Your Social Media User Name

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Your Social Media User Name - Is It Too Late?

Seems there is always something new to be learned and discovered. Twitter, FriendFeed, Online Webinars, the Information is flying around the WEB 2.0 World at high speeds and at high altitudes, but if you try to grab on to some of this stuff, it's amazing what you can learn from being connected to these Social Media Networking and Marketing platforms. At todays webinar, we discussed your "User Names" and how they should be selected and used on the web. A great site was mentioned that will search your name on multiple sites to see if it's available. So why is this important?

The questions?

Is it too late? Does someone else already have your user name or do you? What should your user name be? Your real name or a company? Should it be your name with a title? IE: BradRealtor? Maybe a memorable slogan, or a cool phrase? I can tell you this, when I forget anything about anybody, I just Google their name. I think I even do this sub-consciously. Today, it was suggested to lock up your "real name" to be used as your "Brand", and to capture that "name recognition" you deserve. Who will find you? Google will, your family will, your friends and neighbors will, and the people who search you out when your name comes up in certain circles will too. Let me explain...

It's Your Name. What's In A Name?

Referral business for one. If someone refers you to another person, how do they do it? Your nick name, your company, your slogan or your catch-phrase? No. IMHO, I think in most cases people use other peoples names. Real names. If I'm at dinner with friends, and you mention someone to me like Mary McCormick and her awesome site, I would probably remember her name before I would remember her site at: RealEstateLuxuryHomesInFlorida.com. So what would I do when I got back home? I'd Google her name. How about you; would you ever do a search for ActiveBrad? Exactly....

A Possible Tool $ Solution!

UserNameCheck.com is a website that can search many of the social networks and social media platforms. It searches sites to see where you can Brand your name, and snag it before someone else does. Now I'm not saying you should go join all these sites, but do take stock in the ones you feel are beneficial to you, your on-line presence or your business.

So now you're just one click away from making some important decisions... should I be using my real name and which places should I be doing it? (seriously pondering right now...) Will people search me as Brad Andersohn or ActiveBrad or my former TheEscrowGuy? Hmmm... guess I have the same dilemma as some of you...crap, I hate when this happens. LOL~

Right Now, you're probably realizing like I am, that in some cases, it may be too late to change, even if your user name is available. The Google placement and SEO you've gained to this point, might not be worth losing...or is it??? It's like the same dilemma you have when deciding to change a phone number, or an email address. What user name are you using on the Web, and is it getting you the best possible results?

Hopefully this post will catch some of you before it's too late....one way or the other.

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"May this blog be just one more planted seed of wisdom that helps you or your business blossom today!"

Posted by Brad Andersohn on 10/31/2008 04:00 PM

Comments (93)

UserNames in the ActiveRain Channel

username, brad andersohn, activebrad, the escrow guy, usernamecheck

Originally posted at: Real Estate 2.0 Technology : Your Social Media User Name - Is It Too Late?

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93 Comments on Your Social Media User Name - Is It Too Late?

OCT

2008

What a cool tool. I just used it. And it made me remember an account I signed up for. Thanks.

Brad, I use Broker Bryant for everything. I think I made a good decission with that one. Even my sellers, that have never been online, call me Broker Bryant. It's a good brand.

You raise some good points but now I have a headache...... ; )

I like akronohiohomes and feel I have some recognition from google because of the search relevance, but I am going to think about this, darn ya!

Bryant - you're a classic example of how "Branding" really works. For you it wouldn't make much sense to change everything to Bryant Tutas now, as your Brand has already been established and is quite successful. What about others though, should they be "Branding" their real names or nick names or company names? This username check site helped me realize how many places I have used a different user name and how it may be hurting me more than helping....the jury is still out on this one. Parked! :-)

David - I share in your pain! haha. I am bandersohn in some places, TheEscrowGuy in others (which is no longer) ActiveBrad in quite a few places, and only Brad Andersohn in about 25% of these sites. If I google them all, I get different stuff from each search. Should they all be "ONE" in the same? And what should that "ONE" really be? I want to be like Broker Bryant, One user name, one identity, it only makes sense, but which one? I'm off to the cupboard to grab some Tylenol for us. LOL!~

At first I figured, yeah, I should do this and change my user name all over the place. I use several different user names, none of which are my name! Yet if someone searches my name I will show up in most places. I am totally confused now, Brad. You are whipping these posts out like wildfire lately. I'm starting to feel like I'm in school and can't get my homework done:)

Brad, I have always wonder about all the names i see on different sites. On all my sites i am frankrubi. I am a simple person at heart and just want my clientele to remember me when thinking of real estate.

