How to Choose the Best Social Media Handles: Ultimate Guide

When it comes to social media sites, you want to make sure that you are using the best possible handles for your business. This can be a difficult decision, but with this guide, you will be able to choose the right handles for your brand!

What are social media handles?

Social media handles are the unique names that you use for your brand on each social media platform. They usually look something like @yourbrandname. This is how people will find and interact with your brand online, so it’s important to choose wisely.

Why are social media handles important?

Your handles are vital because they are how people will find and identify your brand on each platform. If you have a great handle, it will be easier for people to find you and follow you. Additionally, having consistent domain names across all platforms makes it easier for people to recognize your brand.

How do I choose the best social media handles?

There are a few things to consider when choosing social media handles:

• Your brand name: Include your brand name in your ideal handle to make it easier for potential followers to find you.
• Your keywords: If you want users to be able to find you through search, consider using keywords.
• Your platform: Each social media platform has different character limits, so be sure to check the limit.
• Your audience: Think about who your target audience is and what they might be searching for.

Choosing social media handles: best practices

Choose handles that are easy to remember and spell

You want people to be able to find you quickly, so choose handles that are memorable and simple to spell. Don't use abbreviations or inside jokes that only your team would understand – you communicate these to your team offline.

Use your name or the name of your business

If you're a personal brand or social media influencer, using your name in your handle is a great way for people to find and follow you. If you're representing a business, using the business name ideas is usually the best bet. And as we mentioned before, including your brand name in your social handles is always a good choice.

Make sure the handles are available on all social media channels

Before you settle on a handle, be sure to check that it's available on all of the social media sites you want to use. You don't want to come up with new display names for each platform – this will just make it harder for people to find and recognize you.

Use keywords that people would use to find your business online

If you want people to be able to find you through search, consider using keywords., as using the right set of them in your social media handles can help you improve your small business SEO. For example, if you're a photographer in New York, using the handle @NYCphotographer will help you appear in search results when people are looking for photographers in New York. Or, if you're a real estate agent in Los Angeles, you might use the handle @LArealestateagent. Easy, right?

Be consistent across all platforms

If people are searching for you on one platform, you want them to be able to find you easily on another. That's why it's crucial to have the same handle (or a very similar one) across all platforms. It’s also essential for your online personalized marketing, as in this way, people will be able to find you no matter where they're looking.

Keep them short and sweet - no more than 15 characters per handle

Your handles should be brief so that they're easy for people to remember and spell. Avoid using underscores or hyphens – these can be difficult for people to type out. As a general rule of thumb, try to keep your handles under 15 characters.

Test out different combinations to see what works best

There's no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to social media handles. The best way to find what works for you is to test with different combinations and see what gets the most engagement by asking an audience of real people.

Don't use numbers or special characters in your name

Using numbers or special characters in your handle can make it difficult for people to find you. When in doubt, keep it simple and use letters only.

Be creative and come up with a unique name

Your social handle is your chance to be creative and stand out from the crowd. So, if you don’t want to use your or your company's name, bet on a catchy and unique name, but still, don’t come up with something complicated. If you can think of a unique and catchy name, go for it!

How to find available usernames

Now that you know what to consider when choosing handles, it's time to find out how to see which ones are available! Here's a quick guide:

Go to the website of the social media platform you want to use and then register or sign in. Next, the app will ask you to choose your handle. Usually, in the top right-hand corner, there will be a search bar, or as soon as you enter the platform, you will receive a message asking you to set the display name. Type in the name or keyword you want to use for your handle. If the name is available, it will show up as an option. If it's not available, you'll see a message that says the name is already taken.

Repeat this process for each social media platform you want to use. Once you've found availability on all platforms, you can decide which name you want to use for your brand!

What to do if someone else has taken your desired username

If you've gone through the process of choosing a perfect handle only to find out that someone else has already taken it, don't worry! There are a few things you can do:

#1 Try adding an underscore or hyphen

For example, if your desired name is @socialmediaqueen, you could try @socialmedia_queen or @socialmedia-queen.

