Some of you may have noticed that I recently returned this month from about 4 months or so of absence. Along with alot of stuff going on in my life (i.e. finalizing divorce, daughter beginning pre-school, uncle's terminal illness, etc etc), I've actually made some positive progress. I've just about raised enough capital to begin my own web development business. I spent some of my time-off talking to my lawyer, visiting the courthouse, and scoping out building lease locations. I'm hoping that by early next year (want to wait until after the holiday madness), I'll have a small office in town. I'm pretty excited but I'm also a bit nervous; this is a monstrous step. It'll either make me or break me.
The reason I'm jumping on this is because my brother is also branching out his recording studio from his spare bedroom to an office location. We live out in the boonies and it's hard for some of the bands to find his house (GPS ain't got crap on East Texas). He had to quit his regular job because his recording hobby has gotten popular and it's what he loves. As a musician, he accepts the age-old phrase; those that can't do, "teach". The point of mentioning this is because if we get side-by-side office locations, we'll get a discount on the lease agreement. Won't be an amazing amount but it certainly isn't something to pass up.
There's a major risk that this'll be a bad move and I'll/we'll go under, but it's a risk worth taking. Worse case, we'll go back to square one and continue our work from our homes. I'm even half-ass considering passing my end up and investing in his business alone, because I can still do the majority of my own work from my home computer. Still have a bit of time to think things through, but this contest is still needed. Which brings me to the point of these contests:
Contest #1 (Main)
I'm giving 1-Year of GTZ Subtime to the person that's the most helpful. Insta-Gold Membership!
Since I'll likely be establishing this as a full-time business, I need a company name. Yup, it's that simple. Or is it? You see, I've got what some would call writer's block, just of the creative kind. I'm freakin' stumped! It's true; I've got a few ideas in mind but nothing yet that sticks out for me. Got a few back-up plans incase this contest drops off the face of GTZ Land. But I'm really interested in seeing if someone can top my ideas. So, let's see how simple you think this is ...
Must Haves
No more than three-words long. That is, unless you've got some godly suggestion that appropriately abbreviates for a domain.
Available domain name. Doesn't have to be exact but needs to be easily recognized in association. GoDaddy to check availability.
MUST be a .com domain name. No exceptions (unless you buy and give me DreamWorks.net or something awesome like that).
Related key elements (i.e. design, media, creative, web, development, production, etc etc).
Keep In Mind...
I specialize in Web Design/Development and Web Hosting (if necessary). I do some other forms of advertisements & graphic arts but this is what I'll be focusing on.
I'm not 100% against using my name in the company... HOWEVER, I'd like to see some ideas without it.
I'd like to stray away from numerical & symbol characters if I can help it. Outstanding suggests are obviously exempted.
Be professional. Suggest something that you could easily see displayed on a building in a strip mall.
MakeWords. There are hundreds of helpful domain generators out there, but this is my favorite.
Investigate Sedo for relating popular domain names. I might be willing to invest in something that's outstanding, within reason.
I will not be interested in any Premium Domains via GoDaddy. Too expensive. If you see something reasonable (> $300) on Sedo, I might consider it.
Competitors Here's a list of the most popular local companies (companies residing within 30 miles of where I'll be located):
I listed my competitors because I wanted you to get a feel of what kind of names are out here in this area. Here's some info about each of them that might be useful with your suggestions:
"Multimedia" is almost obsolete for me, it's implying much more than web development.
I like "Creative" but it might clash with my biggest competitor. Got a slick way to use it?
"Media" is a good standardized term that could be applied in a creative way.
"Piney" & "903" are very creative (both apply to East Texas specifically). I'd love to go this route but as I mentioned, stumpage.
I don't want anything completely random (i.e. "Mouse-Trap"... wtf?).
"Web Solutions" is good but we might run into the 3-word max problem. Domain really has no reason to be more than 15 characters long.
"Boondock" is one of my personal ideas but I'm more-than-likely not going to pursue it (see Contest #3).
I'm sure there's something I'm missing here, regarding valuable information that you could use in your investigations. So if you have any other questions or concerns for this project, don't hesitate to ask.
Contest #2 (Secondary)
I'm giving 6-Months of GTZ Subtime to the person that's the most helpful.
I'm in need of a sexy motto/slogan. Something very catching and pertains to my line of work. This might be something that requires the company name to be established beforehand but perhaps not; I'll let you guys determine that. This is something that will end up being used as a "welcoming message" on my advertisements. Doesn't have to be off-the-deep-end creative but can't be as simple as "Best Web Designer In East Texas". Nothing too cliché, please.
Keep In Mind...
By motto/slogan, I simply mean a sentence (or 2) that associates with the company as much as a logo does. (i.e. "You’re In Good Hands" by Allstate)
Looking for something welcoming and witty. Not necessarily looking for humor but if it works, I'll consider.
I will be checking copyright violations on these. Don't hate.
