When I landed in Austin for SXSW last Friday night, I was whisked off by Sheila Scarborough to have dinner with Liz Strauss, Richard at Dell and Shel Israel. The evening started with introductions, and not 5 minutes later I was faced with the conversation I most hate to have about my business. I’ve had it hundreds of times, it goes like this:
“Hi, I’m Wendy Piersall from eMoms at Home. Most people know me as ‘eMom’.”
“Hi Wendy, I’m ___, so you’re a Mommy Blogger?”
*Cue inner turmoil and hasty explanation*
“Actually, we are a magazine-style blog network, focused on more on home business, entrepreneurship, and life balance than we are on parenting…”
*Cue glazed look in eyes as I have confused yet another person about eMoms at Home*
Over the rest of the conference, it only got worse. I found that every day I spent at SXSW, I discovered that the brand “eMoms at Home” was rapidly getting farther and farther from what we are really about. Well, perhaps it’s better said that it’s been that way for a long time, and I only just finally saw it for what it was last weekend.
The fact of the matter is that most of our readers know that we are “More ‘E’ than ‘Moms’“. But imagine my skin-crawling horror as people at the conference told me (repeatedly, I might add) that they dismissed our site for months - even a year or longer - because they didn’t think that a site named “eMoms at Home” held anything of value for them. And some of the people who have said this are moms themselves.
It was a fascinating process, I have to admit, realizing over those 4 days that our core audience quite often doesn’t think of themselves as ‘home business owners’ nor even ‘entrepreneurs’. They have a stereotype in their head of both, and fall somewhere in between these two ends of the spectrum. The thing I have always had the hardest part reconciling is that there are so many dads who read this site, and ever since I realized this was happening (only 5 months after I started, mind you), I have regretted picking a URL that automatically excludes half of my colleagues and friends.
So anyway, at the end of SXSW I’m sitting in the airport at 4:45am on Tuesday morning. Hugh MacLeod Twitters that he is in the airport too, wanting to hook up with anyone there. I’m no fool, if I have the chance to hang out with someone like Hugh MacLeod, I don’t need to be asked twice - I promptly got up and found him sitting about 40 feet away from me.
We chatted about all sorts of stuff, and near the end of the conversation, I sprung my question on him. I explained my site, our audience, and told him that there is really no name or definition for our community, namely, people who:
Are as passionate about business as they are about their families
Are extremely intelligent and experienced in business
Take a non-traditional approach to managing their careers on their own terms. This means either running their own business, finding employers that offer flex hours, or even temporarily taking time off to be a full-time parent.
Are using technology & the internet to live life and pursue work on their own terms
I told him I was hesitant to step up and lead and speak for such a diverse group of individuals, and he kind of stopped me and basically said, “Well, who are you not to?” - and I swear to god I think the earth moved at that point, because all of the pieces of the puzzle immediately fell into place when he said that.
By the time I got on the plane 30 minutes later, I resigned myself to the inevitable - yet terrifying - conclusion.
I need to rename and rebrand eMoms at Home.
When I got home, I first talked about it with my business coach Marla - she got it immediately. Then I talked with my authors - they will be impacted by this - I wanted to know how they felt about it. They not only got it immediately too, but they enthusiastically supported me (damn I love them!) because they too were feeling the need to explain the discrepancy between our name and our mission.
This is where you come into the picture
So I spent some time on Twitter getting feedback from more of our regular readers. The lover-of-my-Google-traffic side of me was kind of hoping that some of them would say, ‘Nah, just keep the current name, it works great”. Kudos to all of you who responded to my questions, because none of you told me what you thought I wanted to hear - instead you told me what I needed to hear. And none of you said the eMoms name worked anymore.
I’d now like to invite you to add your voice and opinion to the whole concept of renaming our site. I’ve worked hard to grow it as a business, but the community here is what this site is really about.
So moms, dads, even non-parents - if you could refine eMoms at Home into a new brand that speaks to entrepreneurship, business, technology and parenting and most importantly who YOU really are, which of the following names do you think is the best?
Go Vote for a New Name for eMoms at Home
It’s your chance to make your mark and have a say in the future direction of eMoms at Home :: please share your thoughts and cast your vote or suggest your own name for this site!
