Choosing brand name and Instagram handle

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2. Name versus Username

The Distinction between "Name" and “Username"

When establishing your Instagram account to promote your Powder Brows and PMU services, recognizing the difference between your "Name" and "Username" on this platform is essential. These identifiers are crucial in defining your online identity and enhancing your presence.

The 'Name' on Instagram

Your Instagram "Name" is an initial contact point with potential clients. It's the visible name on your profile and can be searched by users. Although seemingly minor, this detail is vital for your brand's perception and discoverability.

Meta permits using identical "Names" across multiple accounts, emphasizing the importance of a distinctive "Username" for brand representation. Using relevant keywords, your "Name" enhances search visibility when aligned with your brand. This field offers flexibility for updates to reflect your evolving brand or service changes.

"'Username" on Instagram

The "Username," distinct from the "Name," is your unique identifier on Instagram, akin to a digital address. Marked by an '@' sign, it's exclusive to your account, aiding users in finding, mentioning, or tagging you.

Given that each "Username" is unique, finding one that accurately reflects your Powder Brows or PMU (such as hairstrokes, microblading, and lip blush) services can be challenging, often requiring creativity to embody your brand effectively. Incorporating your business location, industry-specific keywords, or unique service traits can help. Despite the potential difficulty in securing the ideal "Username," a relevant and thoughtfully chosen one enhances your brand's recognizability and visibility on the platform.

3. Basics of Handle Selection

A common oversight for many emerging Powder Brows artists is underestimating the impact of Instagram's algorithms on their online visibility. The Instagram username, or handle, is crucial in ensuring your services are discoverable on the platform.

For novices, the significance of the Instagram algorithm might not be apparent initially. Yet, grasping how it functions can significantly enhance your online footprint. The platform's algorithm prefers usernames that match search keywords. Thus, if your handle is distinctive but unrelated to your services, it may look appealing but won't draw in potential clients effectively. Originally, handles were designed as part of the URL, leading to restrictions in username choice, such as the prohibition of spaces.

Selecting an Effective Instagram Handle

Selecting an Instagram handle goes beyond aesthetic appeal. It's about making your profile easily found by potential clients. Many new artists fail to realize that visually attractive usernames might hinder discoverability.

Here are strategies for selecting a handle that boosts your online visibility.

Avoid Special Characters. Special characters like ".", "_"” etc., though visually appealing, can reduce effectiveness. These characters are seldom used in Instagram searches, making your handle harder to find.
Emphasize Memorability Over Aesthetics. A memorable username holds more brand value than one that's merely visually pleasing. Handles that are simple, clear, and relevant are more likely to be remembered by potential clients.
Focus on Sound and Spelling. Using your name as the handle should be easy to pronounce and spell. Complex names or those susceptible to misspellings can deter potential clients from finding your account.

The Burden of Unnecessary Words in Your Handle

Every word in your handle must be promoted and ingrained in your customers' minds as part of your brand identity. Think of each word as a weight you must carry in your marketing efforts. Adding unnecessary descriptors can burden your marketing strategy and dilute your brand's impact. Each added word requires additional promotional effort and budget - a burden you may not be able to sustain in the long term. Do not take on the unnecessary payload you do not need. Also, regarding discoverability, the Instagram search covers the NAME and the USERNAME. When you think about the actual search terms used, there is a relatively small probability that the majority of your potential clients would make search queries including “official,” “Instagram,” etc. (Unless you are so well-known and relevant that they wish to discover your “official” account compared to countless fan accounts. Most of us are lightyears from that.

Incorporating Industry Keywords into Your Username

Adding industry-specific keywords such as "brows" or "pmu" to your Instagram username is a strategic decision. A short handle that includes these keywords can be easier for users to remember and locate than a more complex, personal name. This strategy significantly increases your visibility to those seeking Powder Brows or PMU services.

Keywords in Your Handle

You must avoid underscores and numbers even when incorporating keywords into your handle. If combining your name with an industry keyword like "pmu" is already in use, it may be tempting to include underscores or numbers to secure your preferred username. However, this can make your handle less memorable and more challenging for users to find.

The Importance of Keyword Positioning

Where you place the industry keyword in your username can significantly influence your visibility. Beginning your handle with a keyword such as "pmu," "brows," or "browartist" enhances your profile's searchability, increasing the likelihood of appearing in user searches for these terms. Conversely, adding the keyword at the end might diminish your visibility.

