Friday, February 17, 2012

Aspiring Advice: Your Name Is Your Brand

 
Last week, I browsed through many, if not hundreds of blogs. All excellent, mind you. Why is that? I wanted to reacquaint myself to those following me who I haven't visited in a while. Some stopped blogging - I wish them well and hope to visit upon their return. Some still blog and I can pick them out of a live crowd. Then there are others ... well, as I went through my feed, I couldn't recognize some of them until I clicked out their site.

Is this worth bringing up as a concern for aspiring authors? I think so. Prepare for a mind-blown!

(This might be a sensitive topic - just know that I'm only throwing, what I think, might be a helpful suggestion)

It was at LTUE last year when I had a conversation with Amber Argyle. We talked blogs. Mine was on the web for about two years with little/no traffic and 50 (awesome) early members. It was time for a change, so I shared some possible titles, like The Cosmic Laire: The central HUD of David Powers King. You know what she said?

"What will your name be on your book cover?"

I was like, "Uh ... David, Powers, ... King?"

She nodded. "Your name is your brand. Go with it."


For serious? This never occurred to me. So, my book isn't my product? My fiction novels aren't my brand?

Ever see books where the author's name is as big (or bigger) than the title? Is it any coincidence that these happen to be best selling authors? If The Firm had anyone else's name but John Grisham on it, would as many people buy it? Hard to say, but it makes sense!

Here's why.

Titles change, but authors stay the same. Do you want people to remember your book title, "cute-named" blog, or online alias, or do you want them to remember your name on your cover (and, hopefully, future covers)?

Then again, my name was in the blog title before, as a subtitle. From a design aspect, The Cosmic Laire was more important than my name - my brand. That's why the blog is named as it is (with room for improvement).


Every time you post, comment, or bake virtual donuts for online book tours, you leave behind a signature. Over time, it all adds up. People see it in their feeds. The more you blog, you will remember someone's name more than "Quill Pens and Puppies" (I made that up).

The same goes for your profile picture. If your followers can associate your brand with an image, great! Ever look for a product that someone asked you to buy, by name, but you didn't know what it looked like? Yeah. Not always the funnest of Saturday shopping excursions.


The more people see your online presence, your brand, the more they remember you, and the more willing they are to read you, learn about you, and maybe follow you (and maybe stalk you, but that's for another post).

Then again, you might be new to blogging and would rather not make a mistake that can compromise your brand before it takes off. That's fine. Do what you must, but consider opening up and letting people in when you're ready (and about to land that book deal).

 *     *     *

This is not the rule, just my thoughts on the matter. What's in a name? In the book industry, everything (or a good chunk of it). I have nothing against a cool title for your blog (in fact, lots of great bloggers do this, as a subtitle, after their name). You can find examples here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

There are also those who have successfully divided their brand on their pages, such as this blogging giant.

On the flip side, some people have aliases and still have a successful online presence (over 1,500 people follow my online alias), but then, when your book is published, and your real name is on the cover, will your brand translate? I'll leave that in your court to decide.

Do you think the name of your blog really matters? Is it nerve-wracking to put your name out for all to see?

I'm The Cosmic Laire ... err, I mean, David ...

64 comments:

  1. Good advice (thanks, Amber!). I've wondered about that, since so many blogs I follow--some with much bigger followers than mine--use an alias. I've wondered if it was too much ego for me to use my name in my title...even if I did water it down a little.

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    1. This is common, I've learned, but it's not so much the name rather than how you use it. Audiences want to know who they're reading and it's easier to look you up if they know your name. If you use your online presence as a self-pity rant or a platform to talk about how wonderful you are all the time, that's where the ego sets in and people will read it as such. Thanks for your comment! :)

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  2. Wow, this was very insightful David. I've been thinking of changing my blog title for a while now, but was all worried if I put my name in the title, it would be too... look at me! Haha. Which is weird cuz i don't think that at all about the people who do that.

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  3. I'll have to change my title closer to when the book is due to come out. Though I think putting my picture up would be far more dissuasive than my cute bulldog avatar.

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  4. My name is in my blog: Writing and Living by Richard P. Hughes. The problem is, my books are or are to be published under the penname R Patrick Hughes. I chose the penname because, when I google Richard P hughes, many names come up, but when I google R Patrick Hughes, nothing comes up. So I've bought a domain name under R Patrick Hughes, also. I'm not sure if people will associate Richard P Hughes with R Patrick Hughes, but I hope so.

