Leading social media branding agency Fresh Engagements takes us through how you can get inactive Twitter Handles.

How the world identifies us is an essential factor in our day-to-day lives. And that couldn't be more true in the world of social media. Whether it's for a personal account or a business, usernames are the first step to that identity. So, today we are discussing how you go about getting hold of inactive Twitter handles who define you as a person and brand.

What's in a Twitter Handle?

We have all been there: typing in the same new username fifty different ways to try and find a one handle that hasn't been taken yet. Worse, we might already have a fanbase who identifies us by that name... then what do we do? Sometimes, no number of added dots and dashes can help protect your brand identity.

That's where a social media agency like Fresh Engagements comes in. A boutique agency that can act on your behalf and help you to raise appeals to try and chase Twitter up for claiming inactive handles. There are millions of Twitter accounts out there that nobody ever uses. Twitter does delete inactive accounts, but they don't do it very often. As such, you could be waiting a long time for a handle that suits your brand name to become available.

Social media branding agencies have been developed with the concept of creating an all-around online representation of your brand in impeccable quality. When they come across inactive Twitter handles, they don't let it stop them. They plow straight on ahead with things and attempt to seize back those idle handles on your behalf. Claiming an inactive Twitter handle can be all done for you with an agency like Fresh Engagements where the experts do all the paperwork and hand you your desired handle.

However, if you don't have a firm to do it for you, try the following steps.

How to get an Inactive Twitter Handle?

If you want to get your hands on an inactive user's Twitter handle, try the following things.

Make Sure the Handle is Inactive

Sometimes, what you think is an inactive handle is actually someone reserving it for their business, themselves, or holding it for another reason. The first stage to acquiring the stationary handle is sending a message to the user who owns it and asking if you can have it. It's simple, but you'd be surprised at how often this works.

Buy the Matching Domain

Get your hands on the website that matches the name. So, if your handle were Y2Khaos, you would want the domain www.y2khaos.com to give yourself the best chance of successfully appealing to Twitter. Even better, if it is a name you can trademark, they cannot dispute that it doesn't belong to you.

Try for Impersonation

If you have the handle in the outside world, you have a basis for a further appeal with Twitter. If you can convince them that the 'unofficial' handle the person is using is impersonating you, you can convince Twitter to inactivate the account to use the handle.

Is Chasing a Twitter Handle Worth It?

At the end of the day if you're looking to build a strong online brand, your username is the start of it. It's preferred for recognition and consistency that your usernames be the same across social media platforms. You also want to try the best you can to have your usernames match your website. So at the end of it all, securing your Twitter handle is definitively worth the work. Don't forget to call in the experts if you need extra help.