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!
wok with ray
The name fits your blog perfectly and I think it fits your "always big smile" personality. Your dishes, and your photography reflects your passion of the art. I would keep the name "Sunshine and Smile" if I were you. That is just my opinion and whatever you decide, I. . . would still be your same loyal fan, Kankana. 🙂
Kankana Saxena
Thank you Ray so much! It seriously means a lot. It is not going to be an easy decision and I hope I can take one soon.
Jana Shannon
If you are heaving those feelings, they are telling you something so listen. Follow your heart.
Kankana Saxena
Yep, I have to definitely decide between heart and head out here 🙂
Radhika@JustHomemade
Kana,
Wonder why you have doubts about it. Sunshine and smile is SO much "You"!
And I'll say that two hundred times..
You may be right there in thinking that a blog name would be better with food related words. In my opinion, branding is not just about finding related words, it is about how people will connect or relate to you through your brand. And most of the comments say exactly that - the name just depicts so much of you. Isn't that how you want? Uniquely you?
Besides, your blog is an extension of you enveloped around food, photography, travelogues, etc and whatever else you might venture into in future..
To give you a skewed analogy, does Adidas have anything shoe related in its name? Yet, people know instantly what it is about.
Your blog name is your brand and do not change it "just because" it is not sounding food related.
Yet, if you are simply not at peace, go with your gut feeling. It always knows what is right for you.
For your staunch supporters, name won't matter much anyways.. 🙂
Kankana Saxena
Thanks dear! yeah I do love a sunny day and it always makes me smile. I really didn't know you guys liked the name so much. Well, it is not going to an easy decision but I have to make one soon. Let's talk sometime soon, may be I can explain you better than 🙂
Soma
Have told your before & again my personal opinion. I love the name. It defines you and it is your blog, and your life here. It is about food, but the food is to sustain yourself and the way you live and what you are. If I can live with my blog name ... 🙂 Yours is beautiful! It makes everyone happy just hearing it. Keep it.
Kankana Saxena
I know Soma and thanks so much. You had always liked the name. Jani nah ki korbo, ekhono confuse aachi but I really feel it needs a new name. Giving a coulpe of days to think through this 🙂
Kiran
Omg, I was thinking to do the same. I'd say, go for it! 🙂
Kankana Saxena
Thanks Kiran! I didn't know you too 🙂
Ananda Rajashekar
Oh Kankana please don't change the name, it's beautiful and unique. I love it! It tells so much about you (cheerful), your food (blissful) and photography(sunny). I think your blog has gained so much of recognition and everyone know what sunshine and smile is all about, so why would they need a generic name? If you still want to change, your new blog name should be more fancy and attractive than the first, your first name in the higher level of the scale bar! Good luck girl, have a glass of wine and cheese it will help you take right decision 😉
Kankana Saxena
Honestly speaking sweetie, my blog has along way to go and I thought it's not too late to give it a new name. I know why you say not to change and thanks a bunch for loving my work so much. It means so much! I am not sure if I can pick a name that would bring the same amount of smile on your face or not but I do hope, really hope, my work continues to 🙂
Manju
Hey Kankana,
Even I've been pondering on the same thought for a while now. My confusion is whether I should keep my personal name on my blog's title, which was just named after a facebook album I had created one fine day when I started sharing pics of my kitchen experiments and din't give it much thought. Also I share recipe posts n non-recipe posts..
But I love your blog's name and it's become like a brand now. A post from Sunshine and Smile means you are bound to get a lovely recipe or post with loads of amazing pics...thats how I see it. I would say Keep it! but then it's your decision and whether you change it or not I'll still be following you. You've done a great job in 2 yrs!
All the Best,
Manju
Kankana Saxena
Thank you Mnaju! The thing is, I wish I had this thought long back at the initial stage of my blogging. But I really didn't know my blog would be all about food mainly. And somehow I feel thankful that I am giving a thought now and not 10 years down the line when it would probably be impossible you know 🙂 Giving a couple of days to make a final decision on this!
Soma
Please don't change it. To me good food is like a bright sunny day and brings a smile on my face. It doesn't have to be direct. I wanted to name my blog something very different, but I didn't, just because it was too difficult. I think my blog's name is still a bit difficult for many people and many of them don't even understand the meaning. I really don't care. I treat the blog as my own space...write to relax and share my thoughts to everybody. You blog has such a beautiful name....keep it that way. I know it's a pretty tough call though.
Kankana Saxena
Thank you Soma 🙂 It is indeed a tough call and everybody comment made it a tad bit more difficult. Had no idea people liked the name so much! I am giving it some days to decide if I should listen to my heart or head!
Soma
It's your blog and you should go for your instincts...I am sure the new name will be as beautiful as the current one and the faithful followers will still stick to you. 🙂
mjskit
I'd have to go with a lot of the comments you have already received and say NO. Don't change your name. It's a great name, it's out there, people know you, and it's perfect for what I have seen of your blog! If you feel you need change, then change the look and maybe the feel but not the name. It's taken a lot of work to get to this point as you well know and a name change, for me would feel like starting over. Ugh! Good luck with any decision you make!
Chitrangada
My answer is No. Why do you need to change such a lovely name? People know you by this name now. About relevance, your photography is bright and clear as sunshine and your recipes, write up and posts bring smiles to many, so a perfect combo. Keep rocking. Love your blog.
