As I promised in Part 4, I left off discussing my other nickname "boots."
More on this in a moment . . . first a review . . .
In Parts 1-4, I discussed:
- Offbeat Names
- Names with Benefits
- Fantasy Names
- Instant Reward Names
- Long Names
- Using a Real Person's Name
Today, we're going to complete this exploration process. I'm going to touch on using numbers and letters, name extensions, fun names and foreign names.
Yes, I was given the name "boots" back then. Why? Because I loved my go-go boots. For many of you who were alive back then – the 60's – remember the time go-go boots began showing up on television. Well, I bugged my parents for a pair. They never bought them for me but I did sell some 45's to friends to come up with the money.
I never wanted to take them off either.
For those who don't know the term go-go boots, here's Wikipedia's explanation:
"Go-Go boots are a low-heeled style of women's fashion boot worn since the mid-sixties when fashion silhouettes focused on accentuating the leg. The term "go-go" is a 1964 back construction of the 1962 slang term "go," meaning something that was "all the rage"; the term "go-go dancer" first appeared in print in 1965.
For a picture or other tidbits on this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Go-go_boots
Now, back to our main topic . . .
Numbers & Letters
Is your product going to be used solely by men or mostly by men? Then numbers and letters are a possibility to use when naming your product. 2.6 Meg always related more to them then to women.
Not always but for the majority.
The statistic 2.5 children is famous in the 1960s and 70s generation in demographic use. It also gets people to think – a half a child, huh? Even though the statistic doesn't stand true in our 21st century, it is still used quite often because it makes its point extremely well.
Many numbers come from the benefits of the product or from its features. Nevertheless, they can also come from the image or feeling you want to convey. Just look at the way cars are named. Ones that sell mostly to the female market don't have letters or numbers, or if they do, they don't use them in an ad directed to them. Moreover, most sports cars have Z in them.
Speaking about Z's . . .
The latest one I've seen going well is the Z car (www.zcar.com). Remember, in part 2, I mentioned "Instant Reward." Well, Z cars used this. Z to people represents fast – zip, zipping. Datsun/Nissan emphasizes, small, extremely economical for their representation of this. They give the emotional feeling of zipping around town. Fast, easily in and out of tight parking places, and more. And Z cars have been around a long time. They were first introduced back in the long-running BBC police series of the 1960s.
Does Z-(something) fit into your product name? Can you use their already created emotional connection for something of yours?
Today, many names include an extension. Like Jr. or Sr. after a person's name. All I can do is issue you a word of caution when using name extensions. There's a higher ratio of it never working. So, if you do use them, make sure it's going to be a hit right from the beginning. That is, unless you want to create a mediocre brand-name strategy. And this may be the case. Sometimes create a mediocre name can push another name up. Just be careful with this.
Many people prefer not to add Jr. after their name because it connotes being 'second'. No one likes to be second, everyone wants to be first. Yes, Yes, Yes, don't write to me about the deeper meaning of Jr. This is just an illustration, that's all.
Foreign Exchange
When I read this from some other source years and years ago, I chuckled. Yet, there's so much truth to this.
The Japanese love using American names. Actually, many other countries do. Moreover, Americans love using foreign names.
Go ahead and laugh, I did.
One of my favorite restaurants is LaMadeline's. Whenever I want to feel like I'm getting away to some place foreign, I go there to eat. They are all over the United States. They are very successful because of their name, their atmosphere, and food choices. Even their food line. Their menu too. They give you the atmosphere of being in another country. It's an emotional feeling from their product line.
Generally, all successful businesses generate an emotional response in the consumer. Turn on your speakers, go to LaMadeline's website http://www.lamadeleine.com/ and listen. Is there an emotional musical response you want to transfer to your website visitors? Years ago, we hated music when it appeared like this. For the future, it's going to get more acceptable.
Conclusion
Well, we've travelled far this week, exploring how you to name a product. I hope you enjoyed the lessons and journey. I sure did. Now, I need to ask a favor. Share your comments. Let me know how I'm doing? Let me know if you have something else to add. Your feedback will help write my next post with your loving emotion.
