Straydog Marketing + Design

Naming your brand is one of the most crucial steps in launching your brand. Your name becomes part of your brand story, establishes an introduction to your personality, and is the basis of your marketing plan. When you have a great brand name it distinguishes you from your competitors, it becomes memorable, and it creates meaning and emotion in your customers.

Your name must be strategic, unique, and easy to say, otherwise it will get lost in the shuffle. With so many brands out there you want to have a name that won’t get confused with any other brand. Your name should be descriptive of your offering, but be careful of information overload! Your name should also be consistent with your brand promise, brand vision, and brand mission.

Remember that names can come from anywhere, and can be invented, descriptive, conjoined, or metaphorical, but they still must have rooted meaning within your brand and service you offer.

Naming Guidelines:

1. Does it give a good first impression?
2. Does it sound pleasant?
3. Does it relate to your offering?
4. Do you see it working long term, if it is a long-term brand?
5. Is it easy to read, spell?
6. Is it unique within your market?
7. Does it have an intriguing story behind it?
8. Is your name already taken?

For example, the name “Straydog”, is rooted within our core services. We help companies and products that may have lost direction or are a “stray” in the marketplace. We work with new and existing brands that may have an excellent product or service, but need assistance in finding a good home in the marketplace, and somewhere they can thrive. We felt that our story relates to that of a stray dog, and we decided to use a metaphor in our naming process, which allowed more creative avenues for brand imaging and marketing strategy.

Thanks and good luck in the naming process! If you are in need of branding services and to find your way home, contact us!

By Rachelle Hynes