Strategizing social media marketing starts with getting the perfect social media handle. A unique handle is crucial not only for launching a business but for boosting its growth, as it can help business owners build a brand.
This article discusses everything you need to know about social media handles – their importance, best practices, and the steps to take if your desired handles aren’t available. You’ll also learn how they look on different platforms.
Social media has become an integral part of our lives. Most people and businesses have some kind of presence on popular platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and more. But to interact with others on these networks, you need more than just an account – you need a social media handle.
A social media handle also known as a username is a unique identifier that allows other users to find, connect and engage with you on each platform. For brands, choosing the right handle can impact how easily current and potential customers can locate your profiles and content.
In this complete guide we’ll cover everything you need to know about social media handles including
- What a handle is
- The difference between handles, usernames and display names
- How handles appear on major platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
- Handle length limits and allowed characters
- Best practices for creating memorable, brand-aligned handles
- What to do if your ideal handle is taken
What Is a Social Media Handle?
A social media handle is the unique name assigned to your profile on networks like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram YouTube TikTok, LinkedIn, Pinterest and more. It’s what identifies you on each platform and allows other users to find and connect with you.
Handles are also called usernames. But while all usernames serve as login IDs, not all of them double as public-facing handles. For instance, your Netflix username isn’t meant to be shared – but your Instagram handle is designed for public visibility and engagement.
Handles almost always appear with an “@” symbol alongside them. So @nordstrom is the retailer’s handle on Instagram. When handles include an “@” in front, they allow other users to directly tag or mention your account in their posts and comments.
In short, handles facilitate the social aspect of social media for brands and individuals. They turn profiles into more than just personal pages or digital billboards – they help transform them into interactive identities.
How Do Handles Differ From Display Names?
Social networks give you two ways to identify your brand or personal profile:
Handle/Username: The one-of-a-kind name that identifies your account, preceded by “@”. It appears in your profile URL.
Display Name: The name that shows up in larger text at the top of your profile. More than one account can share a display name.
For example, here is how a fictional clothing brand could configure these two identifiers on Instagram:
Display Name: AnnasHandmade
Handle: @annahandmade
Their display name “AnnasHandmade” clearly aligns with their brand name, but it’s not unique – multiple Instagram users could use it if they wanted.
But only that brand can use “@annahandmade” as a handle. This allows Instagrammers to locate the profile by searching the specific handle, and mention the business by its handle in captions and comments.
- Display names promote brand recognition and awareness
- Handles enable audience connection and engagement
Ideally handles and display names work together to build brand consistency across social platforms. But occasionally, brands must get creative if their preferred handle is already taken.
How Do Handles Appear on Major Social Platforms?
While handles serve the same general purpose everywhere, the details of how they display in profiles vary by social network. Let’s look at how three major platforms – Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – integrate handles into user profiles:
On Facebook, page owners can edit both a display name and a handle/username in their profile settings.
The display name shows up in large font at the top of the page. Facebook handles appear after an “@” symbol lower down in the About section.
For example, here is how a restaurant’s Facebook profile displays their configured names:
Display Name: Annas Taqueria
Handle: @annastaqueria
The handle doubles as the page’s username, so it would be used along with a password to login to Facebook. The profile URL also incorporates the handle:
facebook.com/annastaqueriaWhen mentioning Annas Taqueria in a comment or post, other users would write @annastaqueria to tag the restaurant’s page.
Twitter also provides separate display name and handle fields when you’re setting up an account.
The display name shows up in large text at the top of your profile, above your header image. Twitter handles follow an “@” symbol and appear prominently just below the display name.
For example, a bakery could configure their Twitter names like this:
Display Name: Janes Bakery
Handle: @janesbakery
The handle is integrated right into the profile’s URL:
twitter.com/janesbakeryTo mention Janes Bakery in a Tweet, other users would write @janesbakery and the bakery’s profile would be linked.
Instagram diverges when it comes to how handles are displayed in user profiles.
While you still set a display name and handle, it’s the handle that shows up in the most prominent large text at the top of your Instagram profile. The display name follows in smaller font underneath.
For example, a boutique would configure their Instagram profile like this:
Display Name: CocoChic Boutique
Handle: @cocochicboutique
The handle also appears within the profile URL:
instagram.com/cocochicboutiqueTo mention @cocochicboutique in a comment or caption, Instagram users would use the boutique’s handle.
