The Power of Right Username on Social Media for Growth

Imagine if Nike's Instagram handle was @shoes_lace_run

Or if Beyoncé went by @music.girl_downtown

Or David Beckham as @i_kick_balls

How does that make you feel? Does it resonate with their personalities?

Does it sound professional to you?

Think carefully about it.

As ambassadors of our craft, our body of work, our online presence matters. Recently, in a meeting with a major company in Germany, in my role as a creative director, I was tasked with recommending photographers for their upcoming product launch. I sift through countless photographers daily, but it's hard to remember them all when their usernames are different from their real names. This complicates things for us and for anyone trying to find them.

Some photographers stick to their own names, making them easy to recall. But others? Their usernames are a puzzle. During meetings, time is short, and research is limited. Imagine if those photographers had the right usernames; they could've landed big contracts too.

Photo editors, art directors and curators browse through portfolios and social media accounts day in and day out. Make it easy for them to find you. Make it easy for us to recommend you. Make us proud when we share your username with clients.

Your username should vibrate with your identity. It should be authentic. It should be searchable. In today's fast-paced world, opportunities come and go in a flash. Don't let a mismatched username hold you back.

Sure, some of you might prefer anonymity, but even then, your username can be clever without being tacky. Or you can also disclose just your first name and keep your surname anonymous.

And for those thinking it's too late to change, it's not! If you're serious about photography and growth, let go of the past. Invest in a username that truly represents you.

Your username is your digital handshake—make it memorable, not forgettable.

I usually cover these strategies in my social media branding workshops, but seeing the growth of unrelated and tacky usernames, I felt compelled to share this insight publicly.

If you're interested, you can sign up for my one-on-one online workshop here, which also includes website branding—and if you don't have a website, I'll help you set one up for free.