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COSPLAY POWER LEVELING : LEVEL 10+
THE ONLINE GRIND
Social Media & Branding
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Crafting your Nom De Plume

  • Consider choosing a screen name that reflects on your work. Do you like making props or wig styling? Pick a name like ‘WendyMakesProps’ or ‘WigsByWendy’

  • Create a play on words or riff on a nickname of yours. Puns are always a good option!

  • Adapt a screen name from a myth, legend, or story that resonates with you.

  • Make a name from an amalgam of things you like. Big fan of beagles and beading? Be ‘BeagleBugleBeader’

  • Incorporate your home state or country into the name. Be careful not to be too specific for safety’s sake, though! Example: a cosplayer from Texas could go by ‘LoneStarCosplayer.’

  • Alliteration is fun and memorable. “Alliteration is the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words.” I use ‘MadeWithMaridah’ on some platforms.

Focus on the platform you will use the MOST

  • Different social media platforms have different strengths. It’s a full time job managing many of them, so it’s best to focus on using ones that play to your strong suits or interests.

  • Youtube is great if you enjoy vlogging, filming tutorials, or making detailed video reviews.

  • Twitter / Threads / BlueSky is for chatty, bite-sized bloggers who occasionally have photos and videos to share. 

  • Tiktok is for people who love to be on camera and make short videos. Are you a good dancer? This might be for you!

  • Instagram is for the shutterbugs who love photoshoots & want to post curated photos. Think ‘cosplay art gallery’ or portfolio.

  • Pinterest is the unsung hero of places to be.  It’s more of a search engine rather than a social platform, but is chocked full of tutorials and photos. It’s nearly all images with very little chat, so if you aren’t a social butterfly, this may be for you. It’s also great for collecting ideas for projects and sharing your own work by creating image boards!

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Take your time 'Leveling Up' from here on out
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A hobby doesn't need to be more than a hobby

  • Hustle culture is everywhere online. It is certainly possible to monetize cosplay with enough time & hard work (and a bit of luck) but it’s not for everyone! Despite what social media may show, most cosplayers are hobbyists. Professional cosplayers are rare.

  • It’s perfectly fine to dream big. It’s also just as valid to want cosplay to be a fun activity you do in your free time.

  • Be honest with yourself on what your goals are when branching into sharing your cosplay online. You’ll be happier acknowledging whether you want it to be a hobby or a job.

  • If you are a hobbyist at heart, you don’t need to be thinking about your ‘brand’ or focusing on growing an audience. Use your online accounts to make friends!

  • If you want to make cosplay a job, be realistic. Every job takes skills, time, and most importantly, effort. Making money with cosplay is no different. In fact, it very often takes enormous effort & investment, only to make less money than traditional work.

Thanks for joining me for this Cosplay 101 'dungeon crawl.' I hope you picked up some useful tips here along the way! If you did and want to share, please link your cosplay curious friends to it here on my website or even better- reach out to a convention in your area about having me host this panel for your local community!

Most importantly, have a blast cosplaying. Best wishes~

Your dungeon guide,

Maridah

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