Double 'o' Syndrome
Have you noticed how many of the Internet's most
successful companies contain two 'o's in their name.
These include: Google, Yahoo, Wanadoo and even Microsoft,
to name but a few. And those that don't have 2 O's
contain at least one, hotmail, Nintendo and yes, even
JKomp. This article aims to answer the question why?
And how much of the double 'o' companies' success
can be attributed to this odd choice of vowel content.
I believe one reason for using 2 O's is for the sake
of spelling when someone says yahoo it is immediately
obvious how it is spelt. Repeated letters in a name
also help with typing ease. Making sure your customer
gets your name right is very important, especially
on the Internet, a typo can aid your competitors.
So Why 2 O's? Why not three or even four? The double
o is easy to pronounce and is perhaps the most memorable
and distinct vowel sound possible. It is distinct
but soft, helping to soften the sound of the business
name, reducing the hard 'g' sounds in Google and complementing
the soft consonants of yahoo. A long ooooooo sound
is soft and relaxing, while a long eeee sound creates
anxiety and clearly a long iii or uu would not flow.
So onto the question of why 2 O's not 3 or 4.
It is also partly due to balance, in marketing it
is important to achieve balance, the name Google is
balance. Each g is attached to three other letters.
The name Yahoo is also balanced about the h, with
two letters either side, the first creating an ascending
sound and then a descending sound. To have Gooogle
or Yahooo would be excessive and would destroy the
balance, it would also serve to create ambiguity about
the spelling, 'is it 2o's or 3?' Furthermore, 3 or
more O's together become blurred and instantly reduced
the brand recognition factor. It is, however, important
to note that both Google and Yahoo register the excess
'o' versions of their domains, in case people put
in tooooo many.
So double o syndrome helps marketability, creating:
ease of spelling and typing input, a more friendly
company name, better brand recognition and balance.
Little wonder O's are taking over the world! NOTE:
When you are lOOking for a marketable name always
consider the double 'o' but remember it will not automatically
provide a quality product or service, which will ultimately
determine the success of your business.
About the Author:
Visit Thomas Jenkins at JKomp.com.
