By Naseem Javed
Some twenty-one years ago, Naseem Javed founded ABC Namebank in New York and Toronto
to solely concentrate on corporate nomenclature. Now as a world-renowned authority,
author of two major books, he is featured in over 100 articles worldwide, annually.
"Do you have questions about naming your company? Would you like your
corporate name reviewed?" Send your requests to Naseem here:
info@abcnamebank.com
Corporate image-makers and brand agencies have only hurt themselves by ignoring
the correct methodologies required for proper naming. Agencies asking sub-contractors
to hire free-lancers to do their brainstorming and run focus groups. |
Exercises to pool 5000 names over five months for few millions
to come up with a PHOOFFS are finished. Extreme exercises with executives locked
up in a boardroom, in the dark, each with a flashlight, making letter signs to
form words while the other half tried to decipher, now lost in the darkness along
with their OINGA, BOINGA names.
If this is the end of logo design then what’s the future for Corporate Identity
Services? Yet, this offers a great leadership opportunity for providing well-executed
name identity, under the guidance of “Masters of Naming Architects”. After all,
there never was a shortage of great names just lack of expertise and wisdom. Seven
Remedies* from The Brand New Laws of Corporate & Name Identity Image:
1. Respect:
A name must have an alpha-character to qualify and gain respect. Face of honesty,
integrity, reliability and credibility. No room for "PurpleFrog," "PinkRhino,"
"Globe-a-Con," or "Tomorrow Inc." Sobriety must prevail because corporate names
are not beer commercials.
2. ONE Face, ONE Name:
Stand up with a happy, healthy face. Don't try too many masks and transmit multiple
personalities. This can seriously blur the image. Advertising is wasted in harnessing
a common mind share. Is the name selling Accounting or Space Navigation, Computers
or Distilled Water? Honest names are truly honest about what they do.
3. Current Status:
If you think you’re on top of the world, then show it with your name. Old-fashioned
names will not attract customer's attention to your ongoing evolutions. Glories
of the past often lose their value with the changing times. Face cyber-branding
realities of tomorrow’s global e-commerce.
4. Become A Star:
Have a star quality in your brand name. Its alpha-structure should be bright,
clear and shiny. Don't educate the universe on how to spell, pronounce or remember
a weird spelling or obscure origin of a blunt klutzy name. No need to be a matchstick
when it can be a flashlight.
5. Freedom To Travel:
Spread
your wings and fly away. Wander country to country with your name-Identity and
explore global opportunities. No room for difficulties of global translations,
connotations, secondary meanings, foreign obscenities, pronunciations and all
other language issues. Today, marketing is ONLY global, BURN all the other books
that say otherwise. Think locally, but name universally.
6. Pride & Joy:
Be a leader. Set an example. Take pride. Introduce it globally with full confidence.
Why the embarrassment? It's not stolen, or is it? Watch competitors struggle with
confusion, dysfunctionalities and embarrassing naming stories. Shine where others
hide.
7. Rightful Ownership:
If you own a corporation, why not its name? Today, 93% of corporations do not
own a global trademark with an identical domain name. This is the easiest thing
to do. Shortages of global names are only myths successfully established by design
firms. Fix it immediately as there is no winning without a global trademark with
an identical DotCom.
{*Adapted from The Brand New Laws of Corporate Image Javed, Linkbridge 2003}
In Summary:
At this moment, there is a much bigger war of branding image going on out there. Corporations are fighting for global positioning while shareholders are frightened by the fake hoopla. For those genuine, honest and progressive corporations of the real economy armed with realistic goals; there are still a lot of opportunities to stay clear of these corrupt, polluted and damaged name identities. Seek out professional naming solutions to your marketing needs making sure that your names are on solid ground and can pass the Acid Test of Trustworthiness.
View All Articles by
Naseem Javed
About the Author:
Naseem Javed of http://www.naseemjaved.com, is a syndicated
columnist, author of Naming for Power, Founder of ABC Namebank
International, www.abcnamebank.com world-renowned lecturer, and an expert
on corporate naming issues. Naseem is a committed follower of sobriety in
corporate and communication strategies and a harsh critic of the "beer
commercial" mentality on naming and the influence of voodoo branding on our
culture. A hilarious speaker, he has a powerful message on why Global Name
Identities are on fire.
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