Okay so I thought I was done with this series but Ashley from AP Free Writing 101 posed a very good question in the comments. She asked:
I’m wanting to “brand” my blog and ministry, but I’m struggling with whether or not I should brand it with a “ministry name” or my name. I am the face of the ministry (and currently the only one actively a part of it), and I plan to continue to be the face of it. But at the same time, I don’t want it to be about me. Would love any thoughts anyone has on it!
That is a very good question and it is one that I go back and forth about. Here are my thoughts…
Unless you are a niche blog and intend to stay a niche blog then I think it is best to not choose a blog name/URL that restricts you. For those of you who have blogs like mine that are transformation blogs then your content is likely to change regularly and your blog name and URL should reflect that.The best thing to do would be to choose a name that is a direct reflection of you and not your content. That way your content can change and the blog remains true to it’s title because it is you who is writing it. And if it is an all out ministry then it does need to be separate from your personal blog. Like me with A Woman Inspired. Make sense?
It really makes sense in my mind but I lack lots of sleep lately and I even forgot to drink coffee today. Yes, it is that bad at times.
Bunny Trails is a perfect name. So is Sprittibee. Those names reflect them and are unique. I used to have the blog name “In Pursuit of Proverbs 31″. While I did not find it restricting I did find it boring. Even though that is my “purpose” and it did give me freedom to post many things, I found that just a year into it that there were more than 70 name variations using Proverbs 31 and 16 (I think that is the number) blogs that started using “In Pursuit of” in the title. That left me with a very common, low Google ranking blog. It meant I didn’t stand out. For ministry purposes you do want to stand out and rank high in Google. Otherwise it is hard for others to find you.
Now, for those of you who know me or who have been reading me for a while and have a glimpse of my personality then you know being just like everyone else does not suit me at all. If I had known then what I know now then I would have chosen a name that was unique from the start. So after about the 9th or 10th blog that started using the “In Pursuit Of” part in their blog title I decided to change it. Besides, God had me on a journey and I felt I needed something different.
I went with AmyBayliss.com because I couldn’t think of anything else that suited me. I could not think of a name that made me stand out but still offered me the freedom to write on numerous topics. Until now…
Lisa Boyd please don’t kill me. I’ll mail you a Coca Cola. mmmkay?
Yes, I have been thinking about making AmyBayliss.com my static page that just tells who I am and where to find me. Then have my blog under another name. I just don’t know what name. I know more of who I am now. I am no longer running from it. That is a post for another day but let’s just say that I spent most of my life trying to leave Louisiana and deny my heritage and now I can’t get enough of it. It is the people. They are amazing. They are my family… most of them are literally my family.
I thought of The Cajun Woman (.com) but then I thought that might be too much like The Pioneer Woman and I am really not going for that. So then I thought of using Femme Cadien (.com). That is the Cajun French way of saying Cajun Woman. I just thought that was more appropriate since I am almost all French but only 3/4 Cajun. My grandmas people were the highfalutin French that came here. They weren’t exiles from Canada like my Cajun ancestors. They actually had lived in Quebec for quite a while before they relocated here and bought massive plantations and farms. That is why I refer to myself as a Cajun Princess. 
That is what grandpa used to call me. He’d say I was the best of both worlds.
So what are your thoughts? I am going to debut a new site design/site with my new “cooking shows” and I want to make sure I have this all thought out before I launch it. By the way, I own all of those domains already. I just haven’t used them.
EDITED TO SAY: using your name as a URL is totally fine. In fact, I’d buy your name’s URL now just so you don’t lose it. If you use it then great if not, at least you have it. I’m just thinking of changing mine for the reasons stated earlier.
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It’s kinda funny how God brought me by this post today (yep, totally behind on reading any blogs). I’m not going to kill you
yet anyway. you’re the one who’s gotta do the design 
I’ve just got to give you the tools to do so.
I bought lisaboyd.com a long time ago but have never really used it other than it makes it easy to tell people my email address. I’ve always felt self-conscious and obnoxious using it, but really in the past year? That’s how people know me. Whenever someone has a techie question, they say check with Lisa Boyd. So it makes sense for me to put up something there even if it’s pointing them in the direction of my blog — which is simply His — though I’ve been struggling a lot lately with even blogging
Love ya girl and you know I’ll support you no matter what. And if you happen to send a Coke to me, that’s just extra groovy
I tried to buy my domain name years ago. The week I planned to buy, two days prior in face, some other Tiffany Stuart bought it. Years later, it’s still nothing but a parked page. Funny thing is Stuart is often misspelled anyway. So maybe I’m good without my last name.
So I went with Tea with Tiffany instead. I liked the ring to it. Originally the “tea” was because drinking herbal tea is therapeutic, like writing is for me. The picture I use is inviting people to sit with me.
I still want a different header. I still consider changing it all somedays. I will change to WordPress soon, which excites and scares me. What if I lose my posts in the process? What if I choose the wrong one, .com verses .org.
But without resources and knowledge, I’m stuck. I need serious training. Hands on so I can remember.
Funny thing is I don’t love tea. I drink coffee in the mornings, not tea. I do like iced tea though. And some hot teas, but nothing like coffee.
