Best Online Name
If you are trying to make a name for yourself on the Internet and want people to read your work, buy your products or learn from your advice you need a good title.
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet" William Shakespear
Online profile names are how our readers find us.
Mistakes most people make
I’ve seen some writers that change profile name everywhere they go.
“I’m known as guru79 over here on this site and on this one I’m getinfofromgreg and on this other one I’m greg79knowitall.”
See how this can be confusing for your readers? How can they find Greg if he changes his name everywhere he goes?
You can’t put guru79 or greg79knowitall on the cover of a book. Even if you don’t plan to publish a novel right now you might decide later on to do an ebook of your blogs or articles so publicizing your name well will help any of your future endeavors.
Don’t use email or password sounding names; they don’t sound professional and when you are quoted it will sound silly.
Take note of famous online writers and marketers
Look at those people who have made it big in the online industry and see what kind of names they use. It doesn’t have to be a real name but sounds like it could be. For instance, Violet Blue; it has the appearance of a first and last name even though it is a pseudonym, she capitalizes the two words and it’s easy to remember. There are no numbers or lower case letters used.
Use a consistent and easy profile name
It’s tricky to be unique these days with so many titles already out there but still possible. I have a very common name, there were already at least a half dozen published well-known authors out there with my real name so I created a pseudonym that best suits me. It’s easy to remember and spell which is helpful for me as well as my readers.
Put in a search for Pamela N Red and I’m the only one you’ll find. The less there are of people with your user name the more likely your readers will find you.
Easy to remember name
I realize some have a surname that is long and or not terribly common but if you make yourself known all over the web, eventually people will learn your name and remember how to spell it. I previously said to make it easy but you can make it work if you market yourself well, I’ve seen it happen many times.
Sometimes having an unusual or unique name can work in your favor. Look at Shia LaBeouf, when he first started acting as a kid I had a hard time remembering his name but now he’s a household word. If people start to type his name in a search and spell it wrong, Google helps them get it right. Keep putting your name out there and eventually this will happen for you.
Marketing: putting your name out there
Social networking sites, blog directories, news sites, other writing sites and places like Stumbleupon will help get your internet name out there so people will know you.
A lot of blogs and news sites want you to sign in using your email and website so other readers can find you; this is a great advertising tool. Make sure you have an email address with your pseudonym and if you also have a domain name to match you are on your way to being remembered. It makes it easy for domain lookup to find you which means your audience can also find your work.
Internet names that are consistent a higher search engine placement.
Using a pseudonym on a social networking site
In the beginning Facebook only wanted people to use their real name but after a few lawsuits by people with unusual names they gave up on that business. The same has been true with Google+, they want people to use their given names but after a few complaints they have loosened their rules. You still might have a problem if it sounds too off the wall but send them an email showing your website and other places you use that pen name; tell them it is what people know you by on the Internet professionally and you shouldn’t have any problem.
Social networking sites mostly are trying to protect users from spammers and trolls, once they realize you are a harmless writer just trying to network they usually leave you alone.
Being nice, friendly and non-combative is the key.
Write a good bio
It’s not just your writing that sells but also your profile. That’s why it’s so important to have a good bio of your platform on your homepage.
As writers we are good at giving how to instructions or telling a story but we aren’t always good at bragging about our accomplishments, I know I’m not. Keep practicing and experimenting with different clever descriptions, read other people’s home page and eventually you’ll find a great one that works for you.
Make sure your bio has to do with your writing. Your religious or political views aren’t important unless that is what you write about. Both are touchy subjects, they can and will run off readers so I avoid them like the plague. Everyone is different and has different views about spirituality and government. Some people will leave before reading your work simply because they disagree with your beliefs, not a good marketing strategy.
A real picture isn’t important but using the same one helps. People get used to seeing one pose and recognize you. If you update your avatar it will take a while before people get used to your new photo. Don’t use pictures that show too much skin. Being sexy only works if you are an erotica writer. You want your readers to take you seriously.
Always, always use the same name
People will only learn and remember you if you are consistent. I realize some want to be anonymous on some social networking sites and keep your professional life separate from your personal but the more you use your pseudonym on websites the better.
Marketing, marketing, marketing, it’s what it’s all about. You have to let people see your name and get to know who you are and what you stand for.
