How to Name Your Blog
A great blog has great content first and foremost, but also has a phenomenal name that everyone can remember. I met Kristen Howerton at a blogging conference and when she told me her blog was named Rage Against the Minivan, I knew immediately what her blog was about and to whom it spoke: all those American moms (like me) who rage against the minivan. I assumed that her blog would be irreverent (it is), opinionated (it is) and not a guidebook to perfect parenting (it’s not). That’s a clever blog name for a specific blog concept.
That said, I meet bloggers all the time who regret their initial blog name choice. They started out writing about parenting and have branched out into many endeavors and now regret having a moniker with “mommy” in the title. So how do you pick the ideal blog name? Truth? Picking a blog name is picking a brand, so stop and ask yourself, am I going to want to wear this brand around my neck, 24 hours a day for the next five years or more?
There’s no surefire way to choose the perfect blog name, but here are a few questions we recommend you ask to help you get it right the first time:
1. Is it relatable? Does it relate to what you actually write about and what your readers want to hear? The blog TechSavvyMama is relatable because you know that by hearing those three words strung together that this is a blog by a mom who’s savvy about technology. I know I want to read that blog when I have questions related to my kids and technology. I can relate. If your blog name requires explaining, then you probably have the wrong blog name.
2. Is it memorable? Clever does not equal memorable. People have trouble remembering more than three nouns in a row. Don’t crowd a lot of random ideas into a blog title and expect people to remember. Carol Cain’s blog, Girl Gone Travel is memorable. You know this a blog by someone who shows her wild side and loves to travel.
3. Is it in tune? By in tune, I mean whether your blog name relates to the tone of your blog. If your writing style is serious, pick a blog name with serious undertones. If it’s witty, be witty. I meet bloggers who chose blog titles because they loved the way it sounds, but the sound of that title has nothing to do with the way they write. Anne Parris’ blog, Not a Supermom sets a tone – a tone for humor and being humble. That’s a great blog name.
So there you have it – three not-very-scientific but sensible tips for naming your blog! Now, what to do if you’re stuck with a blog name you now regret? A moniker that is hanging around your neck like smelly sausages? Oh honey, change it. There’s no rule in the blogosphere that says you can’t rebrand, refresh and rename your blog!
