Helpful words
What’s the difference between branding and marketing?
- About: Naming
And why do I suck at marketing? Hi, my name is Eli Altman. I’m a branding expert with 20 years of experience working with some of the world’s biggest brands like Samsung, Apple, Lego, and Google. I also happen to be shit at marketing — like, really bad at it. Promotion, particularly self promotion, makes…
Holding beauty brand names up to the mirror
- About: Naming
It’s been ?? weeks of sheltering in place, and we’ve all spent a little more time with ourselves than we ever wanted. Some of that time has been spent in the bathroom, starting at the mirror, wondering — has that freckle always been there? Is it possible to over-tweeze? Is glittery eyeshadow still a thing?…
30 years of A Hundred Monkeys in 30 minutes
I interview my dad, A Hundred Monkeys founder Danny Altman, on the early days of the company and the evolution of naming. We try not to dwell on the the past too much around here but every once in a while it’s nice to take a look around and ask, “how did we get here?”…
30 years of A Hundred Monkeys in 30 minutes
- About: Naming
I interview my dad, A Hundred Monkeys founder Danny Altman, on the early days of the company and the evolution of naming. We try not to dwell on the the past too much around here but every once in a while it’s nice to take a look around and ask, “how did we get here?”…
The long and short of it
- About: Naming
A Hundred Monkeys can get you a name in about a month. Sometimes shorter. Sometimes longer. Project length depends on the client’s calendar, not ours. Recently I’ve been on a few projects that have extended beyond our normal timeline and want to reflect—since I have a little extra time at home—on the pros and cons…
What’s new in Don’t Call It That 3?
- About: Naming
A lot. The third edition of my book Don’t Call It That is scheduled to arrive at the end of April. By the time v3 arrives, the second edition will have been sold out for about a year. What’s so new and special about the third edition? Is there any reason to pick it up if you already have…
Table fellowship: Talking passion and Sonoma County with winemaker Carl Formaker
Carl Formaker, Assistant Winemaker at Three Sticks Wines, was raised a stone’s throw from Sonoma County’s Russian River. Many winters heavy rains cause the river to crest over its banks and flood parts of the Russian River Valley, leaving behind silt and fertile topsoil. That cycle helps create perfect conditions for growing wine grapes and…
Getting by with a little help with your words
Sometimes knowing your brand means knowing when to get creative help. It’s hard to talk about yourself. How much time is spent crafting dating profiles or resumes, or finding the best anecdote to tell on Jeopardy? We all want to make a good impression and usually end up overthinking every word. But how many of us…
Hey, you! Homage edition
- About: Naming
First installment of the A Hundred Monkey’s guide to virtual assistant naming AI is real. It’s happening. It also has a name, a voice, and a personality like Siri, Alexa, and Cortana. As professional namers we’ve named virtual assistants and have thought a lot about the ins and outs of naming a digital being. In…
When to turn off auto-pilot
- About: Naming
Every creative process has its limitations, you just need to find them. In Run Studio Run I talk a lot about process, and for good reason. Process is the best way to get support from your team, grow their responsibilities, and operate an efficient studio. While anyone who works with me will tell you that I’m a…