5 tips to level up your name game
When I moved to the United States from India — a lot of people had trouble pronouncing my name, even my boyfriend (now my husband) would introduce the other party first and waited for me to introduce myself for the first few dates. People called me Kiki, Katie, Casey, everything but my given birth name Ketaki (Kate-key).
And when the time came when I was starting my art and design studio I know I wanted something short and sweet, just like me.😉
K8Ki is a hybrid of visual representation of its pronunciation. I had to take the opportunity to communicate with my audience and leave a mark.
A great brand is not just something that looks cool on your business card or it is fun to say. And it isn't great because you like it. It's great because it resonates and communicates the right message to your audience and leaves an impactful memory. Here are a couple of clients I have help with a brand name, brand design, and website.
Choosing a perfect brand name is one of the most exciting and important elements of brand building... But it's also one of the hardest.
As branding pro Marty Neuemier says in his book The Brand Gap, “The need for good brand names originates with customers, and customers will always want convenient ways of identifying, remembering, discussing, and comparing brands. The right name can be a brand’s most valuable asset, driving differentiation and speeding acceptance.”
If you are still looking for a brand name here are a few things you should consider before you finalize a name.
What names a good brand name?
Meaningful: It communicates your brand essence, conjures an image, and cultivates a positive emotional connection.
Distinctive: It is unique, memorable, and stands out from your competitors.
Accessible: People can easily interpret it, say it, spell it, or Google it. (Even if you have an unusual or bizarre name, it must be understandable.)
Protectable: You can trademark it, get the domain, and “own” it, both legally and in the general consciousness.
Future-proof: It can grow with the company and maintain relevance—and be adapted for different products and brand extensions.
Visual: You can translate/communicate it through design, including icons, logos, colors, etc.
Today, I’m taking a quick break to round up a few tips to level up your name game.
1. Articulate your core identity
Vision - Why your company exists
Mission - What your company does
Values - How you do what you do
Understanding what makes your brand unique is the first step to finding a perfect brand name.
2. Create your brand avatar
Identify your customers. Knowing your customers demographic information like age, gender, location will help you target them better.
3. Brainstorm brand name ideas
Write down all the adjectives that describe your service.
Describe what you want your customers to feel when they use your product/service.
Do an association of words about your product/service.
Another useful way to brainstorm is to think of the different categories of brand names like:
Founder: A name based on a real or fictional person, such as Ben & Jerry’s, Martha Stewart and Ralph Lauren.
Descriptive: A name that describes what you do or make, such as Toys R Us, General Motors.
Fabricated: A totally made-up name or words, such as Kodak or Xerox.
Metaphor: Mythical, foreign, or imagery-heavy things, places, people, animals, or processes, such as Nike or Patagonia.
Acronym: A name that uses initials or an abbreviation, such as AT&T (American Telephone & Telegraph) or IBM (International Business Machines).
Magic spell: A name that is a portmanteau (two words together) or a real word with a made-up spelling, such as Facebook or Instagram.
Keep you brand name easy to pronounce, short and relatable.
4. Check the availability of your best brand name ideas
This could be the most frustrating part sometimes. There is no point in testing anything that’s already taken, so you need to check the availability of your brand name.
Where do you find if your brand name is available you ask? Go to domain hosting sites like Namecheap, GoDaddy and find out what's available for you to purchase.
Also, when you are ready don't forget to register your trade name or LLC with your state.
5. Test your brand name
Now that you've cleared all the legal hurdles, here comes the most exciting part. You get to visualize (think logos, product packaging, website, etc.) wherever you think your brand name will appear in your branding process.
Ask you, family and friends, what they think of your shortlisted brand names. Pay attention not only to what people say but also how they react and respond.
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And if you are feeling overwhelmed with all this information shoot me an email at hello@studiok8ki.com and I should be able to help you with all of the above.
Until next time you passionate and lovely business owner!
XO
Ketaki
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