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I know this is somewhat off topic. But I’ve always imagined: what if there’s a bunch of teenagers that hate life, hate working in the corporate environments, and they decide to start their own home businesses? They will need a domain name and it shall be…
http://www.emosathome.com
(rim shot)
Kelvin Kao’s last blog post..LCC presents: I’m Feeling Lucky!
Wendy,
I encourage you to resist putting “parent” in the name or the URL. I haven’t been excited about the brand eMoms because I’m one of the readers who is moving away from full-time and hands-on parenting into the work and career life. I have had to look past the brand (the book cover, if you will) and just get into the content which came highly recommended.
I urge you to not discount us and actually to open your umbrella a bit wider to include us; and most of us will be women but not all. One of our challenges is to counter the old assumptions that empty nest women should volunteer all their new-found time and we’re criticized for wanting to build careers.
While we’re no longer hands-on parenting we have in the near past and can bring a lot of wisdom on life balance to your younger readers.
Deb’s last blog post..Women and Self caretaking
The word “Network” suggests collaboration, cooperation, working together, which makes the word closely aligned with your state purpose.
eparents inc. - The “inc.” may well represent what your audience is running from.
eparents network - my fav.
bizsational - a lot of branding ahead for you.
wired eparent - like this one too.
the new eparent - how long is new, new?
eworker at home - don’t want to be a worker. at home suggests an email address.
wired parentz - when will qkzy leave?
You are on the right track with the right approach.
I voted for e-worker at home, although it was a close run things with eparents at home.
I like the athome bit which you could see as the core of your brand and it maintains a link back to e-moms athome.
Way down the line it gives you room for a whole network of athome sites, perhaps? athome also hooks into the @ convention which is really picking up steam thanks to twitter.
Just my twopennies worth.
Cheers
Alex
Alex Bellinger’s last blog post..SmallBizPod #63 - Budget Podcast 2008
Deb - I’ve had long discussions about this one and I agree with all of what you said. At the same time, I feel that if we don’t focus on parents, the niche is almost too broad to define.
But if anyone has a great name to suggest that can encompass it all, I’m open to it! Honestly, after hours of domain research, I couldn’t come up with squat.
RE: Workshifting - love it but the domain is taken
I thought about what I accomplish at home, and what kids kids contribute, and what my husband offers…when you take all of those aspects and role it into one, you get:
BrillianceAtHome.com
Enjoy,
Barbara
Barbara Ling (aka Owlbert)’s last blog post..Easy way to let people Twitter your blog posts - TinyURL plugin usable for tweets!
I’m the first to say that proper branding matters. We experienced the benefits of finding our fit on our new branding efforts and it’s paid off handsomely.
I also agree that as a Dad, I had a huge moment of embarrassment when I joined the eMom gang. It put me off. I’m not a Mom. What will the women think about this GUY hanging around with the mommies?
*…hmm… pansy-ass fanboy hanging out with the mommies… thoughts of Freudian issues…should I really be hanging out here…?*
Oh yes, where was I? Ah, right, that I’m in touch with my feminine side and that I wear thick armor to battle against the gender-spoon mommy bloggers that might beat me over the head for daring to slip into the crowd.
Rebrand. eParent? (And ditch the “at home”. That has a negative connotation, too.) eParent Online?
James Chartrand - Men with Pens’s last blog post..Should You Let Scrapers Link to Your Blog?
Wow, Wendy, that’s a big decision. But sometimes you have to do it. Just keep in mind that some names will be easier to roll off the tongue, and some (like Wired Parentz) will require you to spell it constantly. I hate spelling things. You’d be surprised how many people ask me, “Egg? as in E-G-G??”
Good luck. I’ll be here no matter what you call this thing. How about Wendy’s World?
Susan, The Marketing Eggspert’s last blog post..Anita Campbell Has a Secret (100 of Them, Actually)
Chose the right brand name first, then sort out a domain. A short Dot com name isn’t essential, and most will be taken but there’s also .org .net etc (both of which would seem quite appropriate)
Hey Wendy,
All three of your points are about parenting, so I went with eParents, Inc (because you have a network)
Don’t bother with anything Work at Hominsh if you want ANY Google juice. Believe me, there really isn’t much there no matter how well you try to optimize your site.
