Your brand should reflect what you do.

This helps to more easily draw people in.

I can guarantee, for example, that no one would question the product of a brand named @bakingwithbaker. Or @doctor.finance. Or @professionaltraveler.

It keeps the guesswork out.

But keep this in mind: it could also lock you in.

My own brand, for example, was birthed when I was practicing medicine, and when I considered blogging about health tips.

Over time, I realized that what brought me joy was less educational info, and more simple sharing of life pearls; dissecting that life through a lens shared with an audience.

But the brand stuck.

And truth be told, there were many points along my growth where I felt it was an inaccurate representation of the content I wanted to share; as if it was pigeonholing me in.

I considered a re-brand several times, where I’d essentially start from scratch, including taking on a new name.

But I stuck with it, because I had experienced nice growth with the original. And because, at the end of the day, it’s still my name (with my degree reflected within; something that will never leave me).

Using your personal name will be harder to build a business with.

It simply doesn’t convey what it is that you do and can take more effort to build.

But it’s also more versatile, giving you the option of how you’d like to expand.

Using your personal name can be much more forgiving where it comes to commitment. So if you’re still exploring, consider using it.

There’s a lots to think about here.

So think wisely through it all.