Company Name criticism

[BigpappaJ]

Hey everyone, I have everything ready to go to get my license... accept for the name... I'm really worrying about it.

I have it narrowed down mostly, but can't decide on a word.

I'm going with:

The _____ Geek
Technology Services & Consulting

I just can't decide on what the blank word should be. A couple ideas I had are:

Credible
Ncredible
Talented
Trustworthy
Zealous
Noble
etc etc

Any input on this would be great. Thanks!

 

[NWPhotog]

Just so you know some professionals really despise the "geek" label. Just something to be aware of.

 

[Xander]

I have a simple motto of avoiding people who think they need to tell you that they're trustworthy so I'd vote against "credible" and "trustworthy".

"Zealous" has some negative connotations to it.
"Talented" and "noble" just sound full of one's self.


"Convenient"? "Confident"? "Studly"? "Community"?

Just so you know some professionals really despise the "geek" label. Just something to be aware of.

Fortunately, he's probably not looking for tech professionals as his customers. I don't love the term myself but, if it brings in Joe Public's computer, that's fine with me.

 

[BigpappaJ]

Just so you know some professionals really despise the "geek" label. Just something to be aware of.

It used to be that way... but I've worked in the IT industry for the last 10 years, and feel its rather accepted now.

But then again, hes right, If there tech savvy people, why are they calling me in the first place?

Thanks for the info though.

 

[BigpappaJ]

I have a simple motto of avoiding people who think they need to tell you that they're trustworthy so I'd vote against "credible" and "trustworthy".

"Zealous" has some negative connotations to it.
"Talented" and "noble" just sound full of one's self.


"Convenient"? "Confident"? "Studly"? "Community"?

Fortunately, he's probably not looking for tech professionals as his customers. I don't love the term myself but, if it brings in Joe Public's computer, that's fine with me.

Thanks for the input, Ill add those to my list... Good feedback on the other words, I wanted to see how someone "not me" would feel about those... and I believe your correct. Thanks!

 

[Cambridge PC Support]

Freaky
Techie
<city name>

 

[angry_geek]

Galloping
Professional


Don't worry about using the word 'geek'. I know others feel 'offended' by it, however, it's instant recognition. I'm not about to disparage business or seem snooty to potential customers just because of a word. People hear the word 'geek' and instantly think of computers. There's a reason the ____ squad chose to use the term. There is a very successful chain of auto repair shops called Grease Monkey. It works.

 

[BigpappaJ]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I've narrowed it down to two choices.

Either: (the word "The" might be left out of the name, haven't decided yet)

The Community Geek
The Neighborhood Geek

if anyone has any feelings one way or the other, feel free to let me know. I like the idea that both words pass along, just deciding which one sounds better.

 

[mraikes]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I've narrowed it down to two choices.

Either: (the word "The" might be left out of the name, haven't decided yet)

The Community Geek
The Neighborhood Geek

if anyone has any feelings one way or the other, feel free to let me know. I like the idea that both words pass along, just deciding which one sounds better.

Neither of those translate to available domain names.

While that alone shouldn't deter you from choosing a great name, you might want to reconsider mediocre (at best) names combined with a domain that isn't going to match.

 

[BigpappaJ]

Neither of those translate to available domain names.

While that alone shouldn't deter you from choosing a great name, you might want to reconsider mediocre (at best) names combined with a domain that isn't going to match.

Can't believe I forgot to look into all of that, how silly of me Thanks for the info though... so keeping along the same lines as before, I still want to maintain the feeling of localality... How about:

Resident Geek
The Citizens Geek

Neither of those seems to really sound that great to me... perhaps I need to abandon this line of naming altogether... ugh, I thought naming wouldn't be this hard lol

Let me know thoughts. Thanks!

 

[angry_geek]

Tell us about the area where you and your business live and on what you want to focus your business. We'll help you out.

 

[BigpappaJ]

I think I decided:

CommunityTech... could be ComTech for short.

Its available, not used anywhere in the US as far as I can find... and sounds at least decent to me

 

[BigpappaJ]

Tell us about the area where you and your business live and on what you want to focus your business. We'll help you out.