Strategically optimizing your Instagram handle can significantly elevate your online presence. Viewing your username as an identifier and a vital marketing tool that distinguishes your brand in the competitive field of Powder Brows and PMU services is essential.

4. Checking availability

Verifying Username Availability - Exercising Personal Judgment

To ascertain the availability of a username, the most accurate approach is to use the Instagram registration form directly. Although there are third-party tools that claim to check username availability, they may not provide results as promptly or accurately as Instagram's system. Upon entering a desired username in Instagram's registration form, the platform will quickly notify you of its availability with either a checkmark (indicating availability) or a cross (indicating unavailability).

While Instagram's artificial intelligence might suggest a range of appealing username combinations, it's crucial to trust your judgment in the final selection. The username you decide on will reflect your brand, and it must honestly speak to you and align with your brand identity.

5. Purchasing a Handle

Considerations Before Purchasing a Handle

If you discover all preferred usernames are taken, it's advisable not to buy an existing handle, especially within the Powder Brows and PMU industry. Such transactions often prove less successful than anticipated and can lead to complications.

When evaluating an existing handle for purchase, focus on two main aspects.

Inactivity. Look for accounts that show signs of inactivity, such as having no new posts for several months or years.
Non-Commercial Appearance. Opt for handles that do not appear commercial. The negotiation process for purchasing a handle can be delicate. If the current owner believes you intend to use it for commercial purposes, they may demand an exorbitant price.

Ultimately, investing your effort into devising unique and available usernames that effectively embody your brand and are straightforward for your intended audience to recall and locate is a more reliable strategy.

In certain instances, our team members, or the artists themselves, have successfully acquired handles with significant branding potential for a fee ranging from hundreds of dollars. Typically, these handles were associated with accounts that had been inactive for an extended period (over three months) or had never been actively used to post meaningful content.

6. Unified Online Brand Presence

Based on insights from seasoned artists and the expertise of powderbrows.io, the primary factor guiding the selection of a social media handle should be the availability of a corresponding domain name for the artist's brand. This strategy is increasingly relevant given the rising customer acquisition costs on social media platforms like Meta's Instagram and Facebook. As we look towards 2024 and 2025, discoverability will pivot towards search engines and AI-driven chat interfaces that rely on search engine data, making a solid domain name vital for brand visibility.

Control vs. Influence in Digital Presence

The distinction between what you control and what you can influence online is crucial. Social media platforms, where you can influence reach and engagement, ultimately control your visibility through their algorithms. These platforms' policies may change, impacting your strategy's effectiveness.

Conversely, your website represents a digital asset under your complete control. It is the foundation of your online presence, allowing you to set the rules, manage content, and engage directly with potential clients. This direct control is indispensable in an era where content accessibility through AI-driven searches becomes paramount.

Leveraging Your Website for Conversion

Your website is not just an online brochure; it's the core of your conversion strategy. It's where potential clients assess the quality of your work and decide to engage your services for Powder Brows. The objective of your social media efforts, including your Instagram handle, should be to funnel traffic to your website, converting followers into clients.

An integrated approach to your online presence, where your social media handle complements your website, is essential. This synergy ensures that your Instagram account acts not just as a destination but as a conduit, guiding potential clients to your website where conversion occurs.

This strategic alignment between your Instagram handle and domain name enhances your brand's discoverability across platforms and strengthens your ability to convert social media interactions into tangible business outcomes.

7. Symbiotic Relationship

The Integral Link Between Your Website URL and Instagram Handle

A pivotal, symbiotic relationship exists between your website URL and Instagram handle, highlighting the importance of considering both during branding. For example, acquiring an outstanding Instagram handle in the PMU or brow artistry niche only to find a .com website with a similar name already exists could inadvertently direct traffic to another entity's site.

It's crucial to balance decisions regarding your Instagram handle and website domain. This might sometimes mean adjusting your preferred Instagram handle to secure a superior .com domain, pivotal for your online marketing and brand identity. In the beauty and PMU industry, a .com domain holds unparalleled value, often surpassing the combined worth of other domain extensions.

Why .com Domains Remain Supreme

Trust and Credibility. Since the internet's inception, .com has been the default domain, deeply embedded in users' perceptions as a marker of trustworthiness and reliability, thus lending credibility to your business.
Enhanced Discoverability. Search engines, including Google, prioritize .com domains in search results, improving their visibility.
Global Recognition. The .com extension is universally recognized and accessible, making it ideal for businesses targeting an international audience.
Memorability. Given its prevalence, a .com domain will likely be remembered by potential clients.
Market Value. .com domains generally hold more excellent market value, reflecting the potential resale value and the perceived value of your brand's online presence.

