Hey, we are just starting to get going with this, and are trying to nail down a name so we can move forward with wraps/shirts/etc. Our working name has been "Exterior Solutions", which is a bit generic.
Here are two of the names we have sort of narrowed it down to.
These could be followed by any number of words after, of course, like "washing", "softwashing", "services", "roof cleaning", etc.
Waterhog - Our states college team mascots are the razorbacks, so could incorporate a picture similar to theirs... or just come up with an aggressive or cartoony logo/mascot maybe. Probably more unique and memorable compared to the other.
Clearwater - Sounds a bit more classy/professional to me, compared to the other... not sure how much that matters. I like that it evokes a sense of cleanliness in the name.
Thanks for any feedback!
(P.S. sometimes i post questions on multiple forums, so you might see it elsewhere. I do it to reach people that might not frequent multiple boards.)
BlueRidge said
Mar 26, 2017
Jason, where are you? Your signature doesn't have much information.
Have you looked around to see what others are using? Changing a name that has some internet presence and has already got branding is not an easy task. Eric & Lisa did a total name change and I did a partial. There is a lot of work that needs to be done after you change it and if you have good SEO, you will have nothing after the change.
As to the names... Waterhog & Clearwater. That is totally up to you as to how you can finish the name and come up with a logo that gets attention, isn't too busy and is unique.
Bryan P said
Mar 26, 2017
I like the hog mascot idea. It's all in marketing but having memorable branding goes a long way. People say to me (and mine isn't that great) "I've seen this before"
Fred W said
Mar 26, 2017
Hard to give an answer without knowing your "current company name". Don't listen to Bryan because he thinks his logo isn't very good when it is......very easy to brand with.
Personally, between the two you proposed, I like "Clearwater Exterior Cleaning".
Jason Watkins said
Mar 26, 2017
Thanks for the responses everyone. I updated my signature with a little more info.
Brett: We are in Northeast Arkansas, and there are only two or three small power washing companies in the area, and they all have generic names, more or less. Also, we dont have any online presence yet, no website/facebook or anything, and haven't made anything official yet, so there wont be any hassles in switching the name.
Doug: Doug, our current company name has been Exterior Solutions.
-- Edited by Jason Watkins on Sunday 26th of March 2017 12:09:29 PM
Liberty SoftWash said
Mar 26, 2017
Arkansas Exterior Solutions
Fred W said
Mar 26, 2017
The reason I don't like "Exterior Solutions" is simply that it could easily be thought of as anything. From a siding company to a landscape company or even a soap manufacturer.
BlueRidge said
Mar 26, 2017
Liberty SoftWash wrote:
Arkansas Exterior Solutions
Even more simple and gets the point across.
Arkansas Exterior Cleaning
Pressure Washing & Soft Washing
Bryan P said
Mar 26, 2017
I changed my name after getting started, mainly because I wanted "cleaning" or "washing" in the name.
And Doug...glad you like my logo. I have a few difficulties in the way I use it because it's full color, but I know you have the same issue. No way it transfers to a 1 or 2 color format so printing (shirts, etc) coat a little more. I shouldnt have tried wearing a bear suit to do estimates...that was just a bad idea. Haha.
Jason Watkins said
Mar 26, 2017
Doug, yeah we dont want to use Exterior Solutions since it is generic and bland, like you said. We have just been using it as a temporary placeholder.
Eric: We had considered something regional like that, but had maybe wanted to go for something with a little more pizzazz. Dont know though, something to think about. Thanks for the suggestion.
Fred W said
Mar 26, 2017
Bryan P wrote:
I shouldnt have tried wearing a bear suit to do estimates...that was just a bad idea. Haha.
Yeah....you're scary enough....:}
Your logo is awesome and a great brand builder. I put a lot of thought into have a "character" because, from a commercial standpoint, they don't appear as professional. Today's mindset though is a bit more relaxed. I wanted something that could be easily recognized and branded on.
Your character can grab the kids and the mom of that upper end decision maker.....
Jason Watkins said
Jul 5, 2017
Hey everyone, we decided to go with Clearwater Softwash. Not the most attention grabbing name, but we like it, and think it will work well in our area.
I would like to get your thoughts on the logo we designed.
Simplistic and gets the exact message across immediately.
