imPRESSive: Webisode One - Blog Names and URLs

Welcome to imPRESSive. For those who are new to my blog – Hello, I am Liam, a.k.a. The Life of a Thinker…

This idea of imPRESSive came from a similar documentary appearing on YouTube called Becoming YouTube, which talked about YouTubers and the different elements of YouTube. So, I thought that I would start a documentary blogumentary about WordPress, and the different elements it involves and provides.

Webisode One: Blog Names and URL’s:

When somebody starts a blog, apart from having the desire to write about something, they need to get themselves out there, and the main way of doing that is by having an eye – catching blog name or URL (example.wordpress.com or example.org).

What most viewers like is consistency, and like it when a blogger or person sticks to the same name/nickname when it comes to blogs and social networks. For example, my blog, Twitter and Facebook are all called The Life of a Thinker, and it allows us to have a link with our readers. Most of us have blog names and URL’s that are of a personal connection to us…

“My name came about because my nan used to love Countdown the TV show and we always used to argue about the Conundrum. I didn’t want to use anything like that, so I thought I created a unique name. It is my name all over the web. I have since learned that Kanundra is indeed an actual name.” – Kanundra

“I started blogging to chronicle my pregnancy and the song “The Waiting” by Tom Petty was always in my head at the time, so it was a logical choice to call my blog The Waiting. Now that the baby is here, though, I’ve kept the name because the idea of waiting on something that I’m not quite sure of is pertinent to where I am in this stage of my life.”- Emily @ The Waiting

“For my food blog it really didn’t take a long time. I needed to change my lifestyle and it was kind of a smart ass way of saying change was good for me. As for my writing blog, it took me a bit longer because all the good names I wanted at first were taken. So I finally came up with “To Breathe is to Write”. That pretty well sums up how I feel about writng. It’s something I just have to do.”- Change is Good… Right/To Breathe is to Write

“The decision process on whether or not I wanted to try it took time, but once I made the decision everything else was pretty quick and easy after that.”- All Means Something

“Yes it did actually, not weeks or anything just a few hours.. I really wanted something that would describe me in my entirety, and that wouldn’t have a focus, this would allow me write whatever I decided to. I’ll be the first to admit it…I am totally random.”- West African Princess

“I’ve freshly returned to the blogging scene after a few years hiatus and have decided to keep it as my name. It’s easier to remember, although the thought of registering my own domain with name does seem inviting.”- Salman

So basically, blog names and URL’s are usually quicker to make and helpful in the long term if they have a personal connection. For example, mine derives from the fact that I love psychology and thought – provoking things, and some can come from some small things in people’s lives. But with people using pseudonyms rather than their actual names, but why is this the case?

” I suspect it might have to do with anonymity and personal security. Because I also have a business that is related to my blog (as do many, many bloggers), I chose a company name that reflects that business. But I don’t hide my name; in fact, I sign it to every blog post.”- Change it Up Editing

“I think that using our own names in the blog makes it seem a little pretentious and even though we are basically talking of our own lives, something about using my name as a tittle seems a little Kanye West-y, very self-centered. Even though most of the time we talk about ourselves what we seek is that connection with the readers, to make new friendships and relationships.”- Dola Cotidiana

“To keep some privacy so they can’t be discriminated for what they blog about.”- Georgina

“Just like book titles, a blog name needs to catch the readers attention, intrigue them, make them come visit your page. And a URL needs to be easy to remember and spell so access to the site isn’t difficult.”- Ashley Nicole Books

“Blog names are important because a good one will tell someone what the blog is about straight away. The URL is important as well as you can share the link with people on Twitter to get your blog more well known!”- Luton Town News Blog

So as well as that personal connection that viewers make with the name of the blog, is there anything else which is of importance when it comes to naming a blog?

“It is a reflection of my professional image. I learned long ago that having a professional email address and domain name are important to building a professional image. If I want to make a good first impression, I need to come across as professional. So, even though each of my professional sites are free WordPress blogs, I still have a domain name for each one and redirect to them.”- Quiller

“I think they should be important because it describes who you are. Plus you must always create an URL or blog name that will not be forgotten, easy to remember.”- Daniel in Wonderland

“I think people choose the name of their blog based on what the blog is about, the topic they believe the reader wants to read about and can relate to. “Ziya’s blog” doesn’t communicate much regarding what my blog is about, but “a day with depression” is something I imagine most people can relate to, even if they are not or never have been mentally ill. My name does not matter as much as my experiences and thoughts, which are the focus of the blog.”- A Day With Depression

“Blogging can be a personal experience for some people. Not everyone wants the first thing that comes up when an employer Google’s them, to be their taxidermy blog or their blog about their grandmother’s cooking. For certain types of blogs the authors likely enjoy the anonymity they have to share their lives in a safe cyber-community they’ve built on their own.”- Eclectic Kneads

“Yes, I’ve seen a bit of this. Maybe they’re hiding! Maybe they don’t believe their name is relevant. It’s all about the subject matter. It could be for marketing reasons if their own names are not so conducive to selling books. There’s probably a different reason for each person out there doing it.”- Richard Leonard

Personally, the name of the blog or the blog URL should not be thought about too much, but should be thought about as this is what people will assign to their blog and will be engraved in their memories when visiting their sites. What the name should be is something which reflects them, but not their name, as they are unlikely to be found on Google due to Facebook profiles of the same name appearing and lowering your view and will therefore not be SEO.

So, there we go. If you are starting up a blog, think of something that reflects you. Like writing? Call yourself The Avid Writer for example. It can be simple, or complicated (which helps with making your blog unique).

FOLLOW THE BLOGGING PROCESS!

I’ve set up another blog, and if you have, you can follow my advice from starting a blog to getting views. Throughout the 6 weeks, I’ll be providing tips on this page!

The Contributing Bloggers:
Kanundra
Emily @ The Waiting
Change is Good… Right/To Breathe is to Write
Change it Up Editing
Dola Cotidiana
Georgina
Quiller
Daniel in Wonderland
Richard Leonard
A Day With Depression
Ashley Nicole Books
Eclectic Kneads
All Means Something
West African Princess
Luton Town News Blog
Salman Alvi

Join the discussion: @lifeofathinker and #DocPRESS

Liam

Next Week: The Blogger Persona – What characteristics does a successful blogger need to have?

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