It’s surprising that a lot of business owners have never had proper branding done for their businesses. Starting with their company name. Many simply name their companies after themselves (ex. John’s Accounting Service, THM Enterprises, etc.) or just a name that they pull out of the air. What’s in a name? A rose by any other name would smell just as sweet. Right?…Wrong! Not if we called it a stinkweed!
Your company name is everything. It’s a crucial part of your marketing and your brand. At the mere mention of your business’s name, clients and prospective clients should experience an emotional reaction. Your business name serves as an emotional anchor for your brand. So it should not be taken lightly. It’s ideal if your company name tells people what you do. Unlike the home improvement company that we came across named XRM Technologies. They actually install gutters, windows and vinyl siding believe it or not.
So how do you come up with the right name for your company? For our clients, we use an exercise that we call the ‘name game’. Here’s how you “play it”. On a piece of paper, draw a line down the middle of the page, dividing the page into two columns. On the left side of the page, write down all of the problems or “pain points” that your prospect feels. I mean everything (ex. They have bad credit, can’t get credit cards, can’t get loans, have to pay higher interest rates, can’t get a mortgage or car loan, have to pay cash for everything, are embarrassed by their bad credit, etc.). Be very thorough and leave nothing out.
Next, on the right side of the page, write all of the solutions to the problems and “pain points”. For example: problem – they have bad credit; solution– raise their credit score to a good score; problem – they are embarrassed by their bad credit; solution – instill in them a sense of pride from having an improved credit score. After you finish listing all of the solutions to the problems, look at all of your solution words and phrases and then piece them together to come up different names for your business.
So, a real estate management company could be ‘Worry Free Property Management”. A florist could be ‘Last Minute Florists’. A dentist could be ‘Your Beautiful Smile Dental’. An insurance agency could be ‘Peace Of Mind Financial Services’. A fitness center could be “New You Fitness’. A green janitorial company could be ‘Clean, Quick & Green Janitorial’. A home improvement company could be ‘24 Hour Windows & Doors’. You get the idea. From your list, choose 6 – 10 of your best choices. Write them down on a piece of paper in column formation.
Lastly, you want to do some surveys. Go to the local mall, bookstore or whatever place your industry prospects gather (the business district at lunchtime, supermarkets, seminars, hardware stores, hospitals, etc.) and get their input on your name selections. Perform at least 10 – 20 surveys. Tell them what you want your prospective customers to feel and think when they hear your company name (ex. trust your company, be relaxed, be excited, laugh, want to make money, become hungry, want to eat healthily, etc.). Ask them to listen to your choices and rank them each from 1 to 10 (1 being the worst and 10 being the best). Lastly, ask them if they didn’t like your name selections, are there any names that they’d recommend. This is powerful because your actual market tells you the name that appeals to them the most.
The outcome of the ‘name game’ is a business name that appeals directly to your market. You effectively eliminate the possibility of having a non-compelling name that simply sounds catchy or flashy. Instead, you get a name that when your prospective and existing clients speak it, it instantly solves their problems.
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#1 by WPMixer on February 8th, 2010
Soon people will care not for gold but for clean pure food/water and the good that one can offer another and those groups known for corruption & poisoning will be cast aside. What people will learn is self reliance and that people that guide others should be elected by merit, not popularity.
#2 by Wordpress on February 8th, 2010
” he who owns the gold makes the rules”
“let me control a nations money supply, and I care not who makes it laws” -Mayer Amchel Rothschild
#3 by TruthIsFreedom on February 8th, 2010
Complicated Bytes (if you are fixing complicated computers)
or Being Complicated Bytes (hehe)
Byte Me (If you are upset)
Last Word Computers/Computing
Lifescore Computers or just (Lifescore)
out of ideas tonight might revisit tommorow Good Luck!!!
#4 by foodie s on February 8th, 2010
Since you will be serving different cuisines something like , the number of booths and the word Cuisines, Ethnic Medley or how about Hodge Podge. It is a nice idea exposing others to the foods of other areas, however try not to verge too much from the real roots and recipes of these different cultures. I am Spanish and really dislike it when I go to eat ethnic foods and it doesn't taste right. Stay true to great recipes, people will come back if the food is good. Good Luck to you and let me know what you name your place.
#5 by Anonymous on February 9th, 2010
omg,RalphNader cranks, Ron Paul cranks,Ross Perot cranks.!!!!!!!!!!!
#6 by Mike C on February 9th, 2010
HI,
World over these acquisitions, takeovers and major merging do happen esp so in publishing industry. Where major take overs and SELLING off also happens and they offer rights to other imprints and reprints elsewhere i the World. Just for example Harper & Row Inc a great publisher of course in this case retained their name when they had a JV with Collins and now their imprint is called Harper Collins!
A major publisher in USA called Academic books now call themselves HBJ !! ( no connection at all any where with the former name)
If you have a budget one of the best ways what I would suggest is esp when academics, professors and lecturers are involved. I recommend INVITE "authors" esp popular well accepted respected authors of the earlier companies list for a seminar/workshop on Australian Publishers strategy or Writers meet, in this way all the guests can RELATE these authors who will be surely professors, and have interactive sessions, discuss about their last book or latest book/publications. Now this "brand recall" brand awareness, all this is not going to really effect the LIST of the publications.
Yes, I get your problem. which is you are not allowed to mention anywhere the OLD name…right. Well when it is in the category of TEXT book and not a reference book, or a library ref book it is all the more easy to position themselves as they do have a captive market with the students and other lects.
