29 Aug
2010

The Great Twitter Handle Debate: Can You Find Success Online With an Alias?

Success on the social Web can be measured in a variety of ways. This is not one of those “here’s how you measure social media efforts” posts. You can learn loads about ways to measure over on the Brass Tack Thinking blog. This post stems from me thinking a lot lately about how we represent ourselves online, and in turn, the various ways we define personal success online.

There is plenty of debate about whether or not personal branding is a viable concept. Shannon Paul argues in this post, Having a Personal Brand is Fine, But Making an Impact is Better, that personal branding “trivializes the human experience”. However, some people have built solid reputations, both online and offline, as personal branding experts, such as Dan Schawbel and Michigan’s own Hajj Flemings.

I want to examine one small piece of the online branding puzzle – Twitter handles. There are no set-in-stone rules for what a person should choose for a Twitter handle, but it seems in the past year or so more people have chosen to use their full name or a variation of their name for Twitter handles versus an alias. I’ve noticed more recently that people who previously did use alias names switched to their real names.

When I signed up for Twitter three years ago, it was much more common for people to not use their names as their handle. People ask me all the time why I chose @EstrellaBella10. Long story short, @EstrellaBella is a name I used for an MSN Messenger account when I was studying abroad in Chile, and it stuck with me once I got home and started experimenting with social networks. I had to add the “10″ for my Twitter handle because someone already claimed @EstrellaBella.

Clearly, my Twitter handle has zero association with my name. My initial reasons for choosing @EstrellaBella10 were because it’s unique and it ties into the fact that I speak Spanish. I’ve debated internally many times over the past three years on whether or not I should switch my handle to my name. I claimed @nikkistephan and @nikki_little for when I’m married. But here’s my problem: My last name will change in less than a year. I don’t want to switch to @nikkistephan now just to switch to @nikki_little in a year. So, even though a part of me feels like I’m ready to make the switch, I’m sticking with @EstrellaBella10 for at least another year.

I have worried that using an alias name on social networks might hurt my credibility or how I want people to think of me as a professional. I include my full name on social networks even if my profile name is EstrellaBella10, so anyone who wants to connect with me knows my real name. This is personal preference, but I’m less likely to follow someone back if they use an alias name and don’t include at least a first name.

I’ve never once had someone tell me that they think my Twitter handle is unprofessional, or that it’s detrimental to how I represent myself online. In my opinion, the information I share on Twitter is a more accurate representation of who I am, both as an individual and a professional.

Here’s a good test to see what your Twitter followers think about you: Look at the lists you’re on. I’m happy to see that I’m on several PR, marketing and social media lists because I make a concerted effort to share info related to those three topics.

Maybe I’ve missed the potential to gain new followers because people prematurely assume I’m either a spammer or a robot when they receive an e-mail saying @EstrellaBella10 is now following them on Twitter. But, looking at the lists I’m included on and the relationships I’ve built through Twitter, I’m confident my Twitter handle choice has not negatively impacted people getting to know who I am and what I’m all about through this online channel.

For some varying opinions on this subject, check out Gini Dietrich’s post about Twitter handles.

So, what do you think? Is it a bad idea from a branding perspective to use anything other than your name for your Twitter handle (put aside your thoughts on personal branding)? Are people who use an alias for a Twitter handle just as successful in the Twitterverse as those who use their real names?

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  • recoveryrabbi

    great topic!
    1. I always have trouble remembering your Twitter handle, bc i don’t speak Spanish…
    2. I have had the dilemma myself with my Twitter handle. I started with recoveryrabbi and I try to use it across all social media and all personalized addresses. Lately I have been thinking of switching to a shorter name (i secured @yisp) just to take up less characters. I saw that @PeterShankman just switched to a longer handle from @skydiver
    3. I decided to stick to @recoveryrabbi for now, especially that this IS my personal brand.
    thoughts?

  • http://rmeray.com Ryan Meray

    I purposely went with my first and last name because I wanted it to be on the first SERP when people are looking for me. It probably would’ve been either way, since I’m the only Ryan Meray, but I wanted to make sure that every single tweet was another breadcrumb with my name right in the URL so that Google would rank those highly for searches for my name.

  • Nancy Bakanowicz

    I have a long and intimidating last name, so when I chose my Twitter handle, I went with my first name and what I do – Nancy and PR = nancypr. I usually add the number 19 after just about everything (it’s my homage to my favorite athlete, Steve Yzerman). This makes my twitter handle, @nancypr19, unique, easy to remember and a lot shorter and less difficult to say than @nancybakanowicz would be!

  • http://p1fran.com Michael McClure

    Nikki,

    Great post and a very timely topic for discussion!

    My two cents:

    * From the start, my intention with Social Media was to build a corporate brand. And that’s why I’ve used “ProfessionalOne” – as opposed to my name – as the focus of all of our Social Media efforts.

