Unless you are one of the lucky few with a relatively distinctive name, you have encountered a situation where you have signed up for an e-mail address, only to be told that your own name has already been taken, but would you be interested in one of half a dozen variations on that name?  Or perhaps your name with a few extra numbers thrown on at the end so that it’ll be distinguishable from all the other people who’ve set up e-mail accounts using the same name.

The same thing is true of Social Media sites.  They require visitors and members to create user names, and if the name a new member wants is already taken, a variation must be found.  If you already have a brand identity, it would be best to stick with that.  If you’re still picking a brand identity out, and you know that you want to use Social Media to market your product, a short and unique name may be the best.

Short, Unique Brand Names Are Admired

Because everyone is aware of this phenomenon, anyone who manages to get a name that looks like it was admitted on the first try will earn a little extra respect.  “Razmataz” has that vibe, “Razmataz Diversions” does not.   Why?  Because most people will think that “Razmataz Diversions” would only be attempted if “Razmataz” was unavailable.

Test it Out

If you’re thinking of using Social Media to market your product, don’t come up with a name in a vacuum.  Try some of the possibilities out.  Most sites will let you try a few different names before you are forced to commit to one.  If you can’t get the name you want at the site you want, consider a different name.

Short Brand Names Are Less Likely to Scare Other Users Away

On top of that, “Razmataz” could be the online identity (or “handle”) of an individual, but “Razmataz Diversions” is clearly a company.  Since most people do not want to have advertisements foisted upon them while they’re being social, they will be more likely to avoid the user that is clearly a company.

Nothing will save you if you start blatantly pitching your product in the midst of someone else’s conversation, but at least with the less corporate names, people will be less likely to assume that you intend to advertise to them.

Unique Names are Portable

If your name is truly unique, you will be able to use it everywhere.  Not only does this make it easy to sign up for accounts at new Social Media sites, but anyone looking for your online presence will be able to do so easily because you use the same name wherever you go, and if you did your homework right, nobody else is using that name.