Know-How Exchange : Taglines/Names

Thanks but we have already Googled, Yahooed and Binged it to death! We're in Houston and Tulsa. Our team has much broader and deeper experience and expertise than our "competitors" and we're well known and respected in the industry for each of our niches.

We already have a successful and profitable business but up until this point we have simply been operating as a network of independent consultants operating under our personal names rather than a formal, branded company.

@ Jay - There are five of us so probably too many to use our names or initials i.e. SJD building on your example.

As far as using "risk" in the name, we can take it or leave it. ~50% of what we do is risk mgmt related but 50% isn't. As far as modern vs safe, I'd say it runs the course. Personally, I would like something safe with a modern twist i.e. Sapient, which for those that don't know, is a synonym of intelligent.

Regarding the brainstorming ideas, they were little more than brainstorming but your comments are pretty similar to our thoughts, hence the reason we aren't content with those options or similar. The only other thought I have on those is that I have heard of people using things like "Ascend Advisors" so that people will ask what they do which gives them the opportunity to tell their story.

@ Karen - Advisors is a term that I would lean towards as providing advice is a key part of what we do for our clients. Managing Partners doesn't really work as Managing Partner is a title given to CEO/president type roles in companies with a partnership structure i.e. law firms, accounting firms, etc.

Thanks everyone for the feedback.

@ PhilGrisolia - We are leaning towards "something" Energy Advisors. While we're not set on sage we want to use something that says experts, experience, unique point of view, etc. As far as advisers vs. advisors, I'm aware of it but it seems that most use advisors when using it in the name of a business.

@dvogel - yes, we're well aware of the domain issue. We've had to squash a few names as relevant domains weren't available.

@rvenkat

1. This is key, we want something that is both memorable and unique.
2. This is the toughest part, in my opinion. I think it's safe to say that we want our brand to convey several things: experts, trusted, peerless (in that we can honestly say that we are able to provide clients with services/solutions that produce the desired results and are above and beyond what the competition offers and we can easily prove it)
3. Agreed.

We have worked on combining some words and explored the possibility of using a translation from another language as well i.e. Latin, French, etc.

A friend of mine suggested using the word monadnock (an isolated rock hill, knob, ridge, or small mountain that rises abruptly from a gently sloping or virtually level surrounding plain) and other similar terms. Any thoughts?

There are several companies using Mondadnock as part of their name (best example is www.monadnock.com).
Google search and a search on any web domain registrar will save time.

Couple of comments:

A thesaurus is useful (the online version at www.thesaurus.com is good). There are interesting synonyms for peerless and expert, which can be modified to give it uniqueness. For instance, virtuoso (meaning expert) lends itself to interesting modifications (e.g., Virtuo)

If it is a modification of an English word or combination of two words (made up name), there is a greater chance of it being unique (e.g., Satmetrix). You are also more likely to get these domain names.

Good luck.

remember -
Sage is also a foody word....and also can be seen as puffery (hype) to some. Use a word to define your niche to your clients V's bragging.

Strata: geological, societal and multiple (5 team mates) ideas & layers...

Strata Advisors sounds similar to strategy but more Industry familiar without using the Risk/Gamble word.

StrataAdvisors.com is a also available.

Tag lines can often come after a name is used for awhile and 'they' become a little more evident when your clients define their value in you! Right now a few clear words supporting your name will do.

Petroleum Management Firm



Good luck again.

Thanks for all of the great feedback, much of which we wouldn't have ever thought of on our own We are going to do some internal brainstorming/debating it over for a couple days and then I will be back. Thanks!