BlueRidge said
Jul 5, 2017
Simple is good. A simple logo also that isn't too busy... now start branding and put your logo everywhere.
Eric Schnaible said
Jul 6, 2017
Yeah rebranding is no joke. We are almost done. It's taken a long time and now I have to work on the SEO for the new brand.
Roney Conca said
Jul 6, 2017
Nice looking logo Jason
Jason Watkins said
Jul 9, 2017
Thanks guys! I know everyone is busy this time of year, so i really appreciate you taking the time to give some feedback.
Steve Salley said
Jul 10, 2017
Jason It looks great
Immediately I knew what you do. For your logo, keep in mind any embroidery etc you may do in the future, the "ray lines" for lack of a better term, will make it more difficult. Just remove them and allow yourself to look at the cleaner logo for a couple days to see if it still needs them to message your brand. Think Nike Swoosh. Simple but never forgotten.
We keep removing background noise in our materials and it gets cleaner looking.
Just my humble opinion. It took me a while to accept simple is better.
Jason Watkins said
Jul 11, 2017
Hey Steve, thanks for the input. I had wondered that about the rays... we will try it with and without and evaluate. Great advice, thanks!
Jason Watkins said
Aug 17, 2017
Little update. After some time, and speaking with a few people, i felt the logo was a bit busy and difficult to read, especially with the letters being blue. Didn't show up well scaled down on business cards, and a shirt shop had some issues with it as well. Decided to revise it a little and remove some of the unnecessary stuff, like Steve had mentioned above. Biggest change was changing the letters to white instead of blue. Feel pretty good about it now, and everyone ive shown it to says it looks better.
That looks so much better Jason. The white lettering are so much easier to read. Losing the fringe edge and just having a circle is a really clean image too. Great eyes!
The last critique I am going to offer is when I look at the ray lines at the bottom of the center, I don't know what they mean.
If it was drops of water from the name above I would understand.
The rays don't add to the message.
Please accept this just for what it is: my opinion.
I have continued to revise simpler cleaner branding and still have preserved the local immediate recognition.
Maverick Contracting said
Aug 19, 2017
The rays add "SPARKLE"! Who dussnt like "Sparkles"
Or maybe I'm thinking sprinkles. I'm eating ice cream right now
Never mind...
-- Edited by Maverick Contracting on Saturday 19th of August 2017 08:48:06 PM
Jason Watkins said
Aug 19, 2017
Haha, thanks Doug! And admin too!
Steve, thanks man, your critique helped me dial it in.
Yeah I left those lines in because my partner wanted them. He felt it looked too empty without, but I think that was mostly because he was comparing it to the original... if the revised was the only one he had seen, he would probably be ok with it. Our embroidery shop already said it's doubtful if they can be replicated, and i sent her a version without the lines to use if that was the case. Anyway, I'm pretty much okay with either option on that.
Glad to have this squared away, now on to the website and wrap. Website isn't a big deal, because it can always be changed, but need to get the wrap right at the start... cant change it without spray paint, hah.
Thanks for the comments!
Here's the version without the lines, btw. I adjusted the name and watersplash down just slightly to center it in the white space a bit more.
I like it. Great branding look. Now get your name out there with top quality work and the brand will earn its place in your market.
What I had to remember was who was my customer. They come from a different time before MTV and the assault on eyes that the flashing and blinking and buzzing and nonstop static of life that we see today.
So yeah, we like simpler lines. Some noise, but not too much...
Hey, we are just starting to get going with this, and are trying to nail down a name so we can move forward with wraps/shirts/etc. Our working name has been "Exterior Solutions", which is a bit generic.
Here are two of the names we have sort of narrowed it down to.
These could be followed by any number of words after, of course, like "washing", "softwashing", "services", "roof cleaning", etc.
Waterhog - Our states college team mascots are the razorbacks, so could incorporate a picture similar to theirs... or just come up with an aggressive or cartoony logo/mascot maybe. Probably more unique and memorable compared to the other.
Clearwater - Sounds a bit more classy/professional to me, compared to the other... not sure how much that matters. I like that it evokes a sense of cleanliness in the name.
Thanks for any feedback!
(P.S. sometimes i post questions on multiple forums, so you might see it elsewhere. I do it to reach people that might not frequent multiple boards.)
