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I’ve posted an article or two on funny names, on political names that are hard to pronounce, but effective, and also posted an analysis of candidate names in the midterm elections. I just had to share this link to some truly funny, real political names. Funny names can be effective if they make your brand …
Nobody sells products or services any more–everything has been elevated to the status of a “solution.” Solution brand names have run rampant. Tech companies started the craze.You can choose your solution from HP, Cisco, IBM, and on and on in a mind-numbingly boring variety. Google the phrase “technology solution” and you will get more than …
The Problem Is Too Many Solutions — Funny Solution Brand Names Read More »
The rumored merger between Newsweek and The Daily Beast points up one of the big issues for merging companies: What to call the thing? Branding and mergers is often a matter of political bartering when cobbling together a deal. Letting lawyers make the brand name decision is not a good idea. The naming decision should …
A brand name that is remembered is a brand name that wins in the marketplace—and possibly the polling place. The candidate brand matter. What Makes a Name Memorable? Many factors create name that is easy to remember: great features and benefits and effective, frequent advertising chief among them. In politics, things like party, platform, personality …
Mr. Smith Doesn’t Go to Washington? Predicting Which Candidate Brand Wins Read More »
Brand names often don’t “travel”. What works in one language often does not work in another. And that makes for funny brand names. (see the recent post on Putzmeister). But a funny brand name can actually be effective. Take the case of Bimbo Bakeries. Most brand consultants would advise adopting a new name for the …
The upcoming midterm elections and Chelsea Clinton’s recent marriage made me think of a winning “political brand” from the 1970’s. The classic advice for a good brand name is that it should be easy to pronounce. Wrong! This classic ad created by media pioneer Tony Schwartz, proves that unpronounce-ability can actually be a plus. Edward …
Media insiders are buzzing about a potential name change for MSNBC.com to address the NBC brand problem. NBC Universal and Microsoft want to distance their co-owned Web site from the cable channel. MSNBC.com president Charlie Tinllinghast is quoted in the New York Times complaining the MSNBC “Lean Forward” repositioning “only exacerbates the brand misaligment problem.” …
MSNBC vs. MSNBC.COM Just Part of a Bigger NBC Brand Problem Read More »
The launch of the Google Speedbook tablet PC has hit the brakes. The company had hoped to make tracks challenging Apple’s iPad in the tablet PC market–just in time for the holiday gift buying season. Instead Speedbook has landed Google in naming hell. A small technology company CollegeNet has challenged the company’s trademark filing. The …
Hitting the Brakes: Google Speedbook Naming Disaster Read More »
Merriam Associates names almost a hundred companies and products a year. Our naming project work crosses categories, from consumer to B2B, from billion dollar companies to start-ups you haven’t heard of (yet). Our innovative approach creates strategically valuable names with impact. Several projects demonstrate the depth and breadth of our work: Kore Sportswear Kore Sportswear, …