Just my $.02
Joe
Joe’s last blog post..This Weeks Helpful Reads… Week 98
This post plus the others (questions we fear to speak) is a lot to think about especially the whole woman bloggers thing.
Definitely stay with parents because it would be too broad if you didn’t.
You are a woman, a mom, and you own your own ebiz. Plus, you have created a community of mostly parents who either want their own ebiz or have their own ebiz.
What about ebizparent.com? It looks like a magazine title to me -
eBiz Parent
If you like it I will sell it to you - just name the price. I started off with it but have no real direction. I can’t speak on running an ebiz when I’m not doing it full time - yet.
Lisa
Lisa’s last blog post..10 Fat Burning Foods To Help You Lose Weight Fast
Wendy, at SXSWi I really felt your frustration as I stood there while at least one geek superstar admitted that 1) he’d never heard of you (OK, that happens, no biggie) and 2) he never would have paid any attention to your site if he came across it anyway, because of the name.
I’m very proud of you for being willing to move past a LOT of emotional investment building something called eMoms at Home, and bravely deciding that it’s got to be called something else to continue growing.
Remember, we all know that “dooce” is a geeky Mom working at home, and there’s no “parent” or “Internet” anywhere in her brand name.
Sheila Scarborough’s last blog post..The Hot Dog Man on historic Route 66
“eparents network” = Awesome!
daisybones’s last blog post..asshatology 101
Thanks so much for your input so far everyone! I’m curious about your thoughts on eParents Network, which at this point is emerging as a leader:
Do you think that it sounds too much like a parents social network? We will be adding a community section in a couple of months, but we’re definitely NOT a social network, nor do we aspire to be one.
How about ParentsandBusiness.com?
or eParentsandbusiness.com
or theeparentsnetwork.com
or mybusinessandhome.com
or eworkandhome.com
If you are looking to include not only those whom work from home, but those in the 9-5, then it covers all the bases.
I do like eParentsatHome too and eParentsNetwork is good as well.
And those are my ideas…
I hope it helps a bit.
Sincerely,
Teresa Morrow
Key Business Partners
Virtual Assistance and Online Promotion
for Coaches, Speakers and Writers
Network makes me think that what I’ll find is a community versus a leader offering information and a side benefit of a community. I personally don’t like network sites, because to me, it’s just a bunch of people.
(Trying to be honest, not insulting here)
How about ParentPreneurs?
James Chartrand - Men with Pens’s last blog post..Should You Let Scrapers Link to Your Blog?
James - a friend of mine, Julie Lenzer Kirk, wrote a book called The ParentPreneur Edge - I kind of felt a little weird going down that road.
I like eParents Inc. best because it clearly communicates “online”, “parents”, and “business”. I also like it because it’s short.
I think eParents Network is okay, but it does have some connotations of a social network, and doesn’t explicitly communicate “business”, which is a core part of the concept.
I’d definitely agree that you need to focus on parents, because it’s too vague otherwise. Besides, if you are going to talk about topics of particular importance to parents, it’s better to make that a clear focus than to have readers feel confused.
Many non-parents will read anyway; I’m not a parent (yet!) and still get a lot of value from the content because I run my business from home. Because I’m interested in parenting topics, too, it’s a good fit for me (I’m thinking three years out and gathering ideas for juggling everything).
It won’t be a good fit for everyone. Some people will reject it out of hand if “parents” is in the name, but they’re not the core audience.
The more I think about it (and write this getting-really-long-comment), the more I’m convinced that you need something “business-y” in the name. It’s not a big deal if you’re “rejected” by people who aren’t parents or interested in business, but it totally defeats the purpose if you’re still rejected out of hand by those who are your core audience.
Hehehe…
Okay. ‘Preneur is overdone anyways. So is Web Worker.
Family Balance Online?
(You know, I can shoot these at you all day long…)
A suggestion. Before deciding, walk around the house for at least 1 day saying the name out loud. Reading it and speaking it is two different things.
