Changing your Twitter Handle: Do's and Don't's

Changing your Twitter name is a risky proposition. A lot of people come to know you by that handle. It is part of your online identity. But a change can be necessary. It is not uncommon to lose followers when you change your name, because when you tweet people won’t necessarily recognize your new handle.

Reasons to Change:

• Too Casual – the handle you are using does not convey your "brand". Ie. @JessieIceCream vs. @JessieModelCentro
• Too Niche – Your business has expanded beyond the niche you started with and you need something that encompass that and does not limit you. ie. @JessieFootLover vs. @SexyJessie
• Inappropriate – Basically it says something it shouldn't. Ie. @JessyCuntLover  vs. @JessieLover
• Not Branded – Often times when we create our Twitter names our branding is not forefront in our mind, or our branding changes over time. Ie. @JessieCompanyINoLongerWorkFor vs. @JessieModelCentro

Once you decide to change your name make sure you pick your name carefully.

Tips for a Good Name:

• Keep it Professional – make sure your name is a good representation of how you want to present yourself online
• Keep it Simple – If your name is too complicated it will be hard for people to remember. You want to make sure you name is easily remembered.
• Keep it Short – You are limited to 140 characters on Twitter. You want to make sure that you name is not so long that it becomes prohibitive to retweeting and mentions.

Tips to Manage a Change:

• Let People Know – Make sure you tell people about your new Twitter name. Tell them in your email, on Facebook (yes, really), and of course on Twitter. You can even blog about it! On Twitter make sure to tell them more than once.
• Don’t Change your Avatar – Changing your Twitter name is a huge online identity change. To make it easier, do not change your avatar as well. A lot of people will still recognize you because of your avatar and that can help them adjust to the new handle.
• Understand the risk – You will very likely lose followers. Do not take it personally. It is because they don’t realize it is you. Some will come back and some won’t. But if your name is more inline with your needs, the change will ultimately be positive and you will gain back those followers in spades.