Using 'text messaging' style shorthand in a band name - bad idea?

Discussion in 'General Marketing' started by wolfestone, Apr 30, 2009.

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  1. #1
    I'd appreciate any opinions on this one:

    How appropriate do you think it'd be to use internet/text messaging style abbreviations in a product/service brand name?

    For example: replace 'for you' with '4u' 'later' to 'l8r', your to 'ur' etc.

    The product/service would be very much internet related, but not specifically text messaging.

    I'm of mixed opinions on this one - Part of me wonders if I'm overthinking this and that some of these abbreviations are perfectly ok, but I can't quite get out of my mind the people who percieve this kind of shorthand as pure laziness (it's only two more letters, just type them etc...)
     
    wolfestone, Apr 30, 2009 IP
  2. STRUK

    STRUK Peon

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    #2
    In my opinion it's really cheesy. It wouldn't stop me listening to them, but if I came across their name I'd think "oh great, another band trying to get famous purely from having a name based on Internet culture".
     
    STRUK, Apr 30, 2009 IP
  3. james0822

    james0822 Well-Known Member

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    #3
    If your product isn't text messaging related - I would not do it.

    Some key things to remember:
    * Your name should be simple and straight to the point. It should describe what you sell/provide and be memorable.
    * Using short-hand abbreviations can be expensive because you have to spend extra to get people to remember that your name is spelled in "short-hand"
    * Your name should be based on whatever search terms your customer would use to find you
    * Branding is an expensive and worthwhile investment and it is meant to communicate something intrinsic about your product/company/service -- FYI I can't remember the names of many of those web 2.0 companies

    I've been doing marketing and business strategy for 11 years - just my 2-cents

    Good luck!
     
    james0822, Apr 30, 2009 IP
  4. Guitarnut

    Guitarnut Peon

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    #4
    Depends on the market you're targeting.
     
    Guitarnut, Apr 30, 2009 IP
  5. Brett1231

    Brett1231 Well-Known Member

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    #5
    agreed. the best internet names are easy to spell and spelled the way they sound.
     
    Brett1231, Apr 30, 2009 IP
  6. wolfestone

    wolfestone Peon

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    #6
    Oops, subject line should have said 'brand' not band...

    Thanks for all the advice, some very valid points. Given the market - website design services - I think finding a short and descriptive name (domain name availability is a factor) is going to be very difficult. In this scenario, what would you all say is the better approach:

    1. go with a non-related but short name (seems popular among web 2.0 sites)
    2. go with something descriptive, but longer (maybe 3-4 words brand name)
    3. go with the shorthand
    4. something else?

    I really appreciate the insight on this.
     
    wolfestone, May 2, 2009 IP