Then type it. Is it easy to type? Tricky? Fast? Long?
James Chartrand - Men with Pens’s last blog post..Should You Let Scrapers Link to Your Blog?
Wendy, I chose eWorkers@home because I don’t think you should limit your brand to parents. Your advice is helpful to anyone trying to succeed in a home-based business so why limit your audience? You have a terrific website and I look forward to continuing reading it in any brand incarnation.
One more addition:
I specifically don’t like “Inc.” unless you truly *are* a legal corporation. And I’d check whether you are, because it seems some people seem to believe they are when they really aren’t where the law and government are concerned.
And if you are, I didn’t know that.
And if that’s the case, then eParentInc is pretty cool.
James Chartrand - Men with Pens’s last blog post..Should You Let Scrapers Link to Your Blog?
Re: the legal issues of “Inc.”, it’s easy enough to incorporate (at least it was here in Idaho) and probably not a bad idea anyway with the growing complexity of the network. Setting up as an S-corp saved me a bundle of money in 2007.
I chose eParents Network, because this site is a network (different authors with different areas of expertise) and we (the readers) do network as part of our online business strategy (which is top of many “top 10″ lists for getting recognized, yes?). It just fits well for me.
I personally love this site because as a parent (mom) I can take a lot of the information I gleen from this site a little more personally than from a generic catchall work-from-home type sites.
Lizzie’s last blog post..I’m making a blanket
Hi Wendy,
What a dilemma! I agree with some of the previous comments, that, although I like the sound of eParents (which is much less limiting than eMom) - but it might also turn off some people, just because they might just think it’s about parenting, not about business.
If you could incorporate something with Business or Entrepreneur in the title, it should help with that false first impression on the title (by just having eParent alone). I do like eParent, by the way! And I see where it’s important to include that, since it is your primary demographic.
Maybe something like:
eParentEntrepreneurs
eParentBiz
eParentBusiness
I don’t know - those aren’t so hot, but something along those lines.
On the “INC” - I Really like eParent Inc, because it suggests business because of the Inc (even though most of us are probably not legally Incorporated)…
If you are incorporated yourself, then that would be perfect and I’d say go with that one! It speaks to your demorgraphic and has a more formal/business-y edge to it with the Inc.
If you aren’t incorporated… is there a way you can spin it so that you can say Inc without it meaning that you are incorporated yourself? That probably didn’t make much sense, but I think you know what I mean?
Anyway, Good Luck to you on this! I’m sure it can’t be easy! You must be very excited about turning this new chapter in eMoms at Home, though! It feels like GREAT things are coming!
Selene M. Bowlby’s last blog post..Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Sorry - I meant to say eParents Inc. above (missed the “s”)
Selene M. Bowlby’s last blog post..Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
The names on the list don’t jump out at me. They blend in. Maybe something different that can be uniquely branded (and trademarked more easily)
All of these name/domain ideas are available:
Juggling Wires: Jugglingwires.com
Wired Compass: WiredCompass.com
Balanced Compass: BalancedCompass.com
eWork Compass: eWorkCompass.com
eWork Juggle: eWorkJuggle.com
And this one is just plain fun:
Struggle Juggle: StruggleJuggle.com
or:
eStruggleJuggle.com
Just tossing some ideas your way.
-Matt
I’m not too thrilled by any of the suggestions I’ve seen yet, although “eParent something” seems kinda close…
I know for me, when I named/renamed what I do (from Monk at Work to Viverati), I got a lot of value from these articles at Pure Tungsten (a naming company). Obviously, I ended up going with an invented word that captures the concept rather than a shmooshing together of many words… maybe something could emerge there for you, too.
Also, I found NameFuse (which is free) to be an invaluable resource in discovering word combinations that are available as domain names, too.
Good luck, Wendy!
Adam Kayce’s last blog post..How To Heal What Ails You With EFT
Just jumping in to say I have no idea, but am not fond of @home because I don’t work “at home” but I do work online and I am an avid reader and fan.
And, it is about me, after all.
