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Dried Up And Desperate For Name!!!

Posted by NickC on 2/9/2013 at 1:01 PM ET 250 Points

I am setting up a sole trader driveway and patio cleaning business in the UK, with capital outlay on an industrial grade cold pressure washer, van, website, brochures etc.Initial promotion will be door to door calling and leaflet drop. Not having a marketing background I am struggling with a suitable name which is not only apt and memorable BUT ALSO one having a memorable and available WWW....co.uk domain, which is where I am hitting a brick wall. <br />Prefer not to use my name or location in the business name as may hinder if sold on at a later stage.<br />I personally like ''''High as a Kite'''' as a trading name for some bizarre reason, but it''''s not product specific and might make me appear to be a bit of a ''''smoker'''', rather than refecting the feeling that the consumer will have! Thoughts?<br />Wouldn''''t usually ask to use others creative juices but the power of many would be greatly appreciated on this occasion. Kind regards to all who read... and who reply....Nick

Posted by mgoodman on 2/9/2013 at 2:32 PM Accepted

I'm not big on names that are mostly picked for being clever or esoteric. Names that clearly communicate an important and unique benefit are much more effective, in my experience.

So maybe we can start by identifying your target audience and their needs. Are they currently having their driveways and patios cleaned professionally, or are they just doing it themselves? Either way, why should they hire you to do the job? What's in it for them? What unique and important benefit do you deliver?

Once we have that information, we can use it to come up with a great name for your business -- one that will resonate with your target audience and be more effective for you than some irrelevant phrase or word.
Posted by Moriarty on 2/9/2013 at 3:26 PM Accepted

How about "the high pressure salesman" (sorry guys, I know I've tried it before!). "High as a kite" doesn't tell them anything about what you do. Emphasize the results, not necessarily what you do (high pressure salesman is simply the sort of thing that goes down well in the UK). I can't check a .co.uk extension, I do know that highpressuresalesman returns a not found on Google.

How about

The spick and span driveway van (man)

Another angle for you is to offer a monthly cleaning service that is cheaper - but regular (and you can do it any time you aren't heavily booked).

Advertising by leaflet is expensive and hard on the legs. Try PPC first - hone your message and when you know it's really effective, transfer it to paper media for a way better return on your effort tramping all those streets.

What do you think? M
Posted by NickC on 2/10/2013 at 6:50 AM Author

Thanks guys. My target audience would be cleaning drives themselves but few at best will have the proper equipment. it's a time consuming, dirty, messy unattractive chore to clear dirt, moss and algae. My charges are not expensive relative to the fact that results are immediate and and pleasing. It also enhances the property value and makes the paths and patios safer. I'll do the dirty work while clients just relax or earn money in their own career paths.
I'm not at present looking to high volume returns, so knocking on doors and leaflet drops are fine with me. It also shows a personal service - that someone has taken time to notice a poor looking drive or patio and has the ready made solution!
Posted by Jay Hamilton-Roth on 2/10/2013 at 7:58 AM Accepted

BeautifulCleanDriveways.co.uk and PowerCleanedDriveways.co.uk are both available.
Posted by marketingsmartly on 2/10/2013 at 7:21 PM Accepted

KleenUp 4 U …Enhancing your property appearance & value
Posted by NovaHammer on 2/11/2013 at 10:13 AM Accepted

HomeTeamAdvantage
CleaningGaffer
ResidentialUpgrade
KeepClean&CarryOn
ThePowerSolution
HomeFaceLift
SirShineAlot
Posted by Moriarty on 2/11/2013 at 10:54 AM Accepted

You say

"that someone has taken time to notice a poor looking drive or patio and has the ready made solution!"

What if someone has a spotless drive and you miss out on it because it doesn't need cleaning. Yet the very reason it's clean is because people have kept it clean - and would appreciate it hugely if someone offered their services to keep it clean for them!!

Super Clean Drives. The man who cuts through all that cr*p for you. [supercleandrives.co.uk is free - my Dutch hosting service now offers .co.uk extensions]

Clean Drives - Come home to a clean drive week in week out.
Posted by NickC on 2/11/2013 at 12:22 PM Author

I just so appreciate all this input!! Leaning towards Betajet, Jettawash or Xtremeklean....co.uk Comments and more ideas appreciated...