Monthly Archives: April 2009

Help Me Name My Baby Shop

Names + Taglines

I am currently looking to start a small business. I am struggling on a name. Its going to be a baby shop. I am going to carry baby carriers, diaper bags, clothing up to 5t, shoes, and anything that I see a need for in my area that you just cant run out and get. I am going to start small and work up from there. I was thinking of the name baby days, what do you think or do you have a better suggestion?

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Jay’s Answer: The problem with names is that it’s not enough to bring in the people. For my clients, it’s actually one of the last pieces of the marketing puzzle. The first is a targeted marketing strategy, identifying who the target market is (demographics & psychographics), what makes you unique, your competition, etc.

A name is just a name – but the meaning behind the name, the experience people get, the word-of-mouth you encourage – that’s what will create an everlasting business. Far too many people spend the wrong amount of effort on just the name to create “wow”, and never create a vibrant business.

Here are some ideas to get you thinking:

  • Raising Baby
  • Bringing Up Baby (perhaps a tie-in to the 1938 comedy?)
  • Bay Bee Essentials (If you’re located near water. Pro is it gives you a strong logo. Con is that it’s a little obscure)
  • Lil’ Essentials (Slightly obscure – people may not connect “Lil’ to mean Little”)
  • Quick! Baby Stop (or Baby Shop) (a play off of Stop & Shop Markets)
  • Amanda’s Babies
  • Little Hands and Feet
  • The Little Baby Store

How Can I Get A Sponsor/Investor For My Game?

Products, Starting Out

After 8 years me and my partner finished a new generation of games for the game market. First we report to our main game called Eragra and its first edition. In co-operation with people around the world by paying some or making contracts we almost done the first edition.. Isn’t about just a game but a new whole world mythology which is developing into books, movies, animation and so on. In few months i will move to new york cause we already talk to the appropriate companies and we are in a very good way but to finish it completely i need enough money for the prototype etc. That what i need is a sponsor and right now in fact. Some of our past ideas which we haven’t enough money to “patent” them are already released to the world game market. I need money to finish it and in few moths i can show to all something completely new. We have already done some “commercial” effort through net and thousands of people around the world are interested.

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Jay’s Answer:
Is the game a board game or an online/video game?
If it’s a board game, make sure you copyright all the images.

It sounds like you’re looking for investors (if you want to produce the game yourself) or distributors (if you want to license the game to others to sell/market for you).

If you’re looking for investors, you’ll need to create a business plan, showing how much interest is already in your game, your plans for distribution, estimated profitability, etc.

If you’re looking for distributors, you’ll need to first identify distributors that offer similar products to yours and contact them directly. No doubt they have a website with contact information for inventors such as yourself. Additionally, there are game conventions around the world where you can both exhibit and “network” with potential partners.

How To Brand a Software Vendor?

Branding, Names + Taglines

I am working for a software vendor dealing with analytics and credit risk management in the financial services industry. At the moment we are working on a solutions tour and needs to brand that…..at the same time we need a theme ..for instance, our competitors has used “The Power of Analytics” as a theme ..we need to think of something along the same line..any ideas.

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Jay’s Answer: Think the key benefit that your clients get from using your software. “The Power Of Analytics” talks about the technology, not the benefit. For example:

  • Top Ways To Reduce Credit Risk
  • Protecting Your Bottom Line
  • Lower Risk To Your Shareholders

How Can I Generate Capital For My Movie Project?

Starting Out

I am involved in a low budget movie project and am looking for ideas to generate capital. Our goal is to bring in 300k-400k. We’re looking for any suggestions for any business plan items that pertain to the film industry. As well as ways to bring in some more financial backing.

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Jay’s Answer: The simplest way would be product placements. But you’ll need to prove that your movie would get sufficient exposure.

If you have a well-respected team, then network.

If you’re unknowns, then aim even lower-budget, and bankroll it yourself (at least until a film festival picks it up and gives you exposure for distribution).

A Tagline For A Ministry Service?

eMarketing, Names + Taglines

I need a tagline for a website that I am developing. Need a Minister, Inc is a ministry that will perform services such as weddings, funeral officiating, marriage and spiritual counseling, speaking engagements (for churches, seminars and family retreats).

The targeted population is women of all ages, folks that are churched and unchurched and need these services.

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Jay’s Answer: Try these on for size for: Need a Minister, Inc:

  • Religion Delivered For Your Ceremony (answers the response to your business name)
  • The service that you want. (speaks to un/churched members)
  • Spirited Services For Family Ceremonies. (“family” speaks to women)
  • Bringing The Church To Your Ceremonies (focus on the benefit)
  • Religious Ceremonies For Your Spiritual Events (Spiritual will appeal to un-churched prospects)
  • Personalizing Your Next Spiritual Event (benefit is personalization)

How Can I Improve My Medical Trade Book Marketing?