Sowmya
Hey kankana, I love your blog and especially the name "Sunshine and smile" . A Happy and bright name. I would say ,Keep it. I love your photography, I saw your photography tips and bought a camera and started blogging.This website was gr8 inspiration to me. Its up to you to decide, I will keep visiting this blog even the name changes 🙂
Sukanya
Hi Kankana
Even I was thinking on the same line sometimes ago. My blog's name too does not relate to food and travel, but it is the name that stands apart and initially I loved it, I started believing in it. It gives me a high when people search for my blog by its name.
if you are going to change the permalink of your posts, it will be too messy. Like starting your blog from the beginning. after achieving so much,this seems just unnecessary to me.
and also a more generic name (like something with food, recipes, cooking etc) will be more competitive from SEO point of view, not necessary the best one.
Finally you have to do what you think best, readers will come.
Theresa
I too love the name and agree that you shouldn't change it.
Although, in the end it's definitely your choice!
We will follow you, no worries there!
What if you add to it, a line below?
I have seen a lot of sites do that now.
Does that still mean moving?
Anyway, no problems! We will keep up with you!
Karine Keldany
From a marketing point of view it is not a good thing to change a name if it got known already. I studied and worked in Marketing for many years and would advise you against it. You got known under a certain name and people referr to you by it. So why change. You can change the look of the blog a bit if you wish, but the identity and name should stay. If you are keen on changing then start a second blog and refer to it from here. Then gradually let people know you are going to keep just one blog. This would be a smooth move and you will keep your readers. Wishing you best of luck. 🙂
Kankana Saxena
Thanks Karine 🙂 Hope I can make the right choice!
Shruti
Kankana, Im no experienced blogger...as a newbie who has just stepped into the blogosphere...here are my 2 cents..
I discovered your blog late last year and follow your work. Your photography and dedication is very inspiring. For me Kankana is Sunshine and Smile. Please don't change it. Its a wonderful name.
In any case, even if you do..I will continue to follow you for sure 🙂
Kankana Saxena
For a newbie you take lovely photos Shruti 🙂 Thanks for saying that you will come back. It means a lot girl. Now hope I can make a decision soon!
indugetscooking
Love the name, Kankana. It is so cheerful and positive. And your blog is not just about food, it also lets your personality shine through with your little stories. I love it.
Though, I must say, you seem to be leaning heavily in favor of changing the name. 🙂
I'll be back, whatever the name!
Sia | Monsoon Spice
Oh, this is going be one of the most difficult decisions!
Coming to your blog name Sunshine & Smile, I really like the sound of it. It sure represents the sunny, bright and beautiful girl behind this blog. There are hundreds (or thousands!) of food blogs out there including mine which have very generic names related to food which is kind of boring 🙂 Yours stands out from the rest of other food blogs as it is quite unique. So my advice to you based on emotions and what my heart says, stick with the same name.
The practical person in my mind says change the name to something that your blog is about, food! Agreed that you post travelogues and photography etc, but in the end it is a food blog. It will help in a longer run to have a blog name that kind of suggests something to do with food in general. The sooner you do is better as it is just going to be much more difficult after a year or two. You will loose some traffic initially but you will get it back after a while. My advice if you ever decide to change the domain is to keep the existing domain for a year or two so that you can redirect your readers to new domain over a period. I changed my blog's name after a year when I moved on to new domain name. I lost all the subscribers initially but then there were just a handful of food blogs at that time and it was not difficult to build my blog audience over the period. I think it was one of my best decisions to change my initial blog name although after a while I started wondering if I should have thought little more before jumping into naming my blog to current one! Yes, I get bored of things very easily and it is wonder how I am still married to the same guy all these years 😉
Jokes apart, you don’t have to worry about your existing readers as we will be happy to follow you. I will stop it here before my comments starts to look like one of my lengthy blog posts! What ever you decide, we will still continue to visit our ‘sunshine’ girls’ blog who never fails to bring ‘smile’ on our face with her posts 🙂
Kankana Saxena
Sia, you write beautiful words girl, so all your post long or not always gets me lost in your world and I love it! Thanks so much for the confidence. I hope that name won't matter as long as my work makes them smile 🙂
nisha
Kankana...in all honesty when i first landed on your blog, i did wonder why the generic name for a food blog and it had no connection with food. But of course you had mentioned somewhere on you about me page and i thought it was cute and now i associate it with you. Cuteness aside and practically thinking...i would perhaps change the name to something associated with food, which may help you in the longer run. That said, every blogger has a reason for selecting their blog name and you owe no sort of explanation as to why you selected it. So go with your heart girl..and whatever name you choose you will in no time be on top of the list. 🙂
Kankana Saxena
Thanks babe, thanks a lot! Exactly my point, in the long run the blog needs to have a more specific meaning. I don't want to continue telling people what sunshine and smile is every time I give my card. You know 🙂
Nisha
the {food, photography, travel} in your header relates well to your 'sunshine and smile' ... if you choose a name more focused on food/recipes, all your travel pics, photography tips, and life-in-general kind of posts (like the bengali wedding) will seem out of place.
i like the name as it is. but i agree with rekha above - if you choose to change, over the time people will forget the old name. and i also agree with revati - food blogs having cliched names are overdone.
that said, i think your readers will be able to help you more if you brainstorm and list all your possible options of new names and ask their vote. who knows, everyone might like some name that can still be associated well with you and your blog.
phew, this must have been my longest comment ever. i have not been commenting much on blogs lately, but i do follow your blog regularly and admire your photos. just wanted to let you know 🙂
Kankana Saxena
Thanks Nisha and I get your point! let me see what I do and hope whatever I call my blog, my work will still continue to make you smile 🙂
Angie@Angiesrecipes
Sunshine and smile...a perfect name for your blog and photography. I would stay with it if I were you.
Kankana Saxena
yeah, it's a tough call! 🙂