Zinzin

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder of a social media company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Zinzin?

We worked with Zinzin on the naming of our business.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, Zinzin had us fill out a questionnaire, so we answered a lot of questions. During the naming process, their team gave us several name options and led sessions to talk about those names.

Zinzin also supported our background check of those names for trademark availability. They got us to the point where we needed to hire a lawyer to do the actual filings.

What is the team composition?

We met with three teammates from Zinzin on a regular basis, but I don’t know if there were others involved in the project.

How did you come to work with Zinzin?

When we were looking for a naming partner, a trusted friend recommended them. Zinzin’s endorsement was very strong, so we felt comfortable going with them. We also thought that their pricing was incredibly reasonable for the quality of their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together around December 2022, and the project lasted until June 2023.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

My co-founders and I were very happy with the depth of the brief Zinzin delivered for possible names. We also appreciated their help with the trademarking process. In the end, we also received very strong validation and feedback because our community really liked the name that we chose.

The process was very efficient, and Zinzin did a very thorough job. Their team was very helpful in whittling down domain options, which was very challenging for us because we wanted a very premium domain. The team went above and beyond to suggest a domain name that we could reasonably acquire, which was an extra bonus service we didn’t expect.

How did Zinzin perform from a project management standpoint?

Zinzin’s project management was very strong. They always delivered on time, were very communicative, and offered very quick turnaround times and responses to our requests. On many occasions, they kept us on track if we were slow in following up or updating them, which we really appreciated because they were always completing and driving tasks. We communicated via in-person meetings and email.

Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?

Jay (CEO & Creative Director) was fantastic. He walked us through the entire process from beginning to end. I never doubted what was the next step because we always knew where we were going.

Jay was also incredibly supportive. As a new startup, we had a lot of decisions to make and things to do. Still, he made it very easy to work with them, as the process was quick, fun, and delightful.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Zinzin’s creative energy and care were impressive. Working with them didn’t feel like a service. As a client, I felt very well taken care of, as they offered a bespoke approach and were excellent at listening.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There was nothing Zinzin could have improved on. As a person using the naming service for the first time, I trusted the process. Still, it would be good if they could include a walkthrough of the process as part of the kickoff meeting to provide new clients with an orientation experience. However, that advice is very marginal, and overall, we felt very happy working with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Do your work in advance to define the look and feel you want; that way, you’ll leverage Zinzin’s skills and expertise better. The more information you can give them, the more they can deliver. Don’t hold back in sharing the things you like and dislike, as well as examples of things that inspire you.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of a SaaS company that offers access to trusted childcare facilities for parents. We also benefit the childcare facilities by filling vacancies and increasing their bottom line.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Zinzin?

We contacted Zinzin to help us with the naming process of a platform we were developing. Finding the right name that fitted our business and resonated with the community was extremely challenging because we work very closely with communities.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started the naming process in 2018 while I was developing this platform. Initially, I told Zinzin about my business and what I needed. Then, they explained that some workshops would be part of the process, but I first needed to complete some homework on my end before those workshops started.

Then, Zinzin sent me a PDF to review and ensure I had completed the homework they had assigned before the next meeting. Once the workshops took place and we had a new name, they pointed me in the right direction regarding the logo and recommended a good company to work with for its design.

What is the team composition?

We worked with two teammates from Zinzin: Jay (CEO & Creative Director) and a creative person.

How did you come to work with Zinzin?

I researched a few top naming agencies and made comparisons of their work. Zinzin's process made the most sense for my business, and I was very confident that they would do a great job because they had worked with many startups.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $25,000 on the project.

What is the status of the engagement?

We worked together from October–November 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We recently released the platform and have received very positive feedback from everyone who has been in touch with it. They say that the name resonates very well with the childcare industry. Overall, the naming process was a success, so I’m very thrilled that I decided to work with Zinzin. The name gave us the initial boost we needed as a startup, and everything worked well in the end.

How did Zinzin perform from a project management standpoint?

Zinzin was able to drive this project and made me feel at ease working with them on each workshop. Their approach allowed them to compress a complicated process into something enjoyable for me. Additionally, they were always ahead of schedule, and their management team was skillful. We communicated very clearly from day one via Zoom and email, and their entire process was clear to me.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I enjoyed working with Jay and his team. They worked very hard and came up with a lot of ideas very quickly. Moreover, they guided me through the process from start to finish, and they broadened my thinking along the way.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t see how Zinzin could have improved; what they did was excellent.