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    1. I know Jeff Savage did something like that, going as J. Scott Savage with one of his book series. Definitely another way to go. Thanks for adding that. :)

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  5. I haven't changed my blog domain because I didn't want to go to all the hassle of moving followers to a self-entitled blog, but it doesn't matter. I renamed my blog after MY name and have left it as such. So when people scroll down their blog lists it's my name they see, not the blog domain. I'm hoping in the long run this will work just fine. I'm sure someday I'll also have a website that is linked to my blog (and visa versa).
    Great post, David! I agree with you about my name being my brand.

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  6. I thought it was important to have at least part of my name in my blog title, and since my name also means "I love" in French (sans apostrophe), it seemed fitting. I also think it's important to have a picture of yourself on your blog. I know people sometimes don't for privacy sake, but I think it's nice to know who I'm communicating with, you know? Great post!

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  7. oh, you made me think.
    *world froze. time warp*

    Maybe I SHOULD release my timid nature and spring forth with my brand and *recent* picture.
    *thumb in mouth. contemplating*

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  8. good points. says the hello kitty icon with the fake name... but david powers king is an awesome name. If I had that name I'd use it too. My name, not so awesome, but good points above. I need to come up with a good nom de plume.

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    1. Pen names are sweet. I think Leigh Covington would agree. Thanks! :)

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  9. Great advice, David. I too believe that our names are our brands. My second name would have been unpronounceable for everyone other than Indians, so I used my first name for my blog.

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  10. I wish a famous Urologist hadn't taken my name (yes, technically she's older than me and had the name first).

    Amber is right though. I love the way you presented it.

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  11. Definitely something to think about. I have my domain name saved for a future blog if I ever become a published author, but for now, since my blog isn't strictly devoted to writing, I'm just leaving it as-is. I'm also glad I didn't put my last name in my blog title because my husband just joined the Foreign Service and apparently we have to maintain our anonymity to some degree. So I'll probably end up using a pen name, even though it was never something I considered before.

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    1. There's always exceptions, and that's one I didn't think about. I'm totally on your side regarding that. Thanks! :)

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  12. I had the same discovery at LTUE last year! I turned my blog name into my subtitle, and my blog is now titled with my name. I agree, it's important for that brand to come out!

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  13. I totally agree. Writing is a business albeit a creative one. How many companies would NOT put their name on their website?

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  14. Uncanny timing - I just changed the title of my blog to include my pen name. I thought about this just the other day and decided to make the change.

    And, by the way, I don't think anyone would be put-off by any of your suggestions. Just putting that out there. We all value your opinion.

    And may I offer my own suggestion to you and the others? I urge you to get rid of the "blogspot" in your website address.

    It's not very expensive (go to Namecheap, as they opposed SOPA unlike GoDaddy), and redirect your blogger URL. It also gives your brand more professionalism.

    On my old blog, I decided to put my website address on T-shirts and stuff (which people actually bought). And that was when I went with www.blazingtalons.com

    It looked much cooler than www.blazingtalons.blogspot.com

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    1. Excellent point! This blog is about to undergo an update, so that's an invaluable suggestion. Thanks, Jay! :)

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  15. I agree. Using your name in your blog title and heck, all over the web-o-sphere is the best way to create your author brand. I do it. :)

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  16. So, David. What do you think about mine? I have part of my name in it. Jenny's Imaginary World. I'd really like your opinion!

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    1. So do I! You've got part of your name there, and a picture, with your full name next to it. Do a Google search and you're at the top (bested by a musician of the same name), so it works. :)

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  17. With a name like David Powers King, I'd brand that all day long. My name "Michael Offutt" is incredibly boring. It's the only name I was given so I'm stuck with it basically. But dude...you ended up with a name that will look so good in print. I'm envious. Brand that sucker...put it in lights!

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    1. Thanks, although I think Michael Offutt is a great name. It's unique and fun to say. I was hoping you'd make it to LTUE so I could say it out loud. Next time?

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  18. Way to steal my post subject for next week! LOL. Totally kidding! But I love this. Its so true. I learned this in my last job and at first, thought it was so lame. BUT... when it came time to start my writing blog, I knew I had to use my name as my brand. It was weird at first. Even a little embarrassing, but she's write. That's how people know us! This is fabulously informative David. I love it!

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  19. My brain is exploding right now. This is awesome and so true! Hmm, I'm thinking my blog needs a few changes.

    David Powers King, you have the coolest name.

