Tag-Archive for ◊ Branding ◊

A few weeks ago I wrote an article asking “What Twitter Name Should Jack Use?” I wanted your help in deciding whether or not to change my Twitter name from @web_guy to @JackLeblond.  While the concensus was by far in favor of the change, there were a few folks with a valid reasoning to leave it alone.

I decided to follow the majority of advice, switched over a few days later and never looked back.

Today while attending the eMarketing seminar at InnoTech Austin, my decision was proven to be the right one – multiple times.

I was fortunate enough to actually meet several people from my tweet stream, and a few more that follow people that follow me.  The spark of recognition when I introduced my self was obvious.  I have no doubt in my mind that had I stayed with @web_guy on twitter, those people I met today would have had no clue who I was.  Yes, we may have figured it out eventually, but that immediate recognition helped to jump start conversations because we already (sort of) knew each other.

Related article - you may want to read So you’ve decided to join Twitter…now what?

I started using Twitter a few months ago while doing research for a company project and quickly became  addicted.  It was not long before I started contributing regularly, following others and being followed.  All good.

When I signed up, I used “web_guy,” a nick-name I was given years ago and have used on various sites and projects.  At the time I was not concerned with the “genericness” of it because I actually wanted to be an unknown.  However, since then I have become much more active.  Not only on Twitter, but also here and a few other sites.

My plan is to move back to New England, preferably Maine, sometime in the next 6-10 years.  It seems fairly obvious to me that the odds of getting a “Wow!” job offer would be improved if people new me, knew my name.  It is after all my “brand.”  If you Google “Jack Leblond,”  most of the top results are actually me.  However, if you Google “web_guy,” only a few of the results are for me.  (That may have just answered the question for me)

So, what do you think I should do on Twitter?

Should I;

1. Stick with what I have built and continue to use “web_guy”
   or
2. Pull a “longhornkate” and change it to my real name?

UPDATE:  I changed my Twitter name

If you are new to Twitter, you may want to look at So you’ve decided to join Twitter…now what?

Your Customers Are Talking About You – But What Are They Saying?

We’ve all heard that when you have a happy customer, they’ll tell you.  But, when you have an unhappy customer, they’ll tell everybody but you.  And, unfortunately most of those people will repeat the story of a dissatisfied customer over and over again.  Even worse, much like in the game “telephone” where a story gets passed from one person to the next until the last person invariably hears a story that is a far cry from what was told by the first, the original story of dissatisfaction often grows well beyond all recognition. more…