I received the following question from Jan O’Hara:
I have a dilemma to sort out about author names. These are the issues:
1. Depending upon the blogging platform I’m using, it variously codes my name as OHara, O’Hara, O\Hara, or Hara.
2. Twitter does not recognize apostrophes. To cope, I’m using the handle @jan_ohara. In essence, I’m training my Twitter followers to use the wrong search criteria. This wouldn’t necessarily be a problem except for these next two points.
3. While some search engines or bookselling sites prompt the reader to find the correct spelling, this is not consistent. I cannot be guaranteed a reader who searches for “ohara” will be sent on to “O’Hara.”
4. I’ve checked search results within Google, Yahoo, Amazon, and Goodreads for published authors who use names with apostrophes. There’s a vast difference in the quantity and quality of data that emerge for “O’Name” versus “Oname.” In some cases, the latter misses out on more than 50% of the search information. (For example, a search under John Oname yields half the results of John O’Name, and the John Oname page will not necessarily prompt the reader to look for the correct spelling.)
In other words, as online searchability and metadata become ever more crucial, I think I’ve given myself a handicap. Do you agree? In your opinion, is this a sufficiently big enough reason to change my online name?
If you agree it’s an issue, when should I make the change? (While soonest seems best, I’m concerned about the probability of making a shift now, then regretting it if/when a publisher dislikes my choice. This has happened to several authors I know.)
Any tips on the mechanics of change, other than purchasing my domain name and spreading out from there? Is it better to make the leap and change everything, or call oneself “Jan O’Hara, writing under the name _____” ?
Thanks for any and all help you’re able to provide!
First, I do think you’re right to be thinking about this issue. Online search is becoming critical for discoverability of all media. It’s not a stretch to say that if people can’t find you via Google, you don’t exist. Every author should anticipate what keywords their readers will use when running a search, and pay attention to what results come up with those search terms. Are you easy to find or does someone have to really dig?
Well, let’s use you as an example to get started! Here’s what happened when I looked for you on Google. On the top, I searched for “Jan O’Hara.” On the bottom, I searched for “Jan OHara.”
In both instances, I’m getting the same results. Also, when I omit the apostrophe from your name, Google automatically attempts to correct the spelling. This is exactly what you want—as you’ve noted above.
I probably don’t have to tell you that whatever Google does should be your guiding star. Even if various blog platforms, Twitter, or other social networking sites don’t use the apostrophe, or don’t prompt for one, I don’t think it’s anywhere near as important as what the No. 1 search engine does. Why? Because people least familiar with you will likely start with Google. And you catch more fish with that net because most people start a search that way.
If you went to the trouble to change your name due to search/discoverability concerns, I believe there’d need to be a far more serious impediment, such as:
- Someone else who is very established—whether a celebrity or well-known author—has the exact same name as you. (This usually means that you don’t have the online domain names or handles associated with the celebrity name, which is a disadvantage and annoyance.)
- You have a very common name that makes it next to impossible for someone to search for you specifically.
- Your name is exceptionally difficult to pronounce, spell, or otherwise remember for search purposes.
- People may remember your book title along with your name, which greatly narrows results.
- If you have a moniker, e.g., “The Writer Mama,” that can also help direct people to the right place. In your case, it’s “Tartitude”!
- Often people will find you through a referral, rather than a direct search.
As you can see, the bulk of my traffic comes from social networks, primarily Twitter (that’s the t.co referral at the top). About 10% of my traffic currently comes from organic search.
Anyone who’s concerned about whether they’re being easily found via search should check their Google Analytics to see what keywords are bringing people to the site. Here’s a snapshot of mine:
The No. 1 keyword bringing people to my site are those searching for “Jane Friedman.” It helps that my domain is, in fact, JaneFriedman.com.
A few final tips:
- If you don’t already own a domain name, choose one that will be relevant over the course of your career, beyond any specific project or book. Hopefully the domain you buy is similar to your name, but if that’s not possible, it’s not the end of the world. Your site has all kinds of metadata associated with it that will be indexed by Google and tie it to the name you specify. That’s why Jan’s blog, Tartitude, comes up first in Google search results, even though her name is not in the URL or in the official blog name.