Also, I shudder to think how many people may have passed me by with the url busymom.net…
Elizabeth’s last blog post..The new virtual office
This is so exciting! I haven’t decided what my vote will be - just yet. But I’m so excited about this whole transformation - it is just awesome!
Kelvin - emosathome.com - LMAO!!!
Lisa Marie Mary’s last blog post..Blogger Beatbox!
Do any of these interest you?
DotComPreneur.com (awesome response in early testing)
FreedomCoach.com
HomeBusinessGuru.com
HomeBusinessSystems.com
HomeOpportunities.com
InternetSuccess.com
RealizeYourDreams.com
Oh thank God! I always felt funny posting here, as I have no kids and never will (long story). The point being I was always afraid someone would say “You’re no mom, you can’t post here, you’re not part of our community”.
Irrational, because I never experienced it, but true nonetheless. I whole-heartedly support a name change to suit the actual brand.
What about “Home Entrepreneurs Journal”?
Yay, how exciting!!!
Ria Kennedy’s last blog post..Ria’s Words
Oh Jeez, I just read all the other posts and everyone wants to put parents in the name because “otherwise it’s too broad”. Sux!
Anyhow, from hard won experience, much pain and even more embarassment (which I’ll be blogging about this week) resist the urge to too narrowly define your brand. It’s almost better if you pick a sort of category and let the brand grow how it wants.
If you pick too narrow a niche, once again, you’re going to be looking at this same problem down the road of having a name that doesn’t suit your brand.
My challenge to you is to describe your product/service/offering not as a mom or parent, but as something that will charge up a great many people who may or may not be parents but who all share similar goals, i.e. they are trying to work from home, start their own business or make a profit online.
I guess I’m saying “Don’t look at your target audience, look at what you offer”. This may open doors to markets that have never looked at your site before because they aren’t moms/parents.
Ria Kennedy’s last blog post..Ria’s Words
Ria,
This has been the hardest part of it all - to parent niche or not to parent niche? I was hoping that a non-parent centric name would emerge as a front-runner in the poll, but honestly there doesn’t seem to be a huge amount of support for them, except for ‘eWorker at Home’. But then I get feedback from others that they don’t want to focus on ‘at home’ because many readers are in flexible positions outside of the home.
I’m going to continue to leave polling open for a bit to see what the community agrees on - a somewhat difficult process all around as niching something always includes some but excludes others.
While I get what your site is about and I’ve been coming here for quite sometimes, I have to admit if I saw anything with “eparents” I’d assume it was a parenting community.
With that said, I do think eParent Network is my favorite - or eParents Business Network. Which gives a better idea of what you’re trying to do.
I understand your stuggle and you have my support now matter what decision you make. I’ll still come back often.
- Deb
Please forgive all the above typos. I have a five year old on my lap!
I think it’s tough for you just because there are *so many* mommy blogs out there that people equate a mom blogging to being a mommy blogger.
Matt’s last blog post..More Mana = More Power
Oh, I’m sorry Wendy, you are in a tough position.
OK, how about you do what Adam Kayce said and pick a non-word (invent one) to describe your business and use a slogan to describe what you do (slogans can be changed more easily than a name)? I.e., Celontera is Tolerance mixed up.
The fact is (a) all good names are taken for .coms (I swear it’s true, honestly) and (b) you, not your audience must decide whether to stay parent centric (which by your own words you have not) or branch out (which you have).
I have to tell you, if you do what you think you ought instead of what you know you want to do, you will trade your life for misery and duty instead of self-fulfillment. I understand that a lot of the audience wants to keep it parent-centric, but what does Wendy want?
Nothing else matters but that. What kinds of things do you want to write about and explore? Who would you like to attract to your blog? How will that impact advertising? How will that change your market? How can this expand your horizons?
All of that can be changed or upgraded, so don’t feel imprisoned by old choices. In fact, you may find amazing new opportunities that were not available to you before. But it all boils down to what YOU want to do “for the rest of your life”. And I think that’s too important a decision to leave to a poll.
