Why Your Username Is Important
Brand recognition
Your first consideration should be the brand you are building. Obviously if you have a currently recognized name (even on a local level) doesn’t steer away from that on Twitter.
People search for it
Your username should reflect what people search for when they search online. For example, if you are not a “brand” business but rather a medium size plumbing company, consider a username like “PlumbingHelper.” The word plumbing is searchable to people who don’t know you or your company.
What Is A Good Username?
Think carefully about your username
For obvious reasons, it is important to use an appropriate username that people type in to see your Twitter page. Our website, for example is FolkMedia.org. In the early days of Twitter we quickly reserved the Twitter username FolkMedia. We were interested in building this name into a “brand” around social media.
Think carefully about how people search for your organization. I recently typed twitter.com/coke and was expecting to get the Coca-Cola Company.
Instead I arrived at a random non-company site. Coca-Cola is probably kicking themselves now for not securing a Twitter username early in the game. The official Coca-Cola Twitter is actually Twitter.com/cocacola. But many people search for the term “coke.” Keep this in mind when picking your username. You need to carefully think through how people search for you and your organization.
Decide on a Twitter handle/domain name. Make it count! Make it searchable! Make it relevant!
Easy to remember & easy to spell
Another thing to keep in mind when choosing your username is its spelling. Your name should be easy to spell and easy to remember. Consider these two fictional certified Public Accountant examples and decide which one makes more sense:
Twitter.com/RiechmanCPA
or
Twitter.com/nycInsurance
The name “Riechman” is hard to remember. If you speak the name verbally people have no idea how to spell it. Contrast this with the second example “nycInsurance.” This name clearly labels what the organization does – they are an Insurance business. It also narrows down a geographic area.
You use it other places online
Are there other places online that you use a particular username? You would be wise to keep your usernames consistent across multiple online services.
How To Choose A Username
Make a list of possible names
Sit down with a blank piece of paper and begin to brainstorm possible names. Keep in mind that your username is allowed a maximum of 20 characters and cannot contain any spaces.
Search For Your Name
Go to http://twitter.com/invitations/find_on_twitter and search for the usernames you’ve brainstormed. You will be able to see if it is already being used and how it is being used.
Now go take action and decide which username you are going to use.
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Joel Mark Witt is the Publisher of Folk Media and author of 21 Days To Twitter Leadership. He is a producer, author, and speaker who consults with businesses and nonprofits on how to use social media in marketing and communications. Get more from Joel on Twitter.
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Get the book “21 Days To Twitter Leadership” The Step-By-Step Guide On How To Twitter, Get Twitter Followers And Position Yourself As The Leader In Your Industry In Less Than 10 Minutes Per Day.
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