I am pleased to provide creative language services to fit your verbal identity and branding needs.
My primary services are:
NAME DEVELOPMENT FOR AGENCIES
I create lists of potential names for products, businesses, and services that suit your specific criteria. Frequently I contract with creative agencies to produce them in sets or rounds of 100 per day, but I can also work at an hourly rate, or contract to provide a lesser (or greater) number.
Beyond working on a single name, I can design nomenclature systems and provide naming strategy.
I am also capable of developing and helming a full naming process, including preparatory meetings, coordinating namers, production of a master list, vetting to a shortlist with availability checks and rationales, and a final presentation. This is often most suitable for direct clients, though I have provided full services for creative agencies as well.
See below for more information on these additional services.
NAME DEVELOPMENT FOR DIRECT CLIENTS
I can help you to find a strong, robust, and ownable name for your business or product using the best and current practices of the branding industry. This is essentially a pared-down version of what an agency would provide, in that you’d be working with one person (myself) rather than a team. Beyond that, though, it is a full naming process, which includes preparatory meetings, agreement on creative directions, development of a large master list of names, vetting to a shortlist with availability checks and rationales, and a final presentation with rationales and discussions of several names. The process normally takes two rounds, sometimes a bit more, depending on the industry and type of name that you’re looking for. It is not a cheap process, and you shouldn’t go cheap if you want the best possible name. Your name in important! So put the appropriate work into finding it. That said, I can provide a bit of flexibility for smaller budgets, up to point. Contact me to discuss.
Beyond working on a single name, I can design nomenclature systems and provide naming strategy. I can also develop taglines, further messaging, and copywriting. See below for more information on these additional services.
TAGLINE, HEADLINE, & SLOGAN DEVELOPMENT
I provide lists of potential taglines, headlines, and slogans in a fashion similar to my naming lists. See above for details.
USAGE AND AVAILABILITY CHECKS
Basic lists of names and tags are unscreened for usage or for domain name (url) or trademark availability, but these services can be added to a naming contract, and ordered separately as well.
Usage checks involve performing an internet search of a predetermined number of pages for specific versions of each name or tagline. A report is submitted along with the list, which goes to as much depth as you would like to see.
Domain name checks vary job to job, depending on the criteria acceptable for your project. A brief report accompanies the list.
Trademark availability checks are essentially a brief and informal trademark search. They are meant only as an early screening technique and do NOT qualify as legal trademark searches. I cannot guarantee the legal availability of any name or tagline; for that you must consult your lawyers.
Any or all of these checks and reports may be added at an hourly rate, or applied to an umbrella fee.
RATIONALES
I can provide rationales of various sorts for lists or partial lists of names or taglines. Brief rationales consist of 2-5 phrases or sentences which indicate the applicability, connotations, and nuances for each selection. Thorough rationales may include half a page of material or more for each selection. These go into further depth regarding the aspects listed above, and address others as well, including musicality/sound and brand differentiation.
Fees for rationales vary according to the level of work involved, and may be added at an hourly rate, or applied to an umbrella fee.
MESSAGING
I can develop and edit messaging in various forms, from lists of raw ideas to full message house with proof point alignment, brand dictionary, word bank, and voice and style guide. We can discuss your needs to arrive at a level of service that will work best for you.
Fees for messaging vary according to the amount of work involved, and may be added at an hourly rate, or applied to an umbrella fee.
COPYWRITING, PROOFREADING, AND EDITING
I can provide spot-on copywriting as well as expert and meticulous proofreading and editing services at an hourly rate.
OTHER VERBAL IDENTITY AND LANGUAGE SERVICES
I am happy to take on other sorts of verbal identity and branding projects as well, or address other business or personal writing or language challenges that you might have. Please contact me if you have anything else in mind, and we can discuss what I can do for you.
TRANSCRIPTION
I can provide in-person transcription throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. This service consists of taking precise and clear notes, with on the spot formatting, for meetings, ideation sessions, lectures and presentations, and similar events. At the completion of the event I provide electronic copies of the notes to everyone indicated. I can print and collate copies as well, but need to use an on-site printer, as I don’t have a portable printer at this time.
Transcription is provided at an hourly rate, with a travel expense added for more than twenty miles.