Everyone loves a good pun.There’s nothing better than making your audience and consumer instantly smile, or even chuckle, just by hearing or seeing your business’ name. It is an instant icebreaker, and lets the consumer know that you are a down-to-earth, approachable business.However, we realise that not everyone feels the same way about the idea of turning a business or brand name into a pun. They might not work for everyone, and instead of attracting a consumer, it may well put them off a business altogether. Also, there is the possibility of causing confusion as far as different cultures and translations: if you want to appeal to a more international market, it is probably best to stay away from a brand pun.Most adversity to business and brand puns is quite unfair though. Many businesses are thriving with business puns, and it makes some businesses reputable solely based on their name. So, if you are a non-believer of the power and attraction of puns, we hope to bring you round to our appreciation after reading this!Free Promotion!
The promotion, reputability and publicity that all come from simply having a business name pun is undeniable, as well as ridiculously under-appreciated.When your business has a funny (or punny!) name, people will definitely take pictures and share those images with their friends. Nowadays, that image will certainly end up online, on social media and possibly in a trending list article about epic puns from the UK.Since all business goals revolve around gaining reputability and getting their business well known, this is definitely one way to do it. This is free promotion; you just have to make sure your phone number and business information is closely linked to your business name pun. For every person who clicks onto that image of your business name pun, there will be someone looking for what you do who will take note of your number.However, in order to gain promotion and publicity from your punning name, you don’t have to wait and rely on others to draw attention to your business. For example, it can be a selling point for a promotion or competition on social media. You can offer incentives for everyone who has a picture taken with your funny sign, or use it as a way to encourage other puns or funny business names in another campaign.Make it Memorable
Perhaps the most important, and valuable, fact of utilising a witty pun as your business name is that it is bound to be memorable. A pun makes everyone smile, laugh, or even groan (in a good way!), and this humour helps people remember. However, be careful, as one of the worst things to do for your business is choose a name that is spelt wrong in some way – even if it has been adjusted to fit a pun.For example, you may remember an optometrist called “OptimEyes”, but would you necessarily remember how to spell it? It wouldn’t be harmful as a store, in order to gain attention on the street, however if people tried to Google the name, they may be searching many wrong spellings.Alternately, spelling and having to explain your business names are always obstacles in naming your business or brand. Even if you name your business a relatively normal, plain name, you will get questioned on your choice. At least if you are explaining a punny business name, there is a story to go behind your decision. It is easier to explain “OptimEyes – eyes as in the ones we specialise in!”, rather than explaining how you came up with “Eyesify” and how exactly you spell that, or worse.Asides from spelling, a main advantage of a punning name, rather than a made up or plain name, is that there will be a story that people will enjoy hearing, and undoubtedly remember. The funnier, and more unique, the pun and the story behind it: the better! Plus, even if there isn’t more of a story than “it rhymes / made us laugh”, your name will still be far more memorable as a pun.Multiple Meanings
One useful advantage of utilising puns in your business name, or even tagline, is that you can be quite clever with it. You can use your business pun to mean many different things, and add different facets to your business and what you provide.Of course, this isn’t possible for all puns, but there are a few gems that can get away with multiple meanings that can be attributed to your brand in a positive way. For example, there’s a cheese cake supplier (and we literally mean a cake – made out of cheese), who mainly supply stacks of cheese for weddings and special occasions, called C’est Cheese.This is a great example of a pun with multiple layers of meaning that can all be attributed to the supplier in a positive way. Firstly, their name is cleverly chosen in French, meaning literally “it is cheese”, which is true, but they are also playing on the fact that they are being cheesy in our British associations of the word. Also, they’re playing on the fact that the French line rhymes with “say cheese”, as well as playing on the well-known French term “c’est chic”, meaning “it is stylish”. There are so many positive associations with the name, as well as the fact that you will remember it, making it a perfect pun.Plus, even if the meanings are simple to understand, a pun will usually add an extra layer of meaning for your business. For example, we discovered a tile-laying business, simply called Bonnie Tiler. This is a perfect example of an easy pun that makes you smile with its simplicity. Of course, it plays on the famous singer Bonnie Tyler, whilst adding the extra facet of the business being bonny tilers (bonny or bonnie as in attractive and happy), which is an association you’d like to be known for as a business.Overall, we think these positives and advantages of puns far outweigh any negative associations. Of course, brand and business name puns tend to work better for smaller businesses, mainly on a national level. However, there are many examples of bigger brands utilising puns in taglines or advertising slogans, rather than keeping them as permanently in their name.Plus, some are so subtle that you may not even notice them at first: for example, Absolut vodka is infamous for its advertising campaign revolving around their name, such as “Absolut magic”. This is clever, as you don’t notice it at first, but they are using their name in order to describe their product and add positive attributes to it, playing easily on “Absolut/absolute”.Therefore, no one can deny that puns are effective, and a good way to market your business or product. There is an acknowledgement that puns are cheesy, and they exist in a clever, ironic, self-aware comedic form as business and brand puns often. So, what’s not to like?

