The deeply personal decision to change one’s last name following a marriage or divorce is driven by a mix of societal and cultural norms, sensitivity to the wishes of partners and/or children, and legal dynamics.

But for women in the print workforce there is an additional factor to consider: the desire to protect a hard-earned professional brand and industry identity.

For some women the answer is simple: stay the course by using their maiden names professionally. Others lean toward a middle-ground solution by hyphenating maiden and married last names or using a “double name,” which simultaneously preserves recognition and findability.

But for women who wish to follow a more traditional route after saying “I do” (or for those reverting to a pre-married last name following a legal split), mindfulness and proactivity is required to eliminate confusion amongst colleagues and professional contacts, to remain searchable on networking platforms, and to be easily recognized at industry events.

Here are 5 effective strategies to follow when a change in your marital status results in a change to your last name:

  1. Update Professional Profiles Promptly: Record your change of name on professional profiles for networking platforms liked LinkedIn or membership databases like Women in Print Alliance as soon as possible – and do so all at the same time to avoid confusion. And don’t forget to temporarily add a note next to your new name, such as “formerly [Maiden Name or Pre-Divorced Last Name], now [Current Last Name] for extra clarification.
  2. Maintain Consistent Use of New Name: Take a moment to audit where your name appears professionally, both electronically and on paper. This might include: email signatures, business cards, and networking platforms/membership lists like those noted above. Then, ensure your new name shows consistently in all places.
  3. Add a Profile Picture: This is an often overlooked – and easy! – way to help teammates, customers or industry contacts make the connection between your new name and your professional identity. Explore options on LinkedIn, email systems and other places to see where you can add this photographic reinforcement to ensure that you’re recognized properly.
  4. Personally Reach Out to Key Contacts: While universal findability is the goal, there are likely clients, customers or vendors who rate a personal outreach email or call from you to update them on your new name. If your role is in sales or customer/vendor relations, this is an especially necessary and appreciated step.
  5. Google Alert Yourself: If you’re extra concerned about remaining findable following a marital status name change, you can create a Google alert for your former and new last name to monitor how you appear online. This may give you peace of mind and allow you to correct any misidentification.

Also, remember that your LinkedIn bio (the most-viewed resume you will ever have, according to digital branding expert Madeline Fetterly) is way more than just your name(s).

Use the opportunity of changing your name on LinkedIn (or similar platforms) as a time to review and update keywords related to your print industry role, past work experience, technology certifications, publications, and/or career associations (like Women in Print Alliance) to maximize SEO and to emphasize your professional brand.

Finally, remember that there is no right or wrong answer to the question of whether one should change a last name post-marriage or divorce. Individual decisions will be respected. The key is to both express your identity AND ensure that your well-earned career reputation stays intact.