Coming up with a good handle involves creating a memorable, simple, and relevant name that resonates with your intended audience.
Key Principles for a Great Handle
A successful handle is easy to remember, easy to share, and clearly represents you or your brand. Following a few core principles can significantly improve your handle's effectiveness.
Based on expert advice, here are fundamental tips:
- Keep it short and simple: So that people can easily remember it.
- Avoid complex characters: Such as underscores if possible, as consumers are less likely to remember or type them correctly.
- Appeal to your target audience: Use a name that connects with the people you want to reach.
Making Your Handle Memorable and Accessible
Simplicity is paramount for a handle. A short, straightforward name is much easier for others to recall, search for, and share.
- Easy to Type: Avoid characters that are difficult to find on a keyboard or prone to typos.
- Easy to Say: If someone hears your handle, they should be able to guess how it's spelled.
- Easy to Remember: The shorter and more unique (in a simple way) it is, the better it sticks in people's minds.
- As highlighted in the reference, it's best to avoid using underscores because they can make handles harder for people to recall or type accurately.
Connecting with Your Audience
Your handle is often the first impression you make online. It should give your target audience an idea of who you are or what you offer.
- Reflect Your Persona or Brand: Does it align with your personality, business, or the content you share?
- Include Relevant Keywords (Optional): If appropriate, incorporating a relevant word can help people find you. For instance, a baker might include "bakes" or "cookies" if available and suitable.
- Consider Your Niche: Does the handle make sense to people interested in your specific area?
Practical Tips & Considerations
Finding the perfect handle isn't always easy, as many names are already taken. Here are some strategies and things to check:
- Check Availability: See if your desired handle is available across all the major platforms you plan to use (e.g., Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube). Consistency is key.
- Try Variations: If your first choice is taken, try slight modifications.
- Add a relevant prefix (e.g., "The", "WeAre").
- Add a relevant suffix (e.g., "Official", "HQ", "Apparel").
- Use initials or abbreviations if they are well-known.
- Avoid Numbers and Symbols: Unless they are integral to your brand name, numbers and symbols (other than potentially a hyphen, though underscores are particularly discouraged) can complicate things.
- Keep It Unique: Ensure your handle doesn't too closely resemble an existing, well-known handle, which could cause confusion.
Here's a simple comparison based on the principles:
| Characteristic | Good Handle Example | Less Ideal Example | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short & Simple | @CraftyCorner | @The_Crafty_Shop_HQ | Shorter, no underscore, easy to remember |
| Memorable | @BookWormBen | @Ben97Reading | Easier to recall |
| Appeals to Audience | @FitFastMeals | @JohnsFoodTips | More descriptive and appealing to fitness/food audience |
| Avoids Underscores | @SimplyRecipes | @Simply_Recipes_ | Underscores are less memorable/typeable |
By focusing on simplicity, relevance, and checking availability, you can create a strong handle that serves you well online.
