I’m seriously thinking of changing the name of my blog.
And I need your help!
I’ve actually been considering a change for a while now, but am finding it difficult to take that step.
I’m torn.
Part of me feels limited by the name. Don’t get me wrong, I love writing on happiness. To me, most everything in life that I could possibly want to write about is in some way connected to it. But so much of my writing lately hasn’t even referenced the word.
It really didn’t take long after launching Meant to be Happy that it turned into something more than just a happiness blog. It quickly became a blog about human potential, about growth and development, about character and overcoming obstacles in life.
Does M2bH still reflect what I write about today?
Here are some of the questions that have been bouncing around in my head lately:
Is the name more inviting or off-putting to those who come to my site and see it for the first time? Are people turned away after seeing my blog isn’t really just about happiness? Or is the name irrelevant? Does it evoke a uniquely religious or even Christian assumption to the idea of being “meant” for happiness and therefore potentially limiting my audience?
Ultimately this site is about and for YOU. So answers to these questions really matter to me. In fact, I was talking with a fellow blogger friend a while ago who suggested I take it to my readers. Thus, this post.
For now, what I’m looking for is to know if you, my friends and readers (whether or not you have ever left a comment before), feel I should keep my name as is (meanttobehappy.com) or change it.
It would mean a lot to me if you would take a second or two and send me word in the comments.
I’ll thank you ahead of time for sharing your preference. Thank you.
Have an awesome day!
PS: If the vote tilts toward changing the name, I’ll ask for help with names in a future post and offer an award for the reader who provides me with the name I end up using. More to come on that later!
UPDATE:
I’ve given my blog a facelift, dressed it up in a new suit and tie and added some language that seems to have solved the problem I was having with feeling pinned in before. Now, in the upper right hand quadrant of the header/banner, it reads: “Live with Purpose; Act with Character; Think with Clarity; Grow with Courage” This both sums up what I believe creates teh foundation for a life of deep joy very nicely, it broadens the scope of what the blog itself seems to allow.
Thank you to all who threw in their two cents. It was deeply appreciated. Hope you like the new look and feel. I do.
PS: A special thanks to my Mother-extraordinaire! With a background in computer graphics, she was the primary architect to building my new banner. Love you Mom!
Photo courtesy of Pixabay
Hi Ken,
I appreciate your thought process in this and I wish I could help, but naming things, even though very important to me, is not something I’m very good at! I suppose if you could boil it down to your main goal for the blog something may come to you. What is your deepest goal in doing this – why do you write this blog? I found the name for my blog when I gathered three people together to brainstorm (will be talking about it on Monday’s post). I also will be suggesting other ways for finding inspiration. When all else fails, though, I usually sleep on it. 😉 Good luck!
Lori
Lori Gosselin recently posted … 4 Stages of Community Building
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on this, Lori.
Great questions to ask! I’ve asked some of them, but would benefit from asking them again and again.
My first step here, though, is just an effort at assessing what people think about the current title. Does it fit? Does it evoke the wrong message? Is a blog that claims happiness in its title but often posts articles without referencing happiness mismatched? Or, on the other hand, am I making a big to-do about nothing?
But it’s just that first question (should I change it?) that I’m polling for now. If I change it, what it will change to is the second question to be asked another day. Any vote on whether it would be best changed?
Hi Ken,
Here is what came to mind immediately upon reading this post…
1.) You ARE writing about happiness. The evolution of your posts has happened as a result of the desire to dig deeper to find answers…to discover that human potential that we all (or at least many of us) seek….to nurture the growth that enhances the depth and richness of character…the understanding of what obstacles offer us in terms of possibility. All of these lessons bring us closer to achieving personal happiness. They help us recognize that happiness comes from within as a result of “human potential, growth and development,character and overcoming obstacles in life.”
2.) Given that…the bigger question is what works for YOU? If you have been having feelings of uncertainty regarding your blog title, then you need to go with those feelings and find out what feels right…it needs to feel right for YOU. Ultimately your community will come, follow, comment and support you because of the beauty of your words…whatever your title is.
