Someone told me that our company name is bad. Are they right?
Author of a visual collaboration platform for React apps called Styled Page here.
I've recently has the following comment:
StyledPage is not a great name, since it isn't particularly descriptive. Multiple times I've had to look through my email to find the name again, constantly forgetting (I take this as a signal that it could use a rework). Maybe "Reverse React", or "Reactiv", or something like that. I'm not sure those are good ones, but StyledPage is very hard to remember.
Just wanted to throw this out here and ask what people think.
I can switch back to our old name, Laska, as well. Laska is a simple name that came from "Alaska" and doesn't have any special meanings behind it.
I guess what I'm really asking is:
Should I use Styled Page or Laska as our company name?
I wouldn't change my business's name if only 1 person had a hard time remembering it. If it becomes a persistent issue with more users I'd reconsider it.
I think it checks the box of easy to remember. But, when I hear StyledPage I don't really think about Front-End (React), or it being an editor, or collaborative, etc. It does not help me understand the project at all. For example, IndieHackers, I know right away that it's independent (Outside of big corps / firms - solo or small start-ups) hackers (coders, devs, marketing gurus, etc.)
Great feedback, thank you. Man, I suck at this...
Might be overkill, but I've used this book before. It's helpful: https://www.amazon.com/Naming-Book-Steps-Creating-Product/dp/1599186667
It does feel, to me, like something that would get easily lost in an inbox and from a marketing perspective hard to build SEO for, or trademark. Descriptions are great, but I agree with your friend, something that "cuts through" more would be better. But ultimately this is a small thing when measuring against the value of your app. If you're good, people will remember you.
You also may want to think about how easily you can trademark StyledPage. See here: https://www.bitlaw.com/trademark/degrees.html.
I would definitely use Laska. There is something common about the names that go on to become established trademarks. One is that most of these names actually are not descriptive (they mean nothing) hence they also are not generic. Two is that they are very easy to remember. Laska looks like that name. Also his suggestion of "Reactiv" is great. Think of Yahoo, Google, Sony, Samsung, etc. Those names once meant nothing, but now mean something. Styled Page is a no from me. Cheers!
Styled Page seems like a fairly generic name that doesn't really convey what you do.
If you already have a good domain name for Laska, I would probably switch back to it. Even if it has no meaning, it's definitely more unique and likely to be remembered.
Cheers! Yeah the domain name already exists and even already has SEO juice. I'll think about it.
I don't think a name necessarily has to be descriptive. Many successful brands aren't. But if it is descriptive, I agree with the sentiment that Styled Page doesn't seem to quite mesh with your product.
I kinda like Laska. Strikes me as being more memorable and distinct than Styled Page.
Thank you for your feedback! I'll think about switching back.