A thought has been bothering me for more than a week now and I am asking myself the same question over and over again - Should I or should I not? When I started the blog in Jan 2011, it was not really thought through. I didn’t know any blogger, didn’t know how huge the food community could be. I didn’t know if I would even enjoy blogging. It was a decision made one afternoon after a long chat with my friend who thought it would be a good idea to share recipes with friends. Eventually, it reached to the world and the blog became a very important part of my life. I love every bit of it!
So, what am I confused about? The name - ‘Sunshine and Smile’. I decided it over a cup of coffee. It was that quick! I liked the name and I still like it but now I feel my blog needs a different name, a more specific meaningful name, something not so generic that can at times be confused with dentist or florist.
Changing blog name would mean changing domain. There are certain amounts of risk involved in it. I know! I spoke to my friends about it. Some feel very positive about it and few others said they would miss this name cause they liked it so much. They could relate it to me. I am so confused right now and even though I strongly feel the blog needs a new name, I am not sure.
Please help me with your thoughts. Should I or should I not? This blog would be absolutely nothing without you guys. Your input matters to me, a lot! If you have gone through any such change with your blog or website, please share your experience with me. It would be very helpful. You can also contact me here!
Nishita
All your recipes always have a touch of sunshine (warmth, you make them with love and creativity)and the brilliant photography brings smiles to the faces seeing them.. I feel the name is very apt !
Kankana Saxena
Thanks Nishita! I am not yet sure what I will do but have to decide in couple of days as I really cannot keep things hanging 🙂 I do hope even if I change the name, the photo, writing and the recipe will continue making you smile!
Aniko
I had the same thought a couple of month ago...me like you decided about the actual name in few minutes.
for the moment i keep it, i only try to improve posts quality and change my style...
change the name for me means new adventure! you have to chooise with yr "heart"! in any case iwill follow you!
Kankana Saxena
Thank you for saying that, it means a lot! I really hope I can make the right decision 🙂
dassana
your blog has a unique name and i always associate it with all the bright and positive things in life. your pics also very much reflect the same. when i first came to your blog, i did not know you blogged about food only. since the name was so unique, i thought food was one part of your blog. honestly i was surprised when i saw that you are a food blogger.
better to change and take a domain name which is more specific to your niche. but let me tell you that its not easy. also tricky. you will loose traffic from search engines for some time.if the traffic does not matter then go for the change. you will have to use 301 redirect. also update in google webmaster tools.
Kankana Saxena
Thansk Dasana 🙂 yeah it will not be easy and it will need a lot of work to bring up the traffic and all. Let's see how it goes!
Arch
Hey Kankana, ever since I came across your blog through the 'top 9 posts', I have been in awe of your photography - sunny, happy, bright. I identify you with your blogname, a happy, bright name. True it may not sound like a very food blog name, but I think its very 'You', so stick on with it. You are pretty popular already and people identify this name with your blog, so honestly, I feel its not worth the pain of changing it...
Kankana Saxena
Oh Arch, I am no popular trust me! I have grown yes, but not even close to popular. I have long way to go 🙂 I don't worry about the pain of changing. I have a geek husband 🙂 Anyways, hope I can come up with a decision and THANK YOU SO much for saying those words.
Revati
I'd say dont change it! Its such a unique name for a food blog. SOmetimes not being "specific and direct" is a good thing. Your url doesnt have the typical words one associates with food blogs, which frankly after a while are a big muddle of the same old cliche words (mine included!) -- hungry, love, simmer, eat, food, curry, tadka.
I always remember your blog name because it sticks harder in my head. And it is good that it doesnt directly connote just food because to my mind your blog is so much more. It is gorgeous pictures, wonderful stories, lots of travel. And Sunshine and Smile definitely fits all those things.
Please dont change!
(Wondering if these conflicting suggestions are going to confuse you!)
Kankana Saxena
Thank you Revati so much. You have no idea how amazing it feels to know how much people enjoy my work. One of the main reason why I wanted to go for a change is because when I bought this domain, I really didn't see if the name was available for other social media. Later I realize it was there like twitter or gmail. I had already bought the domain and had to stick to it. Now I just feel that if I really want to take this blogging further, I have to think seriously about marketing and making sure people can relate to my blog by the name. You know what I mean 🙂 Hope you will still come back irrespective of what I call it!