That was a great tool and they were all me...now to just complete the rest of the sites.

Brad, Wow, once again you are posting amazing stuff. I just went and signed up with a few of these. On Digg, it suggested that I not use my real name. I did it anyway, but if I didn't I wouldn't be branding JenBowman, right?

I checked and all the one's taken are me. LOL not too many missycaulks

From Karen above...."Brad. You are whipping these posts out like wildfire lately. I'm starting to feel like I'm in school and can't get my homework done" That hit the nail, I could not figure out how Brad makes me feel sometimes, that was perfect.......

Brad, IMHO, activebrad is awesome and would be only you, if you stuck with it for a while...... D

That is a good and valid point, but my name is Christine McInerney and I have run across very few people that can pronouce my name, let alone spell it. This combined with the fact that there is actually already another Christine McInerney that has already taken the name domain names I have gone with catch phrases instead.

Karen - haha, I can't keep up with me either! ROFL.

That's a great point about different names still all coming back to you. I know that using ActiveBrad, there's been no hiding, I show up everywhere, and using Brad AndersoHn, that "H" in my last name has had some drawbacks. If someone refers me by name, and if they spell it without an H, I'm screwed when they search Google or Yahoo. So just like Broker Bryant, in following the tradition of what works, ActiveBrad it is, and it's here to stay! That was easy, thanks! :-) Thanks to WEB2.0, There's no hiding now. LOL~

Brad,

ActiveBrad,

Escrowguy,

You have the same problems? WOW! I do not feel so bad now or do I?

Thank you for the information. It is excellent as always.

Ann

More excellent tools that you are sharing Brad. Thank you for taking the time to tell us about it.

Debi - sorry, I passed you up. It is a very cool tool. It did the same thing for me, I realized there were a few on the site that I needed to follow up on. I had to run a few different user names to see all the places I had been. Holy Cow!! I realized I certainly don't want to be on them all, only the beneficial ones. It's Too late to go back and change user names on them all now , but it's something for the new person to think about who isn't totally rooted socially yet. :-)

Great post Brad. My name has a silent "g" in it, so no one can ever spell, pronouce or remember my last name, I had my first sale from the Internet in 1995 and that's when we came up with DebOnTheWeb. I own almost every version of the domain name, but didn't think about other sites. I wish you had written your post a year ago because I was pretty upset when I found someone else already had the name on Gmail. Thankfully, though I'm DebOnTheWeb on ActiveRain and Twitter!

Brad, Thank you. Thank goodness my name is unique!! :0)

Frank - simple is good unlike my last name, but I have to ask you, do people ever spell your name wrong? Ruby for example? Do you ever wonder how many might do that on the Internet? I'm just sayin... :-)

As you can tell, this stuff facsinates me! LOL~

Hey Brad, Yep, you had to go and do it, totally fry my brain on Friday!! I have often thought about this since we have several businesses and I am registered with different user names, UGH ! I think I will go home now! God bless, thanks for the tool !

Nancy - you go for it girl!! :-))

Jen - that is exactly right, and you have a great name too. It's easy to remember, it's spelled like it sounds, that's great stuff, you're well on your way. :-))) Not sure which user name I am on Digg, but I do know I'm there! LOL~

Brad,

Thanks for the post. Unless there is a catchy name, it is probably good to go with the name your business license is in.

Hi Brad...I think using your personal name is good, except where people are looking for a Realtor for example, They Might Google Victoria Realtor which is one I use on Twitter and few other Social Media Sites. How about using you're favorite business Brand and Personal Name, after all we do not need to Sleep and we can have another Twitter site...did I see someone on the Webinar today say they have 50 Twitter handles..My brain was twirling when I saw that, I'm already behind with my regular prospecting and now more online stuff...Whew. I'm Glad it Hallween not April Fools.

Cheers

Brad, I'm glad you root around and find these search tools for the rest of us. I truly appreciate all your discoveries.

Brad- What a great tool! a WHOIS for social networks. Very cool. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Best,

Scott

Brad, This is a love/hate post. Love the tool and the information. Hate not having more time to try all the cool things you bring up! BB seems to have done it right using the same name on everything.

Is a good question ! We think we have done a little bit of this already with our name "thesomersteam" . Hopefully, that was a smart choice... time will tell ?

