What's in a name?
Posted 12-03-2007 at 08:27 AM by Regs
Well, here goes - first blog entry and I choose to have a go at those that can't get past the website name.
Over the years, I have heard first, second, third -hand about how the name takethepiss.com is bad, bad, bad. And I would be lying if I didn't admit to having thoughts of listening to these people and exploring different names for this online community.
But I keep coming back to the fact that this community is for senior soccer players first and foremost.
And it is that segment of the soccer community that understands the term Take The Piss and in some ways, tend to embrace it.
Example:
A few years back, I approached a couple of other local websites and suggested the formation of an advertising alliance. An agreement was put in place and things went well, or so I thought. A couple of years later, one of the sites changed ownership and things then started to get a bit strained as the new owner couldn't help himself in saying at every opportunity (so it seemed), that the TTP name was holding things back.
Eventually I grew weary of this and decided to just withdraw from the alliance and let the others run things on their own.
I've monitored what they have been doing over the last couple of months and it would seem to me that apparently it wasn't the TTP name holding things back. Their pool of advertisers appears to be down significantly and after briefly reducing their buy-in rates, they are back to the same rate levels before TTP left (which IMHO is less bang for an advertiser's dollar since the inventory of available impressions declined by 500,000 per month in-season).
In the meantime, TTP has slowly been going about it's 'business', slowly building up relationships with a few select companies as well as trying to get the membership levels back to where they once were.
Things are looking up in that regard and I'm hopeful that 2008 brings some excellent rewards for the community as a whole.
Over the years, I have heard first, second, third -hand about how the name takethepiss.com is bad, bad, bad. And I would be lying if I didn't admit to having thoughts of listening to these people and exploring different names for this online community.
But I keep coming back to the fact that this community is for senior soccer players first and foremost.
And it is that segment of the soccer community that understands the term Take The Piss and in some ways, tend to embrace it.
Example:
A few years back, I approached a couple of other local websites and suggested the formation of an advertising alliance. An agreement was put in place and things went well, or so I thought. A couple of years later, one of the sites changed ownership and things then started to get a bit strained as the new owner couldn't help himself in saying at every opportunity (so it seemed), that the TTP name was holding things back.
Eventually I grew weary of this and decided to just withdraw from the alliance and let the others run things on their own.
I've monitored what they have been doing over the last couple of months and it would seem to me that apparently it wasn't the TTP name holding things back. Their pool of advertisers appears to be down significantly and after briefly reducing their buy-in rates, they are back to the same rate levels before TTP left (which IMHO is less bang for an advertiser's dollar since the inventory of available impressions declined by 500,000 per month in-season).
In the meantime, TTP has slowly been going about it's 'business', slowly building up relationships with a few select companies as well as trying to get the membership levels back to where they once were.
Things are looking up in that regard and I'm hopeful that 2008 brings some excellent rewards for the community as a whole.
Total Comments 10
Comments
 |  Take The Piss. Hmmmm. I (proudly) wore my new TTP shirt to a family function following a game a month or so back and my Mom exclaimed "What are you wearing!?" "You are not a Bastard!" To which I politely replied "No, You are correct, I am not a bastard, I am a Better Bastard" She looked at me like I had three heads. "It is what it is" in the famous words of One Todd Bertuzzi. You could be more attatractive/less offensive to potential advertisers etc if the name was less "Offensive" but I think you hit the nail on the head when it comes to being a site for the senior soccer community It's not like TTP has an R Rated site name, more like PG, and how many of our kids can see worse words flung about than Piss and Bastard on TV watching Family Guy etc... The name has been around for years, if you change it what are the pros vs cons? Stay Strong Regs... Blogs Rule.  |
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| |  Thanks JBN. My wife, of all people, thought my idea of making up TTP shirts in child sizes that said "Little Bugger" on them was great. And yet, she too, isn't thrilled with the TTP name. At least she understands it though and has met enough TTPers to know that the people in the TTP community are excellent. There are not too many pros in changing the name other than possibly getting more attention from bigger companies and joining large advertising networks. That's about it as far as I'm concerned. The cons are numerous in my mind, including loss of brand awareness in the soccer community (ask around and even those that are not members will know what 'TTP' is or have heard about it), people leaving the online community, etc, etc. |
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| |  I think it depends on where you want to go with this. If we want to keep it a local, senior soccer based site (which I would vote for), then keep the name. If it is going to get a lot bigger, you may have to bow to the Capitalists out there. If the latter happens, even though I personally would not be thrilled, it can be turned into a good thing ultimately. |
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| | Thanks for the comment Sir M. The name is going to stay as is, the 'nay-sayers' I don't think would appreciate the order of magnitude sacrificing (sp? it's Monday, give me a break) the name for them would be. TTP will always be primarily locally focussed - of course that would change a bit if I were to move to, say, Montreal or something  |
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| |  My comment would be that you need to do what is best for you. If changing the name gets you one step closer to freedome 45, then do it. A man has a right to make money. |
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| | Thanks for the comment Dude. It appears more is being read into what I blogged than was meant - I'm not looking to change the name at all as I am not bothered so much by the lack of understanding by those who wish to frown upon the name. Case in point - I recently was talking with some Setanta marketing people about subbing some monthly broadband accounts for giveaways here on TTP... I didn't ask for freebies or discounts, just wanted to know the best way of going about it. The first response was great and the guy offered up somehow comping them in exchange for a banner up on the site... but then a different guy got involved and questioned if Setanta wanted to be involved with a site with the name TTP and a 'be a better bastard' tagline (this is an Irish company, no?  ) and that it was more bother than it was worth... 1 minute later I received an email recall notification... seems that correspondence wasn't meant for "reply all'  Of course, he then went through a song & dance routine trying to smooth things... I just said 'Ouch' and let it go In the end, I will still purchase monthly subs to give away (starting soon, better bastards only)... Ramble much? |
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| |  Don't change the name. Don't even think about it. Ever. I wore my old TTP Staff shirt to my last indoor game up here. Some people asked what TTP was, and one or two had even heard of it. The name has shock value. People remember shock value. I mean could you imagine if it was called Top of the Box or something like that? Who would remember that????  Keep up the great work Regs. AKA - Dreamkiller. |
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| |  originallity (if that's an English word?)Regs, the blog is a great idea and your lift off was well put. Personally, I love the name and have experienced first hand what it's like to have the corporate heavies balk at any word that could possibly be twisted into dodgy. Fcuk them I say. Beaver Buzz has had similar crossroads with morons in the same boat, but unlike that corporate whore "Dudewhere'smycar" I refuse to agree that there is a better name out there no matter what the demonstrators do! 90% of your target audience know what TTP is and that is the best anyone could aask for. Congrats! |
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| | TR, thanks for the comment! The people that heard about it... are they premium members yet? Guinness, thanks for the comment! Don't forget you have your own blog to post to as well. Suggestion: start a blog category just for wrist taping! Weekly updates on whether the tape was too tight, poorly done, worked magic, etc... Speaking of Beaver Buzz... check your PMs... |
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| | Speaking of beaver buzz I'm well hooked. Have tried them all save the Big Green one, what is that Johnny? I have to admit I'm a touch scared to switch off the big buzz or the sask berry... |
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- What's in a name? (12-03-2007)
