Have you ever wanted to create a Twitter account with your name but found it’s already taken but inactive? If so, this post is for you. You’ll learn how you can get the Twitter username you want and have it reassigned to you.
Nothing is more off-putting than having to settle for special characters and underscores just because someone else has already taken your username and they’re not even using it. Just because someone years ago registered the username and didn’t use it beyond the first day, why should your online identity suffer? Well, there is a way out!
Why Your Twitter Username Matters?
Having your name as your Twitter username can help build your online reputation and more personal branding opportunities. And perhaps most importantly, having a username that’s related in some way to you is just plain cool. Think of this, if you are a brand named ‘FirstDental’, would you rather have @FirstDental on Twitter and all other platforms, would you be okay to settle with @FirstDental1 or @FirstDental_
In this century, nothing is more important to you as a brand or an individual, than your online branding identity. And this is why when you have a twitter username taken but it’s inactive, it would be wise to have it reassigned to you.
What should I do if my username is taken?
First thing that you’d want to do is to see if you can register the username you’d like. When you register a Twitter username, and if it says, the username is already taken, that’s when we go to the next step. This is where we want to check if the profile who has your desired username is active or inactive. Only usernames that are inactive can be reassigned. In other words, if someone is actively using an account with a username you’d like, there is not much you can do about it. But, for now, let’s focus on if the account is inactive.
The next step is to see how long the account has been inactive. The Twitter account must be inactive for at least 1.5 years. This is why you must verify the date the account was last used. Take a look at the last time the account tweeted, and you’ll know how long it’s been inactive for. Accounts that have been inactive for longer than 1.5 years fall in the category of ‘claimable’. Meaning, with the right social agency representing you to their Twitter contact, you can have this username reassigned to you.
So, as of now, we have a username that we’d like. And we have confirmed that it is inactive. What do we do next? Well, the next thing we need to do is to build up an account of our own. Yes, you’d not yet get the exact username you want, but we’re getting there. In this step, you’ll prepare a Twitter profile all with a proper bio, display photo, some tweets, and a cover image. The idea is, your current account must be similar in username to what your desired username is. So, if you’d like @bobsmith but its taken and inactive, you could create an account named @bobsmith_ or @bobsmith123
And finally, this is where a social media agency comes in. They make an application to the internal Twitter team requesting that your current username is renamed to your desired username. Remember, no login details are required for such a service. A legitimate social agency wouldn’t ask for your password. They’ll have the ability to internally make an application for username change.
As Easy as 1-2-3
It takes less than a week to get the inactive username reassigned. That is how simple and easy the process is. First you make sure that the username you want is inactive. Second, you prepare your account on Twitter. Third, you get the name reassigned to you via a social media agency.
When you get the account, it will be yours to do whatever you want with it. You can send out tweets and post pictures or videos if you wish. You are in total control of the account, and you can use it any way you want. As long as you don’t get inactive on the account, no one else can claim it.
Advantages of getting your username on Twitter
You might be wondering what the advantages of getting the Twitter username you want will do for you. And there are many things to consider when looking at it this way:
Brand Identity
The most important aspect of having the perfect username has to do with branding identity. Nothing is more amateur looking than having a username that ends with an underscore. Would you rather have @bloomberg or @_bloomberg_
You get the idea. And, add to that the fact, that a username that matches exactly your brand name and your domain is crucial. With so many imposters popping around on social media, its imperative that you have consistent names and usernames across all social channels.
Networking Opportunities
You’ll make new contacts and relationships with other Twitter users who want to connect with you. It’s a great way to network online. You are making connections with your followers and with other users who share similar interests.
A clear and concise username will instantly make your profile look more professional. People are more likely to connect with you if you’re @JohnSmith versus if you’re @_John_Smith123_
More Followers, More Sales
In a sea of billions of online users, the one thing that you cannot afford is to leave room for confusion when people are looking for you. Think of this, your potential customer searches for you on Twitter. And there are 50 results that show up. What are they more likely click on? The one that exactly matches your brand, right? At that point, if you do not have the same username as your domain or business name, you’re losing out on followers and potential sales.