Maybe it’s just me but I will share a funny confession. I remember the name of most of my favorite blogs as “Lori’s blog”, “Bill’s blog”, “Gini’s blog”, “Kaarina’s blog” etc etc and now…”Ken’s blog” If pressed, I CAN come up with their blog title but once I am hooked on a blogger’s style, the blog becomes theirs and I almost forget the title….I hope that confession isn’t disheartening.
Good luck, Ken, in whatever you decide…;-)
Claudia
Claudia recently posted … I Dream of Jeannie – Blink Your Wishes True
Ok, then, sorry! I like the title the way it is. I particularly like your byline!
Lori
Lori Gosselin recently posted … 4 Stages of Community Building
Awesome advice and insight, Claudia! And great point about Lori’s blog etc. Never thought of it that way, but I largely do the same. Thank you.
Hi Ken, I’ve only been reading your blog a short time. But Like Claudia, I associate more with your name than the blog name. If you kept the name I like it spelled out better than the cute
M2bH.
I also agree that the name is best to come from you. This is your blog to express your voice. What is your inner self suggesting?
And I like the overall theme of your blog; inspiring us to live up to our potential. Maybe a name that speaks to that theme.
I look forward to seeing where this goes!
Brad recently posted … Vibrant Health as Spiritual Path
Thank you, Brad. That means a lot to me. As for M2bH, yeah, I agree. It’s my short-cut mentality getting the best of me! 🙂
Thank you for the sound advice.
Ken, I think your title is great! That’s just me and my two cents though. 🙂
When your blog comes to my email, there’s no mistaking whose it is and I really like that. It’s also something I look forward to and sometimes save until the end of the day … like my dessert. (As you can note though, I’m not good at waiting for my dessert all the time!)
Love your blog just the way it is. 🙂 Can’t wait to hear others thoughts on this and what the outcome is!
Have a magnificent day!
Much kindness,
Elena
Elena Patrice recently posted … We’re Judged by the Company We Keep.
Thank you, Elena!
Your words are very heartwarming.
On another topic, since you brought up desert, I don’t know why every meal isn’t PRECEDED by a desert. Why get full on all the other stuff and run out of room for the best?! 🙂
Thank you for your thoughts, Elena. I truly value them.
Hello Ken,
Not easy! But I believe in following my instincts and it would seem yours are telling you to make a change.
Is that OK for now?
As to what you change it to… I’ll save that for your next post.
Blogging’s fun, yes?
Certainly is!
Linda/Positve Spin recently posted … Relationships – Is Emotional Honesty The Best Policy?
Hi Linda. Thank you so much for chiming in. And no, it’s not easy. I really am torn, which is why, upon the advice of another blogger, I brought the question here. My instincts don;t seem to be speaking with an undivided voice! 🙂
But yes, blogging is an absolute hoot! I love it. My wife says it’s my new love affair — tongue-in-cheek, but I need to watch it. Don’t want my blog to become the “other woman” my amazing wife has to compete with!
Thanks again for sharing your thoughts. They are helping me look at options from different angles, some of which I hadn’t fully articulated to myself very clearly. This is helpful!
Have a wonderful weekend, Linda!
My opinion, I don’t think the name reflects your energy. I DO think that ultimately you are writing on the topic, though.
Your inner self might just be finding the title limiting in some way. A reason could be that you want to branch out and that is a reflection of it. Or, it’s a simple misalignment.
I chose A Clear Sign after searching through my favorite quotes and song lyrics. Then I changed it to my name mainly because no permutation of A Clear Sign was available! But I still use it as a tagline.
I know you specifically said not to do this but I can’t help myself – using your name as the site plus a tagline that expresses the FEELING you are evoking through the blog is a good thing.
Julie | A Clear Sign recently posted … Does The Veil Between Worlds Thin Around Halloween?
Thank you for your input, Julie!
I think what’s difficult is that my daughter helped me pick the name, so I have that emotional attachment. Also, I’ve bumped into the same obstacle you did when looking into A Clear Sign. All my strongest ideas have been taken. And most of them are not being used, they’re just owned by others who are offering them for sale, some of them at premium prices.