Names + Taglines, Publicity

What’s a catchy tagline for a direct mail ad to pitch the sale of a medical book? We are publishing a book and we want to introduce it to the market. It is a trade book on Cardiology and the audience would be medical and healthcare professionals, including doctors and professors.

It would be a postcard, so it would be a headline followed by copy that would promote the book and inform the target audience of its arrival and possibly a blurb to let them know what to expect from the book.

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Jay’s Answer: First, create a brochure website for the book. The site would have some sample sections, testimonials, peer reviews, etc. Additionally, an opt-in page to get people who are interested in the book early to sign up (perhaps also an early order discount?). People searching for cardiology books might stumble up on your site (once you get backlinks from trusted medical/book sites).

Given your audience, you don’t want it to be “cute”. But you do need to focus on what this book has that the myriad of others doesn’t. What makes this book so good that they should buy it immediately? Also, why should they trust this new book instead of their well-used books already on their shelf?

My Fashion & Jewelry Brand Needs A Tagline

Names + Taglines

I already have my debut clothing and jewelry collection ready to show at a few tradeshows but I still have to prepare my marketing materials. I need a little help in developing a tagline. The collection features all natural, eco-friendly fibers and the jewelry features sterling silver.

My target market would be women between the ages of 23-35 and located in the U.S. No I don’t have a website up as of yet. It’s still be worked on. My price point would be $$-$$$. My brand is special because I am using organic cotton fabrics to create a contemporary clothing line that can be dressed down with a pair of jeans or leggings but can also be dressed up with a cute pair of peep toe heels.

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Jay’s Answer:

  • Live Simply Beautifully
  • Sensational. Not Sin-sational.
  • Strut Your Self Naturally.
  • Show Your Planetary Higher Consciousness
  • Let Your Beauty Shine Out

My Fashion & Jewelry Brand Needs A Tagline

Names + Taglines

I already have my debut clothing and jewelry collection ready to show at a few tradeshows but I still have to prepare my marketing materials. I need a little help in developing a tagline. The collection features all natural, eco-friendly fibers and the jewelry features sterling silver.

My target market would be women between the ages of 23-35 and located in the U.S. No I don’t have a website up as of yet. It’s still be worked on. My price point would be $$-$$$. My brand is special because I am using organic cotton fabrics to create a contemporary clothing line that can be dressed down with a pair of jeans or leggings but can also be dressed up with a cute pair of peep toe heels.

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Jay’s Answer:

  • Live Simply Beautifully
  • Sensational. Not Sin-sational.
  • Strut Your Self Naturally.
  • Show Your Planetary Higher Consciousness
  • Let Your Beauty Shine Out

What Should Your B2B Website Do For You?

eMarketing

What are the most important things you think a B2B Web site should feature and do? In other words, how should it support and further our core marketing and business goals? I realize that’s a general question, but I appreciate whatever you have to say on the topic.

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Jay’s Answer: In general, a website should start or continue a dialog with a prospective client. People arrive at a website either from a direct referral or from a online search. The website itself is fairly “safe” way to examine a business. No sales people chatting you up. No pressure to buy. No email clogging your inbox. Since purpose of a B2B website isn’t to sell anything outright (it’s to generate a qualified lead), you want lots of information that describes who your target market is and how you specifically help them with their problems. A case study or two (featuring ROI). A client list. White papers on your methodologies. Make things easy to find (a search box, for example).

You need a clear call to action on why they should act today to contact you. You don’t want them reading your site and thinking, “this looks like a good company with a great offering, but since I don’t need them now, I’ll try to remember it for later.” You want them to take action: a phone call, a opt-in signup, or even simply ask a question. Therefore, make it easy for them to contact you (prominently placed email, phone, opt-in forms, etc.) and make it seem that if they don’t contact you it’s their loss. For example, if you target market are plumbing contractors, then offering a free report of the “Top 10 Ways To Increase Your Plumbing Revenue” might be just the incentive you need for them to take action. The offer must obviously match your target’s problems and have a clear benefit for them.

A website can also help save your sales and receptionist a lot of time. Place frequently asked questions (if you don’t yet have them, ask your sales and reception staff to start writing down the questions they get and their answers), directions, service menus, brochures, etc. online. Even if someone doesn’t find them online, your sales staff can send them a URL to the information.

A B2B website that has great SEO will help customers find you easily instead of having to find your customers.

A B2B website should continue your branding effort. For many new clients, this may be the first touch to your organization. Therefore, set the tone with the colors, wording, imagery, layout, and tone that works for the rest of your marketing materials. You want your prospective client to intuitively know how it will be to work with you.

Your website should have analytics installed (such as Google Analytics) to allow you to understand your traffic. Ideally, your site should also be optimized for conversion (opt-in form completion, for example) (for example, using Website Optimizer ).