Selecting a name for your blog can be a challenging task. Opt for a clever brand name? Or should my blog be my name? As with many questions in the realm of digital marketing, it depends. There are advantages and disadvantages to both options. Let’s dig into the pros and cons of using your personal name for your blog and when it’s most suitable to do so, as well as when a brand name might be a better choice.
The PROS of Using Your Personal Name for Your Blog
Helps People Connect with You as a Person
Using your own name for your blog creates a personal connection between you and your readers. Rather than perceiving your content as coming from a faceless entity, readers are more likely to see it as advice from a trusted friend.
Allows You to Switch Topics
A personal blog provides the freedom to explore a range of topics that reflect your unique interests and experiences. While it’s advisable to focus on a handful of related topics to avoid confusion to your readers, you can adjust these topics over time as your interests evolve.
Brand Yourself as an Expert
Creating a blog using your name allows you to establish yourself as an authority in your chosen field. This can be particularly advantageous for potential employers seeking to understand your expertise and knowledge.
The CONS of Using Your Personal Name for Your Blog
More Difficult to Remember and Spell
Depending on your name, it may be harder for people to remember or spell correctly compared to a brand name, which is often designed to be more memorable.
Unclear Blog Focus
The flexibility of a personal blog can be a drawback as well. Your site’s purpose may not be immediately clear to readers and search engines, making it challenging to rank in search results and connect with your target audience.
Potential Difficulty in Selling
Using your name as your blog’s brand may complicate the process if you ever decide to sell your blog. While it may not be a current consideration, it’s wise to keep future options open.
How to Decide if Your Blog Should Use Your Name
Use Your Name for Your Blog if:
- Personal branding is your goal.
- You’re aiming to enhance your job prospects and expand your social network.
- You intend to use your blog as an extension of your resume.
Use a Brand Name For Your Blog If:
- Your goal is to build a business.
- You’re selling a product or planning to do so in the future.
- You view your blog as a business venture and are less concerned about personal branding.
What Others Have Done
Here are some examples of some popular bloggers and how they use their name with their blogs.
- Amy Porterfield – Amy Porterfield uses her name for her domain name (https://www.amyporterfield.com/). She does have separate names for her blog and courses but her name always accompanies the product names because it is her primary branding.
- Jasmine Star – Jasmine Star has a personal brand (https://jasminestar.com/) and then a separate business brand (https://new.socialcurator.com/). Her name and face is on the business brand as well but it is built to stand alone separate from the Jasmine Star brand. Her podcast and messages that come directly from her are typically on the personal brand and not the business brand.
- Michael Hyatt – Michael Hyatt focuses on a business brand at https://fullfocus.co/ instead of using his name. This is actually a change from the original setup and the website even has a page explaining the rebrand.
These examples show there isn’t one right way to do it. Sometimes your blog can use your name, sometimes it makes more sense for it to not, and other times you may even decide to have multiple sites with multiple blogs.
SEO Impact
The domain name does play a role in site rankings for search engines, though it is very minor. It is such a small factor that it is not worth considering the impact on search engine rankings when deciding if you should use your personal name for your domain name or not.
If it is important for your website to be the top result when your name is searched, having your personal name for the domain name will make that easier and quicker to obtain. But it is still possible to do this with a branded domain as well.
If you want your branded domain to rank at the top for your personal name then make sure you have a page dedicated to the founder and explain your contribution to the website. If the page is clearly about you and your name is optimized in the page title and headings then that page will be able to rank high in the search engine rankings when your name is searched.
The opposite of this is also true. A branded domain name will make it slightly easier to rank for a product or niche, but if the personal domain has relevant content about that topic it could also rank well in those areas.
Include Your Name Either Way
Regardless of your choice, it’s essential to include your name prominently as the author of your articles. This practice helps build trust and increases your blog’s credibility.
Verify the Domain is Available
Before finalizing your decision, check the availability of your chosen domain name. You can do this easily using the Namecheap Domain Name Search tool. Once you’ve made your choice, secure the domain name promptly.
In Summary
In general, a branded blog name provides more paths for monetization than a personal blog name. However, if building your personal brand is your primary focus, a personal blog name can be an excellent choice. Regardless of your decision, the key is to get started, create your blog content, and gain insights into your preferences. Remember, you can always adjust your approach in the future if needed.
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