Make it Up and Shout it Out for Great Publicity
In our New Economy, we can make up whatever name we want for anything, and turn it into something real. The key is to shout it out to the world and don’t stop. The tech industry is leading the way. For example, there have been several take-offs on the applet. From what I have researched, Apple does not own, nor has it trademarked this term used for plug-ins, (I may be wrong, if so I welcome the correction) but applet has opened the floodgates for others to capitalize on the ‘let’ portion of the name.
Take Shoutlet, Incorporated for example. On Wikipedia, here is their information: Shoutlet, Inc. is a leading provider of a software-as-a-service (SaaS), enterprise-level social media marketing platform that enables marketers to publish, engage, and measure social marketing campaigns and activities on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter,LinkedIn, and YouTube. (For more information, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoutlet).
Shoutlet has branded themselves against something that is in almost everyone’s knowledge base—the applet. Simply brilliant. There is just something about the name that screams great publicity and recognition. If people are compelled to look up your company, that is great branding. I looked them up.
There is great publicity hidden in these gems, as a story is always there that can be generated to get attention. The fact that I am blogging about it is your proof in the pudding. Here are a few others: Piglet Pie—because someday she’s going to want to know why (a blog I found, and there is indeed a story there http://pigletpie.typepad.com/), Figlet or FIGlet which is a program for making large letters out of ordinary text (http://www.figlet.org/). I do not know how big the story may be here; just the fact that I thought it up, typed it into a search engine and it popped up is great! Perhaps the owner is fond of figs? Actually, they are listed on Wikipedia and you can find out more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIGlet. And no, nothing there about anyone liking figs. Here is the last one—steaklet. Now my question matches @pennyb: Is a steaklet like a washlet? (not my shopping) pic.twitter.com/FBAGEfNG. I agree with Penny, not my shopping either. Here is the definition of a washlet, according to Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washlet. Wow.
There are stories everywhere. This is one of the ways I get my imagination going to create stories for my clients, as well as using their personal stories. It is a way of beating that creative block. Start with rhyming, looking up words that make absolutely no sense that you are curious about, or that rhyme with your brand. You will be amazed at how fast you start laughing and enjoying your creative process. Suddenly the story you tell the world that gets you noticed is right in front of you!