I strongly feel that just invite the loyal authors of the earlier company…… have this work shop… put a huge back drop banner of the new name..
Give handouts to all, without the name of the old company but with the list of publication and prices.
IF… the new company's office is HOUSED in the same building your work becomes more easy.
make sure you invite Librarians, reatail book store managers and book bank officers also for this seminar….
word of publicity will take care of this strategy..
if you want just add a slogan…
We are still in your good BOOKS!!!
all the bes
regards
Ravi Shivram
http://slogansmith.blogspot.com
#7 by WPBlog Shop on February 9th, 2010
what RECENT attacks?
#8 by Blogger on February 9th, 2010
“dont worry about the Americans Simon..we,the jewish people,control America,and the American people know it” – Ariel Sharon speaking to Simon Peres 10-3-2001
#9 by dubub40 on February 10th, 2010
Your next step is to work out the finances. Fire up your spreadsheet. Put in all your costs, including repayment on the business loan, payments for the cars, advertsing, marketing, a small salary for you, office rental, etc etc. Then put in how much money you expect to get in, assuming a certain price per lesson and a certain (make it realistic!) number of lessons per week.
Now you can see if your business is viable.
#10 by barbod_ocean on February 10th, 2010
#11 by Jesse on February 10th, 2010
I own two businesses. Each is its own legal entity with its own specific purpose.
One is a consulting services company – I chose to fill a niche market that wasn't being satisfied.
The second company is more of my long term cash cow. Profits from the consulting group get plowed into my commercial real estate investment group. I've managed to piggyback on a few deals from my former university roomie's father.
End retail is tough. You need to pull in volume and draw a crowd. Business to Business is the way to go. There's higher price tags and margin on each sale. You can have one sales person comp him well, and you'll keep your business busy.
#12 by Mike C on February 10th, 2010
The issue with academics is that publishers will be known no matter what happens as their success is with the academicians they work with. So, as far as the known academicians go to the same publisher they'll not be forgotten about. So, a brand re-launch cum academic conference in the field the publisher specializes in would be an excellent choice. You do not need to have multiple conferences but one real effective conference. Invite one of the most known academician to talk about a known issue in the field or a modern unknown trend and advertise among all the universities about the conference. Be assured you are going to attract pretty much everybody involved in the field. You could even approach some companies working in the field to share their view on the issue. That's one of the best options you have to induce a push marketing.
#13 by Free Blog on February 10th, 2010
Bankrupting this country was the plan all along. I really hope Ron Paul runs in 2012
#14 by Angea on February 11th, 2010
I totally agree with you. companies must show the customer more respect. You should be in charge of the company:-)
#15 by Anonymous on February 11th, 2010
And actually, no, the Income tax does not pay one cent for our military. It exclusively pays for interest on the national debt to the Federal reserve and Entitlement programs. The federal income tax is only a process to redistribute wealth.
#16 by Anonymous on February 11th, 2010
Spend a lot of time scanning the Aryan Nations Websites,marketwatch?
#17 by Anonymous on February 11th, 2010
l CANT BELIEVE RON PAUL AGREES TO GO ON FOX “NEWS”!! INTO THE BELLY OF THE BEAST.. WHAT COURAGE AND OPEN MINDEDNESS TO GIVE SUCH AN IGNORANT “NEWS” PROGRAM A SAY
TRULY BELIEVES IN FREEDOM OF SPEECH
#18 by babig221982 on February 12th, 2010
"If you build it, they will come" is not necessarily true on the Web. Putting a website up is one thing, but getting visitors to come to your site is another. The process becomes even more difficult if you have limited resources to market your business.
Here are some shoestring marketing ideas that can help you get the visitors you need at the least cost possible:
1. Create the best content you can with the best products you can possibly offer. Your content is your best advertisement – if visitors love your content, then they will go back and spread the word to others.
2. Make it easy for users to recommend your site. Viral marketing is very important — and easy to tap on the Web. But give your users the tools. Get a Recommend this Site script from websites such as cgiscripts.com and similar directories of scripts. Some even go as far as giving incentives to those who recommend the site to their friends. If only 10 people go to your site, but these 10 people invite 10 more – that's additional traffic that you get for FREE!
3. Rank well in the search engines (organic search results, not the pay per click). SEs can be a big source of traffic. The key is to create the best content in your niche. If you have good content, other websites will gladly link to you and offer your site as a resource to their audience. Check the on-page factors and be sure to get linked from authority sites in your topic area.
If you are going to read only one piece on search engine optimization, I suggest you read Brett Tabke of WebmasterWorld.com's "Successful Site in 12 Months with Google Alone: 26 steps to 15k a day." http://www.webmasterworld.com/forum3/2010.htm
4. Send out press releases. While outfits charge as much as $650 per release, there are free press release submission places on the Web. Press releases allow you to (a) attract media attention; (b) get more back links to your website without sending each website an email request; and (c) get more visibility especially if your press release gets in Google News or Yahoo News. My website (see my profile) accepts free press release submission (no strings attached!)
5. Submit articles. Write articles and submit them to websites accepting author submissions. You get exposure for your business; establishes you as an authority in your field, and allows you to get backlinks for your website. If 50 websites publish your article and it contains a link back to your website, then you easily get 50 links from a single article. The more links you have, the greater your chances for increasing your search engine rankings.
6. Improve your conversion. Getting visitors is one thing; getting them to buy your products is a whole different story. Read the article "10 Ways to Convert Visitors to Buyers" http://www.powerhomebiz.com/072005/conversion.htm for tips on how to improve your conversion rates.