Ria Kennedy’s last blog post..Ria’s Words
I think “parents” is too limiting even though I am one. Consider empty nesters and then college age and twenty-somethings, that is a big chunk of the internet community.
farmnwife
farmnwife’s last blog post..Tiffany
Wow, what a great list of names you have already.
eBalance sounds like an exercise fitness site… I immediately had visions of balance balls and treadmills.
eWorkster sounds like a job listing site a little bit.
The comment about not having parents in the name really has me thinking though, does that make others feel excluded just like emoms left out some important folks… and of course has me thinking about my own website name now too! LOL
Loretta’s last blog post..Flower Fairy #2 Free Wordpress Blog Theme
Wendy wrote: “I was hoping that a non-parent centric name would emerge as a front-runner in the poll…”
Wendy,
I think Ria sized it up perfectly and you threw the rock on the scale to boot. What do you really want and where do you see yourself and your business going?
If you hop over and read Christine Kane’s blog she talk a lot about “half-way decisions” in her post Are You a Quitter? and how they are driven by fear and will take a toll.
Good luck.
Wendy,
eWorkShifting.com is open.
Everyone makes good points, I like the one about eParentsBizNetwork.com. One that is easy to pronounce and spell is a good bet too.
Go with what you feel drawn to, it’s your ultimate decision.
Brandie Kajino’s last blog post..Tickler File, Your Style
*Long comment that should have been a post ahead*
I had the parent vs. non parent conversation many times before we put it up to a vote. I felt strongly about keeping it focused on parents. I believe that the site and topic is just way too broad without that parameter in place.
But at the same time, as much as this is about what I want, yes, it is also about what the community wants. I started this site as a resource for work at home moms. Turns out a lot of other people were interested in what we have to say. The community told us what they wanted, and we gave it to them.
For a while now, our community has also said that ‘Moms’ is too limiting for them. Yet I do see that the parent-centric names are winning out over the others - which is a fairly accurate reflection of our readership.
In analyzing it last week, I really believe that parents go into business for themselves and work at home primarily to have more family time. Other home based entrepreneurs do it for different reasons.
We’ve always been focused on the family balance reasons. And I love, love, love connecting with other parents in business. In fact, my business card says “Wendy Piersall - Author, Speaker, Entrepreneur, Mom“.
As this site grows under a new brand, I can see adding channels to speak to different yet related audiences - the Empty NestPreneur, the MommyToBePreneur, the AdultCaretakerPreneur (for those caring for aging parents).
So I guess I am saying that as much as it is so hard to say to regular non-parent readers such as yourselves that I want to focus on parents, I am thinking it is the right direction for both me and this site. But like I said before, the site wasn’t just built by me, and I’ve built this site by listening to readers.
So I’m always willing to listen to community input before I make a decision that will affect them (even if it’s only slightly).
That being said, I’m a sucker for a great idea. Which is why I put it out there to see if anyone could come up with a way to focus the site yet have it not be about parents. That’s the most important part about this - without a focus on parents, I think I would go from small something niche to big nothing niche.
I definitely went too long here - this is supposed to be a comment box - not an article box!
Wow I feel your pain. But the reality is that the best brand names are evocative and tied to your brand personality. But often NOT what people will gravitate to in a focus group or a comments form
Everyone is comfortable with descriptive or functional names but often those are not the most effective and distinguishing. I will repost a link for you via Twitter.
twitter: @elliottng
I’m glad my suggestion (eWorker at Home) is getting some attention, though now reading the comments, I’m not sure it’s the “best” one, either. I think making up a word might be a good way to have your brand grow with you (a tagline is easier to change than a domain!)
I am not your initial “target” as I have no children (yet) but most of your articles resonate with me because I want to work for myself, hence the eWorker suggestion. I don’t really follow the other blogs as of now.
I think the important part is not the family, it’s the individual who has the family in this case.
Good luck! Email me if you would like any more feedback.
Wendy, I think you are making a wise call. My website has had three names in 4 years. It causes some confusion, but I haven’t lost Google juice or traffic. As far as your name goes, the stuff that may not matter is the “e.” People find you online so they know. We are all family members and we all juggle, so that can get stripped out as well. So you are really about SOHO entrepreneurialism, which are pretty boring words. I would opt for something creative that has to do with business/life balancing You seem to be for entrepreneurs who juggle & snuggle–or maybe this flu is sapping my creativity.