Any advice for potential customers?

I would strongly recommend working with Zinzin.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an executive of a company that manufactures HVAC solutions for homes.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Zinzin?

We needed help with coming up with a name for our company.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Zinzin helped us name our company. Initially, we gave them a lot of our brand documents and answered a long questionnaire they provided us with.

What is the team composition?

We worked with three teammates from Zinzin: Jay (CEO & Creative Director) and two of his partners.

How did you come to work with Zinzin?

I found them by doing an online search on Google and other websites. I reached out to a few naming firms, but when I talked with Jay, I felt that we really connected.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from July–August 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

We’re very happy with the name that Zinzin helped us come up with, and people have complimented us on it as well.

How did Zinzin perform from a project management standpoint?

From the start, Zinzin told us about their standard process and the project plan. They told us how long the project would take, what they would do every week, and how much the project would cost, and they delivered exactly as expected. We communicated via online video meetings.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Overall, Zinzin was great to work with — they’re specialists in naming.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There was nothing Zinzin could have improved on. I’m very happy with the outcome, so that’s why I’m leaving this review.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Do your homework beforehand and take the branding brief that Zinzin provides seriously. You’ll get what you put in.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of marketing at Rapport Credit Union, a credit union based in Ontario, Canada.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Zinzin?

We had just completed an amalgamation of two credit unions and were looking for a new company name.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Zinzin developed naming conventions for us. First, we had a discovery phase about who we were as a company and developed a brand positioning brief. From there, they presented us with 10 different options for a new brand name for us to choose from. 

What is the team composition?

I worked with Jay (CEO & Creative Director) and one other person.

How did you come to work with Zinzin?

We found them through a Google search.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $6,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from April–June 2014.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

Zinzin was very creative in their approach; the name options they gave us were amazing, and we considered many of them. Ultimately, we ended up with an emotional, evocative name that we're very proud of. Our name has allowed us to build the brand from the ground up and enabled us to develop the business as a credit union whose relationship with members is important – it became the foundation for building our brand.

How did Zinzin perform from a project management standpoint?

We had no challenges with their project management; they delivered what they promised on time, and we communicated via email. The team was on top of everything, and it was a pleasure to work with them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Zinzin demonstrated that they were experts in naming. We had used another provider for the name and didn't like what they came up with. Meanwhile, Zinzin had a unique process and pushed the envelope — we were very pleased. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Not at all; they were fantastic.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am CMO of a B2B vertical SaaS company focused on delivering solutions to global professional services organizations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Zinzin, and what were your goals?

We retained Zinzin to help us create a new company name following the Q421 merger of two suppliers in our space. Both suppliers had well known and respected company names and brands in the industry.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We developed a list of leading naming / branding agencies using various data sources and referrals. We generally focused on agencies focused on naming and with considerable technology company experience. We then narrowed the list down to three target companies and engaged each to discuss our project and how they might work with us, including general methodologies / approaches, timing, costs, etc. We really liked Zinzin's thought leadership and conviction around great company naming. Also, they proposed a highly structured and timely approach that appealed to us given some of the unique challenges we faced given that we were bringing two companies together in merger that previously were competitors.

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

The work scope was to identify the go-forward name for the company, including evaluating using one of the two existing names. Zinzin followed a structured, iterative process over roughly forty-days that started with a creative brief and marketscape analysis and proceeded through multiple rounds of name ideation and progression. The final deliverables was a short-list of possible company names, from which we would select our go-forward name (ideally).

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We’ve primarily worked with Jay (CEO & Creative Director) and Martin (Creative Director).

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The primary outcome is that the project did result in a selection of a new, go-forward name for the company and this new name and corresponding brand / visual identity was successfully launched in May. With Zinzin's help, we went from project initiation to a full-name and brand launch in roughly four months. We didn't think this timing was possible when we started, but we did set this goal and were able to hit it.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

As mentioned, Zinzin has strong convictions around good company naming and also the best processes for creating a new company name. This fact was a key positive for us since it increased our confidence in our ability to work towards a new name that met our high expectations and tight timelines. Zinzin progressed the project as outlined so they followed what they pitched. Communications where timely and clear throughout.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

We were drawn to their strong beliefs about what makes a great name (and what makes a bad name) and what to do (and not do) in creating a new name. These beliefs were what drove us to select them and they executed accordingly in delivering against our project.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Given that we had a very successful outcome from this work, I would say no.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there. 