Rosa
I love this name and it doesn't remind me of dentists or florists. It has such a positive vibe...
Anyeway, whatever you decide, you can rest assured that I will follow you as I'm a big fan of your work. 😀
Cheers,
Rosa
Kankana Saxena
Rosa, you are always so kind! Thanks girl 🙂
Siri
Trust me, I have gone through the same dilemma two years ago when my blog was called - Siri's Corner :P, a name I decided on a whim. Like a dumb idiot, I changed the domain name and totally forgot to port the feedburner list before the change due to which I lost all the subscriber base I built over time :(. But, the change was the BEST thing ever happened as the "Cooking With Siri" is more apt than a very generic - Siri's Corner which doesn't convey my love for food.
I would say - Just go for it. It does help in the long run. 🙂
Hugs,
Siri
Kankana Saxena
Thanks for letting me know about the port feedburner. I will keep that in mind. I am glad you had a good experience. I needed to hear that. Hope I can come up with a decision soon 🙂
Rekha
While sunshine and smile is great name and reminds about happy thing and most important it has become your identity of sorts, so letting go seems hard. But if you look at practical side of it, generic name that brings in more search results and people who love sunshine and smile anyways are going to be there with you. When I started food blogging in late 2011 I had faced same dilemma but went for name change and with time last one was forgotten and my tasty curry has become identity of sorts.
My two cents, in the end all that matters is what you are comfortable with. Go for what makes you happy.
Kankana Saxena
Thanks Rekha for teh confidence. Didn't know you blog was called by a diff name. This feels good. May be I can do it too 🙂
Laura (Tutti Dolci)
I love your blog name (it always makes me smile). But whatever you decide, I'll keep reading! 🙂
Kankana Saxena
Thanks Laura, you saying that means a LOT!
Liren
This is a tough one! I had to go through a blog rename at the beginning, when I was three months in to my original blog. When it came down to deciding between two names, I opted for the more generic one. To be honest, if I could do it all over again, I would have opted for the one that included my name. You and I both have unique names that it would work just as well as our current blog names. That said, I agree with Nami that I have grown to associate Sunshine and Smile with you, I don't even have to think twice. So to keep it would be my vote.
But if you do change it, I'll be right there! Do what your heart tells you is right!!!
(ok, I've rambled on and on and doubt I've given any solid advice, but hope that helps, for what it's worth!)
Kankana Saxena
Thanks so much Liren for being there 🙂 This is not going to be easy right? If only I would have thought through this earlier, when I started the blog 😀 Hope I can make the right decision.
Sudeshna
i changed it when I shifted from wordpress.com to wordpress.org. it is a real pain, and then you have to redirect your old posts to the new domain. but, that's one me. so go for it, baby.
Kankana Saxena
I don't plan to change the host so Arvind said it will not be too much work. We just have to take precautions of few things. But after reading everybody's comment and realizing how much they connect the blog name to me in person is a beautiful feeling 🙂 Jani nah ki korbo, khub tough decision, arek tu chinta korte hobe 🙂
Nami | JOC
My husband and I went through the same thing. We have another domain which is more Japanese recipe specific and he thought we should have switched back then... but I named my blog, really just one cookbook for my family recipes, and we have good amount of readers that we are hesitant to change right now.
You know Kankana, I talked to you before I met you, and I finally met you once face to face, and Sunshine and Smile is SO YOU. One blogger friend asked me how was meeting you, and I told her, your just like your blog. You are cheerful, and I still remember your big happy smile, and it's funny you and blog are so alike!!!! I understand why you are thinking to change, and if you change, we still follow you (so don't worry too much). But to be honest, I'll be a bit sad to see your blog title go away. 🙂 Good luck! (sorry I wrote too much)
Kankana Saxena
Nami, you are so sweet my friend 🙂 I have the same confusion, readers and traffic and all that. Now after reading everybody's comment, I realized how much they relate the name to my blog. It feels so nice! I have to do some serious thinking I guess. This will not be easy 😀
Vishakha
For people who have never met you (like me) follow your posts and love your work, the name 'Sunshine and Smile' is an identity that they associate you with. It is such a happy name, like your pictures, and from the photos that I have seen of you, it's like you - smiling and happy 🙂 I vote for keeping this name!:) I love it!