Wendy Said: I had the parent vs. non parent conversation many times before we put it up to a vote. I felt strongly about keeping it focused on parents. I believe that the site and topic is just way too broad without that parameter in place.
—–
Then I think your decision is made. It’s up to you, and I support whatever choice you make because it’s your business and your life.
But I do wonder why you think it would be too broad without that parameter in place. It seems you are serving that market right now just find, you’re just not finding enough of it because your name is so exclusive.
What if you kept e-moms at home and started an e-soho.com for the rest of us? That way, you could cater to the mom’s you want to serve EXCLUSIVELY as well as the SOHO’s you have been serving recently who love your blog.
This is the only way I think it’s a win-win and everyone gets what they want. So just add to, don’t take away. (And maybe e-moms could be e-parents, but e-moms is so iconic, y’know?)
Ria Kennedy’s last blog post..Ria’s Words
Wendy, first off I take my hat off to you for opening up this kind of conversation. Lots to be learned from the comments here, though as someone else has said, I wouldn’t take our word as gospel.
I have to say I’m someone who’s dallied in and out of your site because I’m an empty nester (a different label, and one I don’t like) so don’t readily identify with ‘e moms at home’ - though I guess a lot of your material is relevant to me, it certainly has been when I dip in and out.
I have to confess even “moms” works against me, because it’s a different spelling to the UK version… maybe this just proves that whatever you go for, you can’t win!
I think you can/should stick with with objectives you’ve set out in your post, which includes an ideal audience of parents, but I’m not sure you need to lead with that in the title.
I’d be tempted to go for something less descriptive in the title (otherwise you’re going to keep going round these loops) but keep the focus up front - I think “The Internet Home Business Magazine for Moms & Dads” is a pretty good strapline.
Do you have anything that you say, often, to encourage yourself, your readers, your kids, your clients that you could use - something that captures your unique, powerful, inspiring philosophy?
Joanna
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Way back when, I first came to your site because Steve Olsen mentioned you in a post of his. I almost did not come because the name eMom just did not do it for me. I pictured something along the lines of The Lactivist (not that there is anything wrong with the Lactivist…)
I applaud you for putting it up to the community, but as our President put it oh so eloquently, you are the decider.
I would think about your time at SXSW and ask yourself what you wish you could have told those people. I don’t know that eWorker, eParent or eMoms & Dads or eSquirrels, for that matter, would have caused any different reaction. I think it still would not come across as the diverse, rich resource that it is.
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My vote was for anything with eParents in it (although I chose the inc. version in the poll). I think that does a good job of getting the idea across!!
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Hi Wendy,
The first one that jumped out at me was Bizsational - no reason in particular, I just like it. Hope that helps! (I voted for it, too
).
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JoLynn, I’m surprised that Bizsational didn’t get more votes based on the sentiment that people think parenting is still too limited. I’m so CONFUSED!
Hi Wendy
Wowsers is this a great conversation and I am able to see just about every person’s point of view.
I hear that you’re too wide to be ‘mom-driven’ and maybe even too wide to be ‘parent-driven’ but that you are definitely ‘reason-driven’ as opposed to just ‘driven’.
The idea of a ‘new word’ domain and business name is growing on me and I believe you have the following and momentum needed to carry it off.
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Wendy,
I certainly don’t think that you should rethink your initial thoughts about focusing on parents. My tweet, which I shouldn’t have written - I should have commented here - really meant to focus on the fact that your site does and should keep its focus on parents. People who aren’t parents can still certainly find great information on your site - no matter what your brand and name. That was my point, and wasn’t made very well in 140 characters… I think you are on the right track!
Chris
What a challenge you face. I always have seen your blog as more of a business blog, and find much of what your blog offers is relate to doing business at home.
hence I like BrillianceAtHome.com, that Barbara suggested.
I am about to establish solohomebusiness.com and will continue to read you and your blog- I don’t tend to read the other blogs in your network.
What will make you stand out from the crowd?
What will make you feel proud when you introduce yourself?
Also I note this at the top of your blog post
Work at Home Watchdog
THE “work at home” product & “money making system” review site.
