How To Come Up With A Good App Name, And Why It’s Crucial!
In this opinion piece, Paul Lin, CEO of mobile app developers Empirical Works, says it’s paramount to have a good app name, and gives us the run-down on how to make sure it’s actually good.
It is no exaggeration to say that naming your app well is critical for its success. A well-named app is instantly noticeable and memorable when a user spots it in the app store – with so many new apps landing on the app stores each day, visibility is essential.
A well-named app also tends to pop up high on the search results list when users search for a topic relevant to it.
But naming an app isn’t easy – after all, you’ve only got a tiny few characters to do it, and those characters need to convey a lot of explicit and implied messaging.
What to do
1. Research your name ideas first
The app name obviously has to be original, and it can’t just be original on the app store that you’re submitting it to; if you’re planning on setting up a website, Facebook page, and Twitter account to support the app (and of course you should be doing that), then you’ll need to make sure your app’s desired name is original across the whole Internet. Discard any app name ideas where you spot duplication.
2. Use a compound word
A popular trend among the most popular apps is to take a word that describes what the app does (“note”, “Tweet”), and enhance it with an emotive word that grabs the user’s attention (“Ever,” “bot”). The result is a descriptive word that immediately engages the user’s emotional interest while also explaining what the app does (you guessed it – “Evernote” and “Tweetbot”).
3. Make it pronounceable
This should go without saying, but a person should be able to repeat the name of the app in conversation. So, make sure you have a really good reason before mashing symbols or numbers in between letters in your app name.
4. Use correct grammar
An app will occasionally hit the big time when its name is presented all in caps, or starts with a lowercase letter, but if you do this you’ll be fighting an uphill battle for legitimacy you wouldn’t have to fight otherwise. We strongly recommend that you name apps using sentence-case, where you capitalise the first letter of each word, use lower-case for each other letter, and don’t capitalise small joining words such as “the”, “and,” or “is.”
5. Use no more than 11 characters for the bundle display name
Research has shown that a name should be 11 characters or fewer. Coming in at or below that number will mean the app looks clean and complete on the user’s collection of apps on their device, which in turn helps to generate confidence in it.
What not to do
1. Fail to optimise for keywords
Before your name your app, you should research what the most popular keywords are, related to what the app does. The name of the app should reference at least the most popular search term, because in doing that, the app will be more easily discoverable through search.
2. Use an overused or trademarked name
If you’ve built a game and put “Angry” or “Zombies” in the name, then you’ve deliberately put it out into a swampland filled with “Angry” and “Zombie” games that consumers are tired of wading through. Call your photo-taking app “Insta-something,” and you may well have Facebook’s lawyers come knocking. Don’t infringe on trademarks, and don’t use overused names.
3. Miss out on taking advantage of bundle display name vs app name
After coming up with a killer bundle display name, many developers forget to follow through and come up with something more descriptive. The app name can be significantly longer and more descriptive than the bundle display name, and it is here where you can load your app up with good, highly searchable words to pull in any audience that might be looking on the Internet for what your app is offering.
4. Fail to research your Twitter and Web URL first
So many developers come up with a killer app name that is original and interesting to the app store, only to discover that either the URL or social media profiles for that name are already taken. This can really impact on the public perception of your app, if the pre-existing account and website (where you can’t control content) are of a poor standard. We can’t emphasise this one enough: make sure you’re able to register all social media profiles and websites you’ll need to suit the name of your app before you register the app name.
5. Rush
The app that you’re developing only gets to have one name (with a few notable exceptions). You want to make sure it’s a name that can last, to prevent confusion amongst your audience. Take your time and do your research before settling on a name. Call in some focus groups, or speak to an expert in naming design. That extra couple of weeks or months (and small additional expense) can mean the difference between a best seller, and something that languishes down the bottom of the app store.
Latest News
The Mars Agency Announces Latest Findings Of Retail Media Report Card
The Mars Agency has developed a scorecard that assesses the capabilities of leading platforms across key criteria required to optimally plan, execute, and measure effective retail media programs. The scorecard aims To help brands efficiently evaluate their spending options across retail media networks in Australia (and New Zealand). With spending on retail media advertising in […]
‘It’s The Lesser Of Two Evils’ – NRL Eyes US Betting Market As Aussie Regulators Circle
US betting firms will be delighted by the circa 50,000 Americans who could soon watch the NRL on their favourite app.
A-League In Deep Discussions With New Partner To Keep Games On TV After Production Company Enters Administration
The A-League's insatiable appetite for scoring own goals continues.
TV Ratings (27/03/2024): Jungle Members At War Over Concealed Lipstick
A heated argument between two jungle members did the numbers for Ten last night, with I’m A Celeb obtaining a total national reach of 1,282,000. Fans were delighted as Candice Warner and influencer Skye Wheatley got into it over a stick of lipstick, leading Warner to dub the Instagram star “selfish.” Wheatley, best known for […]
Is The Australian Music Industry In Trouble? Inquiry Launched Following Splendour Cancellation
Earlier this week, an inquiry was launched into the challenges and opportunities currently facing the Australian live music industry in the wake of multiple festival cancellations. On 25 March 2024, the Minister for the Arts, the Hon. Tony Burke MP, asked the Committee on Communications and the Arts to inquire into and report on the […]
Liana Dubois, Leandro Perez, Aimee Buchanan & More Gather For Inaugural Compadres Leadership Event
Didn't get the invite? Perhaps you're not as important as you thought.
