Let me ask you a question.
On the topic of Substack publication names
It seems that one’s newsletter name is quite an important decision, and before I take the leap and change mine, I wanted to gather thoughts from the community.
Currently, my website and my Substack bear my name: David Sheley. I think I heard once while watching a YouTube video that using your name can be a powerful marketing tool because you become your own brand. I bought into that, but now I wonder if I should leave things alone or use a more creative name.
For people who have already become famous - that is to say, their name is already widely known - using their name as a brand makes complete sense. If you hear the name of a famous actor and it’s associated with a website or a product, you think, “Hey, I know that guy!” And, if you’re a fan of that person, you’re more likely to want to know what he has to say or want to buy his product.
I’m not famous. So, is my name really the best brand for me? I’m curious to know what you think.
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I’ve set the poll for one day. I’m curious to see what you think. At the end of the poll, I will make my decision and plunge boldly forward.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with your name. Just because it’s not known now doesn’t mean it won’t be in the future. The name you go with is a personal preference. What matters more is the product you ship. Who would have ever thought Apple 🍎 would be a good name for a computer company, but the product is undeniable.
I think you’re right about recognition being a big boon to using your name, but for a lot of people, it’s not there. I think a creative name that captures your mission or vision for your work would be a good pivot. Also allow you to develop the brand separate from yourself so you do what’s best for it instead of how you might change.