I'm not against manipulation of someone else's motto/slogan but it has to be enough to be of no concern. Creativity > Originality.
Contest #3 (Back-burner)
I'm giving 3-Months of GTZ Subtime to the person that's the most helpful.
Same rules as my company name contest BUT it applies to my brother's company name. I'm not doing the same amount of research for his company because A) he's already got a couple of sure-thing ideas he's going with and B) it's not really my major focus or concern at this point in time. He's leaning towards Boondock Productions/Studios or Cool Cool Productions/Studios (I've already tortured you with a long story as it is, I'll spare you. It is, however, near perfect for him).
This is a back-burner project because I'm not the one you have to worry about impressing. If I see some really good suggestions made, I'll bring it to his attention. If he settles on one, that'll be it. No prize guarantee from this because he could be satisfied with what he has already thought up, but I figured I might as well open his mind up to other possibilities.
Keep In Mind...
This is for a recording studio that specializes in metal/rock bands but doesn't necessarily discriminate against other genres.
This is his current website, to get a feel of his clientele and environment.
It needs to have "Production(s)", "Studio(s)", or "Record(ing)(s)" in the title.
Contest #4 (Bonus)
I'm giving 1-Month of GTZ Subtime to each person that successfully refers me. (up to 3 referrals at this current time)
If I'm gonna step up to this plate, I need to bring my A-Game. I've got a handful of reliable clients I've already assisted (some of which I have yet to add in my online portfolio; so damn busy) but I need to get some more. Luckily, I've got this semi-break period that I could be using to work on other projects. I normally use this time to get some freelance work done at 99designs but I'd like to work more closely and personal with some folks, for the experience.
If you know someone, personally, that's in need of some web development assistance, please refer me. If it's successful (they contact me back and get with me on a project), I'll not only give you 1-Month of Subtime but I'll give them 10% off my going rate on whatever service they desire. In the world of the intrawebz, everyone knows someone that's doing something. Just refer me. Simple. For now, I'll give out 3 slots but if they prove to be fast and successful, maybe we'll discuss more in the future.
Keep In Mind...
This service could be anything from an easy web hosting service to an advance eCommerce production.
I'd like this to be web development referral only, please. No logos or ads. Just to get it under my belt, for business reason.
I'd really prefer to not use Flash. Too time-consuming, unless it’s something small like an Intro.
If you need the service, that counts. 1-Month Subtime + 10% off (hell, might hook you up more). 2 birds...
Want to have something solid decided by the end of November, at the latest. Contests could end much earlier, depending on the level of creativity here. Maybe this contest is a bad idea and will turn into an instant closed-topic. Or perhaps it'll be so hot and I'll be so overwhelmed with great suggestions that I'll be stuck between your great ideas. Who knows? I just figured I'd give it a try and see how the community fares with this contest. You could very well make history with this, officially naming my company (one that could become corporately known... or be one of the 90% of small businesses that fail within its first year). If you need any more advice or have concerns, don't hesitate.
Special Note: Think your suggestion(s) deserve more than Subtime? I could be convinced of that. Depending on how contributing your ideas are, I might be willing to throw some PayPal* your way in addition to the Subtime. This is a very serious project to me and if you feel I’m belittling your ideas with Subtime, I could possibly understand your argument. Just talk with me.
*PayPal only available for the Main contest. The rest are very minor projects to my cause at this point in time.
BJB wrote: > doesnt seem to be available as .com
>
Keep in mind that it doesn't have to be exact. Just something easily recognized in association. In example, both Piney Woods and Media Quest don't use their matching .com's.
well I figured as much but how could you conjugate something like Morning Light Media for a domain? Like MLM.com? that sounds gay
Promo Marketplace
http://gametz.com/forum/USER%3A114794
Hmmm, do you really want to spend all that money on a lease, when you can easily do all that work at home? Seems like you want to be "legit" by having a brick and mortar business, but it doesnt really seem nessecary.
#15 posted October 31, 2009 at 4:12pm (EST) edited October 31, 2009 at 4:16pm (EST)
Rouxbik wrote: > Contest #1: Happily Ever After
Sorry, missed this in-between BJ's ramblings. Sadly, this really doesn't imply alot. I need the title to say more about the actual business.
Reed - Point taken, which is one of the reasons I'm considering investing in my brother's company instead. However, there are additional pros about this plan that could factor in more business. Right now, I'm solely dependent on online advertising and "door-to-door" services. I have to go and find the clients, they can't come to me. If I have an office, it evens out the odds. Not to mention it makes my services "solid". You'd be surprised how many professional businesses reject work from someone that is working from home, I suppose it gives it a sense of unreliability? Not sure. With that being said, I still need a professional name if I were to do things from home. I'm likely to deck out my computer room with advanced equipment and use the rest of the money to invest in my brother's company but I want to leave all possibilities open.
