NerdZone is rebranding

[Astro What]

Sometimes the "rebranding" can be as simple as a logo change.



I know I've said it repeatedly, but just changing a domain is not a silver bullet to getting traffic.
And when designing a logo, one thing to think about is how it will look as a PWA icon on someone's phone.

 

[Retro]

I know I've said it repeatedly, but just changing a domain is not a silver bullet to getting traffic.

And I never said it was. It can be the cornerstone of further changes though, which can be gradual. Although there's much greater acceptance nowadays, I think the nerd theme still puts people off so want to get away from it.

I think that the core of the problem though is that classic, or old skool forums like this are fading away, unfortunately. Still doesn't hurt to try though.

 

[Astro What]

Old School (or any similar play on words) phraseology has pretty much the same impact. It can be used negatively as well as positively.
I see the term and I think of being stuck in the past, or what is some refer to as a fuddy-duddy.
I tend to prefer more neutral based names.

 

[Retro]

I tend to prefer more neutral based names.

Me too normally as you can see from my previous domain suggestions, but for me, this one works as it makes a feature of it being a classic style forum rather than having to defend it when people point this out. I'm still thinking of a slogan for it, but it could end up being this one: "Old Skool Forums - Forums done right". The current one is showing on the home page and I think it's pretty good for the current NerdZone name.

I'm open to suggestions from everyone for a new slogan. Three words seems to be the optimum if you look at political slogans over the years in both America and Blighty, but it could be more or less than this if it sounds really good.

 

[Hitcore]

I'm open to suggestions from everyone for a new slogan. Three words seems to be the optimum

Back in style
Timeless Talk Zone
Yesterday Meets Today
Join. Share. Belong.
Keep It Classic
Born Before Trends
Kickin' It Oldskool

political slogans over the years in America

MOGA!! (Make Oldskool Great Again )

 

[Retro]

Keep It Classic sounds good! I'll consider it.

 

[Hitcore]

And when designing a logo, one thing to think about is how it will look as a PWA icon on someone's phone.

I just realized something: @Retro , just as it is commonplace here to abbreviate NerdZone to NZ, I can see how you might be inclined to do that with Oldskool Forums as well, and may even incorporate that into a logo. All I just want to say is that: for the love of God, don't do it. That abbreviation has.... connotations.

(OSF may be safer!)

 

[Retro]

Oh yes, don't worry Hitcore, OSF is the intention! An association with OnlyFans, no matter how mistaken, wouldn't do at all, lol.

 

[Mars]

I’ve just grown up all my life with brand names all around me that use misspelled words, it seems like a cheap and low-effort way of being distinctive, or like a shabby cliche.

My feeling as well, misspelling is no longer unique or outstanding or original; it is rather common and un-original.
Certainly not creative or inspiring. Just my opinion, others may see it differently.

 

[Retro]

@Mars do you not like the proposed name for NZ then?

 

[Mars]

@Retro, The thing is, old school/skool, can be read or understood both ways.

As @AW said, it may have connotations of narrow minded traditionalism.

Personally, I see Old School as standing for honesty and loyalty, as well as standing for strength and morality. I would even go so far as describing myself as old school in certain aspects.
But, this is not he only interpretation of Old School: it may also be seen as narrow minded and intolerant, or as just living in the past.

The way things are, the pendulum has swung completely the opposite side now, from stuffy narrow-minded puritanism, to a totally permissive society. It seems at times, that we are meandering in a social environment lacking any moral compass.

Anyway, this is why I would be cautious about Old School. As far as Old Skool is concerned, I think @petermarkley has clearly explained it.
Just our opinions.

 

[Hitcore]

it may also be seen as narrow minded and intolerant

That's why oldskool works better. While oldschool in some eyes may have those connotations you've mentioned, oldskool always refers to simply some nostalgia/retro/flashback stuff. It couldn't be any more clear, if you think about it.