Jason, where are you? Your signature doesn't have much information.
Have you looked around to see what others are using? Changing a name that has some internet presence and has already got branding is not an easy task. Eric & Lisa did a total name change and I did a partial. There is a lot of work that needs to be done after you change it and if you have good SEO, you will have nothing after the change.
As to the names... Waterhog & Clearwater. That is totally up to you as to how you can finish the name and come up with a logo that gets attention, isn't too busy and is unique.
Personally, between the two you proposed, I like "Clearwater Exterior Cleaning".
Thanks for the responses everyone. I updated my signature with a little more info.
Brett: We are in Northeast Arkansas, and there are only two or three small power washing companies in the area, and they all have generic names, more or less. Also, we dont have any online presence yet, no website/facebook or anything, and haven't made anything official yet, so there wont be any hassles in switching the name.
Doug: Doug, our current company name has been Exterior Solutions.
-- Edited by Jason Watkins on Sunday 26th of March 2017 12:09:29 PM
Even more simple and gets the point across.
Arkansas Exterior Cleaning
Pressure Washing & Soft Washing
Eric: We had considered something regional like that, but had maybe wanted to go for something with a little more pizzazz. Dont know though, something to think about. Thanks for the suggestion.
Yeah....you're scary enough....:}
Your logo is awesome and a great brand builder. I put a lot of thought into have a "character" because, from a commercial standpoint, they don't appear as professional. Today's mindset though is a bit more relaxed. I wanted something that could be easily recognized and branded on.
Your character can grab the kids and the mom of that upper end decision maker.....
Hey everyone, we decided to go with Clearwater Softwash. Not the most attention grabbing name, but we like it, and think it will work well in our area.
I would like to get your thoughts on the logo we designed.
Thanks!
Simple is good. A simple logo also that isn't too busy... now start branding and put your logo everywhere.
Nice looking logo Jason
Immediately I knew what you do. For your logo, keep in mind any embroidery etc you may do in the future, the "ray lines" for lack of a better term, will make it more difficult. Just remove them and allow yourself to look at the cleaner logo for a couple days to see if it still needs them to message your brand. Think Nike Swoosh. Simple but never forgotten.
We keep removing background noise in our materials and it gets cleaner looking.
Just my humble opinion. It took me a while to accept simple is better.
Little update. After some time, and speaking with a few people, i felt the logo was a bit busy and difficult to read, especially with the letters being blue. Didn't show up well scaled down on business cards, and a shirt shop had some issues with it as well. Decided to revise it a little and remove some of the unnecessary stuff, like Steve had mentioned above. Biggest change was changing the letters to white instead of blue. Feel pretty good about it now, and everyone ive shown it to says it looks better.
Sorry to disagree....It looks freaking awesome!
The last critique I am going to offer is when I look at the ray lines at the bottom of the center, I don't know what they mean.
If it was drops of water from the name above I would understand.
The rays don't add to the message.
Please accept this just for what it is: my opinion.
I have continued to revise simpler cleaner branding and still have preserved the local immediate recognition.
The rays add "SPARKLE"!
Who dussnt like "Sparkles"
Or maybe I'm thinking sprinkles.
I'm eating ice cream right now
Never mind...
-- Edited by Maverick Contracting on Saturday 19th of August 2017 08:48:06 PM
Haha, thanks Doug! And admin too!
Steve, thanks man, your critique helped me dial it in.
Yeah I left those lines in because my partner wanted them. He felt it looked too empty without, but I think that was mostly because he was comparing it to the original... if the revised was the only one he had seen, he would probably be ok with it. Our embroidery shop already said it's doubtful if they can be replicated, and i sent her a version without the lines to use if that was the case. Anyway, I'm pretty much okay with either option on that.
Glad to have this squared away, now on to the website and wrap. Website isn't a big deal, because it can always be changed, but need to get the wrap right at the start... cant change it without spray paint, hah.
Thanks for the comments!
Here's the version without the lines, btw. I adjusted the name and watersplash down just slightly to center it in the white space a bit more.
Much better!
What I had to remember was who was my customer. They come from a different time before MTV and the assault on eyes that the flashing and blinking and buzzing and nonstop static of life that we see today.
So yeah, we like simpler lines. Some noise, but not too much...
Pappy's 2 cents worth.