The overarching goal of your digital marketing strategy should be to funnel traffic to your website for conversion. A .com domain enhances your brand's discoverability, trustworthiness, and memorability, which is essential for establishing a successful online presence.

Identifying a Suitable .com Domain with BrandSnap.ai

Experts from powderbrows.io and feedback from numerous artists suggest that BrandSnap.ai is an exemplary resource for identifying available .com domains with high branding potential. This platform utilizes an advanced AI system to generate a list of potential names, enabling artists to create a shortlist and ultimately select the most suitable, straightforward name for their brand.

This strategic approach ensures your digital footprint is cohesive, leveraging the inherent value of a .com domain to bolster your brand's online visibility and credibility.

8. Additional Considerations

Specific nuances that AI engines may not fully encapsulate in brand naming are crucial. These nuances concern a brand name's emotional and phonetic appeal, mainly through alliteration and rhyming. Understanding these literary devices can enhance a brand name's memorability and appeal.

Alliteration. This technique involves repeating the initial consonant sounds in neighboring words or syllables. Examples include "Coca-Cola" and "Dunkin' Donuts." Alliteration can create a melodic and memorable effect, potentially infusing the brand with fun, uniqueness, or creativity.
Rhyming. Rhyming echoes similar sounds at the ends of words. This musical quality can make a name more memorable by engaging auditory processing and reinforcing memory. An example is "YouTube," where the repeated "u" sound forms a catchy rhyme.

While these elements can make a brand name more appealing, balancing creativity with industry relevance is essential. A name that is too whimsical or unrelated to your field may not convey the desired professional image.

Navigating the Complexity of Instagram Handles

Choosing an Instagram handle is a critical aspect of your online brand identity. A common mistake for new artists and businesses is over-complicating their handles with unnecessary words or characters. Instagram, a platform under Meta, prohibits the use of ".com" in usernames, prompting some to add qualifiers like "original," "official," or location names to secure a unique handle. However, such additions can complicate your brand identity and reduce its memorability.

The ideal strategy is to maintain consistency across your digital presence. Aim for a matching .com domain and Instagram handle, avoiding special characters. If your preferred name is taken, consider appending "com" to your brand name as a single word rather than adding extra descriptors. This keeps your handle straightforward, memorable, and cohesive with your domain name.

Remember, your Instagram handle is an extension of your brand. Keeping it clear and concise facilitates easier recognition and engagement from your audience, reinforcing your brand's identity across platforms.

9. Conclusions

This article aims to aid emerging artists in choosing suitable Instagram usernames, handles, and brand names across various platforms.

The "Username" is your unique digital address on Instagram, identified by an '@' sign. It's crucial for tagging and finding your account. Since each "Username" is unique, incorporating elements of your brand, such as service type or location, can make your account more recognizable and searchable.

Selecting an Instagram handle is more than an aesthetic choice; it directly impacts your discoverability due to the platform's algorithm, which favors usernames that include search keywords. Avoid using special characters or complex combinations that are difficult to remember or spell, as they can hinder potential clients from finding your profile.

Every word in your handle requires promotional effort and budget. Unnecessary descriptors like “official” can dilute your brand's impact and should be avoided unless you're already a well-known entity.

Including keywords such as "brows" or "pmu" in your username can increase visibility to potential clients. However, avoid underscores and numbers, making your handle less memorable. The positioning of the keyword can also affect searchability, with handles starting with a keyword generally being more discoverable.

Use Instagram's registration form to check username availability for accurate results. Trust your judgment when selecting a username that reflects your brand identity.

Purchasing an existing handle can be complex and is not always recommended. If you consider this option, focus on handles showing signs of inactivity and non-commercial appearance to avoid excessive costs. Creating a unique and memorable username is often a more reliable strategy.

Aligning your social media handle with a corresponding domain name is essential for a cohesive online presence. Your website, a digital asset you fully control, is central to your conversion strategy. It should serve as the primary destination for potential clients, with your social media efforts to direct traffic to your site.

The relationship between your website URL and the Instagram handle is crucial for brand consistency. An integrated online presence, where your social media activities complement your website, enhances your brand's discoverability and conversion potential.

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