I live in Eastern Washington, I'm going to focus on residential repair/maintenance, and small business consulting.

I want to stay away from anything location based, and anything that might isolate one group or another.

 

[Knightsman]

The On-time Geek?

The HolycrapIfixedurComputer Geek

The Terminator Geek

The Ikillyou Geek

The @$#@% Geek



Why not just use

The Computer Geek

 

[Martyn]

The Ultimate Geek



..........................

 

[RichmondTech]

I think I decided:

CommunityTech... could be ComTech for short.

Its available, not used anywhere in the US as far as I can find... and sounds at least decent to me

Not sure if these people would like you saying ComTech

http://www.google.com/search?q=ComTech

And while I don't see any busineses named CommunityTech, I can see why I don't see any businesses named CommunityTech. Hope you have a killer tagline. Out loud, go ahead and say "Hi, I'm <your name> from CommunityTech, and I fix computers." Substitute fix computers for anything else that you prefer. Now say it 100 more times out loud. Because that's how it's going to sound when you say it over and over at networking events. If after 100 times you're not sick of hearing it, you may be onto something.

After spending over a month looking to change my business name I finally got somewhere when I dropped Tech or Technology from the name. Finding something that sounds great that's available is TOUGH because the word is too common.

Good luck!

 

[BigpappaJ]

Not sure if these people would like you saying ComTech

http://www.google.com/search?q=ComTech

And while I don't see any busineses named CommunityTech, I can see why I don't see any businesses named CommunityTech. Hope you have a killer tagline. Out loud, go ahead and say "Hi, I'm <your name> from CommunityTech, and I fix computers." Substitute fix computers for anything else that you prefer. Now say it 100 more times out loud. Because that's how it's going to sound when you say it over and over at networking events. If after 100 times you're not sick of hearing it, you may be onto something.

After spending over a month looking to change my business name I finally got somewhere when I dropped Tech or Technology from the name. Finding something that sounds great that's available is TOUGH because the word is too common.

Good luck!

Fortunately nobody can do anything because of a Nickname you might have And I wouldn't call it ComTech anywhere for the actual Business.

Unfortunatly the thing about naming... is you ask 100 people, and you get 100 different answers... and I don't have near enough money to actually higher an advertising or research firm to come up with a name for me lol.

 

[RichmondTech]

That's why you don't ask 100 people. lol

My wife and I were throwing out ideas and when we got down to five or so that we liked, we presented those to key people:

- Trusted family member that will give their honest opinion
- Marketing person that has to plaster it on everything for you anyway
- Business mentor
- Top 3 clients that will shoot straight with you

While all are important, it's your potential clients that will hear the name more than anyone else. The feedback you get from your top 3 clients that will shoot straight with you will be very important.

 

[rsavoia]

Galloping
Professional


Don't worry about using the word 'geek'. I know others feel 'offended' by it, however, it's instant recognition. I'm not about to disparage business or seem snooty to potential customers just because of a word. People hear the word 'geek' and instantly think of computers. There's a reason the ____ squad chose to use the term. There is a very successful chain of auto repair shops called Grease Monkey. It works.

I don't think it is offensive, just overused. Really, really overused. Sure, Geek Squad milks it to the max, but they've been around awhile and when they started it was a clever gimmick. There are too many "geek" techs out there all using geek, so it isn't novel or cute anymore.

In addition, numerous web-based "geek" sites and middlemen outsourcers have popped up in recent years to capitalize on the geek name that has made Geek Squad famous (or infamous, depending on who you talk to). Geeks on Call, Geeks-R-Us, Geeks on Time, Rent-A-Geek, etc. are prime examples. Some of these companies have poor reputations among techs and customers alike.

A lot of techs think it's a bad idea simply because Geek Squad's reputation tainted the name. Some of the other Geek companies did the same, so much so that a search for a tech company with the name Geek in it has the potential for the added bonus of an automatic link to Ripoff Report.

It's certainly not my business to tell anyone what to call theirs, but personally I wouldn't call my business geek anything or anything geek. I may have used the name Geek 15 years ago, but not in 2011. Too many sleazy geek outfits ruined it for me.