Friday, November 19, 2010

I Need Your Advice

I’m considering changing the header of my blog—titling it something else.

Ideas:

Heaven in a Wild Flower (this is from a line of one of my favorite William Blake poems so it has special significance to me)

Wendy Paine Miller (I’m sure you can figure out why I’d choose this one)

or

All in a Day’s Thought (leave it as is)

I’m drawn to each option for different reasons. I don’t want to mess with name recognition or confuse readers, but I’m wondering if it is time for a change.


What are your thoughts?

I’m taking a turkey hiatus next week. Stuffing myself full of stuffing and whatnot. So there’s plenty of time to think about it and get back with me on your thoughts. Oh, and just like with One Question Fridays, please explain your answer. Thanks!




*photos by flickr
**for now the URL will remain http://thoughtsthatmove.blogspot.com/

39 comments:

  1. Hmm, I'd say either keep it the same or put your name there. Unless the first one signifies your writing more, I'd be more likely to keep things consistent.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I also like your URL thoughts that move.

    For an author your name is nice and helpful with a little tag line too.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm with Sarah. I think we're in a place on the journey where we're building platform and name recognition. Unless the first one is something that you hope to build on to promote your writing, then keep it the same or change it to your name.

    I don't know if this helps, but when I changed the look of my blog recently and added tabs, I changed the header to be my name, but on the blog tab, I included the original title of my blog - Balance with Purpose.

    If you go with titling your Blog, Heaven in a Wildflower, then I would do something really BIG and SPLASHY to tell your readers why and promote the change a lot. That way we continue to associate the name with you, the original ~Wendy!

    Happy Friday friend! I hope my long-winded answer was a little helpful. That would have been much more fun over coffee on some big sofas (like in Indy!!)

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love the cureent title, but your name would be great, with the tagline Thoughts that Move. That is brilliant! Like you.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I vote for your name, but they're all good.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Here's another vote for your name. Why? Because when I open my Google reader and see all those blog titles, I struggle to remember who is the blog owner at each one. Those bloggers who use their names make it easy for me and my not-as-good-as-it-once-was memory. =)

    ReplyDelete
  7. I like your current title, but I can see you changing it to your name too.

    Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Your name! Same reason as Keli...with so many blogs in the reader, I need names to remember.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'd vote to keep it the same. Or, if you do change it, make it your name.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow. I'm going to go outside the box and I say
    "Heaven in a Wild Flower". Love it. And you could tagline it with ... "thoughts from Wendy Paine Miller" or something. But then I got 3 hrs of sleep last night and am running low on coffee - so you may not want to listen to me today, my dear! :) <3

    ReplyDelete
  11. Just want to let you know I'm loving this feedback so far. Giving me lots to think about and I think I'm getting closer to a new title.

    Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'd go with your personal name for the reason of easier recognition. Any one of the others - thoughts that move; all in a day's thoughts or heaven in a wild flower make for creative taglines.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Yes, go with your name (but I do love your blog name, too). Maybe you can to both as others have suggested:)

    ReplyDelete
  14. I like the idea of linking the name of your blog with your existing url. Thoughts That Move is a nice title.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I'd say keep it the same if you're not sure but if you want a change, put up your name. I agree with all the reasons everyone already said. For recognition, for helping to build your platform. Great reasons we want to know this blog is by YOU!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I say go with your name or keep it the same for clarity...and, Happy Turkey day!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Okay, here's my take. I name everything after myself because it's a brand I'm building. My blog, my website, my twitter, my facebook, my blogger profile, everything. I want it to have the Elana Johnson brand.

    So my blog is called by my name, and so is my URL. But your URL is already something different. If you're looking to brand yourself with your name, you might change your header to Wendy Payne Miller and then have a tagline that says "thoughts that move." That would get your URL in the header as well.

    Most brands have a slogan or catch phrase, so this would be in line with that.

    Of course, I'm coming at this from a purely marketing standpoint, and to me it's about building a consistent brand. You know?

    ReplyDelete
  18. My advice would be to either keep it the same or use your name. Same reason as Sarah's. Love you girl!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Well, it depends. Ducking.
    Okay, I'd say if you were just a blogger, change it to whatever beautiful flowery title you choose. However, I think Heather and others said it best - you want to be creating a platform. I used to have a blog before I had a website, called it Paid in Full. Nice, huh? But once I built my site, I wanted the Blog to be part of that, so now it's just Catherine West Blog. Kinda boring, but people know where to look.
    So all that to say I'd go with your name.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Keep it or put your name:)) Happy Thanksgiving off!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I guess I would go with your name, however I'd still incorporate some sort of subheading. I think it's a great way to build a brand. I would suggest leaving the title you have and just making your name more prominent. take it as a grain of salt and do as you wish. I think your awesome either way .

