After five years, I admit I’m not completely in love with
our blog name. It’s true! But again, after five years it has kind of become a
part of us and quite frankly changing it would be more of a hassle. At the time we started the blog, the name
seemed to fit. We knew we were going to
talk a lot about Disney and Disney races since that is where we got our
start. I didn’t want to pigeon hole us
by putting Disney in our title (and I’m sure that would alienate some readers
as well), but I did want it to have something to do with the magic of running
at Disney. So we came up with the term Fairytales. This was kind of a spin on words too since I
am a journalist by trade and of course fairytales are stories. I hope I am a
good story teller.
Also, we thought it could relate to traveling too since we both like to travel. And of course fitness just kind of rolled off the tongue. Running was our main sport but again, why pigeon hole us. And with that, Fairytales and Fitness was born.
Also, we thought it could relate to traveling too since we both like to travel. And of course fitness just kind of rolled off the tongue. Running was our main sport but again, why pigeon hole us. And with that, Fairytales and Fitness was born.
Of course we did our research and at the time, the only
thing close to our name was called “A Fitness Fairytale” which I’m not even
sure was an actual blog. I think it was more of a title of an online article
that kept showing up. Now of course I see it is a Youtube channel, but back
then I don’t think it was.
I then created social media pages for us including a
Facebook page title Fairytales and Fitness, a twitter account and then later
Instagram. When I created twitter I
could not get the handle @fairytalesandfitness because twitter told me the name
was too long (too many characters). I
settled on @Fairytalesnfit. I did the same for IG.
This brings me to the other day, I was playing around on Scott’s phone (like I
usually do) because I wanted to see if his Newer phone did all the cool stuff
my old phone does.
I wanted to see if his phone had the voice activated reader
so I pulled up our blog. As I went to do
this, I saw a few other links for Fairytales and Fitness that did not belong to
us. What???
I was now intrigued who these other Fairytales and Fitness
imposters were. One is a Youtuber and
instead of Fairytales and fitness (which belongs to us) she is
Fairytalesandfitness. The other is an
Instagramer @Fairytalesandfitness. This is the one that made me instantly
furious because I tried to have that handle years ago when it did not belong to
anyone and could not. Of course I had to
check out these folks’ other social media handles and nope, none of them are
anything related to Fairytales and Fitness. So what is the connection for them?
Why is it important for them to have OUR name?
Okay, Okay, I know I can’t actually call it our name since we don’t have
a trademark on it or anything but it still bugs me because I feel like we put a
lot of work into our brand.
Ever have an issue with your blog name or social media handles? Have you found some imposters?
Ever have an issue with your blog name or social media handles? Have you found some imposters?
I havent even thought to look for my name in other places. I'm almost afraid to...
ReplyDeletethat's crazy that others are taking your name. & your name really does become such a part of your online presence. Even if you dont feel like it really represents you.... you have so much time & energy invested in it all over the web, it bites to have someone step up to try & get your traffic.
There is a lot of time and energy in it and it just stinks that others did not take the time to see who was using that name before they decided to use it as well.
DeleteI had someone steal my old blog name out from under me and Google let it happen. I was over the name but was still holding it (not sure why) but it's gone for good now. I've seen my current blog name used on other accounts but mine is the most prominent. As long as you use it you will always show at the top from what I've seen.
ReplyDeleteOh that's interesting! How was someone else able to get the name if you were still using it?
DeleteThats really frustrating! I changed my blog name last year because I just felt like I outgrew it or something. But it was annoying because Mile by Mile was already taken (for some race reviews or something related to cycling) so I added blog on, but my twitter/instagram handles don't match.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the "Mile by Mile" cycling page is annoyed that there is now another "mile by mile" site out there. I'm sure those words are used a lot for websites that are about running or cycling and stuff (maybe travel too).
DeleteWhen I started my blog, the handle Taking the Long Way Home was taken on every platform. So like Lisa, my handles don't match my blog name.
ReplyDeleteNow that twitter upped it's character count I could have probably had my full title as our handle but back then I could not so that's annoying. I would have changed it had I known but Someone else beat me to it now.
DeleteThe internet is a wild and sometimes "lawless" place. I'm on my third blog name in 9 years. Don't get me started on all the things I've had stolen, from content to my kids' pictures. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteWow, I did not know this was your third name.