You will always be ActiveBrad to me:) You are active too, aren't you? Do you ever sleep? I can't keep up with all of the changes lately. I've been SO busy showing, and I'm SO far behind on Active Rain...curse these buyers..what do they think I am, a Realtor? LOL...keep up the good work and keep the good tips coming ActiveBrad! We all love you!!!!

Brad ~ you have an excellent point here. I always felt that I wanted to be remembered for two things here when it comes to branding. 1) my name 2) where I work. Everything beyond that is taking up space.

Brad, good thing I've never been creative enough to make up anything other than my own name. Sometimes I've used ljandura instead of Linda Jandura, but that's as different as I get. It's not a common name at all, and if you google it, I'm the only one that comes up, so I guess that's okay.

Thanks for writing yet another great blog that I have to bookmark and come back to.

Even though there are 8 other LaneBaileys on Facebook... I am the one that gets found. I used to be JeepOnRock... from an old email address. I learned from that (and I am still JeepOnRock on many automotive sites). People would remember that. I could give them that while standing in the middle of nowhere and get an email from them the next day.

Hi Brad! You are just FULL of cool tools! I'm off to check out my 'favorite' user name at this site! I know it was taken on some sites, so I changed my user name to accomodate those taken initially. I need to just go out there and, at least, register on some of these even if I'm not using them yet. Thanks!

Debe in Charlotte

Brad- I mostly use my name, or my first initial and last name....Twitter though has a different name. Hmmm. OK here's my real question...what's that Feedback link on the left side. I checked my blog and it's not there, so are you testing it? Or is it one of your newest Widgets? Just curious :)

My name is too common =( So I usually use lisahillrealtor. And I frequently use my logo "thesmartchoice". And for all my play sites, I use biblegirl7 and/or brattygirl7, since that's how all my online play friends know me. After all, I don't want them really knowing my last name. There are too many freaks out there. And when I'm forced to use an actual first and last name, I have an alias ;)

Thanks for the insight and info, as always. Something to learn every day. What is that button on the side?

Hi Brad!
Okay...did you open a can of worms! I got on the site and couldn't leave it for an hour! Added a couple of site to my collection and just plain had fun! Thanks!

NOV

2008

I always use my own name except on my porn star site.

I love Susie's comment... If only I could be that creative... LOL.

I generally use mwoda, and anyone who knows me would look for that. But you're right - someone who doesn't know me well might look for my name so that's what I'll use going forward. Thanks Brad.

I ran usernamecheck.com, as you suggested, and was surprised to see how many DO have my real name. Hmmm.... has someone else been signing up with my name? I'm going to have to check them out.

Brad, that is a very cool tool, I see it as an excellent way to see what other social media sites are out there that you currently are not using!

Brad, My personal opinion is that ActiveBrad, while a great name, is to specific to ActiveRain. I know it's easy to think nothing will ever change and AR will always be around and you will always be a part of it BUT....you know how that goes from your past experience. Branding should always be very specific to something you are in control of 100%. Your presence on the Internet will be there for many many years and life has a way of going where it wants to.

Of course our names are always good to brand except for where they are very difficult to spell as is yours and mine. I ALWAYS have to look up the spelling of your last name. Tutas is just as bad. Very unique, which is an awesome advantage for Google, but very hard to remember. This is one of the reasons why TLW and I decided to name our company Tutas Towne Realty. We wanted to get our last name out there so that it became more "normal" in our market. After 11 years we have succeeded.

SO........what do yo use? Damn good question and one I will ponder today.

Brad,

I think it is a good idea to check your name. I used to have a website that included my name as part of the address. My clients would search for my site and not getting the name of the site quite right would end up on a porn site. When I created my new website, I used geography rather than my name to avoid embarrassing my real estate clients.

Carol Fox

Great comments and responses. I guess this isn't going to be that simple for some depending on their names. These are some excellent points and feedback here that I hope visitors and readers will review.

I think user names and searchable names are two different things. When signing up on any site, be sure that when you create a user name, that you also have the option to be seen by the name you choose to use on that Social Network. Just like here on AR, my user name and login are both ActiveBrad, but my signature link on all comments is Brad Andersohn. Trying to get the best of both worlds I guess.