I will seriously think about the energy of my writing versus the current name. That’s a great point.
Have a great weekend!
Hi Ken,
That is why I like the name of my blog. It really means nothing at all and I never did add a sub title to my blog either. Since my blog is under a year old I didn’t really want to commit to one topic or niche and limit myself.
I write about a broad topic of things because I have many different interests. So, its best to check your heart and mind and see what it is telling you as far as a name change goes. Change is a good thing. 🙂
I also agree with Julie’s sentiments as well.
Justin | Mazzastick recently posted … Getting Beyond the Time Loop and the Matrix
Hey Justin!
I was thinking of going with Wertastick. What do you think? 🙂
And yes, you certainly do write across a broad spectrum of targets. This month’s Halloween theme case in point!
Appreciate your thoughts, here, my friend.
So far my heart and mind seem to be speaking in split personalities! 🙂 Hopefully there will be more clarity as I consider the wonderful thoughts you and everyone else have added!
You are too funny Ken. 🙂 I had to laugh when you wrote your heart and mind are split. Isn’t this always the case.
Justin | Mazzastick recently posted … Halloween the Harvest Festival
Hi Ken,
I can’t help but to give you my advice, which I do not even follow, but will in future writings, like for Nanowrimo.
You want to change, or you wouldn’t have written this post. I read someone who said, always use your real name. After-all, these are your words, feeling, and thoughts and they will evolve with you but your name will stay the same.
You can add the word “happy” anywhere. 🙂
Hi Shirley!
Thank you for such an interesting insight.That’s so true: my words, feelings and thoughts will evolve. Anchoring them to my name would allow that natural evolution without tying them to a name that could become outdated.
Hmmm …
Thank you for giving me something to seriously consider.
Thank you all for your input. You have given me some priceless insight into my next step, whatever that ends up being! 🙂
From your writing it sounds like in your gut you want to change it. If you knew changing it wouldn’t hurt your blog at all, would you do it? If the answer it yes, I say go for it and listen to your heart!
Wendy Irene recently posted … A Fall Love Story
Thank you Wendy! I like the way you put that question. It is clarifying. But there’s another quagmire: I don’t have something compelling I want to change it TO. Most of what I’ve thought of has been taken, including variations that were acceptable. Still looking for that name that “speaks” to me.
Hmmm …
I’m coming late to the discussion, but I’ll still jump in. I love the name of your blog, because it speaks to our greatest destiny. We are meant to be happy. I don’t see it as a limiting or as a superficial title in any way.
Having said that, I agree with others who observed that the title is not working as well for YOU these days, and really that’s what counts.
Galen Pearl recently posted … The M Word
Thank you Galen. I’m moving closer and closer to a solution that I will announce once all the pieces are in place. I appreciate your input.
Have a wonderful week!
Hi Ken,
How about “Wert for World – Tips to an Inspired & Blessed Life” ? You strike me as a man of integrity and honesty, you mean what you say. Perhaps a title sounds like “Word for Word” stands a chance?
Lilian Jamison recently posted … 5 Beliefs that will Radically Change Your Life Forever
HI Lilian!
Thank you so much for your suggestions. You’re good at coming up with catchy sounding phrases. “Wert for World” almost sounds like I’m on a quest for world domination. Haha! But “Word for Word” is great. I like it. I think I’ve settled for my current name with the changed look and the added phrases in the upper right corner though. That worked for me, adding a dimension the title lacked when it stood by itself.
Still, I really appreciate the suggestions. Hope to hear from you again soon!
Hi Ken, I think you blog name works. It fits with a wider theme of human potential, growth and development. Surely all growth and development is about finding happiness. I could be a bit biased as my own blog is called lovelivebefit! Just believe everyone deserves to enjoy life! Your existing name is short and easy to remember. It’s not worth changing a blog name without really strong reasons as it messes up your SEO.
Alison Wright recently posted … Run 5 Miles A Day. Is It A Good Idea?