There is a leadership element too.
Sorry I may have added fuel to your fire
I will now go and look at the poll
Wendy,
I went with eParents, Inc. Although the second one, “eParents Network” is also good, I think the first one is broader and gives you more opportunity to expand your business beyond a blog network (which may or may not happen.)
I don’t like the ones that solely reference “Work at Home” because they lose the element of being a parent that I think is so important. I also think, by itself “work at home” has a lot of different meanings to people - not all of which are positive (I’m thinking of “work at home scams” for example.)
As well “work at home” is an extremely broad niche, and you fall into the trap of losing more identity than you gain by re-branding.
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My vote is for eParents Network which I think captures your branding best and will allow you to branch out as needed. I see it’s a popular one!
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Back again. You might have to go what Des has done- He has kept thinkinghomebusiness.com, revamped deswalsh.com and webarts.net.au to focus on the business and social media side.
something he mentioned when I was discussing your challenge with him.
I have my suziecheel.com site in reserve too
have fun and feel free to skype us
Back again.
You might have to go what Des has done- He has kept thinkinghomebusiness.com, revamped deswalsh.com and webarts.net.au to focus on the business and social media side.
Something he mentioned when I was discussing your challenge with him.
I have my suziecheel.com site in reserve too
have fun and feel free to skype us
Lots of wisdom in your post and these comments. Keeping in mind you have a good thing going here, my question would be how much are you [and your readers] willing to change? Change is risky - and necessary to go to the next level.
It is okay to polarize your audience and market/brand to a dynamically defined group - think about lifestyle niche magazines, beverages and music.
Maybe your best route is to extend your publishing business to one audience at a time. If that’s the case, you do need an umbrella brand and then you can roll out each new blog/division under it.
In my case, CoryWest Media, LLC is the holding company, which lets me set up all kinds of subsets. Not so much for branding, but more so for credibility.
A comment about the “e” . . .
At a social networking event last month, I met two people who talked about how having an “e” in front of their company name was so early 2000s. They were changing it. Never heard that before, but something to think about.
Will stay tuned . . .
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I already voted (added one), but I had another thought:
BusinessHomeDepot.com
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I think that Trish from EMailOurMilitary.com (eMOM) had been saying that to you for at least the last 4 months.
Well, it’s good that you finally figured it out. Good luck with the re-branding.
“HomeBizHeadquarters”
youre welcome.
btw, im a dad of a 2yr, i work at home, an running a global software biz.
im at Chile, S.America
I think all suggestions with ‘parents’ in them are poor choices. The vast majority of people in the world are parents at one time or another, but we tend to think of ‘parent’ oriented sites as those devoted to those years of rating strollers for safety, communicating with your teen or chosing a college … all of which are far behind me, and far ahead of other petential readrs. You are about business, community and earning on-line, parents are just one category of folks who need your info.
Personally, I find any site that has “e” anything in the name I avoid.
I don’t know why that is, but it makes my skin crawl. Hoping no offense is taken with that comment.
How about something along the lines of “Entrepreneurial Business and Beyond” with a tag line that addresses who this information would be most useful to.
Sorry I’m not a wealth spring of information here, but perhaps someone can bring something to springboard from.
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On the other thread, a good suggestion came up. I’ll copy my reply.
Shirley wrote:
I submit eProfessionalsAtHome.com - maybe we don’t necessarily need to be beat over the head with the work-life balance thing… we already get it and that’s why we’re here!
eProsAtHome? I like the ring of that a damned lot. ebusiness, professionals, work from home without the negative connotation, gender and kids removed from the equation…
Oh yes. I like that. It sounds good out loud, too.
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Wendy
It was very cool to meet you and learn more. I really liked what you had to say and where you came from in our discussion.
You know, I like Hugh’s advice and think you got some really great things going here…the most important is your passion and commitment. Look at all this conversation you have supported and facilitated around entrepreneurship, business, technology and parenting…Wow. You clearly have “hit a nerve” in a good way!!!.
So whatever the “name” is you can be sure Im following and in touch…and supportive! Thanks for taking the time to get know us!