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  20. Thanks for the great post. I'll have to do that on my blog, I think.

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  21. Yes! Too true. I love that my name is so unique... Google says that I'm the only Morgan Shamy in the U.S... which might be true... ;) It is all about name. And your name, David, is a power name! I mean, Powers and King together? You're unstoppable!!! :D

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  22. Definitely good advice. My day job is PR, so I know the power of a compelling brand. It's interesting...right now, my name is in my blog's domain, but not the title. Maybe I'll have to change that up a bit. I have a list of design changes I want to make sooner or later. Lots of good suggestions to think about here!

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  23. This is a great post that explains VERY well why it is essential to brand ourselves. Well done!

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  24. Awesome post. I think it does matter. I've heard this before, but I don't think many people understand the importance of your name and how you represent yourself online.

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  25. What a great post! Wish I'd heard this years ago. Hmmm. I made to makes some changes. Thanks!!

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  26. Ha! Great post! I agree. I'm a new follower from the campaign. Nice to meet you!

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  27. Good point, David. I so have to change my banner now. And that means I have to mess with all that stuff again. Dang!

    But you're right.

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  28. I have a blog partner who already had a blog name--Literary Rambles. It fits our blog so I'm okay with it. Though I see your point.

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  29. I have trouble with name branding. Who can brand their own name when they have a name like Elvis? Because that's my real name. I'm never going to be able to brand that name, or get it in the top of a search engine, simply because Elvis Presley will top me every time.

    That's why I have a different name for my blog. I try to underplay Elvis as much as possible. After all, the first thing people do after asking if it's my real name is give me an Elvis joke. Not funny.

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  30. I didn't change my domain, but I did put my name at the top of my blog about a month or so ago. I also put the picture of myself up at the top as well. I also started tagging each and every post with my name. Why? Because if someone can actually remember how to spell the darn thing enough to get it into a search engine, I want them to be able to find me. Very great (and accurate) post!

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  31. One of the few things I did right in the beginning - my blog, its address, my email, my Twitter - all are my name. Online I'm now a part of so much more beyond my books, and while I've been nicknamed the Ninja Captain, all else is a part of my name and my brand.

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  32. I love your blog and your sense of humor!
    I've renamed my blog once already, been blogging for almost five months, I imagine I'll be changing it again :)
    I smiled at that puppy picture, it almost looks like me so maybe I could use it ;)

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  33. So 100% true. A while back I did just what you said - put my name first followed by a subtitle. You want people to remember YOU.

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  34. Put your new website address on a t-shirt of coffee mug, I'd buy! Especially if it includes a graphic of a real cosmic laire!

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  35. Great point! I so agree. My blog used to be just my name. I hated when people asked where I blogged at, because it always felt so lame to just say "Uh... at my name." As long as people can easily tie you to your blog name, I think it just gives them another point of connection.

    (And I loved the examples of profile pictures! So great.)

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  36. Excellent post David. I have to admit I lose touch with a lot of bloggers b/c I can't always remember what the name of the blog is. I'll visit, follow, and see them pop up in my blogroll; but I'm better with names than long descriptive phrases.

    When I set up my blog I used my real name for two reasons; I bad at picking "titles", and I really want an agent/publisher/reader to find me easily. I got nothing to hide, and while I'm about as reclusive and shy as the average creative type, I realize I won't get famous by using a psuedoname.

    I've heard a lot about cultivating your "brand" as an author, and sometimes I worry that just being myself isn't selling myself well. But at least I'll have no misconceptions to live down when I hit the big time :)

    Thanks for the encouragement David Powers King.

    ......dhole

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  37. This is something I'm still struggling with on my blog. I haven't put my surname up and though people can find it in other ways, by visiting other sites I link to, there's just something holding me back. My surname is kind of rare in the scheme of things, so it'd probably help me be remembered. But I dunno, I guess I'm really shy at heart and that's just one way in which I'm still clinging to my security blanket ;) But I have thought a lot about changing my blog URL and adding my surname to my blog. I just...haven't, yet. ;)

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  38. David loved the post! Joining the campaign and visiting so many blogs I myself was frustrated by some of the titles of peoples blogs,as you have no clue who they belong to. It was a gutsy post but one well advised. I use 'C.M. Brown' as my author name on the cover of my book and as my Blog title. Inside both - you can view my christian name. Being a C.M. Brown also has a positive spin off as there a several authors out there in the big wide world writing under the name C.M. Brown and I suppose some traffic comes my way by mistake! Great Advice for new authors!!!

