Name and brand your startup
Name it, design an identity, and say what it does in a line.
3 steps to get you moving, each with a resource worth your time and more waiting underneath
Think of this as a friendly starting line, not the last word. Each step gives you the gist, then a resource worth your time from founders who've been there. There's always more underneath, more questions and more resources, whenever you feel like digging in.
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1
Naming your startup & domains
A name you can spell, say, and own.
How do I come up with a good name for my startup?The gist Pick a name you can spell out loud once and have someone type correctly. Short, easy to say, and not a clever misspelling beats 'meaningful but confusing' every time. Don't burn weeks here, the product makes the name good, not the other way around.
Four (not boring) ways to name a new product Marketing Examples A tight, example-driven breakdown of naming approaches from one of the best practical marketing writers online, memorable and immediately usable. -
2
Branding & visual identity
Look like a company people trust.
What does 'branding' actually mean for an early-stage startup?The gist Branding isn't a logo, it's the consistent promise and feeling people associate with you. Early on it's mostly your positioning, your voice, and doing what you say. Nail what you stand for and who you're for; the visual polish is downstream of that.
Positioning (Startup Handbook: brand and marketing foundations) julian.com Julian Shapiro's growth handbook frames brand and messaging as downstream of who you're for and what you replace, practical foundations, not brand theory. -
3
Copywriting & messaging
Say what it is in words a customer would use.
How do I write copy that explains what my product does clearly?The gist Say what it is in the plain words your customer would use, not corporate abstractions like 'empowering synergies'. Lead with the concrete benefit, make claims specific and visualisable, and cut every word that doesn't help you sell. If a caveman couldn't grunt back what you offer, rewrite it.
The step-by-step guide to landing pages that convert Marketing Examples The single best free walkthrough of what belongs on a landing page, with a real 10-step structure and copy examples for every section.