Kind of irrelevant, but I'm trying to relocate. Anywhere preferably around Texas, New Mexico, etc. If you ever end up needing someone in that area, hit me up. I've got a portfolio and I specialize in web design, graphic design and audio recording. And like I said I have a portfolio for all of the above.
I don't have any name ideas (I'm not very creative), but it seems to me you may want to offer up a bit more than $20 worth of sub-time for someone to actually come up with a name for your business. Not only are you asking people to come up with a name, but you're also asking that we look into if it's a valid domain name or not.
Also think if you are going to ask for referrals, you should offer more than $2.50 worth of subtime for a successful referral.
Seems like you're asking for others to do a lot of the grunt work for you.
Just my opinion for what it's worth...
I wish you luck with your business though. It's a big step and I wish you well.
#27 posted October 31, 2009 at 10:05pm (EST) edited October 31, 2009 at 10:07pm (EST)
Shawn - Any experience with scripting? How about Flash? I'm actually looking for someone (doesn't have to be someone near me, online is fine) that'll be up for helping me do some scripting and Flash work. Those areas are the most time-consuming and require more effort than I can seem to afford.
hamsterbater - Obviously you didn't read the entire post. I recommend trying that next time before posting. See below:
Special Note: Think your suggestion(s) deserve more than Subtime? I could be convinced of that. Depending on how contributing your ideas are, I might be willing to throw some PayPal* your way in addition to the Subtime. This is a very serious project to me and if you feel I’m belittling your ideas with Subtime, I could possibly understand your argument. Just talk with me.
Jason - I like that. It's got a bit of "humor" behind it but it might be manageable. Noting that for the future, thanks!
zenon - Wow, I love them (mostly the first). Very catchy. Drizz better step up with his big guns against that.
Mr. Irwin - As far as clientele? Not at all. Just any business that needs web development.
Thank you. Coming up with catchphrases, titles, nicknames and code names are my specialty. I've you ever make a commercial or anyhting like that "They say everything is bigger in Texas. Well not my prices" should work well. I'll keep all your contests in mind. I should come up with some good stuff.
^Art Forum^
76-37 Predicting MMA
*Stoned = This messege was writeen when I was blazed, so if it makes 0 sense, sorry :]
zenon - Haha, thanks. I'll probably be staying low-key as long as I can help it (hell, you never see any advertisement agencies doing ads for themselves; too busy with their clients). I think a webpage + standard advertisement campaign (brochures, business cards, mag-ads, etc) will suffice.
Monk - Wasn't too crazy about those, just couldn't really picture using any of them.
#33 posted November 1, 2009 at 1:40am (EST) edited November 1, 2009 at 1:41am (EST)
MaliceDesigns (I love the name but it'd have to stay online-business only. Too sadistic to put on a building )
Still got 3 websites, 1 logo, and several designs to upload in my portfolio (and a couple of revision updates). And I still haven't added all my flash introductions. Gaw, I'm slow. Just bogged down with finishing up client work. Work before pleasure, you know.
Use to use emoryarts.com as a portfolio/blog site but shut it down for various reasons. Mainly because I'm not 100% sure I want to use my name in the company name. Though, gearhead PM'd me earlier with an interesting company name suggestion that I'll be playing around with...
#34 posted November 1, 2009 at 2:11am (EST) edited November 1, 2009 at 2:22am (EST)
Monolith Media Designs
Logo would be fairly simple too if you used each of the letters and put them one on top of the other like so...
M
M
D
Just have the top M be more pointed like a obelisk. as most obelisks are refered to as being monolithic.
As for a slogan something along the lines of
"Monolith, striving to rise above your expectations." or
"We rise above our competion/competors, MMD" or
"Monolith, our work is as solid as our name... just with much smaller prices."
The name is unique enough that it should make you stand out among your competion and might even make people courious enough to drum up some interest.
I think I'll still be doing a fair bit of online business. Though, not sure if it will be people coming to me, it'll probably be more going to them. I participate at 99designs and such places in my spare time. I'm pessimistic, so I suspect a bit of downtime, especially in the beginning. Though, I fully expect I'll be AFFLin' it up in my spare time soon enough.
This is coming from the perspective that a large number of people who want to start up a site are somehow nervous, otherwise why wouldn't they have done it already? It is the whole I'm just a small timer, who caters to me?
Big and Small Web Solutions/Designs. It is a full service design house that tackles all of your problems to put your mind at ease.
A number of different domains available.
bswebdesigns
bnswebdesign
bsnetdesign
bsbwesolution
bnswebsolution
etc. etc. etc, pretty much all but bswebdesign
Big and Small Web Designs - A solution for all your problems.
BNS Web Solutions - No matter the size we're your answer.
Or stupid puns on BS.
Alternatively I was thinking of going someplace with Texas, on account of TV telling me that Texans thing all things Texas are great, but if a large portion of your work is to come online/out of state, it may not be the way you want to go.
Rules Help 
- Twitter 
- Facebook 
lifes all about living the dream. As for a good name hmm.... this might take awhile
)