Question

Topic: Taglines/Names

Freelance Writer....wanting To Be Taken Seriously

Posted by Anonymous on 10/17/2006 at 11:35 AM ET 250 Points
Hi! I am looking for ideas for a business name and tagline for my freelance writing company. It is just myself, with the possibility of expanding in the future. I have been freelancing for almost a year and am looking at becoming more "professional" by creating a logo, letterhead, a company name and a catchy (inspiring) tagline.
Any suggestions would be great. Please note that while I am wanting something professional - something fun and bubbly may fit - as it suits my writing personality.
Thanks so much, in advance.
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RESPONSES

  • Posted on 10/17/2006 at 12:25 PM Member
    When it comes to a company name, there are 3 main factors you should keep in mind: legal availability, memorability & positioning.

    LEGAL AVAILABILITY - Is the name legally available for use? I've know so many people who in their 4th or 5th year receive a cease and desist letter from company who had that name both them. A trademark attorney can help you do this type of digging. Or you can get it done cheaper by having a quick trademark search done by Alex von Allmen at BrandMother.com His number is 916-985-6205. Tell him Melvin Ram sent ya.

    MEMORABILITY - How memorable is your name? It helps if it is visual. I started my company as Novel Studios. No one could remember it. Now it's Volcanic Marketing. I tell people once and they don't forget. Something sexy or fun or descriptive usually helps.

    POSITIONING - Does the name position you correctly in the mind of your target audience? If you're targeting large businesses, a lofty name that seems more established may be the way to go. For smaller businesses who are more price conscious, sounding affordable will be very important.

    Whenever I have a client who needs a name, I usually recommend Alex. If you have a few hundred bucks to invest, I'd give him a call. Having a good name pays off because all your other marketing depends on it.

    As for my suggestions? How bout:
    - Right Ink Copy writing
    - Word Play Copywriters
    - Affordable Words
    - Right Words

    Actually, you should probably give more details on the type of writing you do, who your target market is and what your future plans are for people to be able to give you good ideas.

    Does this help?
  • Posted on 10/17/2006 at 12:31 PM Author
    Hi Melvin - actually it does help. And gives me a lot to think about...

    Currently I freelance part time, but am looking into making the change to full time. I mostly write for various magazines (fashion, parenting, travel, etc.), but again am hoping to break into different markets; including ghost writing, resume writing, and creating or revising marketing and promotional information for companies.

    I am lokoing to expand my services. And I would like to have a name/tagline that people can associate me and my work with....

    Does that help at all??
  • Posted on 10/17/2006 at 12:49 PM Accepted
    First thing I would suggest is focusing your business.

    - Ghost writing
    - Resume writing
    - Creating or Revising marketing and promotional information

    I don't know where you are from and it's market conditions. But I think I can safely assume that any one of those three can earn you a great living and be the foundation for a solid business.

    Pick one and dive deep into it. That will help you create a great name as well as great marketing collateral such as websites and flyers. It's more effective to say to someone at a networking function that "I'm a Resume Writer" or "I'm a Marketing Collateral Writer" than to say "I'm a writer."

    Make sense?

    Melvin Ram
    Volcanic Marketing
    [URL deleted by staff]
  • Posted by telemoxie on 10/17/2006 at 7:16 PM Member
    In response to Melvin's comment: "Whenever I have a client who needs a name, I usually recommend Alex." - I checked, and sorry, Alex.com is no longer available. Maybe one of Melvin's other clients took his advice, and beat you to it.

    But seriously, in addition to nice letterhead and graphics and a super-duper name, I believe that, to be taken seriously, you need a sustained effort to get your information and credentials in front of the right folks. It has been said that it takes 10 to 15 "impressions" to create "top of mind association". And so, if you follow Melvin's advice and focus on a particular specialty or market, you should also consider (and budget) how you will keep your name in front of the right folks on a consistent (and affordable) basis.
  • Posted on 10/18/2006 at 12:10 AM Member
    hahahaha good one Dave (telemoxie). And good advise. Frequency is critical in marketing. I'm really liking this group of people here.
  • Posted on 10/18/2006 at 6:24 AM Author
    Wow - I thought I was going to get some ideas for names. You have all given me so much more to think about. Honestly, thank-you all!
    I started freelancing part time from home - writing an article or two a week for various magazines. Now I am wanting to take a step up and make this into a full time job. It was suggested to me to create business cards to include with manuscripts so that editors have something with my name on to keep in front of them.
    My main focus will still be article writing - but would like to break into some of the larger world-wide magazines; hence why I would like something fairly serious - yet creative and inspiring.
  • Posted by Frank Hurtte on 10/18/2006 at 8:07 AM Member
    Here is a name...
    Writers in the Sky
  • Posted by Harry Hallman on 10/18/2006 at 8:41 AM Accepted
    I have hired many, many writers for a variety of projects and I never once cared what the name of their company was. I would use Jen Mifflin & Associates. It is a good and easy to remember name. And it is available as a URL.

    I could be wrong about this but no one I know in the marketing business hires a writer because they have a catchy company name, and in some cases

    Telemoxie has it correct. Create your marketing materials to reflect the target market and get out in front of the targets any way you can.
  • Posted by jpoyer on 10/19/2006 at 12:38 AM Accepted
    From one Jen to anthother ...

    I really dig Harry's suggestion, and then building on what Kathy suggested for a tag. This makes it a bit more open for future growth as well - because it's not Jen only. ...

    Mifflin & Associates ... we have a way with your words

    It appears that although mifflinandassociates.com doesn't have a site, it is owned by someone. You might have to play with that a bit, but still try to keep it general. Like J. Mifflin and Associates. ... (JMifflinAndAssociates.com is open)

    Hope this helps,

    Jennifer
    XPRT Creative
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