Are you having a tough time choosing a name on Twitter? Never fear - below you will find lots of information on how to select a name that represents you or your business.
Choosing a Name on Twitter Is Important!
If you've been on the Internet for any amount of time, then you've experienced some of the variety that the web cultivates. It's very difficult to stand out on the Internet when you are only one person out of the billions who are online at any given time.
This is why it's very important to put a lot of thought into the name that you choose on services such as Twitter, since they will become your virtual handle for the foreseeable future. People will associate that name or ID with you or your brand, so you want to make sure that it measures up to everything you or your business represents.
Tips for Choosing a Name on Twitter
Have you ever heard the phrase, "keep it short but sweet"? This is the perfect time to employ that bit of wisdom. While Twitter will allow you to select a fairly long name, you want to keep it concise and readable. Names such as californiaracecardriverontheside are not only a mouthful, but they are terribly difficult to spell. Anyone trying to type that into Twitter will probably misspell it, and then give up looking for you. The whole point of social networking is to connect with other people, so you don't want to make it more difficult than necessary!
Your Personal Username
If you are creating an account for your own personal use, why not use your real name or some variation of it? For example, the name John Edward Brown could be represented in many ways:
- john_brown
- john_e_brown
- johnebrown
- johnbrown
- johnb
- jbrown
- johnedward
- jebrown
- brown_john
- jedwardbrown
- mrjohnbrown
- jeb
And so forth. If you are not comfortable using your real name, feel free to select one that fits your personality, or is similar to a nickname you already have. Here are a few examples:
The sky is the limit, although you want to make sure that you select a username that people will remember and find easily on the Twitter website. Remember that Twitter also makes use of capital letters, so you could easily be johnbrown, JohnBrown, or johnEbrown.
Your Business Username
These days, many people are using Twitter as an important part of their business marketing plan. It's a great way to get closer to your customers, and to interact with them one-on-one . Clients love that they can get up-to-the-minute updates from your business, and many companies find that Twitter is actually improving their profits and stickiness (business lingo for customers that stick around).
If you create an account for your business, it is imperative that your Twitter name clearly represents your business name. People will need to be able to find you, and if your name is different from what your customers know you as, they will have a hard time connecting with you on the Twitterverse.
For inspiration, here are some Twitter business accounts:
- A well-known coffee shop: Starbucks
- A book on freelancing: Anti 9 to 5 Guide
- A newspaper: The New York Times
- A food magazine: The Food Mag
- Everyone's favorite: LoveToKnow
Can I Change My Name on Twitter?
If you decide that you don't like the name that you've chosen on Twitter, it is one of the few services that will let you change your username. Beware of changing your username multiple times, though. Every time you change your name on the service, you run the risk of confusing your readers and having them stop following you. If you are using Twitter as a part of your business marketing plan, this is something you definitely want to be aware of.