Cathay Captures The Unforgettable Thrill Of Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Rugby Sevens, Via Publicis
Nobody does rugby like Hong Kong, apparently. Certainly nobody does it as badly as Australia.
Cocogun Nabs Christine Watts, Kirsty Reynolds & Shev Tan Bolstering Management & Creative Teams
Cocogun bolsters its team with new hires. Committed to purchasing a bigger sofa, too.
The Media Store’s Jacquie Alley & Sam Cousins Take The Plunge With Pro-Bono Work For Cure Cancer
B&T chats with The Media Store bosses about their great pro-bono work and sponsored swim.
Hawke’s Brewing Co. Taps Rocket Comms For PR Agency Following Competitive Pitch
We're expecting Rocket Comms productivity to crash in spectacular fashion following this win.
Spotlight On Sponsors: Patties Serves Up A Taste Of Home For Olympians & South Sydney Rabbitohs Recommit To Gambling Reform
While the Rabbitohs commits to gambling reform, B&T reckons the team should commit to a decent auto sponsor.
Google: “Inevitable” That Bad Actors Will Abuse Ads Platform As Advertiser Account Suspensions Double
Google maintains it's simply impossible for it to entirely stop bad people placing & paying for ads using its service.
Quantcast Expands APAC Sales Team With Appointment Of News Corp Account Manager
No pressure at all when you are appointed as a client success manager.
Publicis Sapient Tests Microsoft-Powered Gen AI Search Tool With Homes & Villas By Marriott Bonvoy
Given Gen AI's record for mangling stuff, B&T cannot see the problem with letting it decide your next holiday digs.
Volkswagen & DDB Group’s “Roo Badge” To Reduce Kangaroo Related Road Collisions
Watch out for RooBadge as Cannes Lions' most debated campaign this year.
Twilio Launches Unified Profiles & Agent Copilot Features To Boost Productivity & Engagement
Agent Copilot sounds like James Bond's less interesting cousin.
Reebok & Honda Among New Clients For onetwo agency
OneTwo finally lives up to its name with this double billing.
Ogilvy Report: Throw Out The Social Strategy Rule Book, The Rules Of The Past No Longer Apply
B&T was puzzled that all 'influencers' aren't, effectively, 'virtual', but here we are.
WhiteGREY & AKQA Merge In Australia, Lee Simpson Departs
Fortunately, the combined agencies aren't opting for a trite portmanteau for the new name.
Splendour In The Grass 2024 Music Festival Cancelled!
Music fans all over the country reportedly relieved they can pack away their rain coats and gumboots for another year.
TV Ratings (26/03/2024): “Fairy Bread, F***ing Disgusting”: Gordon Ramsay Slams Aussie Food In Food Stars Launch
Ramsay not one for mincing his words, even when it comes to minced meat pies.
Paramount+ International Boss Doubles Down On Aussie Content, Says Ad-Tier will Grow Audiences And Revenue
Good news as Paramount will not be binning I’m A Celebrity for re-runs of Frasier.
Brent Smart: Telstra Pushing For 50-50 Brand-Performance Split But Warns Numbers ‘Won’t Look Great’ Initially
The old brand vs performance debate continues. But here, Brent is firmly sitting on the fence.
Crowded House, Tones And I & Dom Dolla Win Big At The Shure Rolling Stone Music Awards
B&T staffer reports back with humdinger of a hangover & feeling seriously uncool after mixing with music types.
Opinion: Dyslexia “A Hidden Gem” For Brands & Agencies
Dyslexics offer underappreciated benefits in the corporate field, according to this op-ed.
David Jones Taps Criteo To Power Online Retail Media Arm
Want to see ads for things you probably can't afford? David Jones has got you covered with new retail media play.
oOh!media Sets Up Team To Target Business Audiences Across Airports & Offices
oOh! wants brands to harass you every minute of your next business trip.
QMS Launches Australian First DOOH & TV Partnership With Samba TV
Samba TV, of course, is not a channel dedicated to dancing. Much to our dismany.
Slew Of New Hires At Amplify
Four new faces join the Amplify offices. Team say desk scarcity becoming "acute".
Adobe Announces Content Authenticity Initiative Expansions To Counter Deep Fakes
Try as they might to enlighten them, we suspect Trump supporters will continue to watch and believe Fox News.
The PR Group Appoints TechCrunch Senior Reporter Catherine Shu As Director Of Content & Media
Catherine Shu makes the bold leap from journalism to PR. Says inevitable pay bump was "unrelated".
HERO Nabs Ebony Santin From AMPR
Rumours Santin cleared out the stationery cupboard before departing are as yet unconfirmed.
Karena Noble Checks Out Of EVT Hotels & Resorts To Launch Comms Consultancy
Noble still managed to squeezed in a continental breakfast before departing.
Canva Acquires Design Platform Affinity To Bring Professional Design Tools To Every Organisation
Canva & Adobe face off continues. We're not picking sides but keenly aware that Canva's office is next door to ours.
“Lean On Our Team To Help You Find An Audience”: Why Understanding Audience Engagement Is Essential In Journalism
Engaging the audience is critical to journos, apparently. We'd thought self-loathing & alcoholism were key.
Adobe Summit: Major Gen AI Developments, Data Concessions & Partnerships
What happens in Vegas stays there. Unless it's the Adobe Summit and then you get to read about in B&T.