I am in the process of changing my social media presence from Probable Writer to my pen name. Very soon all my online presence will be Louise Higgins (www.louisehigginsauthor.com). It is about time. I have written five books and I know there will be at least another five. This writing train is not stopping at the station, any time soon. With those thoughts in mind, it is time to leave Probable Writer behind and create branding that will build awareness, clarity, online visibility and is easily identifiable.
Why did I decide on Probable Writer in the first place?
I wanted to hide behind a pseudonym while I practised my craft and gained confidence as a writer. Honestly, I was scared, scared to put myself out there, scared that I wouldn’t have anything meaningful to say, scared that I didn’t know enough to keep up a social media presence, In summary, I was scared that I wasn’t good enough.
Fear is amazing at stopping people from doing many things in life and it was fear that stopped me believing in myself.
Two years down the line, I have learnt a lot, I have made mistakes, but I have also grown and improved as a writer.
Why have I decided to change the name?
Pretty simple I guess, I outlined a few points in the first paragraph.
Every article I have read, recommends using your author name for your social media presence. Fear made me think I knew better, now I am no longer fearful. I know I am in this for the long run, I enjoy what I do and I want readers to know who I am.
Probable Writer sounds uncertain, unclear, the writer is not really sure what they are doing – it’s all probable. Louise Higgins is exactly what it says on the label. Add in the tag line Heartbreak and Romance lets the reader know exactly what I am writing and if it’s for them.
So, why should an author use their author name for online presence?
Basically, it makes it easier and simpler to find the author. What is more clearly identifiable than an author’s pen name? Rather than some clever play on words that have no relevance to the work or the genre you write in (like Probable Writer!).
“Your pen name ranks among the top word combination readers will input when searching for you or your books online.”
Emeka Walter Dinjos: How to Choose a Domain Name for Your Author Website
Using your pen name makes you brandable, people immediately think of your work. It will provide the writer with exposure and recognition. Branding is so important: a relevant logo and tag line will emphasize your brand and the values your product stands for.
“Brand is everything people perceive you as. It’s your personality, every word you write, the fonts and colours you use, the way you make people feel when they read your books or visit your website… create a strong, authentic brand that connects with the right readers ”
Joanna Penn: 7 Best Ways to Build An Authentic Author Brand
Top Tips
- No numbers or hyphens
- The clearer the better.
- Readers need to know who you are and what your brand stands for. Create domains for your books that redirect to your author domain.
Lastly
Think about what you want readers to think and feel when they see your brand name, that way you will know exactly what you want to communicate. What about the values you want to share through your work, what do you stand for as a writer, what is clearly identifiable about each piece of work? Use your branding as an extension of these values and your pen name as a clear way to get the right people to your brand and you.