Social Media Name Checker + Business Name Availability Tutorial

Social media marketing is a powerful tool that can help businesses connect with their target audience, build brand awareness, and ultimately drive sales! In order to effectively leverage social media, it is important to have a strong online presence across all relevant platforms (via your @BrandName). We will implement a social media name checker in this business name availability tutorial.

The first step in creating a strong online presence is to secure your username (a.k.a. handle) on all social media platforms. By doing this, you ensure that your brand name or desired handle is consistent across all platforms and is easily identifiable by your audience. This continuity is important because it makes it easier for your audience to find you and engage with you on multiple platforms (e.g. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, LinkedIn, TikTok, etc.)

Secure Your Usernames + Best Social Media Name Checker

To secure your username on all social media platforms, you should start by conducting a thorough search to identify if your preferred username is available on each platform. This is crucial for establishing your brand presence and to prevent others from taking your desired username.

Check username availability on each social media platform or at: https://www.namecheckr.com

My Username is Taken!

The goal is to secure @BrandName on each social media platform. While continuity is key when it comes to usernames on social media, if one social media platform doesn’t match, that is ok!

• For example, we had the username @Coursenvy on every social media platform except for Instagram. So we just secured a great, high-searched keyword phrase instead: @MarketingCourse

• As our brand grew, we eventually paid for the Coursenvy trademark. With a trademark, you can legally force platforms to provide you with your trademarked @BrandName! We emailed Instagram’s legal department our Coursenvy trademark and they issued us the @Coursenvy username!

If your username is taken and you don’t have the trademark yet, the best practice is to secure the next best username for your brand. For example:

• @BrandNameDotCom (e.g. your website URL spelled out @CoursenvyDotCom)

• @OfficialBrandName (e.g. @OfficialCoursenvy)

• @RealBrandName (e.g. @RealCoursenvy)

• @TheBrandName (e.g. @TheCoursenvy)

• @BrandNameLocation (e.g. online only @CoursenvyHQ or @CoursenvyOnline)

• @BrandNamePlace (e.g. if you only serve a local market @CoursenvyTX or @CoursenvyUS)

• @VerbBrandName (e.g. @TryCoursenvy, @GetCoursenvy, or @AskCoursenvy)

• @BrandNameDescriptor (e.g. @CoursenvyApp or @CoursenvyCourses)

• @MainTargetKeyword (e.g. @MarketingCourse, @alternativeMBA, or @BusinessSchool)

Username Requirements

1. Keep it simple: Your username should be easy to read, spell, remember, and type. Avoid using special characters or numbers that may confuse users.

2. Make it relevant: Your username should reflect your brand or business. It should be consistent with your brand name and convey your message or mission.

3. Be unique: Choose a username that is not already taken by someone else. This will help to avoid confusion and ensure that your brand is easily identifiable on each platform.

4. Keep it short: Many social media platforms have character limits for usernames. Try to keep your username as short as possible, while still being descriptive and relevant.

5. Avoid trademark infringement: Do not use a username that infringes on someone else's trademark or intellectual property. This can lead to legal issues and damage to your brand reputation.

Trademark Search

• Navigate to the URL: tess2.uspto.gov

• Click the “Basic Word Mark Search (New User)” link.

• Type your brand name into the “Search Term” field and click the “Submit Query” button.

• Browse all the “Live” trademarks to confirm there aren’t any matches for your brand name.

• Speak with an “Intellectual Property Lawyer” about trademarking your brand name.

2FA + Social Media Accounts

Now, let's talk about the importance of using two-factor authentication (2FA) when creating your social media accounts.

• 2FA is an extra layer of security that requires users to provide a second form of identification (such as a code) in addition to their password. By using 2FA, you add an extra layer of protection to your social media accounts and prevent unauthorized access.

• Hackers and cybercriminals are always on the lookout for weak passwords and unsecured accounts. By using 2FA, you significantly reduce the risk of your social media accounts being hacked or compromised. This is important because a security breach can damage your brand reputation and cause financial loss.

• Use an email address you plan to never share publicly to create your social media accounts. For example, while our publicly known support email is info@coursenvy.com (known by hackers too) we use a private email address (e.g. coursenvy@yahoo.com) for our social media account logins. This acts as just one more layer hackers will have to figure out to access our accounts!

• Once you create each social media account, when prompted to “Enable Security”, “Enable 2FA”, or “Enable 2-Step Verification”, accept and follow the security prompts for each varying platform.

• Google Authenticator and Authy are the top-rated apps that generate 2-Step Verification codes right on your phone.

Continue Learning

Join our Social Media Marketing course included in our modMBA.com course bundle!