#2 Get creative with your spelling

Consider different types of your dreamed handle. If handle @kimkardashian is what you desire, but it’s not available, @kimkardishian can be your best choice . In other words- don’t let the strict jugement of Grammarly decide what you can and can’t write as your social medial handle:)

#3 Try a different social media platform

If someone has taken your desired username on one platform, they might not have taken it on another. So, if you really want @socialmediaqueen, but it's taken on Twitter, try using it on Instagram instead, and on Twitter, bet on something similar.

#4 Think in a different way

Sometimes the best thing to do is just come up with a new name! But, if you're stuck, try brainstorming with friends, family members, or even social media users. Maybe you will come up with something better?

In the end, the most important thing is to choose a name that you're happy with and that represents your brand well. Then, with a little creativity, you'll be sure to find perfect handles for your social media profiles for your business!

How to protect your social media handles from being stolen

Now that you've chosen the perfect handles for your business, it's important to protect them as well! Here are a few tips:

First, don't share your password with anyone. Be sure to choose a strong one for your social platform and don't share it with anyone. If you think someone has or may have your password, they can log in and change your handles without you knowing! In that case, change your password as soon as possible.

Second, you can enable multi-factor authentication. This is an extra layer of security that will require you to enter a code from your phone whenever you try to login into your account. So even if someone has your password, they won't be able to access your account unless they also have your phone.

Last but not least, keep all your devices secure. Be sure to protect them with a strong password or passcode. This will help to keep your social media safe even if your device is lost or stolen.

Additional tips for branding your social media channels

If your perfect handle is taken, keep trying other ways

When choosing a social media handle, it is crucial not to keep up with trying to find your best one. It happens so often when a handle is taken. Then a good way is to use, for example, a combination of your name and your business name! If your name is John Smith and you own a clothing company, you could try something like @JohnSmithClothing!

Use the same profile picture and cover photo on all social media sites

To create a cohesive brand, using the same profile picture and cover photo on all social media sites is essential. This will help people to easily recognize your brand across different platforms, even if your social media handles will differ.

Be consistent with your posts

Consistency is also important when posting. This means posting regularly and using the same style or tone in your posts across the platforms. In other words, if you typically post content that is short, don't suddenly start posting long and detailed blog posts on Facebook. This will confuse your followers and make it difficult for them to keep up with your content.

Create a branded header and profile description for your social media accounts

Another great way to brand your social media websites is to create a branded header and profile description. This can include your business logo, tagline, or other vital information about your brand. When people see this header, they will immediately know that they have found exactly your business's social media account.

Post interesting and relevant content regularly, but don't over-post

Posting relevant and engaging content regularly is important, but do not overdo it. If you constantly post new updates, people will start to tune out your content as it will be too much for them. Instead, focus on quality over quantity.

Respond to comments and messages from followers promptly

Finally, be sure to respond to comments and messages from followers promptly. This will show that you are responsive to your audience and that you care about their feedback. If you take too long to respond, people will start to think that you don't care about them.

Use FeedHive to your advantage

Creating a social media handle can be a challenging task, but imagine managing your whole online audience, planning and scheduling many posts, and publishing them at the same time - this can be a demanding task. Manually, this is almost impossible. But, of course, you don’t have to do it in that way.

If you don’t want to manage your online channels alone, you can use FeedHive. This social media management tool is the best pick for your brand, as it will make your online performance coherent and more consistent. Therefore, this AI-powered platform allows you to create easily, publish and manage your social media content at scale.

You can share with the world your beautiful products and ideas with the world in a matter of seconds. Just create a post, use our templates, generate hashtags, and choose which social channels you want to post to. Consequently, you will save time and get your work done quickly.

Conclusion

By following these tips, you can be sure that your social media handles represent your brand well and that you're protecting them from being stolen. With a little effort, you can create a solid social media presence for starting your business.