Some sites aren't like that. Youtube is a classic example of when you sign up with a login name and password, that signin name becomes the name people will have to find you by. Not too many searching my youtube account as "Bandersohn" I guess that is what spurred this post. If you search youtube for Brad Andersohn or ActiveBrad...nada! DOH!!
(I take that back, 2 videos did show up because of the description and tag or keywords)

This is definitely a topic to be considered when someone new jumps into the WEB 2.0 social networking and marketing world. Thanks you guys for all your feedback, great stuff. :-)

hi Brad, re "It's Your Name. What's In A Name?... If someone refers you to another person, how do they do it? Your nick name, your company, your slogan or your catch-phrase?"...

Even if I don't use them, I try to sign up with as many social networking sites as possible, just to reserve my own name, it's become part of my brand. I may not always be the blog artist but garaughty will always be who I am so I try to protect, promote & use it. Have a great weekend Mr B.

Brad,

Thanks a lot for bringing up another dilemma to find a suitable solution for. Anyway, it sure is true that people generally know you better by your real name than company one, or blog one. Hmmm, here we go.

Oh boy, more stuff to learn. Wheee, how exciting. Funny thing though, two of the sites show someone has taken my name, and I don't have a very common name. I wonder what's up with that? However, you have led me to an outside site that's is much easier to use than what I was trying to figure out. Wouldn't it be nice if I could post a blog here, and have it upload to my outside blog!

More to ponder upon, more to learn, thank you for bringing this up.

Excellent tool, BRad. Something to think seriously about. I almost always use the same user name, and there were a couple of sites I had joined and forgot about - secondary benefit of this tool. LOL.

I think the branding becomes even more important as the social network environment grows. It was interesting to also google my user name.

Jeff

Me too, what in the world am I supposed to do with all this sites? I have read that they are supposedto be SOCIAL MEDIA SITES. Does that ALLOW you to blatantly promote your business (I think NOT). Any light on this issue would be GREATLY appreciated!

Maybe a separate post on this :-)? Stilll trying to learn.

Wow Brad! I don't know how you continue to inform us of all these cool things and overwhelm us at the same time. When do you have the time? Keep up the good work!

Hello Brad and thanks for the info. I have signed on for a few twitters, but still have to figure it all at, time a patience and hopefully it will all work out.

NOV

2008

There you go again Brad! LOL now it's going to take me probably another hour before I can read another post because of course I just HAVE to check this out! Jeff Turner posted on protecting your reputation online a month or so ago and immediately I opened some accounts to protect my name, but this is fabulous! Does it all in one stop. Thanks!

NOV

2008

I think it is way to late for me. All the user name I have used seem to be used my other people. I found it weird that someone would be using something like my AOL e-mail for their user name but that is what I found out.

Question of the Day: How do I change my username on Active Rain? I don't see a way at My Profile or My Settings.

Thanks,

Carol

wow, i wish i had this when i started, i cant even remember all the different names i have used for different things!

OMG

Chris the implementer

Thanks for that website...I just found some places that I had subscribed to and forgotten about! And now I have some work cut out for me to get my name out there in some of the others...thanks again!

Carol Fox - that has to be done on the back-end admin side, only we can do it for you. Shoot me an email with what you want it to be and I will make that change for you immediately. Thanks :-)

Brad - This is another great post that I need to come back to. Thanks for the information! :)

Brad, my name comes up almost completely vacant! although there are a few jeremy blanton's out there.

NOV

2008

On some sites, it's difficult to change your name once you have already established it on that site. MyBlogLog for example will not let you change your user name. You can change anything but that, making it difficult, but I may have missed a step where it's possible. I am looking into many of the sites listed here to see which ones are easily modified or not.

NOV

2008

Well that was fun! Thanks for the new tool. I agree - except for your website. For that if you can fit in any key search terms - that's better. Though you could also use your name and then just redirect to your main website. Hmm, think I will see if my name is still available as a domain!

NOV

2008

Well this is nifty. Thanks for the scoop but I've been feeling overwhelmed lately.

NOV

2008

So Brad? I love this, and I agree. I've attempted to submit a request to change terieee to Teri Ellis on AR, but have never received an answer. Can you tell me where I go to do this? Or?? can't this be done, or what?

Brad... As always... Great information here.. You are a valuable asset to the Active Rain family

NOV

2008

Teri, I can do that for you if you'd like, it's an AR admin feature, just give me the word, and it's done. I'd do it now, but then you wouldn't be able to login and I don't want you to freak out when I change it. Call or email me to confirm. Thanks Teri. :-)

NOV

2008

Great post - I have a rather unique name so it is much easier for me than many others.

NOV

2008

Thanks for sharing usernamecheck.com! Pretty interesting checking out all the sites listed. Too late for me.... Marjorie Taylor, or just Marjorie is more popular than I had imagined.

