Know-How Exchange : Taglines/Names

so to follow Phil’s line of thinking ...

“Strictly for Search” is a better brand name than “Google”
“For Networking Only” is a better than “Linkedin”
“Great Micro Blogging” is better than “Twitter”

These three word literal descriptions are usually very good as keyword phrases and/or taglines. So by adding these keyword phrases to your site tags, body copy and social media tags, you will get site traffic without necessarily needing to choose a generic sounding brand name.

Phil does make a good point. There are many good examples of generic names becoming great brands. But it is not a black or white issue. It all depends on the specific situation, the competitive landscape, the target audience and the like. There is no rule of thumb for what works and what doesn’t work. It’s both art and science.

I think the best brand names are expressions of a clearly understood positioning strategy. For example, “NyQuil, The Night Time Cold Medicine”. The NyQuil name reflects the positioning.

Hope this helps,

Steve