anonymous email address and pen name when prompted. Avoid inputting any personally identifiable info.
Once WordPress is installed, head to Settings > General. Under "Site Title" and "Tagline", make sure you‘re not referencing your real name or identity.
Next, go to Settings > Discussion and uncheck "Allow link notifications from other blogs (pingbacks and trackbacks)" as this can reveal your IP address.[^5]
Go to Settings > Permalinks and select "Post name" under Common Settings. This ensures your WordPress username isn‘t revealed in URLs.
Finally, if you want to allow comments on your anonymous blog, install a plugin like Akismet or Antispam Bee to prevent spam comments that could expose your identity.
Step 4: Lock Down Your User Profile
Your user profile in WordPress displays a username that is shown publicly on posts and comments by default. To change this:
- Go to Users > Your Profile
- Input your pen name under the "Nickname" field
- Select your pen name from the "Display name publicly as" dropdown menu
- Remove any personally identifying details from the other fields like your real first/last name or location
- Upload an avatar image for your profile that doesn‘t include your face or other recognizable features (I recommend a fun illustration that represents your blog persona)
- Click "Update Profile" to save your changes
Step 5: Disguise Your IP Address With a VPN
Every device connected to the internet has a unique IP address that can be used to trace online activity back to you. To prevent this, it‘s wise to use a virtual private network (VPN) to mask your real IP and location while working on your blog.
A VPN essentially tunnels all your web traffic through a remote server, making it appear as though you‘re accessing the internet from a different place. However, some VPNs log user activity, which could jeopardize your anonymity. So it‘s important to choose a reputable provider with a strict no-logging policy.
VPNs we recommend for anonymous blogging:
- NordVPN – No-logging policy, crypto payments accepted
- Mullvad – Cash and crypto payments, no personal info required
- IVPN – Supports anonymous payments and no logging
Before doing anything on your anonymous WordPress blog (logging in, writing posts, moderating comments, etc.), make sure your VPN is enabled. Also avoid accessing your anonymous and non-anonymous accounts in the same browser session.
Step 6: Be Smart About What You Post
Even with all these technical precautions in place, the content of your posts could still be used to identify you if you‘re not careful. Here are some best practices for protecting your anonymity in your actual writing:
- Avoid mentioning specific locations you‘ve lived or worked, names of friends/family, or unique personal experiences
- Change or blur any details that could be used to pinpoint who you are, like your exact age or niche job title
- Don‘t post photos that include your face, identifying marks, or revealing locations in the background
- Fictionalize anecdotes/stories enough to obfuscate any real people and places involved
- Password protect (or simply don‘t publish) any posts that you think might be too revealing
Also be cognizant of how your writing style could give you away to people who know you well. Certain phrases, punctuation quirks, or cultural references common in your demographic could be telling. Try to write in a more neutral, conversational tone if you‘re concerned about this.
Growing Your Anonymous WordPress Blog
It‘s totally possible to build a thriving audience for an anonymous blog. In fact, the mystery of your identity can even be an intriguing draw for some readers. However, you may have to get a bit more creative with networking and promotion.
Some tip for attracting viewers to your incognito WordPress blog:
Focus on killer content
This is key for any blog, but especially crucial for anonymous bloggers. Make sure each post you publish is well-researched, insightful, and highly relevant to your niche. Pay attention to search engine optimization (SEO) to boost your rankings for popular keywords.
Guest post on other blogs
Writing guest posts for other blogs in your niche is a great way to reach new readers. Pitch other anonymous bloggers first, as they‘ll be understanding of your need to write under a pseudonym. However, many non-anonymous bloggers are also open to publishing guest writers with an established online presence under a pen name.
Create profiles on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or other relevant platforms under your blog persona‘s name. Share your blog posts and interact with others in your niche regularly. However, be careful not to engage with any accounts associated with your real identity, as this could reveal the connection.
Join anonymous blogging communities
Look for forums, groups, and networks of other anonymous bloggers to trade tips and cross-promote content. The subreddit r/AnonymousBlogging is a good place to start. There are also niche-specific anonymous blog alliances you can find with some digging.
Allow anonymous comments
Think of your comment section as a mini-forum for your blog. Allowing anonymous comments (with strong moderation for spam/abuse) can encourage shy readers to engage with your posts. Respond to comments thoughtfully and you could spark some fascinating discussions that draw new readers.
Monetizing an Anonymous Blog
It‘s a bit trickier to monetize an anonymous blog vs. a standard blog due to the constraints of receiving payments without revealing your identity. However, it‘s still very possible to earn an income if you‘re strategic.
Here are some of the best options for anonymous bloggers:
Advertising networks
Some ad networks don‘t require publishers to submit their real names or tax info to participate. For example, Google AdSense allows you to use a pen name and verify your account with an anonymous email address.[^6] Note that all earnings will be reported to the IRS.
Affiliate marketing
Joining affiliate programs is a great way for anonymous bloggers to monetize. Most programs allow you to register under your pen name. However, actually receiving payments anonymously can be tricky. Your best option is to be paid in cryptocurrency or gift cards if possible. A few crypto-friendly affiliate networks include CoinAffiliates and OrbitMoon.
Sell digital products
If you have expertise to share, you can package it into ebooks, courses, printables, templates, etc. and sell them on your anonymous blog. E-junkie and Gumroad are two popular platforms that allow you to accept payments without revealing your real name to customers.
Accept donations
If you‘re not interested in aggressively monetizing, you can simply ask loyal readers to support your work with one-time or recurring donations. Crypto and Ko-fi are two easy, anonymous-friendly options for this.
Putting It All Together
We covered a lot of ground in this guide to anonymous blogging with WordPress! Here‘s a quick recap of the key steps:
- Create a unique anonymous persona and email address
- Get web hosting and a domain with a privacy-friendly provider
- Install WordPress and adjust key privacy settings
- Use a pen name on your WordPress user profile
- Hide your IP address with a no-log VPN
- Avoid posting personally identifiable info
- Use anonymous-friendly strategies to grow and monetize your blog
If you follow this framework, you‘ll be able to express yourself freely online without jeopardizing your privacy. Anonymous blogging can be an incredibly rewarding creative pursuit and a powerful tool for driving change.
However, keep in mind that no method is 100% foolproof. Be conscious of what you post and vigilant for any signs that your identity could be compromised.
Most importantly, don‘t let fear hold you back from sharing your story and ideas with the world. Your voice matters. Happy blogging!
[^1]: NordVPN Bloggers Survey 2022[^2]: Belle de Jour on Wikipedia
[^3]: Deep Throat on Wikipedia
[^4]: That One Privacy Site‘s Email Provider Recommendations
[^5]: Guide to Hiding Your IP Address on WordPress.org
[^6]: Google AdSense Anonymous Payments Policy
