Twitter isn’t just a tool for communicating with friends and family or airing out your views or concerns. Some use it as a channel for professional purposes. If you’re running a business, for instance, you’ll likely use Twitter to market your product, service or brand.
When you’re using this social media tool, you need a Twitter username that accurately represents your company or business. Handles, such as @dog_lover_2022 or @hotbabe66, may sound awesome but may not properly reflect or portray your brand. Although Twitter won’t let you edit your tweets, you can at least take steps to modify your Twitter handle to something more appropriate.
How to Change Your Twitter Handle
Changing your username on Twitter is a simple process. Unlike creating a new account, renaming your Twitter username leaves your replies, direct messages and existing followers intact.
Follow these steps to modify your Twitter handle:
- Log in to your Twitter account.
- Access your account settings by clicking on Settings and Privacy. Then, click Your Account and then Account Information.
- You’ll then see an option to change your Twitter username. Before you proceed, make sure that you already have a good Twitter handle idea in mind. Once you have a new username, type it on the text field.
When changing your Twitter handle, make sure it adheres to the guidelines set by the social media website. The username must be at least four characters long and up to a maximum of 15 characters. What’s more, it cannot have spaces. The only allowable characters are underscores, numbers and letters.
How Many Times Can I Change My Twitter Handle?
Although you can change your Twitter username as many times as you like, you’ll want to put a limit on your renaming spree. Modifying your Twitter handle will cause you to lose your verification check mark if you have a verified account.
What’s more, you need to inform your followers about your new handle or username. If you’re rebranding your business, for instance, you’ll need to let your customers know about your new company name, brand, social media handles and other pertinent information. Changing your Twitter handle frequently isn’t a good idea, as this can confuse — and eventually annoy — your followers.
Getting an Inactive Twitter Handle
Sometimes, the Twitter username you want for your business or yourself is unavailable. You can’t change your Twitter handle if the one you want is already taken. If the account appears inactive, however, you may be in luck. You could take measures to claim that Twitter username.
If you’re going to do this, don’t wait for the social media giant to give you the handle you want. Although Twitter did say that they’ll remove inactive accounts and free up usernames, they’re not giving an exact date on when these handles will become available. Be proactive instead.
When claiming an inactive Twitter username, you first have to make sure that the handle you’re trying to claim is no longer active. Twitter considers an account inactive if the user doesn’t use it for at least six months. There’s a clear difference between an inactive account and an account with zero visible activity. Logging in to the Twitter account, then logging out, still counts as an active account.
If you think you’ve stumbled upon an inactive Twitter account, take note of these suggestions:
Get in Touch with the Account Owner
Reach out to the owner of the account via e-mail if possible. If you can’t find the e-mail address, look for the same username on Facebook, Instagram or other social media websites. Once you’ve established contact, ask the Twitter account owner if they are open to allowing you to take over the Twitter username.
Report an Impersonation (for Individuals)
If you’re a business owner and someone’s impersonating you on Twitter (and possibly ruining your business reputation), you could file an impersonation claim. Here are the steps:
- Use this online form to file your claim.
- Select the option “an account is impersonating me or somebody else.”
- Pick “I am being impersonated” in the next drop-down option.
- Provide your e-mail address, the Twitter account username you’re reporting and a detailed description of the problem. When describing the issue, make sure you explain why you should be the rightful owner of that account. Also, offer evidence suggesting that the Twitter account is no longer active.
- Confirm your identity by uploading a copy of a government-issued photo ID, such as a passport or a driver’s license.
After you’ve submitted all the necessary info, wait for Twitter to get back to you regarding your claim.
File a Trademark Dispute (for Businesses)
If an inactive user is impersonating your company or brand, you could file a trademark dispute against the inactive Twitter account. Fill out this online form to file your claim.
When filing this dispute, you’ll need to submit a lot of information, including your personal details, the account being reported, trademark holder’s info and trademark information. Make sure you prepare these details in advance, so you could fill out the online form quickly and easily.
Changing your Twitter handle is one of the advantages that sets itself apart from other social networking sites. Unlike Facebook that only lets you modify your username once every few months, Twitter doesn’t have limitations when renaming your account handle. Just make sure it reads well and doesn’t contain slurs and other terms that violate the social media website’s Terms of Service.