Today’s Tip
Best Practice: Product name with initials or numbers are shorter, easier to remember, but people may not know what it is. Tagline can help.
4in1 Complete creates a number product name
Today’s Article: Creating a Product Name with Initials or Numbers
Product name with initials or numbers are simply composed of letters or numbers. These letters or numbers may be a way to shorten a longer name, a concept tied in with the product or the owners just likes the look or sound of it.
Examples: WD-40 Product (“Water Displacement, 40th formula”).
Pros: Can be easy to say, spell, and remember. May be a good way to shorten a longer name or ties in with a unique business concept.
Cons: May be difficult to find an available domain name and one that is trademark free, especially for initials. With just letters or numbers, people cannot easily tell what the product is. A great tagline can help with this.
Other Examples: 100 Grand, 365 Every Day Value, 3 Musketeers, 5-Hour Energy, 501 (Levi’s), 7Up, 9 Lives, A1 Steak Sauce, iPad, iPhone, iPod, iTunes, M&M’s, Q-tips, V05, V8, WD-40 or X-Factor
Brand Product Name Filter
The brand product name filter below will help you objectively evaluate how available and good a name is.
Number System: 0-poor, 1-fair, 2-good, 3-excellent.
___ Easy to Say and Pronounce
___ Easy to Remember
___ Easy to Spell
___ Name is Web-Ready: Exact Match Domain Name with no hyphen (Domain Search)
___ Trademark is Available (Trademark Search)
___ Available in Your State (Online check with your State Department of Incorporation)
___ Social Media Identity Availability (Example Facebook (B2C), LinkedIn (B2B), etc.)
___ Stands out from the Competition in a Favorable Way
___ Has no Negative Meanings (Example: when translated to a foreign market’s language)
___ Name Allows You to Add New Services or Products in the Future
___ Number of Points
Action Step: Make a list of initials or numbers to create a product name. Take the list of letters and/or numbers and start combining them until you come up with 1-3 that you like. Next go to the product name filter above to evaluate them.
Note: If you are having trouble coming up with a name that you like and is rated high by the brand filter, it may be time to look for an outside source to help you i.e. Ask the Expert
Recommendation: In a branding process, it is important to look at name possibilities in different product name categories: Literal, Attribute, Legacy, Word Combination, New Invented, Related, Alliteration or Rhyme and Inquiring. This helps you expand the way you look at your product, to find the best name to connect with your target market, that stands out from the competition and reflects your brand position.
Additional Resources
Return to Product Naming Return to Brand Library Return to Brand Yourself
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