- Claim your Facebook vanity URL. Instructions here.
- No matter what name you choose, be as consistent as possible across all social networks and profiles. (Don’t use your real name in one place, then switch to Cupcake87 on the next one.) Don’t make people guess what name you’ll be going by next!
- Be very clear on your website, and all social networks, where else you are active or might be found. Cross-linking and promoting is not annoying; it’s a service to those who’d like to connect with you on other sites.
So, Jan: I don’t think you need to change a thing at this point. Your presence is consistent and solid.
But I’d like to open up this issue to all of you! Please share your advice and your experiences—either good or bad—in figuring out what your “official” author name is and how you optimize it for search. Are there secrets or warnings you have that I’ve missed? I know I haven’t covered it all! Do jump in.
Jane Friedman has spent nearly 25 years working in the book publishing industry, with a focus on author education and trend reporting. She is the editor of The Hot Sheet, the essential publishing industry newsletter for authors, and was named Publishing Commentator of the Year by Digital Book World in 2023. Her latest book is The Business of Being a Writer (University of Chicago Press), which received a starred review from Library Journal. In addition to serving on grant panels for the National Endowment for the Arts and the Creative Work Fund, she works with organizations such as The Authors Guild to bring transparency to the business of publishing.
To say I’m relieved would be an understatement. Methinks I’d fallen prey to the theoretical worry versus the practical.
Thank you so much, Jane! Will look forward to seeing if your commenters have a different point of view.
Everything Jane wrote makes sense to me, though I have no experience with this issue.
Since your Twitter profile has a link to your website, it doesn’t seem like your Twitter followers would need to search for you.
As for non-Google sites where people might search for you but which don’t properly handle the apostrophe, it couldn’t hurt to send them a message about the issue. They’re essentially discriminating against a class of people.
Agree with John on the Twitter front!
I always knew you had a presence, Jan. Now I know it’s consistent and solid. 😉 Scarlett never had to worry over such things. I guess I should start seeking a presence. I suppose having some consistency would help. Cool post, Jane!
LOL! Thanks, Vaughn.
I totally agree with your advice here, Jane. One caution about cross-linking: too much of it and Google might think you’re just engaging in link swaps (verboten). For Ms. O’Hara, I’d encourage people to link to you with the correct anchor text i.e. with the apostrophe. Because, to Jane’s point, Google will suggest the autocorrected version of your last name even if the sluggish searcher omits the ‘
Thanks so much for taking a look—and for the cautionary note! 🙂
My real name is shared by 500+ people in the US alone, at least 4 published authors among them. Years ago I made up the name Gabryyl (my father’s favorite actor Gabby Hayes & my Welsh heritage combined) to use online as my real one was always taken. It’s now very easy to find me…so easy even my own mother has started using it!
Excellent! Thanks for sharing that success story.
This is so important. I published my first two books under the name Anne Allen and nobody could find me. The most common middle name for women in the English speaking world is Ann/e. The most common for men? Allen. Yeah.
Finally I decided to add my middle initial and use it for everything. Now when you Google me, the first 10 pages are mostly me. It’s amazing the difference one little letter can make!
No kidding! Appreciate you sharing your experience.
[…] always wonderful Jane Friedman recently posted and responded to a question from a writer about the standardization of an author name and how search engines interpret (or cannot interpret) the various spellings of a single author’s […]
Hey Jane, great post. This question go me thinking about finally putting together a blog post dealing with this very issue. I’ve been struggling with it for a while (Caleb Ross vs. Caleb J. Ross). I’ve pulled from my extensive knowledge of search engines to solve the issue. All my secrets here: http://www.calebjross.com/2011/11/how-to-standardize-your-author-name-for-search-engines/
That’s a FABULOUS post. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge. (Anyone reading this: You must go take a look. Do it! You won’t be sorry.)
That was fabulous. Thank you so much for the helpful ideas.
[…] thank you to Jane Friedman who kindly laid to rest a long-term concern of mine. For the past year I’ve worried about using O’Hara as my writing name due to the […]
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