 

[Retro]

Anyway, this is why I would be cautious about Old School

That’s ok, I’m not spelling it like that so it doesn’t matter. That domain is taken anyway, so good thing I don’t want it. Spelled with a k it has the meaning that Hitcore said. This matches the Google search result too, yes I double checked before registering it. You don’t have to like it, that’s why I asked for opinions not yes men.

I think having Old Skool Forums - Keep it Classic as the slogan on the homepage works really well. Also, my username as Retro couldn’t be more perfect for this branding.

 

[Mars]

That's why oldskool works better. While oldschool in some eyes may have those connotations you've mentioned, oldskool always refers to simply some nostalgia/retro/flashback stuff. It couldn't be any more clearer, if you think about it.

yeah, you might have a point there; to tell you the truth, I also liked your suggestions at #130, except "Join. Share. Belong." Sorry, not really me; never too eager to join/share/belong: if ever I had to join share and belong......I'd run a mile!
But yet again, that's just me.

 

[Mars]

I think having Old Skool Forums - Keep it Classic as the slogan on the homepage works really well. Also, my username as Retro couldn’t be more perfect for this branding.

yeah, Old Skool Forums - Keep it Classic, does not sound bad at all. Thing is, it all boils down to the fact that it is not an easy decision to make, and each one of us views it slightly differently, depending on our personalities.

 

[Crims]

Most of the internet I know of are returning to old skool to be honest. Retro gaming has become more integrated - it's a certain fact than a niche

 

[petermarkley]

except "Join. Share. Belong." Sorry, not really me

There’s also the fact that in the branding world, three action verbs (or adjectives) with each followed by a period is the only thing possibly more cliched than a misspelled word.

I literally tweeted about this exact cliche back in 2014, over 11 years ago:

@petermarkley 2014/07/11 12:07pm
If I see one more stupid ad campaign with three verbs ending in periods...

 

[Hitcore]

I literally tweeted about this exact cliche back in 2014, over 11 years ago:

What. The. Hell.

 

[Retro]

There’s also the fact that in the branding world, three action verbs (or adjectives) with each followed by a period is the only thing possibly more cliched than a misspelled word.

I literally tweeted about this exact cliche back in 2014, over 11 years ago:

Yup. I. Don't. Have. That. Either!

 

[Astro What]

Instead of Keep it Classic I think Keeping it Classic flows better and probably gives the better connotation for the use of the site name instead of the negative one.
But I'm not an ad manager either!

 

[Retro]

Yes, that did cross my mind AW and it does flow a bit better, but I think the meaning might be subtly different somehow. Gotta think about it, no final decisions made yet.

For example, Capital Radio in the UK has a slogan, but not sure if they use it anymore as I've not listened to it for years, of Keep it Capital, not Keeping it Capital. The first way has more impact, doesn't it? There's no sentence before it though which mine does have. Advertising isn't my forte either, lol.

 

[Retro]

@Hitcore which way sounds better to you?

 

[Hitcore]

@Hitcore which way sounds better to you?

@Astro What makes a fair point. I'm a bit divided over it now.
Keep It Classic sounds better in my ears, but Keeping It Classic does make more sense.

Let's ask an expert, see what he thinks about it:

Ali, what do you prefer, Keep or Keeping?
.
.
.


....

Thank you, Ali.

 

[Astro What]

Keep it Classic sounds like an order to comply with. Keeping it Classic is more a positional statement that is being followed.
In fact, the meme above simply proves that point. You tell someone to keep it real and if it is a belief position, keeping it real is correct as in We are keeping it real.
I won't delve into which would be grammatically correct as it depends on what point you are trying to get across.

 

[Mars]

AW has just made the point I was going to make: keep vs keeping, is like an order vs a positional statement. 'Keeping' is not loud, not forcing its point, it just lets folks know what we are all about. And what we are all about is we are Old Skool , and true to ourselves, we are keeping it Classic.
@Retro In the case of Capital Radio's 'Keep it Capital', "keep" is more appropriate. Like, hey, I am Radio, listen to me!
But we are old skool, we keep it classic, and we don't shout about it.

Did I give the impression I like Keeping it Classic ?