“Does a brand identity matter when you are a start-up?” Sleepless nights, a staff of three to do the work of 20, and the doubters will test your stamina to survive the start-up game. I suppose if it were easy, every person with an idea would be doing it. Start-ups require lots more than possession of an idea. They require an uncanny drive to succeed, a fearless spirit, a sense of humor and thick skin.Your company brand may be a mere seed in the beginning, but the day you open your doors for business, you’ve got at least two brands, 1) your start-up business brand, and 2) your personal brand, both equally as important.Let’s start with your personal brand. Will a serious vendor give you the time of day, when you are a small potato with little volume? Will your associates write angel-funding checks without a proven concept? Can you recruit great staff with no office and no benefit plan? Probably not — unless you’re personal brand is rock solid.Make your personal brand a daily project of continuous improvement before you dive into the start-up business pool. Become an expert or seek advice from consultants. Whether these are academic credentials or life achievements, have your story down, both in written form and be able to quickly articulate it in conversion. Package yourself, look like a successful trusted leader.Fundamentally, your brand identity is the visual interpretation of your cause, business, or products. It is the way in which we recognize and distinguish one company from another. A brand identity typically consists of one or more of the following elements:
- a logotype (the typographic treatment of the business name)
- a logo (a graphic symbol or icon)
- a tagline (a short description, slogan or musical jingle)
- a color palette (one or more colors used highlight your identity).Streamline your logotype. Is it hard to read? Is your typeface dated? Or maybe it’s just non-descript and nothing special. A valuable logo deserves a refreshed color palette that pops. Does it scream the groovy seventies and you’re a technology company? Or does it say plain Jane when really; your boutique sells the funkiest stuff in town?If you don’t have a tagline or musical jingle, create one. If you do, incorporate it into your brand identity. A creative tagline or slogan is another element of your identity to help the consumer connect with your brand. It may be a descriptive statement about the company’s services (like FedEx’s – Absolutely, positively overnight) or a call to action (like Apple’s – Think different or Nike’s – Just do it). Either way, it should be brief, memorable, and should speak to the essential mission statement of your organization.Use it or lose it. Everywhere and anywhere you can. From the doormat, to the screensaver on the office computers, the logo and its elements should be used in a consistent manner, reflecting and reinforcing the brand identity.Remember, your brand identity is the sum of all you do. It’s what the market thinks, feels and expects. It’s your purpose, competitive advantages, personality and promise. This is why brand planning and protection are so important in young companies. Unless you have a crystal ball, there are a lot of unknowns about the future of your start-up.So, what is a sustainable brand identity? A sustainable brand identity includes ALL of the above “brand identity” elements plus a concept and design that is:
- unique and distinguishable; example, eco-friendly concepts add value
- efficient and effective in communication of key messages and personality stories
- used in a consistent manner throughout all visual marketplace touch-pointsA sustainable identity is stylistically and functionally adaptable so it grows with you and your business. The sustainable brand is one that flourishes over time, across product lines and diverse multimedia platforms.
A sustainable brand identity is vital because it can help people to make an immediate connection with your product or service and then retain that connection building a relationship with loyal customers through good times and bad. This is often defined as customer relationship management (CRM).In this age of technology and communication, we have a virtually unlimited selection of choices. There’s little time to make a big first impression. A sustainable identity will communicate more efficiently and effectively your message. As a result, your brand identity will endure enabling your startup to achieve rich rewards.

A business plan is defined as a formal statement of a set of business goals, reasons why they are believed to be attainable and how you plan on reaching those goals. It can also contain background information about the organization or team attempting to reach those goals.

What are the uses of a business plan?

A business plan is often prepared when you are starting a new organization, business venture or product, or if you are expanding, acquiring or improving any of the aforementioned. It is also used to plan your goals on an annual basis in order to track your progress and make course adjustments.

What are the benefits of business planning?

There are a number of benefits of doing business planning, including the following:

· To identify any problems before implementing plans.

· To get the participation and commitment of those who will help you implement the plans.

· To establish a roadmap to compare results as the venture moves forward into reality.

· To achieve greater profitability.

· To obtain financing from investors.

· To minimize the risk of failure.

· To update your plans and operations as the world changes.

· To clarify your goals and strategies.

However, business planning doesn’t end with the business plan. When you start a new venture, you’ve spent a lot of time on the planning process and are now ready to put them into action. The early period always carries surprises so you better be prepared to find out that what’s on your business plan may not go exactly to the point.

What could affect change in your business plans?

· Your market research could be wrong. It doesn’t matter how diligent and thorough you were with your research, without thorough knowledge of the actual business you may have interpreted facts or data incorrectly.

· Changes in the economy. The economy is in constant change and customer ability, interest and ability to purchase can change dramatically overnight.

· The product or service may not be what you’ve projected in your plans. In a new business with multiple products or services, it’s important to listen to customers, both those who buy and those who don’t, and revise the mix if necessary. The first six months of a business are important in the business planning process. Be flexible in the product line and be open to changing to meet market interest.

· Let customers shape the product and message. The best way to get the right message out to your target customers is to ask them what’s important about the product or service you are offering. Focus on this feedback to help improve your business while not sacrificing your integrity.

· Figuring out the right marketing strategies. Part of the business planning process is how you plan on marketing your organization’s product or service to attract customers. Drawing from the above points, word of mouth can be more effective than all other marketing activities. People who know you and your organization, as well as satisfied customers and those in your various networks can help you get your foot in through their networks than all of the marketing materials you can make. Focus efforts on these people and let your product speak for itself.