I’m one of the co-founders as well as the head of design at a B2B SaaS company that guarantees that their enterprise customers’ data is secure, both in rest and in motion through our SaaS product.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Zinzin?

We were an early-stage company with three founders and were preparing to launch after taking on a round of funding. It became clear that we wanted to reconsider our name around now having more clarity around our market and product.

We did some of it ourselves but quickly realized expert help was needed. Zinzin developed our name after working with us on different strategies and products.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They were very helpful in providing a framework for how to work with them and what the project would look like. We initially gave them a set of value propositions, tones, and qualities that our customers expressed about us and our product. Zinzin helped us create a creative brief that included all these characteristics as information we wanted to instill in our company.

What is the team composition?

We’ve primarily worked with Jay (CEO & Creative Director) and Martin (Creative Director).

How did you come to work with Zinzin?

I believe that they were either referenced in a New York Times article or we found them through our own research. They were a boutique option based in California, meaning they were more local to us. There was also a previous connection with the CEO and another team we’d worked with. Their unique experience with startups got us on the phone.

How much have you invested with them? 

We've spent around $20,000–$40,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from November–December 2021. They were able to start the project fairly quickly, which was good, as we were on a time crunch.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

We were really pleased with the name, and there were a lot of other great options on the shortlist. I don’t think we would have been able to come up with such a great choice without Zinzin’s expertise and experience. They were able to reframe how we were thinking, which was helpful, as we come from a more technical background.

It’s easier for owners to air on the side of using a more matter-of-fact name, rather than one that has layers of richness to it and can adapt as the company evolves.

How did Zinzin perform from a project management standpoint?

They did a great job of scheduling regular meetings and establishing a structured process to give feedback through. We were able to move through a large number of options with speed.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They did a great job of generating great ideas on a short timeframe. Zinzin guided us through the process very well.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would definitely recommend them; I’m very glad we worked with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the head of customer success at a workflow and patient management software company. We sell to community oncology practices — nurses and administrators can use the software to engage with cancer patients, whether it’s their symptoms or questions about their treatment. It’s a way to connect the two sides of the patient/provider journey.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Zinzin?

Initially, we were looking to change the name of the company. Our primary concern was to rebrand the company into something more representative of who we are that could support what we do today and expand to our intended impact going forward.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started with open-ended conversations about who we were as a company, our mission, and what we were hoping to accomplish in the future. Zinzin understood our ethos, culture, products, and the impact we desired to make. Then, we told them we wanted a name that matched all those components and could carry them out to the market to represent us.

In summary, Zinzin dug into us so they could wrap their head around and understand the tangible and intangible components we wanted to represent through our brand.

What is the team composition?

We worked with three people, including a project manager and the CEO. We had a ton of high-level involvement, which was fantastic.

How did you come to work with Zinzin?

I wasn’t involved in the selection process. I believe that we were referred to them by an investor or a friend of our company who had used them previously and had a good experience.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in early December 2021 and wrapped up our engagement in February 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Internally, they brought expertise, which we really appreciated. When they came to the table, they brought on great ideas and experience on the process and approach. Zinzin guided us through how we should think about things because we’d never named a company before.

Also, they guided us on what to consider when picking a name, which opened our minds to things that we weren’t aware of. In the end, they brought incredible ideas and potential names for our company. We were excited about that, and their approach was very thoughtful.

When they went through their name selection, they walked us through why the name, and we felt that they had listened and understood our business. It spoke volumes about the time they invested in getting to know us. Overall, their deliverables were really high quality.

How did Zinzin perform from a project management standpoint?

We had a timeline to see how the project would unfold and have a clear map of our expectations. We met for two-hour Zoom calls on a weekly or biweekly basis. In between those calls, we’d receive follow-ups or preparation materials to look over things and come to the calls prepared. The CEO was very communicative throughout the entire process, ensuring that we had what we needed.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It was great to work with them. Their expertise was outstanding — we could just tell that they were season professionals. They’d done this before for incredibly successful companies, so Zinzin would come to the table with great ideas. Moreover, they shaped how we thought about picking the name, which was invaluable. They taught us a lot, so we not only accomplished the mission but also learned a lot along the way.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything off the top of my head. We had an excellent experience working with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Follow their lead. Although it might not seem like a type of practice you’d want to run, their process works. Go through the whole process; they know what they’re doing.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the account manager and one of the co-founders of First Person, a San Francisco-based creative storytelling company that focuses on the intersection of design and technology.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Zinzin?