    * RE the results of this strategy, check out http://p1fran.com/2010-ytd-update/ and http://p1fran.com/2010/08/one-million-dollars/.

    * I’m also in the midst of a west-coast speaking tour in which I was chosen to speak on the topic of ROI in Social Media, and I was selected purely because of the buzz I’ve been able to build about my brand (which is a real estate franchise also based in Michigan – Go Green!) using Twitter.

    Having said that, I really think your OBJECTIVES should determine whether you “personal brand” or “corporate brand” in Social Media. If I was not building a corporate brand, I probably would have used my name. So, I think all of this is purely “circumstance driven.”

    Like I said, just my humble opinion!

    Best,
    Michael

  • http://sazbean.com Sarah Worsham

    I think that a Twitter handle that’s either your name or an alias can work equally well as long as you’re consistent in your branding across multiple channels (same as with any marketing). If you’re using your name on your blog, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc. and something else on Twitter, it may be confusing. But if you’re consistent in your alias across your online profiles, then that becomes part of your personal brand. I think an alias especially works if you also associate your name with it.

    For me, sazbean was relatively google safe when I started using it online. Now I pretty much own it in all the results. It’s also easy to remember. Do people know me as sazbean instead of Sarah Worsham? Sure. But I’m not worried about them not being able to find me or figure out who I am if they want to.

    Anyway, my two cents… Thanks for bringing up the topic… very interesting!

  • Laura Farms

    I could not resist getting my last name when that was available. I don’t plan on changing my last name, so it made sense for me to go for it. Granted, I was added to a rural twitter list, but it’s nice to have a short Twitter handle that won’t change. I find that my interests are so fluid that if I chose an alias, it would not fit me down the road. I’d rather go with something more permanent, so my name made the most sense.

  • http://www.yaffetidbitsblog.com Mike K McClure

    Very topical. And sometimes your tiwtter handle can dictate how you sign your name. When I signed up, somone already had @mikemcclure, so I added my middle initial and went with @mikekmcclure. Now (as you can see on my comment here) I’ve started adding my middle initial to my digital signature because that’s how people know me through twitter and how people who don’t can find me on twitter. It’s a whole new dymanic in how social media and the digital space affects how we use our name these days.

  • http://fryinginvein.com Hubert “GAM” Sawyers III

    When you transform into “Nikki Little,” I will be quite excited about your metamorphosis. Proof is in the pudding though. Everyone that takes a chance to get to know you is rewarded with your awesomeness.

    Your situation is unique, because outside of speaking Spanish, Estrella Bella is a vague capture of who you are. I mean, you are a “beautiful star,” but what does that really mean? As someone that feels they know you quite well at this point, I sense you may go through another metamorphosis when you decide to change your Twitter handle. I mean, who knows what will happen between now and nuptial time? Opportunities fall upon us every day, so you may want to go in another direction. Instead of your REAL NAME, you might use your REAL BRAND. Again, I’ll be excited to witness it.

  • http://WestValleyGreenHomes.com ItsEric

    Those of us with common names (mine is Eric Johnson) simply can’t get our name. We must rely on an alias or an add on to our name, thus I choose “ItsEric.” It’s short and easy to remember.

    Plus with a Twitter limit of 140, it’s so much easier to get a msg retweated.

  • http://zenbija.com/wordpress Bija Andrew Wright

    I’ve thought about this issue a lot, since it seems that we’re the anomaly in not choosing a real-name handle. I chose @zenbija for a few specific reasons, after I chose the same for my website. I wanted to use my Buddhist name since I’m using both to promote my Zen Buddhist writings. I’d thought about bijaandrewwright.com but those doubled letters really bothered me. bijazen.com looked like it would be pronounced to rhyme with “jazzin’” or “raisin.” So I went with zenbija. (It just now strikes me that ZenBija might be easier for people to parse.)

    Maybe there are two types of web presences: people who find my twitter because they’re looking for me, and people who find me because they’re looking for my kind of content online. People have found my blog by searching for phrases like “how to be zen to a frenemy” or “buddhist self help books.” If my username demonstrates to them that they’ve found the Zen guy, then it’s probably better than them forgetting after a few weeks who this drewwright person is.

    Before we had the #laughup, I got the notice that @erikallencomedy was following me. I found my first reaction was “Hey, it’s Erik Allen, the comedian!” even though I’d actually never heard him before. He’s since changed his handle, but I’m not sure it was a good idea. As Nancy points out, NancyPR19 is easy to remember and it points you to what you’re looking for.

  • recoveryrabbi

    great point Mike. When I send an email to a person that I know from Social Media I always add @recoveryrabbi after my name

  • Elena Wollborg

    Great post. I have often wondered the same thing being that on a whim 2 years ago I signed up on Twitter when Charlie was using it all the time and made my handle more of a joke, if anything. Now, that I am starting to use twitter often and would like to use twitter to help promote a blog I plan to do *someday* I have contemplated changing as well.