What Are Handle Length & Character Limits on Major Platforms?
When brainstorming potential handles for your brand, you’ll need to follow platform-specific character limits and rules. Here are guidelines to keep in mind:
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5-50 characters
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Can include letters, numbers and periods
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Periods don’t differentiate handles (john.smith is the same as johnsmith)
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Up to 15 characters
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Can include letters, numbers and underscores
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Underscores differentiate handles (john_smith vs. johnsmith)
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Up to 30 characters
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Can include letters, numbers, periods and underscores
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Periods and underscores differentiate handles
YouTube
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Usernames created with Google/Gmail accounts follow those rules:
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8-30 characters
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Can include letters, numbers and periods
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Periods don’t differentiate usernames
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Custom YouTube handles have no strict character limit
TikTok
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3-15 characters
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Can include letters and numbers
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5-30 characters
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Can only include letters and numbers
Keeping platform guidelines in mind allows you to devise handles that check the boxes for length and special characters on each network.
9 Best Practices For Creating Memorable Handles
Beyond adhering to rules, there’s an art to devising handles that click with your audience and reinforce your brand. Keep these tips in mind:
1. Check handle availability
Research to see if your preferred handles are still up for grabs across different networks using sites like Namecheckr.com. If not, you’ll need to get creative with variations.
2. Keep handles consistent
Try to secure the same handle on every platform when possible to boost recognition.
3. Align with brand name
Work your business name or a variation of it into social media handles when feasible.
4. Keep it short and simple
Concise, easy-to-remember handles see higher engagement. Consider acronyms or abbreviations.
5. Mind special characters
Avoid unnecessary periods, dashes and underscores to simplify.
6. Make it phonetic
Ensure your handle is intuitive to pronounce and spell when read.
7. Consider longevity
Avoid trendy references that could date your brand or limit future growth.
8. Have a backup plan
Research alternative handle options in case your perfect choice gets snatched up.
9. Include your name
For personal accounts, incorporate your first, last or nickname into your handle.
Choosing handles is an impactful part of your social media strategy. By following naming best practices, your brand has the chance to secure memorable, effective identifiers on each platform.
What If Your Ideal Handle Is Taken?
Launching a social media presence comes with no guarantees that the perfect handle will be available, especially for common brand names and phrases.
Don’t panic if your top choice usernames are already claimed on one or more networks. You have options:
Add Details
Get more specific by including your location or a descriptive keyword:
- @janesbakery_boston
- @cocochic_vintage
Use Abbreviations
Choose Matching Handles to Showcase Brand Consistency
Having matching handles across social media sites is crucial, as consistency is essential for successful branding. It enables the target audience to easily recognize a business, resulting in improved brand awareness. Also, it makes a company look more professional.
To improve your branding strategy even further, consider using your domain name when choosing social media handles or vice versa. Also, adding the website link to your social media accounts helps drive more traffic to your site.
Manually checking your desired social media handles on different platforms can be time-consuming. Thankfully, online tools like Namecheckr and KnowEm can help you quickly scan handles and usernames across hundreds of social media platforms.
Once you find a unique handle you can secure on all social media websites, claim it as soon as possible.
Keep Social Media Handles Simple to Spell and Pronounce
Simple spelling enables potential followers to easily find your profile. Avoiding unfamiliar words, special characters, and numbers is a great way to get an easy-to-spell handle name.
Having a simple social handle can also help with word-of-mouth marketing. When brainstorming, say any potential names out loud to see if people can understand them clearly.
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What is the difference between a username and a social media handle?
Social media handle: The name of your account that starts with “@” and is referenced in tags. Username: The name or word associated with your account that you use to log in to each platform. (In some cases, like with Twitter, your username and your social media handle are the same.)
What is a social media handle?
During the early years of social media, handle became an informal way to refer to a screen name. So, What Is a Social Media Handle Today? On any given social media platform, your handle is a public-facing name associated with your account you use when connecting with and broadcasting to other users.
How do I choose a social media handle?
When choosing your social media handle, consider some of the following tips: When creating a handle, consider making it the same on every social media account the company creates. Using the same handle on every social media allows users to find the organization easily across devices and websites.
How do I find a social media handle?
Recommended: Use our free Business Name Generator to find a social media handle and available, matching domain name. Social media handles are unique identifiers businesses use on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and others. Think of them as your online name or username.
