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Need some input on a Texas based magazine name

 
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txwebman

posts: 16

Apr 10, 2009 7:43 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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First hello to everyone! I`m new here and glad I found the site as it is full of a wealth of info and what appears to be friendly, helpful people! Kudos!
 
I`m in a bit of quandry. I have a business partner that has failed at living up to his end of a business venture and broken every agreement we`ve made, so I`ve taken the steps to have my attorney ask him to step down from the company. It`s more of a demand than anything. 
 
I thought about keeping it but after consideration and to avoid any issues with my ex-partner causing legal headaches down the road, I feel it may just be best to start again, under a new name. So that`s what I`m looking at but the options, while vast, are somewhat tricky to come up with anything that is both catchy and that hasn`t been registered as a domain (or variation of the business concept) as we are primarily an online magazine.
 
I live in a great state with people proud of its heritage. Beautiful weather. Fun places to visit and see, as well as interesting and exciting businesses as well as individuals. What I`m after is something that captures the essence, as well as the beauty of our State. I hope this doesn`t dissuade anyone from help but I`m adding it just so you know the original concept of the business; we are similar in nature to the Men`s lifestyle magazine, Maxim. We use strictly non-nude photography of women to pull in the audience. The idea was to attract an 18-40 year old male market (hence the Maxim-style photography), regionally based to provide content that was ideal for our area; from bars and restaurants to people and places...including concert venues, resource guides, hot spots and more.
 
Lastly, I`m not opposed to opening the name ideas to a more generic term and move away from it being strictly a Texas based magazine, as I know my first focus on content will be home but I`ve already been contacted by outside regions for inclusions into my work so the concept has a more broad audience appeal.
 
Anyone with any good ideas?   
txwebman4/11/2009 12:43 AM
Apr 11, 2009 11:51 AM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Hmmm....I like the idea. Nothing comes to mind right now but I will pass the concept around to my friends this afternoon and see if we can come up with something to help out a fellow Texan.
Good Luck!
 
Jim
Apr 11, 2009 3:40 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Ok ... A Texas-Based Maxim style magazine name.

Playhorn (Playboy + longhorn) Could actually have sort of a great cartoon mascot type character.
 
Maximum Exposure Magazine (Exposure is a good photography term as well appealing to the girly side of the publication *AND* also gives the `hot spots` exposure to potential clients).

Apr 11, 2009 5:03 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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I like it...I got a chuckle out of it.
txwebman

posts: 16

Apr 12, 2009 1:49 AM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Thanks to you both. Jim I apprecitate the reply from a fellow Texan and look forward to hearing back from you, if you think of anything. Shawn (I won`t hold it against you that you`re not from Texas! LOL just kidding with you, I told you were a proud group here but I really appreciate your reply) I am really liking the "Maximum Exposure" idea. I`ll reserve making a final decision for a while but you`ve got a good grasp of what I`m after.
 
I hope my pics don`t get me in trouble but I posted a couple of current magazine covers in my profile that we used over the last few months, before the falling out with my business partner. (Mods, if there`s any issue with my images please let me know and I`ll remove them). Just wanted to let you both take a look at what we are more about and the concept behind the magazine. Remember, this was an online magazine and those images are lead-ins to our website, if you take a look at them. I pulled the website within the last 14 days. You`ll see our original name on there as well.
 
Thanks again for all who reply
BizStrategist

posts: 44

Apr 14, 2009 6:10 AM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Here are some of the magazines in TX

Nbiz Magazine
Modern Luxury Dallas Magazine
Free Magazine
Next Magazine
Envy Publications
Eclipse Magazine
Park Cities Magazine

txwebman

posts: 16

Apr 16, 2009 4:43 AM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Thanks Will.
There`s a lot of magazines that operate within our borders of Texas. Almost every industry out there, has a range of magzines devoted to it. It`s always good to look at what others are doing. I`ve actually got the concept, business interests (B2B`s), content and  and a previous name, what I`m after is something new, "hip" and catchy for our target audience. Something that will be easy to convey but not so easy to forget. Some catch phrase or word that hasn`t been taken as a business name or even website address..yes, it`s a daunting task but something or someone will hit the nail on the head!
 
Thanks again for the input
 
 
 
 
stevens

posts: 54

Apr 29, 2009 6:24 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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I saw your magazine covers. It`s an interesting concept and idea. I wish you lots of luck. I`m really sorry to hear about your business partner. That`s very sad.

I want to offer some suggestions for a business name:

G-Tex
TGO - you can make up what it stands for (sort of like FHM)
Texans - this is if you want to move into a more men`s magazine that`s more health, wealth and women angle.

If its online adding "magazine" to the end of any of those may work. That would also give you offline and online branding as well.

I am not good at choosing magazine names but I do hope you find one you like. The only suggestion I would make is when choosing a name not to limit yourself to one segment. I would suggest choosing a name that leads a reader in the direction of what your magazine is but doesn`t pigeon hole you into only being able to do one thing.

Also, once you do decide on a name "pay" for an impartial focus group to test a few names against the magazine covers. Family and friends are terrible focus group people because they know you, the magazine, etc.

Find strangers, in your target demographic and get their opinion about each name. For $50 - 100 for a focus group, its worth the money.

Good luck with your new venture.

Hope this helps.

 
stevens4/29/2009 6:24 PM


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txwebman

posts: 16

Apr 30, 2009 9:56 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Stevens,
Thanks so much for the input. I appreciate the advice about focus groups, as this was something that we didn`t consider for the name  in our original concept
 
Also, one of the names suggested was actually a good idea too; Texans (of course as a domain it was taken, but adding to it worked, so it`s been registered by me). G-tex, unfortunately didn`t resonate well and it is also a manufacturer of a type of metal product. TGO, I need to think about as there might be some benefits (like changing the logo would be an easy switch), coming up with the words to fit the acronym is the tricky part as I don`t want it to come off cheesy or rushed.

FHM
, while it worked for a while, for Dennis Publishing, I didn`t think was very creative...For Him Magazine. 
 
One thing that I started to consider after looking more at business names, was our use of the  vernacular, "Girls" as part of the name. It was suggested, by several people in publishing, that I might want to venture away from it and focus on something with a broader scope, much like you mentioned, as to not "pigeon hole" the marketability of the magazine. I`m also considering opening up to a more national audience, as opposed to a regionally based magazine but I did capture the Texans domain and really appreciate the input.
 
I also liked the idea by NorthCountryDesign but his suggestion, as a domain or some form of it, has been very hard to find.
 
Thanks again  
 
Novashun

posts: 10

Jul 20, 2009 6:08 AM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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For Texas Gentleman - FTG
 
Everythings Bigger in Texas - eBit
 
Texas Life For Men
 
Lone Star Living - LSL
 
TOM - Texas Online Magazine
 
 
 
 
 


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