Z2WH: A Brand New Brand
“We are building a religion. We are making a brand” Comfort Eagle by Cake.
When you create a website, you establish a new brand. It might be your given name or just one devised for the site, but it is how you will be known on the web – and how people look for you on other websites.
It is important to control your brand across multiple networks. You may not initially see the need for a Twitter or YouTube account when you setup your site, but as it grows these could become very important.
Establishing your brand across social networks is quick and easy with the right tools. These tips will help.
Check Availability. Namechk and Knowem allow you to check username availability across a multitude of websites. Both will list common sites others you have never heard of. Sign up for anything you think you might use.
Remain constant. Try to use the same username when you register for a new site. This makes it easier for people to find your information. If your username is already taken, make it as close as possible. Try using a – or _ to separate words, or capitalization if the site allows.
Register “the big ones.” The must-have accounts are: Twitter, Digg, Flickr, Google (email and Buzz), Ustream, Facebook and YouTube. If you plan to specialize in a form of content (say video), sign up for additional platforms other than the current leaders. This will help build a user base, and what is popular today might be MySpace tomorrow.
Stay current. If a friend or news report tells you about a new “it” site, register your brand there immediately. It only takes a minute and even if you don’t use it initially, your brand is reserved.
Create an email account for logins. Rather than hammer your regular email with passwords and notices, create a separate account. The Google account you setup for YouTube and Buzz is perfect for this.
Have any thoughts about personal branding? Please post them in the comments.
Image via robalicious’ flickr licensed under creative commons.
