Naming one thing—an organization, a product, and even your pet hamster—isn’t precisely a scientific equation. It’s extra like artistic alchemy: tossing round wild concepts, fusing random phrases collectively, stripping out vowels, and repeating them out loud till one thing clicks. You may even crowdsource concepts out of your mother or that buddy who insists he’s “nice at naming stuff” (spoiler: he in all probability isn’t). However then, there’s the magical “aha” second.
So, how did I provide you with the title Proof? I want I might say it was born from an extended evening of meticulous, research-backed technique. In actuality, it concerned just a few too many drinks and a brainstorming session at a neighborhood bar, culminating in my very own little “aha” second.
On the verge of giving up, I began scribbling down every little thing round me: “Chair, bar, faucet deal with, previous man smoking a cigar.” Not precisely impressed. Then, whiskey in hand, I took a step again. What’s my imaginative and prescient? How can we assist our shoppers? After which it hit me—whiskey! Particularly, the distillation course of. That’s what we do for manufacturers: break down uncooked parts and remodel them into one thing refined and cohesive. ‘Proof’ was born out of that realization.
Distill. Develop. Deploy.
Distillation, because the all-knowing Wikipedia will fortunately let you know, is “a technique of separating the parts of gear from a liquid combination by selective evaporation and condensation.” (Mainly, turning one thing uncooked into one thing polished.) That’s precisely what we do with manufacturers at Proof. We distill their core essence, develop their distinctive voice and technique, and deploy a model that resonates.
And guess what? This method works. In response to a examine by Crowdspring, 77% of shoppers make buying selections primarily based purely on the title of a model. Which means getting the title proper isn’t simply essential—it’s important. It’s the distinction between your model standing out or fading into the background.
Naming Isn’t Science, It’s Jazz
Right here’s the deal: naming is messy. It’s not about perfection proper out of the gate. A lot of the stuff you’ll provide you with might be junk. And that’s okay! If you’re naming a model, product, or perhaps a new workplace plant, don’t self-edit. Brainstorm like nobody’s watching. In truth, a examine by CXL Institute reveals that 91% of high-performing artistic groups rely closely on free-form brainstorming earlier than touchdown on their ultimate concepts.
Similar to jazz or improv, the magic comes from making an attempt, tweaking, and pivoting. The method issues greater than the primary outcomes. It’s an artwork, not a science—and typically your best thought is hiding on the backside of a whiskey glass.
Naming Professional Suggestions
- Be okay with dangerous concepts: You’ll have loads of them earlier than the great ones emerge.
- Don’t self-edit too quickly: Write every little thing down, even the bizarre stuff. The extra ridiculous, the higher.
- Draw inspiration from surprising locations: Go searching, drink it in (actually or figuratively), and let your thoughts wander.
- Belief the method: Naming, very like brand-building, is about distillation. It’s about breaking issues right down to their core and constructing them again up into one thing that sticks.
So whether or not you’re sitting at a bar, pacing round your workplace, or gazing your cat, bear in mind this: the proper title in your subsequent large thought is on the market. You simply have to distill it. And perhaps pour your self a whiskey when you’re at it.
