I am going to revamp a lot of areas in my business, including eliminating wasted areas of focus.

In this process I have decided to can my company name (A Pane in the Glass Window Cleaning) My wife came up with it years ago and I have always had a love/hate feeling about it. I do not think funny and cute will take me to where I want to go. Besides, I may franchise one day.

I want a name that is easy to remember and direct. I will be focused on branding a lot more in 2008 and need a solid base to start it. (I have not done any real brand awareness yet)

I will be pouring big dollars into direct mail, direct response and any other lead generation that is effective.

So, what's in a name? Got any ideas?

thanks for any responses

Paul

Paul,

From my perspective there are 2 schools of thought...

#1 is a name that doesn't necessary explain a big benefit of dealing with the business such as "Domino's Pizza" BUT incorporates a big USP after the name. So the two (name and usp) are always linked.

#2 is using a name that does extoll a benefit of dealing with the company such as "Presto Window Cleaners".

I agree

Let's visit successful companies in the cleaning industry-

Merry Maids
Stanley Steamer
Jani-Pro
Jani King

some successful window cleaning franchises-

Squeegee Squad
Fish Window Cleaning ()
Window Gang

If I went with Fish type of name, I would have some work to do. If I had a Squeegee Squad name.. not so much.

Do yourself a favor and spend a few bucks on a book called, "Pop! Stand Out In Any Crowd".

Lots of practical techniques for coming up with names in it.

Amazon.com: Pop!: Stand Out in Any Crowd: Books: Sam Horn

Thanks for the heads up Nebulousx. Looks like a good read, I bought it.

You MOST read the article by Perry Marshall covering
the Big Ass Fans:

Big-Ass Fans Marketing. Big-Ass Fans and the Naked Truth About Attention and Controversy

Read, enjoy and aply!

Clean My Ass??

Peace
Peace

i think "little guy can succeed" also good.
or maybe "the laziest internet marketer"

hope that help you

That's great Subtle

Motley1,

Naming is a realm in which I have extensive experience. I have 8 years consumer research experience testing names, largely for Internation use...plus more experience working with the line-extension names for clients as a brand strategist.

My favorite name of a product for which I am given credit is...
==> The Deluxe Interactive... OMEGA MEGA ZORD
(a Power Rangers toy.)

You see how Omega and Mega ring? Eben Pagen considers this important.

But first, I'd like you to consider the advice MichaelWinicki shared below. As we've come to expect from Michael, his words are sage...
==> Now, that we have a base goal, name + big benefit, let's continue.

Eben Pagen, aka David D. Angelo, discusses the importance of ear-play as detailed in Chapters 14 and 15 of THE NEW POSITION by Jack Trout. Please notice how David D. Angelo: Double Your Dating has
==> name + big benefit + alliteration

Cute is usually for suckers.

Peace in. I hope this may have helped. There is one other book Eben recommended when I spent two days with him at the FreeIQ brand planning retreat. Let me know if you want to buy and read yet another book on the subject.

I hope this contributed to the conversation.

Warmly,

Ben