Okay, I’m done for today. Rambling is therapeutic too.
Hugs, Cajun Princess!
Need to go with The Cajun Princess- TOATLLY you!
Your by line could be: in a world of Princes’.
or the like! hee hee!
Thanks for sharing this Amy! I think any of those names are great for you. The Lord will show you.
I went through thinking about this back when I started Sharing Life with Lisa…
Love you!
P.S. Spoke of you, the series you’re doing and posted your link in my blog post just a moment ago. Thanks for blessing us all!
I had to laugh. I clicked on my name above and it went to a Godaddy parked page. I had to go into my account and change it back to point to Heart Choices. I knew I had done that in the past but I’m glad you asked about this or I wouldn’t have realized that.
Amy, I have http://www.debbiepetras.com pointing to Heart Choices.
The Lord truly gave me the name Heart Choices about 15 years ago. I wasn’t even on the internet then and had never heard of a blog. But I registered that name as a trademark and when domain names were starting to happen I purchased the .com and .org.
I look forward to the unveiling of your new design. I’m not all that tech savvy with HTML etc although I want to learn more. You do such a great job.
Love and blessings,
Debbie
I have tried to get ‘sisterlisa.com’ for several years but a ‘spiritualist’ woman has it and I cringe. I hope no one thinks it’s me. I keep watching it though and as soon as it’s available I’m grabbing it.
You’re right Ashley it isn’t about US but it is good for branding to use your own name. Just remember you are Ashley Pichea , daughter of the KING of Kings!
P.S. If I knew when I started blogging what I know now, I’d have started with my name at the beginning. In seeking to “be known” as a writer & speaker, having my name as the blog brand is crucial. I just need to remember that it’s not about me – it’s all about Him!
This is what I was hoping you’d say!
I think I’m going to buy both domains I want – my name and my proposed ministry name. That way, I’ll have both if I want them, allowing me to have options.
I’ve started feeling “boxed in” about what I can/can’t write on my page (of my own doing) based on viewing it as “a ministry tool,” and I’d like to have a bit more “freedom” to branch out with it. I’m thinking I might have mine own blog AND a ministry blog, possibly bringing others on board to write with me on the ministry blog. We’ll see where God leads.
Thank you, again, SOOOO much for writing this series. I completely needed it this week!!
I didn’t want my actual name to be out in public at all when I started blogging. It wasn’t really until after I was active on FB that I became a little more lax. So I had a hard time coming up with a name. In fact, I wanted to blog, but couldn’t because I had no blog name. LOL!! A lot of that was because I didn’t have a specific focus – same as now. So when Bunny Trails popped into my head and it wasn’t already taken, it made perfect sense. Because that is precisely who I am and what my blog is about – “The meanderings of a woman who often finds herself on life’s bunny trails.”
As far as your blog, Femme Cadien is very cool. I think a lot of people won’t know how to pronounce it or spell it. I don’t know how much of a problem that is since blogging isn’t something you speak aloud so much. If it linked off your main Amy Bayliss page, that’s probably okay, too, because people know how to spell Amy Bayliss…usually. I also like The Cajun Woman, but I see what you mean about the PW connection. What about Cajun Amy? Just a thought. I know you’ll come up with something awesome, girl.
EDITED TO SAY: using your name as a URL is totally fine. In fact, I’d buy your name’s URL now just so you don’t lose it. If you use it then great if not, at least you have it. I’m just thinking of changing mine for the reasons stated earlier.
Thank you again for a wonderful post! You’ve given me a lot of things to think about.
I like the name, Cajun Princess!
I thought about this, too. When I started blogging it was just for friends & family and I still thought my nickname “thequeenmommy” was appropriate. It’s what I use – it’s what people know me as more often than not – and I like it, so that’s what I stick with. I think it says as much about you & your personality as anything. For authors & speakers – real names are important for obvious reasons – but nicknames or “brand” names can still be easily marketable. I use “Queen Mommy” on message boards and forums, too, so it’s just my thang…
Cajun Mommy?
I struggle with this too. When I was on blogger it was The Surrendered Scribe. I started branching out writing for other sites and I’d put on my byline Julie Arduini: The Surrendered Scribe. When my husband bought the domain name he took both JulieArduini.com and The Surrendered Scribe.com, I believe the SS one takes you back to my name.
I thought I’d be writing fiction and sharing glimpses of my life. So far I’m published in non fiction (one fiction anthology) I do a lot of book reviews, and on and offline I facilitate small groups or teach Bible studies. For that I think going with my name is the right way for me.
The Surrendered Scribe is part of my platform but I don’t think I want that as my main cyber name. Security wise I wonder if having my name out there is a risk but I have a prayer team that covers all my writing and speaking. We trust that if God calls, He equips, so I pray a protection over that.
But whatever you call me, I’m likely to answer and have chocolate in hand!
This is funny that you say this because I just moved my blog from http://lifefrommylaptop.com to http://Alyssaavant.com because I didn’t have any real connection to Life from my Laptop it had no “meaning” to me and I wanted my blog to reflect me.
I am in ministry as well, though I have decided recently just to speak and write and not have a specific “ministry” as I have in the past so that’s why I chose to use my own name.
The Cajun Princess would be cute.