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  39. Great post David. I should consider renaming mine to have my name in there somewhere....

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  40. I believe you're right. Your name should be the brand, not your book. Great advice!! Stopping in from the campaign!!

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  41. New follower from the campaign (fantasy group).

    I totally agree, but I think a lot of writers have difficulty in viewing themselves as a brand. My blog's been under my name since the start, with my branding followed through to my website and other online profiles. I try to get my name out there as much as possible - dreaming of the day my book covers have my name bigger than the title!

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  42. This post was of particular interest to me since I blog under a pseudonym tgat wouldn't work as a regular name. I didn't really start out blogging to sell a book or get the word out about a brand, but now that I know authors do it, I'm beginning to wonder if blogging as "The Golden Eagle" with a blog titled "The Eagle's Aerial Perspective", as different as it is from most other names and titles, was the best choice.

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  43. Excellent post David. We are leaving footprints all over the internet. We should make it count and make that platform for ourselves. Great info here. Thank you :-)

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  44. I love this post. I recently added my name to my blog title, so people would be better able to associate my name with my blog. Also, I'm planning on taking some official author pictures soon. That way my photos will be more uniform and recognizable.

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  45. I completely agree with all your points. Just the other day I was going through my feed and I couldn't recall who some of the bloggers were because the title was something related to books or blogging. It's much easier for me to remember people's names.

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  46. Ah, David, I completely agree with you. My blog url is cfitewrite.blogspot with my blog title being Candy Lynn Fite, subtitle on the trail to publication. cfitewrite (see Fite write) I gave lots of thought to, but it's also cutesy, which is not my goal. I'm curious if I can change the url to candylynnfite.blogspot...never tried.

    I do know that when I had my short story publihsed in Sucker Literary Mag. back in January, my sisters just googled my name, which brought them straight to my blog and they found the link to Sucker as well. Quite easy for agents / publishers searching you to find you!!!

    What I'm curious about is, what if you dislike your "brand?" I'm not crazy about the first name Candy. It's goofy, silly, child-like and most characters named Candy are either dancers (not Broadway!), streetwalkers or well, you get the picture!! Which is why I've added in my middle name, too!

    Thanks for the thought-provoking post!!

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  47. Yay! I read something before I really began getting into blogging that we, as writers, should have our name on everything. Especially out blog. That way, everyone knows YOU! I've been reading a lot about branding since I'm thinking about attempting advertising as a career, so I had to think of ways I advertised/branded/self-promoted myself to be appealing to that market! It's amazing what you've done in such a short period with a blog.

    Thank you!

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  48. Interesting. I started my blog a year ago, and to get me out of a creativity rut, but I wasn't then ready to be too present - I needed to be able to hide again if it all went pear-shaped. Today, I posted the very first (still unrecognisable) pic of myself. Now I have to give this more thought with potential books coming this year. Thanks for the mind explosion :)
    Laura (Daily Dodo) x

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  49. I've wondered about the name I've chosen for my blog too. I am partial to it, but maybe I should write under the pen name of Harry Potter, I'd wager I'd get a few more views if I changed my blog title to that... I'd probably draw a few more cease and desist letters too.

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  50. I loved this. I'm stopping by from the Platform Campaign. Cheers.

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  51. Hi, David,

    This was a very interesting topic. I must admit I never thought about it much. I chose my blog title to be catchy. Well now that I have been blogging for just over a year and do have a presence. I have to agree with you.

    Bloggers, or anyone visiting should know WHO they are visiting. Thanks for the great advice.

    Michael

    P. S. It't TIME to change my header to MICHAEL DI GESU ... IN TIME ...

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  52. I changed my blog recently to Melanie Fowler, and in the beginning I was Mel, but I still like to be called Mel.

    Anyway. I agree, use your name.

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  53. I was advised by my late mentor to just use my name. I often think it is boring, but having read your post I now see it in a different light.

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  54. Yes. Your head totally exploded when I told you that. ;)

    If you're an author, your blog should be your name as it appears on your cover. When people google you, they'll google your name or the name of your book. Not some cutesy name.

    Plus, you'll write more books, so you don't want to stick with just one title.

    Book bloggers are a bit different though.

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  55. Great post! This topic came up a lot at the LDStorymakers conference we just met at. I loved hearing everyone's opinions on the subject and just about everyone agreed with you (and Amber!). It makes absolute sense to me but I had to hear it from others to get it to stick in my brain.

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