We needed Zinzin for their naming services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We’ve relied on Zinzin’s naming services for our brand identity, projects, and architecture over the course of our partnership. They spearhead several naming efforts for our business units and events as well. 

Zinzin conducts thorough vertical and industry research before creating and listing down names that fit the brand narrative of a deliverable. This is also backed by our internal team’s brief and background narrative to help them further validate the potential names they’re bringing to the table.

We usually go through three rounds of 25 prescreened names from Zinzin before we shortlist our primary name choices. Once we come up with a  final name for any of our deliverables, we’ll proceed with the visual aspect of the project to bring that name to life and determine if it really fits the project or architecture.

Apart from their naming services, Zinzin also creates competitive project briefs, client reports for us and delivers these through PDF documents.

What is the team composition?

We mainly collaborate with Jay (Founder & Creative Director).

How did you come to work with Zinzin?

Unlike the previous agencies we’ve worked with, we’ve found our collaborative chemistry with Zinzin to be more agreeable and organic, so it’s always been easy for us to rely on their team for naming- and content-related projects.

How much have you invested with them?

We spend an average of $30,000 for each project. We’ve already done 5–6 projects with their team throughout our engagement.

What is the status of this engagement?

We kicked off our partnership with Zinzin in November 2016, and it’s still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Zinzin has an indisputable reputation as a naming agency, so it’s no surprise that they’re committed to delivering spot-on names and reports that never fail to please our clients. Every naming project that we’ve assigned them with has been successful in that the submitted name actually comes to fruition and is used by the client.

How did Zinzin perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate via phone calls and emails, while we hold regular meetings via Zoom. Zinzin doesn’t overpromise and underdeliver, they always commit to the promises and deadlines they set. Our collaboration feels more like a real partnership rather than a mere client-vendor relationship.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Zinzin is a small but mighty team — their proven field experience and expertise unceasingly result in creative, out-of-the-box solutions. They’re keen on identifying what names would and would not work for a project or business, and that sets them apart from others.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have anything constructive to say about their team and their services.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Trust their talented team to deliver the results that you need. Additionally, it would help if you come up with a strong business narrative to bring more customers in and help Zinzin analyze the core message you want to put out there.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I was the VP of corporate marketing at a company focused on security for app services. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Zinzin?

We hired Zinzin to name one of our up-and-coming products. We were new to product naming.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The output of the scope of work that Zinzin was responsible for was a product name that we could take to market. They did a lot of research auditing industry competitors as well as brands we look up to. 

They led us through the discovery and presentation processes. We started with about 50 names, and we went through a process of elimination until we reached our top three names. Along the way, they continued to provide new information to inform our decision-making. They brought me and the GM of my company’s business unit all the way through the process, until we found our top three favorite names.

What is the team composition?

We worked with two people, including the founder of the company.

How did you come to work with Zinzin?

I did a Google search and looked at my network. Once I found their website, they listed referral customers. I reached out to those people to see if they’d be willing to talk to me about their experience, and they all came back with very positive reviews for Zinzin. 

How much have you invested with them?

I believe the project was $20,000–$40,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project was from April–June 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We acquired a company toward the end of the naming process, and their existing product line influenced what we ultimately ended up naming the product. Although we favored three of the names Zinzin proposed and got them through legal, we didn’t end up using those.

However, Zinzin was very thorough and strategic. They spoke with an air of expertise; I didn’t hesitate to bring our GM or CMO along to meet with them directly. My team also thought they did a really good job guiding us through the process. If there is ever another opportunity to work on naming conventions, I will certainly call them again.

How did Zinzin perform from a project management standpoint?

Zinzin was responsive. If anything, they went above and beyond because we were so busy pivoting.

They were really helpful in taking us through the process phase-by-phase — you can’t just come up with a name. They took a lot of care in explaining to me, my team, and our leadership the various considerations and best practices associated with naming. They were really patient and strategic in their approach.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Zinzin’s experience distinguishes them from other providers. Having looked at their website and called their referrals, I know that they have a lot of experience naming different products and companies. They have deep experience in thinking about how a potential product or company name could impact go-to-market strategy. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I just wish we could’ve brought their suggestion to market. I really enjoyed working with them and would work with them again.

Any advice for potential customers?

Bring your business objectives to the table. They operate very well when they know exactly what your business goals are and what you desire to achieve. If you can’t bring those to the table, it’s going to be hard for anybody to help you.