    ReplyDelete
  22. You know, I've thought about changing my header to just my name, as well. I find that when I follow blogs it's easier to keep track of people when they use their name. BUT, I've been following your blog so long now, I associate your blog name with your real name, so I think keeping the old name wouldn't hurt. It's a lovely name.

    Have fun deciding. And Happy Thanksgiving, my friend!

    Amy

    ReplyDelete
  23. Wendy:
    As I see it, you could either keep it the same or use your name. My blog is named for the writing ministry I am trying to promote.

    ReplyDelete
  24. If you want to promote yourself publicly, I'd use your name with the subtitle, "All in a Day's Thought." That's just my 2 cents. :)

    Have a Happy, Happy Thanksgiving.

    ReplyDelete
  25. The advice I was given is to go with your name. It will help with name recognition for your future published status. :O)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Well, as I've recently changed the location and name of my blog I am interested in this feedback. My url is my name, and I originally titled the new blog by my name, but it felt too pretentious. So I'm going with a new blog name and my name as the url for now (could change my mind though!) I agree with those who have said we are trying to build our brand and our name is important. Whatever you choose will be perfect for you!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Hmm. I think there'd be definite benefit to your name, but I always love the ones (ie. the Blake line) that have personal meaning and significance.

    I guess I have no advice, but I know it'll be great, whatever you do.

    Happy Thanksgiving, Wendy! Much love through the holidays.

    ReplyDelete
  28. However special it's meaning to you, the first one sounds too vague.

    Using just your name probably works better once your name is known. I'd keep that one on the back burner for now.

    I genuinely like your current title. Or "Thoughts That Move."

    ReplyDelete
  29. Leave it or use your name. B/n these two I'd say use your name.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Hi Wendy,
    I'm just going to say what I think, and hope it is not perceived the wrong way :o)

    My preference are blog titles that don't use the bloggers name, because I know a lot of thought goes into choosing titles for our blogs, and if it's something other than our name it creates an interest as to why the blogger chose that Title. I'm voting that you keep it the same.

    You asked the question "What are our thoughts?", and I am wondering what prompted the name change thoughts you are having?

    Again, I vote for no change in blog title, I like it, but it's not for me to decide. I support whatever you choose. I clearly like your blog, and a name change would not effect that in any way. I know this must be a tough decision. I look forward to see what you choose.

    Hope your thanksgiving is wonderful :o)
    God bless you,
    Michele Katherine

    ReplyDelete
  31. Because you are a professional writer, creating an identity that people can recognize and keeping it consistent is important. I think it's good to have your name linked with whatever piece of flare that makes it yours is key. For example, "America runs on Dunkin," "Life tastes good: Coca Cola," or "The best part of waking up, is Folger's in your cup." They change the slogans sometimes, but the promote the crap out of it, while always keeping the name connected with it. Dunkin Donuts even has that specific font it uses, as well as colors that people associate with it. So even if they never said the name, you'd know it anyway.

    Also, because you already have a certain title as your URL, you might want to incorporate that somehow or get a new URL. I remember when I was trying to remember you blog name one time, I typed in "allinadaysthought" because I thought that's the title I associated with you.

    Tips: keep it simple, keep it consistent, make it yours.

    ReplyDelete
  32. I say keep it the same, as you have a strong following right now with that branding in place. But if you are in the market to publish, or are building a platform, then you will eventually have to go with your name, especially if you publish more than one book. Eventually YOU will become the brand. I know, I find that unsettling...but it seems to be the trend in the publishing industry.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Hi Wendy -

    My blog header has my name, blog title, and picture. It's helpful for people to have a name and face to connect with the blog.

    Blessings,
    Susan :)

    ReplyDelete
  34. It would be a hard switch now... I see "All in a day's thought" and I know it's your blog--if you change it, I may not register it in my brain for a long time.

    But as some have mentioned, branding is important, especially as writers, we need the name recognition. So maybe better to make the switch sooner than later???

    ReplyDelete
  35. Very interesting! I am thinking about the same thing. I think if I had a nice simple name (like yours) I would go with it. (Let me know what you decide!)

    ReplyDelete
  36. I like all the options! Heaven in a Wildflower is beautiful. Maybe add your name to the header with it? I'm sure it will be lovely no matter what you decide.
    Happy Thanksgiving!

    ReplyDelete
  37. I like it like it is, but the Blake quote is lovely.
    Happy Thanksgiving, dear one!
    Patti

    ReplyDelete
  38. Hi Wendy,
    Just wanted to wish your family a very wonderful Thanksgiving day.
    Blessings,
    Michele Katherine

    ReplyDelete
  39. So many opinions! I think I will remain silent and let the "experts" speak. :) I have a blog award for you if you so desire. You can find it here:
    http://enjoyingthewritingcraft.blogspot.com/2010/11/winner-book-news-and-blog-award.html

    Hope you are having a great weekend! :)

    ReplyDelete

Taking Time

college applications                 homecoming                            flag football                basketball             SATs   ...