DEC

2008

It's funny, with a name like Andersohn, most mine are available...except now I am finding my kids getting to these sites and getting the name in there before I can! LOL~ :-)

DEC

2008

Thanks for sharing I am so glad I found your blogs.

DEC

2008

Thanks for such great stuff, Brad. Even the ones that came up showing they were taken really weren't when I clicked on them. Helps to have a somewhat unique name.

Brad,

I think most of use didn't realize when we were doing setups how important it is to be consistent.

Richard

@Dana - I'm glad too. :-)

@Eileen - I know what you mean, I am fortunate to have that "H" in my last name... I think.. :-)

@Richard - i agree, hopefully this is a shout out warning to new members making these decisions early on. thanks.

I agree with the others. very cool tool. I love reading your blog

Thanks

Don

DEC

2008

I have always tried to use my name, but sometimes I do not use a space in between my first and last, or abbreviate my first name. I would like to have consistency across the board. I also like the Active Brad and Broker Bryant names. It not only uses your first name, but also tells everyone what you do. How about Agent Troy?

DEC

2008

Don - thanks, I love you reading my Blog, what would I do if you didn't?? LOL~ Thanks!! :-)

Agent Troy does have a nice ring to it... what's in a name? Everything!! :-)

DEC

2008

Brad, this is a great tool. Like Teri above, I've requested a change to my name. I got a response, but it was never done. Think you might be able to help me out? It is heatherg and I'd like it changed to my name, heathergoodwin.

Brad,

Worthwhile article.

Donna DiPrima

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Nashua, NH

DEC

2008

Heather - I made the change for you. Your Login name has been changed! :-))

DEC

2008

Donna - thank you, I'm glad you think so. :-)

Brad, Brad, Brad.... now, you've gone and done it. I never really thought about this, but apparently should have. Hmmm... does it hurt our SEO if we change our AR username? The content is still the main draw, right?

Brad, thanks for the summary version and the good advice. Going to go get Terrylynn right now.

DEC

2008

Jesse - won't hurt the SEO, but it will screw up all the links for a bit if you change now.

JAN

2009

FEB

2009

Hi Brad. I have seen a repeated question, and it is one that I am fervently trying to find an answer to. I never gave it a second thought when creating usernames here or on any site, and it seems like I have scoured AR for this answer. There should definitely be some way AR can make it possible for us to change our user ID -- Is there one? Hindsight (sp?) being what it is, I'd appreciate any info, even if it is not possible to change. Thanks :)

Bev - Done! Sent you an email as well. Have a great weekend. :-)

MAR

2009

Brad - As always, You make a good point! I was kicking myself for not using a good SEO "Keyword" as my username on several sites, AR included. Personally, I am bad remembering names, but will always remember "ActiveBrad" and "Broker Bryant" over your Full names, and would be able to search google easy and find you both using the "Aliases".

But now I will have to "headache" through figuring out which way I want it, "Name" or "Keywords", "NAME" or "KEYWORDS"... AAAHHHH!!!!

How about BOTH! user: JasonDaley-UtahRealEstate

I tried it and it will work on some-to-most of the sites on http://checkusernames.com/ but a lot of them come up with a length error, since some are limited to 15-20 characters.

Choices, Choices, Choices... :)

I am just glad I have a unique name!!!

APR

2009

check http://www.dialusername.com/

APR

2009

Phillip - very cool site, thanks. :-)

MAY

2009

Well, i found this post when searching on how to change my AR username and its like you were reading my mind. That's just how you roll i guess. Thanks for the info... Aloha from Kauai

Ronnie - haha...yep, that's how I roll! Aloha my friend. :-)

JUL

2009

Brad, This is pretty cool as I did get into trouble when asked to join gtalk, which uses your gmail account. I've finally started lining up all my identities as Tina Gleisner ... how do I change AR from tinag to tinagleisner? and any advice on finding out who has tinagleisner@gmail.com as there's 90% chance it's me but I can't get into it to reclaim? Thanks for any & all help.

JUL

2009

Tina - That's an admin feature only. I can change your user name here but some of your links will be lost if I do. For example, when I changed mine from activerain.com/bandersohn to activerain.com/ActiveBrad, all the links pointing to bandersohn were lost. If you don't have too much to lose, let me know, and I'll be happy to change your user name here. I'll wait to hear from you, thanks. :-)

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Brad Andersohn

Fairfield, CA

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