I've been fielding a lot of questions lately from friends and family about my progress setting up my freelance business, and this week I've been forced to acknowledge that I've hit a major roadblock: the name.
For a lot of people starting their own business, the name is the first thing they think of. How I only wish that were me. Every couple of days I have a new idea for something that "just might work", start to get excited about it and buy the domain name quick before someone else does. Then I ask for honest feedback from my friends, family and design circle and the layers of doubt set in as I start to think about all the reasons that name might not actually work. This has been a cycle that has been repeating itself for over a month now, and the emotional agony is starting to wear on me and those closest to me, who have been so patient with my constant need for feedback.
The most important quality I am looking for in a name is authenticity. It needs to be approachable without being cute and have the ability to grow with me as my taste and style evolve. It needs to be professional but not corporate and something I can say out loud a hundred times a day without feeling ridiculous. It also should be simple and easy enough to spell, pronounce and remember. (Is it just me or is this starting to sound like that song from Mary Poppins?)
I'm not gonna lie, there is a huge part of me that just wants to say screw all that and use my sister's Harry Potter tribute idea - The Ministry of Graphical Arts. It's brilliant, right? But I don't need brilliant, I just need good. I woke up today and had a gut feeling about what that choice was; if I still feel the same tomorrow, I probably will just go for it.
Has anyone else out there struggled with this? How did you decide? When did you know it was time to commit? Is there anything you wished you had done differently during the decision process?
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
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Naming biz is hardest part, second only to creating logo! Ugh to both. I have been contemplating naming/branding my personal blog most recently & really can't quite nail down what I'd call it. However, nailing down my focus would def help & reading yours & your friend Natalie Burg's recent posts have helped. I can def relate to leaning towards the positive & love for Michigan-made. So ~ i guess you could say I may be one step closer to landing on just the right name for my blog. As for name for my freelance biz - way back when I started, I ended up going w/my last name - very plain, I know but kind of followed the big fish in small sea philosophy with name being somewhat known in community. It has served well over years, but I do think I could use a catchy tagline & perhaps updated logo for biz ... more to consider I guess. Thx for inspiration! Good luck with naming your biz.
ReplyDeleteKathy, thanks so much for your comment and encouragement! It sounds like you are on the right track with defining your focus. There can never be too much Mitten Love! Wish you the best of luck as you go through this process and keep me in mind if you decide you want a logo update :)
ReplyDeleteSo did you make the final decision for names??
ReplyDeleteWhen my friend Cortney and I decided to go into craft business together 6 years ago, the name was actually pretty easy. We stole our fake bowling team name "the dang argyles" and shortened it. It was short, unique, and bit spunky. It worked for us. If we had to sit and stew over a name I don't know if we ever would have decided!
Craft names kind of remind of the perfect band name. I have no musical skill whatsoever, but I used to have a notebook full of "perfect band names." I just like words! In high school I loved movies, and wanted to make them. One day in chemistry while watching a boring movie, my future production company name came to me. Just like that- from the film. A light bulb went off. I obviously never became a filmmaker, but I still like the name, and it's on my list if I need a new name for some endeavor. :)
Anyway, I'm looking forward to finally seeing your stuff in person at DUCF! I have my eyes on some prints. :)
-Amanda
Hi Amanda,
ReplyDeleteDang Argyle is a really good name, it definitely stuck in my head after the first time I heard its. It seems like it has worked out really well for you business-wise as well.
I did decide on a name, finally! I have a blog post coming about that tomorrow so check back. I'm looking forward to getting to meet you in person!