    My thoughts – leave it. It’s fun and you can be fun AND professional. My two cents. I also think you are a beautiful little star too ;)

  • Matt Boltz

    Excellent topic and post, Nikki. I can see both sides of the issue, and I don’t think there’s a clear-cut right or wrong. I know people have different reasons for using aliases, but with common sense and transparency I don’t think it’s a problem at all. As long as the alias isn’t ridiculous and there’s some sort of legitimate profile information, I focus more on the content and interaction, and don’t give much more thought to the Twitter name.

    I debated using my full name when I signed up for Twitter, but had read a lot of stuff saying “the shorter the better” so I used my initials + last name. Would the extra couple of characters really have hurt? In hindsight, probably not at all. I also debated using an alias I have used for at least 10 years, but for no specific reason decided this would be a good opportunity for me to move away from the alias. I do see both sides though, and don’t think the real name vs. alias matters much when one has good content, engagement, and credibility/transparency.

  • http://www.nikkistephan.com nikki

    Yisrael – I completely realize people who don’t speak Spanish have trouble with my Twitter handle, which is one reason why I’ve contemplated changing it. Your handle makes sense – you help people recover from addictions. It ties into a huge part of who you are. I understand why you would stick with it. Thanks for the feedback.

    Ryan – That’s a smart strategy. Thanks for sharing!

    Nancy – You do have a long last name! It makes complete sense that you opted to not use it in your handle. I follow many people in the PR industry who have PR in their handle, and I definitely get why you went with that choice. Thanks for your feedback!

    Michael – Great examples of how choosing to use Twitter to build a corporate brand has paid off. And you’re absolutely right – what name you choose to represent yourself online totally depends on your goals. Appreciate your feedback.

    Laura – I think you were wise to not call out one specific interest in your Twitter handle. And your last name is fun. :) That was my concern with putting “PR” in my handle. You want to call attention to your passions, but you don’t want to segment yourself at the same time. Thanks for your comment!

    Mike – Adding your middle initial to your handle and consistently using it as your digital signature is an easy way to set yourself apart if you have a common name, particularly if you share it with another person from your same area who’s active in the social space. Thanks for the feedback!

    Hubert – I’m glad I can always count on you for support. :) You’re absolutely right – my handle is a small reflection of who I am. I always used my second language to differentiate me during the job search, but now I feel other passions/attributes have taken precedence since I’ve started my career. I still think I’m going to wait until after my wedding to avoid two Twitter handle changes in a year. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

    Eric – I get your rationale. It’s tough to be unique with your handle yet still incorporate your name if your name is common. Thanks for the feedback!

    Drew – Your handle makes sense because it represents a huge part of who you are and the content you share online. It’s unique, but it’s totally you. Thanks for explaining your process.

    Elena – You are too sweet! I did the same thing as you – I created my handle on a whim without much thinking. I had no clue Twitter would become what it is today, and now part of me wishes I had gone the boring route and used my name from the get-go. I do like that it’s unique and it’s fun to tell the story because it ties into my experience in Chile – which is a huge part of my life. Looking forward to that blog. ;)

    Matt – I’m with you. It doesn’t bother me if a person uses an alias. As long as they put at least a first name in their profile and what they share is interesting, I’m fine with following someone who uses an alias handle. Thank you for the feedback!

  • http://twitter.com/missive Jen Wright

    Love this, Nikki. You may have noticed that Mister Mike K. McClure sent me over here via Twitter after I grilled him last week on whether or not I should switch to my real name. I, like you, joined Twitter a long time ago when the space was a bit different.

    I was a humor blogger and looking for a persona that was anonymous and slightly fictional, as it allowed me more freedom in writing.

    I’m here in a different way now, and more as my whole self.

    Mike made a great point that you really have to ask yourself just how much brand equity you have in the name you’d be leaving behind. Considering nobody says mine correctly anyway, I think I’m safe!

    Another friend made a great point that I should at least open another account after the switch and hold @MissIve in case I decide I want to go back (Thanks, @SethSimonds).

    Whatever I do, and as much as the concept of “personal brand” makes me uneasy, there’s not doubt that leaving MissIve behind will feel surreal. As much as she began as a fictional persona, she is part of me.

    Who knows, my new handle might actually behave!

    Great post, Nik.

    Also, HOW did I not know you were engaged?! Apparently we talk too much shop and not enough of the good stuff.

  • http://www.nikkistephan.com nikki

    Sarah – Your comment got filtered in my spam blocker for some reason, so just caught it today! I agree with using a consistent name across all online channels. I’ve stuck with EstrellaBella10 or EstrellaBella. If I change my handle once I’m married, I’ll make it consistent on all the networks where I have a presence online. Thanks for the feedback!

    Jen – Thanks for sharing your story. I think it will feel surreal for me too if I leave EstrellaBella behind and move on to my real name, but change isn’t always a bad thing. And I have no idea how you missed that I’m engaged! ;)