Kankana Saxena
Thanks babe 🙂 Looks like I have to think through this. So appreciate you dropping here and sharing your thought. I hope I can come to a conclusion 🙂
OHW
I would say that at first even I did not relate it to be a food blog, but if you have a large audience and if you can improve your search results by putting in key words on the site/ listing your site on all the food communities/directories then it should be okay. Identity change is a big decision in online world. I would say think over through and through.
But like one blogger says your happy and cheery personality comes thorough it and after all food is one of the most important thing that brings sunshine and smile in most of our world. And if you people relate to it, what's more you need. In Shakespeare word's 'What's in a name?'
Kankana Saxena
Thank you for dropping by! yes, looks like I have to really think and think more 🙂
Joyti
I often wonder the same thing (seeing as my blog has a name that's not familiar to Western readers, long, hard to spell)...
...but in the end, I stick to it. It's how others, your readers, identify with your blog. You've gotten recognition with it. And it seems very cheery and happy and I agree with the above commenters - that makes me think of the cheery, happy, sunshiny YOU! When I visualize your site, I imagine a bright sunny kitchen full of yummy smells 🙂
Kankana Saxena
Your blog name is beautiful and unique Joyti! I like mine too, not denying that at all. And even though there is no sunshine in my kitchen, I can at least have that in my virtual kitchen 🙂 I will give it another thought and if at all I change it, I hope to come up with something cheerful enough. Hope, I can. 🙂 This is tough!
Soma
Hi Jyoti,
I know if it's hard you will get a fewer readers just because they couldn't go thorugh the trouble of pronouncing the blog's name. BUT...I would not consider that as an abstacle. If someone is truly interested in my/your blog, they will stick to eat. They will try to understand the name and the reason behind it. I love your blog's name. Please don't change it.
Soma
Sayantani
I had the same thought a couple of years back but decided to keep it, and would give yu the same suggestion. dont change the name. you are already known under this blog name and many of us always relate the name with your happy smiling face and gorgeous clicks.
Kankana Saxena
So sweet of you Sayantani and I too love this name and it is really me. I like a sunny day, I am a happy kinda person but when I search for sunshine and smile all i see is zillion sunshine illustrations. I can never beat them. And I am worried what if the same thought comes to my mind after many many years! Ki je mushkil 😀 Let me give it another thought before I decide anything at all! 🙂
Grishma
Aahh what a coincidence - I am thinking of the same. Especially because it's pretty hard for non- Indians to pronounce it. But hey I love the name Sunshine and smile. It's so you. I would say keep it!
Kankana Saxena
Thanks Babe so much! Looks like I have to give it more thought. Hope I can come to a conclusion 🙂
Sanjeeta kk
I always relate the name with cheery Kankana, her smile and the beautiful pictures! Generic name would bring in good search results though.
Kankana Saxena
Thanks Sanjeeta! yeah the search result and all that ultimately matters when you want to eventually make blogging your career. That's why the thought. Let's see if I go for it or not and I hope even if I do go for it, i will be able to find some cheerful name, something that can relate to me. Wish I had thought thought when I started the blog two years back 🙂
chinmayie
I would say don't change the name! While I understand what you mean about it not being relevant, I think it's still a great name! It makes me think about bright sunshiny happy things and I see that in your photos and writing all the time. Just my thoughts 🙂
Kankana Saxena
That means so much Chinmayie! It's just that I always feel that it says nothing about food and am worried what if the same thought comes to me after many many years. Now. it's only 2 years old. You know what I mean! But I will give it another thought. Let's see 🙂 Thanks a lot babe!
marla
I am about to do the same thing ~ I say go for it if you think best.
Kankana Saxena
I didn't know you planned to change it too 🙂 I just now saw your other FB page!