That terrible username you created several years ago is starting to feel super embarrassing.
But when you performed a social media name check for your perfect username, you were unlucky to find out it’s not currently available!
But is your perfect username only taken on Instagram, but actually it’s still available on other social media channels? Do you know how to check?
Don’t worry, In this blog article, I’ll show you how to perform a social media name check, what to do if your ideal username isn’t available and 5 amazing tools you can use to generate new ones.
What Is a Username on Social Media
A social media username is a unique word that you use to identify yourself on social channels such as Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Facebook etc.
Why is a Unique Social Media Username Important?
Social media usernames or social media handles as they are sometimes called are important for helping your brand or oneself be found easily online.
Most people these days are lazy, so If they can’t find you quickly with a simple search, they just won’t bother continuing.
It’s best to choose a name that is easy to remember and directly describes who you are and what you do. This could be a brand name or a job title - e.g. Nike or Jack - Digital Marketer.
Why Should You Do a Social Media Username Search
If you're looking to use the same username across all social media platforms, you'll need to do a social media username search to make sure it's available. You should avoid using a username that's already taken, or one that's only available on a limited number of platforms.
If your perfect username is available, you should snap it up on every channel possible - even if you don’t tend to use them in the meantime.
5 Sites to Perform a Social Media Name Check
Fear not! There are some amazing websites out there to help you check the social media account name availability of your desired account username.
So do you want to check if your social media name is available?
Give these social name checkers a try.
1/ Namecheckr
2/ Brand Snag
3/ DNS Checker
4/ Get INC
What to Do if Your Social Media Name isn’t Available?
So you performed a social media name check and it’s not good news. Your perfect username isn’t available!
So what do you do now?
Well, there are three options - none of which are very good.
1/ Wait until your name becomes available
Keep performing a social media name check often ideally once every 30 days.
The reason for 30 days is that’s how long it takes for a username to become free after someone abandons it.
2/ Offer to pay for the username
Money talks! If you find that the person with the username you want doesn’t post often, seems inactive and may not be attached to the social handle, offer them a payment to have it.
3/ Find a new social media username
Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, the perfect social media username will be gone and lost forever.
Therefore you should consider looking for a new one.
Luckily, I’ve compiled a list of amazing tools you can use to generate a new social handle.
Amazing Social Media Name Generator Tools
These tools can be helpful when you’re thinking of a name for your Instagram profile, creating a Twitter handle that people will want to click on, or generating a catchy headline for your Facebook profile.
1/ Jimpix
2/ SpinXO
3/ NordPass
4/ Shopify
Also Read:
Conclusion: How to Perform a Social Media Name Check
I hope you’ve found this guide helpful! In it, I’ve explained how to perform a social media name check, what to do if yours has been taken and provided you with some tools to help you generate a new one.
Need advice about maximising your social media profiles? Reach out for a chat!