For consulting firms and other start up companies, few items are more important than the company brand name itself. Without a strong and compelling brand identity, most companies get lost in a sea of sound-alike, descriptive or meaningless names. The most common mistake is simply using the owner’s initials or surname (e.g. FJZ Associates or…
Trying to name a company is no simple task. But with the right budget, expert help is available.
One of the most common refrains I hear when naming a new business is “I’ll know the right company name when I hear it.” That may or may not be true. It also may or may not be wise! Why is that? Because it makes the assumption that you know exactly what you want. In…
Great brands are like big pine trees, they work year around. I sometimes refer to these as “perennial” brand names, since they don’t have to be “replanted” every new season, or every time a company changes it products and/or services. What is the basis for an “evergreen” brand name? First and foremost, it must be…
If a picture is truly worth one thousand words, then what better way to convey your corporate brand than with a metaphor? The hyperinflation of news and information requires branding strategies that disrupt, “stick,” and convey more than the literal product or service a company offers. A great example of this type of name is…
When confronted with naming a company, most business owners fall into one of two groups… • Those trying to solve a naming problem • Those trying to convey their company image The first group views company naming as a set of hurdles (i.e. clearing trademarks, obtaining a matching domain name, finding a name that’s short,…
The most common company naming trap is this – creating a new business name that’s accurate and descriptive, but utterly forgettable. And it’s easy to see how it happens. Unlike real life application, naming is usually done in a vacuum — with no context, no accompanying logo, web site or brochure copy. A group of…
Is it possible to actually “own” a word in everyone’s mind? The short answer is “Yes!”. (Or perhaps Yahoo!) You can own just about any word in any language, or even create new ones, if you understand the dynamics behind branding. Take for example Amazon, Monster and Virgin. None of these names have any direct…