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.

I urge all new Twitter users to pay attention and take their time when choosing a username. Your username will help people search for you and helps to build your company brand.

Here are five social media strategies recorded last week during my daily audio updates on Utterli. (Utterli is a free voice recording service that allows you to record a message using your cell phone and then post that message to the web). .

Monday: Choosing A Twitter Username

Tuesday: Why A Good Twitter Username Is Important

Wednesday: What Makes A Good Twitter Username

Thursday: How To Choose A Twitter Username

Friday: Choosing A Username Action Steps

.

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.

Your ability to attract Twitter followers is directly related to your bio. Phrase what you do in a way that shows a potential follower what you can do for THEM. You have 160 characters.

Write out what problem you solve

On a blank piece of paper write down the problems you solve. Spend some time thinking about what keeps your customers up at night with worry. Focus on the solutions you offer them. If you have a hard time coming up with the biggest problems your customers face – ask them. Be proactive and drill down to discover their needs.

Now pick the big one that you and your business address. Be very specific. Imagine that you are talking with a 12-year-old.

Answer these questions/statements

• I help… (describe your prospect in specific terms)
• Who … (now describe their core problem)
• And I help them achieve or get … (a specific result)
• In/with/without … (add specific convenience)

Now edit down to 160 characters

Edit these answers down to 160 characters and place on your bio. This is powerful stuff. If you do this for your bio you will set yourself apart from 99 percent of the Twitter crowd. Most people ignore the power of these 160 characters.

The second thing people look at (after your follower count) is your bio. A well crafted bio can make all the difference in attracting or repelling followers.

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Joel Mark Witt is a producer, author, and speaker who consults with businesses and nonprofits on how to use social media in marketing and communications. He is also the Publisher of Folk Media and author of 21 Days To Twitter Leadership Send him an eMail: joelmarkwitt (at) folkmedia.org or follow him on Twitter.

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Get the book “21 Days To Twitter Leadership” The Step-By-Step Guide To Get Twitter Followers And Position Yourself As The Leader In Your Industry In Less Than 10 Minutes Per Day.

*Photo By xotoko

This short video will show you how to pick a Twitter username that gets listed in search results and puts you on a path to gaining Twitter followers.

Click here if you are having trouble viewing the video.

Get the book “21 Days To Twitter Leadership” The Step-By-Step Guide To Get Twitter Followers And Position Yourself As The Leader In Your Industry In Less Than 10 Minutes Per Day.