Identity Crisis Strikes BankerGirl
My blog is called BankerGirl. When I picked the domain name, it seemed like a good fit for two reasons:
1. I have been a banker for nearly 10 years
2. I am female and I don’t think that there are enough well-educated women out there writing about financial services - so it’s a point of differentiation between all of the other PF blogs on the interweb.
Technically, I am not a girl - but a woman. If I was going to be 100% accurate I would have called myself BankerWoman but that just sounded too mature for me. I could have gone by BankerChick or BankerLady or FinancialServicesGirl, but I rejected all of these for what I feel are obvious reasons. I figured that BankerGirl was a pretty close representation of the truth.
Well, now I have a problem.
Not only am I technically not a “girl”, I am also technically not a “banker.” Earlier this morning, I accepted a job as a marketing strategist in another business unit within the large financial services firm where I have worked for the past two years. It will be the first time in my adult career that I haven’t worked for a bank.
I am excited about this opportunity and look forward to learning more about a different part of the business and getting to exercise my marketing chops, but I am also a bit scared. With this promotion (to an extremely high-profile part of the firm), a lot of responsibility is being placed on my shoulders. This is the kind of assignment that will either launch my career to new heights, or I could fail spectacularly. Only time will tell.
But that’s not what’s causing the identity crisis.
The problem is that now I feel that I’m being a bit inauthentic with my blog title. It’s a promise I may not be able to deliver on.
That’s bad branding - as a marketer I know this.
I am going to keep writing and try to stay on the topic of financial services with a focus on banking. If over time I find that I no longer have the industry expertise or can provide the insights that the title of my blog implies - I will likely close BankerGirl down, or possibly sell it. It makes me sad just to think about it.
If that happens, look for MarketerGirl, Multi-CareerGal, or StrategyWoman to launch shortly thereafter.
Stumble it!
March 14th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.” - Juliet
March 14th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
I think you should keep it as banker girl.
In this way early readers will be able to establish their “before it was cool” street cred by displaying the idiosyncratic name of your blog.
March 14th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Maybe you can change your name to “formerbankergirl”
March 14th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
I cant speak to whether there is a shortage of “well education women out there”… as for irony though… apparently its not so hard to come by
March 14th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
First of all (and most importantly), CONGRATULATIONS! And good luck in your new job!
Secondly, I wouldn’t worry too much about the blog name. As long as your “About” section offers a brief explanation (”I started this blog after being a banker for 10 years, but have since moved into marketing…”), even new readers will “get it.”
I, for one, have enjoyed your updates on banking. But what really brings me back is the stuff about you (your personal finances, your wedding planning, your quest to accomplish your financial goals - all the universal stuff that everyone can relate to) and that’s not going to change because of your new job
March 15th, 2008 at 6:21 am
I agree about the name of the blog and want to chime in with my congratulations!
March 15th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Congrats! I think Banker Girl is catchy, nothing has to be perfect.
March 15th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Thanks to all for the support!
@ “jerk” - thanks for pointing out the incredibly ironic typo - I made the correction. Just goes to show that everyone should proof read before publishing, even those of us who are “well education.”
March 16th, 2008 at 1:30 am
Silly to quit. You are good at what you do. Tis blog has always been about Finance, personal finance…mostly yours. Can’t see you not using monety anymore.
In fact you will be that much more well-rounded to be able to talk about the marketing side of finances!
Is there something in the air…post Christmas crash? Many are looking at cutting back or killing their blog!
Here’s hoping you are with us for a good long while
March 17th, 2008 at 5:55 am
Congrats on the promotion and new job front. I’m sure you’ll do great.
I agree CFO - just add it in your about and no one will care about the name. Plus even thought you might not be “banker” you still will work for a bankingish institute and be able to bring that insight.
March 17th, 2008 at 11:32 pm
Congratulations on the promotion and new responsibilities!
March 18th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
I think it might be a good idea to keep the name because you might find yourself working in banking again someday, especially if the new gig doesn’t work out.
March 23rd, 2008 at 10:21 am
I think you’re overthinking it …. there are plenty of moneyblogs out there with titles which are outright nonsensical to anyone but the owner (brip blap and moolanomy spring to mind) but who cares? Their content is good. And god knows there are people with exponentially less knowledge about banking than you pontificating about the subject.
You can update the about page, and it just adds a bit more depth and backstory. That assumes you’re still interested in writing about personal finance, of course, which you seem to be.