Social media duder Chris Heuer writes, "I hope by now most of you know my new company Alynd is a 'creative' spelling of our brand concept of being ALIGNED. I've got a quick request for you to share your insights around this that would be really helpful for me if you can spare a minute or two."
Dudeuer, let me get this straight: You came up with a goofy name for your company and now you're prevailing on your 4,246 Facebook friends to voluntarily to spend precious mental energy sharing our "insights" around the numbnuts name?
This is the sort of thing that makes one worry about working for too many consecutive years as a solo practitioner. One's sense of one's importance can become misalynd.
Is he seryous? And what will his logo be, a series of converging lynes? Y did he do this?
The best time to test a potential new brand should be before you roll it out, not after.
I hope his real friends (amongst some 4,246 on Facebook) will do more than just smile and congratulate him. A real friend will quietly take him aside, hold his hand and help him find a way to make lemonade out of this lemon.
Did someone say "buyer's remorse?"
Posted by: Unanymous | December 09, 2013 at 09:17 AM
Chris recently spent a fair amount of time with Deloitte, a gig that didn't end all that long ago, so he hasn't exclusively been a sole practitioner.
While I make fun of these business names myself, there's no denying the trend in the industry. There's Flipkart, Siteworx, Automattic, Anametrix, Ignyte, Goowy, SnoCap, SoonR, Topix, the list goes on. If it works, it works.
Posted by: Shel Holtz | December 09, 2013 at 11:01 AM
There are a lot of trends these days, aren't there. But is being trendy always the best approach?
So why ask for feedback about your brand AFTER unveiling it? Or is he just fishing for compliments?
Years ago, I met a chap whose company name was "I Write Copy." Descriptive, to the point and, in Courier typeface on his business cards, distinctive. Now that's branding!
To each his own. And I do wish Chris every success. For real.
Posted by: Unanymous | December 09, 2013 at 01:22 PM
Hey, I don't care if you call yourself the Grace L. Ferguson Storm Door and Airline Company. Just don't roll it out and then ask me to contribute my "insights" about it.
Or should it be my "incites"--ooh, hey! ...
Posted by: David Murray | December 09, 2013 at 02:42 PM