Are you thinking about starting a blog and aren’t sure what name to give it? These 15 tips will help you come up with a blog name and get started blogging.
If you’re just getting started in blogging, you’ll need to have a great blog name to get started. After all, this is what people will know your blog by. It’s what people will talk about when you reference your content and where to find you. It’s what people who hear about you will look up.
You may think that naming your new blog isn’t much of a big deal – or you may be placing a TON of emphasis on it and letting it get in the way of moving forward with your big ideas.
Regardless of where you are in the naming aspect of getting your online biz up and running, I want to shed a little light on this topic by sharing what some of the experts and authorities have to say about it.
Here are 15 different tips on naming your blog for your online presence
1. Make your blog name count.
Your blog name matters, because it is the first point of contact anyone will come across online. When someone hears your name or sees it online, you’re setting the stage for that first impression of what your blog does, how you do blog, and what’s important to you. Think about your first impression as you come up with some ideas for what your blog name will be.
2. Your blog name should be unique and unforgettable.
You want your brand to be “sticky” so that people remember you and come back to you time and time again. The more you can stand out from the crowd, the better.
3. Your blog name can tell a story or paint a picture.
What do you blog about? What can you help provide your blog readers with? How did you get to where you are? What inspires you? Consider these questions when you’re coming up with blog names so that you don’t only have a name, but you have something that your brand can stand behind. People will remember you more if they remember the story that goes along with it.
4. Consider the visuals and the “feel” of the name your blog will give off.
According to a Forbes article from Newtek, “People tend to think visually, so consider how the name will appear as part of your logo, on your letterhead, website, etc. This helps customers remember your name as well. Along with image, “feel” is an important element. You want a name that makes people feel good (or at least doesn’t drive them away). The right name should evoke an idea of what your business stands for and the emotional meaning you’d like to convey.”
5. Get specific.
Use details that share about what your blog does or can do to help people. A generic name won’t help people remember you. Try playing with name ideas that use numbers, days, and specific results that you’re trying to help people achieve. Ask yourself things like: how many? What for? Who am I talking to? Be specific as to who your blog is for and what you can help them achieve by reading it.
6. Check out the competition.
Do some research to find out what other people in your niche have named their blogs. Are there any trends you see that you could take advantage of – not to follow along, but to really stand out among the sea of others. Does everyone use their name? Do the most popular sites have buzzwords in them? Are there any trends? Find ways to stand out – in a good way – from what everyone else is doing.
7. Think about now and in the future.
It’s hard to know what your blog will hold in the future, but if you have plans even at the beginning stages to grow and expand your offerings with products beyond just a blog, consider this in your naming process. If you currently teach people how to make the best gluten-free bread on the planet – but plan on expanding to gluten-free pie crusts down the road, don’t name your blog “Gluten-free Bread Baking.” Think big picture as best you can now to avoid having any big changes down the road.
8. Avoid names that sound weird when said aloud.
Before you settle on a name for your blog, make sure you test it out in your everyday language. Does it sound right when you’re having a casual conversation? Talk to some friends or family to see how it sounds – and get feedback on the name.
9. Test it out in the market.
Do some market research to decide if your blog name sounds right for your audience and potential customers. Find a niche Facebook group or online forum and run it by people who would likely be your target audience. Most people will give you a fully honest answer – especially if they don’t know you personally. In addition to that, make sure the name you’re considering is something you’ll want to hear or say for the next 5, 10, and 20 years.
10. Test it in Google AdWords.
Google AdWords is a great place to find keywords to help you find similar search phrases that people are typing in when they’re looking for something specific. Honing in on these keywords could be your ticket to standing out from the rest of the online crowd and carving out a niche for yourself for being found online easier through search engines.
11. Find out if relevant social media accounts are available using your potential blog name.
If you plan on having any sort of social media presence for your online blog, having the “matching” or relevant social media accounts will be extremely important. People are much easier to find and follow you if you’re found under the same name across accounts. This free tool Namechk is really useful to check our blog name ideas on to find out what’s available.
12. Check out variations on your blog’ name.
Consider how someone might mistype your potential blog name while searching for you online or typing into a browser. Check out what kinds of blogs are coming up using those misspellings – and be sure that it’s something you’re comfortable your potential customers getting. If these domains are available, consider purchasing them to redirect to your own website.
13. Double check for any bad or off-putting acronyms.
You might not want your blog to be called by an acronym, but your potential customers might start using it to reference you. Be aware of the acronyms that your blog name can result from. An article from The Balance had an excellent example: “Awesome Sewing Services” sounds great, but you might not love what people start calling you short-hand.
14. Getting tired of finding a name, getting stuck, or settling for a bad name.
Don’t get too discouraged while you’re working through your brainstorming and research process. A great name will come to you – and you don’t have to settle for a bad name just to keep moving ahead. Remember back to #1 – your blog name matters, make it count!
15. Consider using your name for your blog.
Last but not least, when all else fails – consider using your name for your blog. It will never change and you’ll have the freedom to do whatever type of work you want to now and in the future. Check in with what’s normal for your industry and know what your long-term vision is for your blog.
Coming up with a blog name is tough work – and there are a lot of things to consider. You want it to be a great first impression for your brand, memorable among the competition, and future-proof. I hope that if you’ve been working on getting your blog up and running that these tips have helped you along the way.
With a little creativity and research, you’ll have an amazing name that will be the backbone of your blog for a long time to come!