Landing on the right name for your business, brand, promotion/marketing scheme or product can be very difficult and time-consuming. Many will simply go for the default of naming it what it is and throwing it out to the public. However, there’s a great amount of power that comes with hitting the right name. A name being catchy, punchy, and sticky will do wonders for reaching and retaining customers, so here are some ways to get there.
Alliteration to Stick in the Mind
Alliteration is the ultimate form of naming in business. Word choices that alliterate are the stickiest of them all. Repetition is what underpins many marketing schemes, putting branding out there multiple times just so that it lingers in your memory. An alliterative name is automatically repetitive, doing a lot of heavy lifting by itself. Further, there’s an inherent rhythm to it through the repetition, making it even catchier as a name.
TikTok, an app that craves every possible moment of your spare time, sits in your head immediately thanks to the rhythm and repetition that comes with its name. Throw in other examples like Coca-Cola, PayPal, Best Buy, Dunkin’ Donuts, Blockbuster, and Blackberry, and it’s easy to see how well it ensnares the subconscious. You can even throw in the correct pronunciation of Volkswagen – folks-vaa-gen – as a way of tapping into alliteration in a milder way.
As Straightforward as it Needs to be
Sometimes, being as direct and straightforward as possible is the way to go. A name that says everything about what’s going on can be a good way to catch the eye. Plus, in this day and age, it helps with search engine optimisation and, if you can land the same domain, it can show a certain degree of authority. Being searchable is a big deal these days, which is why many promotions and product names lean into this.
You can look to the array of bingo promotions, tournaments, bonuses, and prizes put up by Buzz Bingo as an example. The online entertainment hub does tap into alliteration in some ways, both with the wider brand name itself and with individual promotions like the Bingo Whirly Wheel. But, they also have more direct promo names like £1 Bingo Bonus, Friday Spins Drop, and Free Bingo.
Being unique is important, but you need to pick your battles, and sometimes a no-nonsense approach to conveying what your brand offers is the best way to do this.
Creative and Unique, but Still on Target
Coming up with a name is a creative process, but truly digging deep to find something that’s unique, memorable and relevant takes another step up in creativity. Still, it can be done by examining the story of the brand, product, promotion, or business while also keeping the obvious outward components in mind. This way, you find a unique angle on a name that still relays exactly what’s going on under the sticker or tag.
A particular bastion of this is Wazoku. Like hundreds before you, you’ll be wondering exactly what Wazoku means. That’s the goal for the idea management startup. While it may seem like a made-up word plucked from nowhere, it’s actually the Swahili term for “great idea.” As it goes, looking for catchy words in other languages was a great idea, and resulted in the ideas firm coming up with a very imaginative name that generates its own intrigue by merely existing.
Getting the right name can be a trying and time-consuming process, but when that light bulb suddenly flicks on and you’ve found the perfect name, it’ll do wonders for your passive marketing.