DeleteThere's a robot blog who steals every post I make. In order to get them removed, I have to submit the URLs for each and every post...and when I discovered this, there was years and years of my posts there. Seems ridiculous that I have to do so much work when it's blatant but that's Google for ya. Not hugely impressed with them in that department.
ReplyDeleteWow! How did you discover this?
DeleteI was searching for a specific race to read other recaps, saw one that I'd done and was all "oh hey, cool - someone else ran this random small race" - clicked on the link and WTF, it was MY POST. Still pissed that Google is making it so hard to delete those posts - and for every one that I submit to have removed, they just add all of my new posts.
DeleteThis is one thing I may never have to worry about. Who wants to be a Ho? LOL.
ReplyDeleteOMG that is too funny Holly!
DeleteSo far I haven't found anyone that's stolen my name, but I will admit it's been some time since I checked.
ReplyDeletePeople love to reserve stuff that isn't theirs!
It absolutely should bug you. Mr. Judy had a photo stolen once & it was plastered all over the internet -- AND was being used (sort of) for profit. He did get a resolution (so to speak) but it took some work.
Glad Mr Judy got a resolution!
DeleteThat's SUPER frustrating! Especially because your blog name is a huge part of your identity. Ben's YouTube is Nutrition Mission and he's had some issues with people ripping off the name too.
ReplyDeleteBUT, just remember that you've put hard work and dedication into your blog, and you've made this name for yourself! And nobody can steal that!
Susie | http://milehighdreamers.com
Thanks Susie! "Nutrition Mission" is a great name! How are people ripping off his name? Are they using it for other social media channels?
DeleteI've seen a few similar. Years ago a web designer tild me when I was starting my wedding business to buy the domain names similar to mine so no one else can take them. He never mentioned it but social media wiuld make sense to do the same. I guess if I was to start from scratch yeah I think it would be a good idea to grab similar social media account names and stuff. I've been away from blogging and I'm really starting to miss it, I've really got to find the time to get into it more. Have a fabulous Thanksgiving!!
ReplyDeleteSorry for the spelling errors I'm not illiterate I promise lol. I shouldn't read and respond while walking lol.
DeleteThat is interesting. But if the domain name is already out there then doesn't that mean that somebody else already bought it?
DeleteI haven't found my blog name otherwise, but when I renamed it a few years a go, I did some searching to make sure I wasn't taking a name that belonged to someone else. Thankfully, I didn't find anything.
ReplyDeleteI like that you did the research first to see if there was something similar.
DeleteI do like the name as well. Fairytales and Fitness sounds unique, and it makes you want to learn more about what you guys blog about.
ReplyDeleteHappy Holidays!
The Fitness Bro
Thank you!
DeleteI have seen a lot of "confessions" of something blogs....Of course I like to think I am one of a kind! I do like your blog name it's cute and different
ReplyDeleteMy "name" comes up in random places, but it's usually in reference to other stuff. I have never taken the time to actually research it in depth, though. What a nightmare for you guys ;-(
ReplyDeleteHow frustrating to have others using the same name. I've never really looked (until now ;) anyway) haha! and it looks like it's just me out there.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen anyone steal my name - it's kind of a bizarre one to steal. And some days I think I should come up with a new one, but instead I'll just run more MCMs. But I've had blog posts and pictures stolen. I finally just stopped worrying about it. I don't need the stress.
ReplyDeleteOddly there's a twitter account that streams all of my pins to pinterest. I have no idea how they benefit from that. So very odd.
Gosh, that is really frustrating. So far I've been pretty lucky with Run With No Regrets but I have thought about protecting the name because I don't want anyone else to steal it!
ReplyDeleteI have never had any issues with people stealing my current user name, but had problems with it in the past to a point that I changed my online handle. My teenage handle was actually used by a less than savory site at the time.
ReplyDeleteHopefully the people who are using your handle are at least on brand.
I remember when I came up with the name for my blog that it just came to my mind right away. It wasn't something I thought about for a long time. So I went to Google and typed in "Meg Go Run". Luckily, everything that comes up is either my blog, my youtube vids, or other blogs I have commented on. I did find a blog called "Run Girl Meg".
ReplyDelete