Is CommsCon the new Vegemite renaming disaster? You tell us
So have we done an iSnack 2.0?
If you believe some of the comments following our story yesterday announcing CommsCon then perhaps so.
After we announced the event – which takes place in Sydney on March 14 – not everyone in the comment thread loved the name.
Spagoni asked: “Is it me, or does anyone else see that using the contractions Comms and Con in a conference name about PR just pleading with the world to smack them?”
The Internetz contributed: “Well spotted Spagoni! Too late for a rebrand? Maybe CommsMeet? CommuniCon? ConnectedComms 2013…brainstorm anyone!?”
Good Point added that CommsCon “sounds shifty”.
“Cous cous”, contributed Paul The Freelance Writer.
So, have we got it wrong?
Personally, I don’t think so. When the name was first suggested to me, I really liked it. So did most of our advisory board when we put it to them.
But I bet the good folk of Kraft thought they were on to a winner when they named Vegemite’s new product iSnack 2.0. And you’ll remember just how well that went.
Now clearly we shouldn’t necessarily be too swayed by a three or four comments from the internet. Criticism is always more likely than gushing praise when a name is okay.
And I’m also aware that if a new brand name is not utterly awful then it eventually takes on the attributes you invest in it rather than what you would first think. Mumbrella anyone?
But… We only announced the brand yesterday. We haven’t even finalised a logo. So it’s not too late to change.
So let’s ask the wider Mumbrella audience: Is CommsCon an acceptable name for an industry event and awards for PR and communications professionals?
So we’re going to run a poll of other possible names.
Now sometimes, it’s fun to hijack such polls and try and get everyone to vote for the most terrible name. That’s how NASA nearly ended up having to name a wing of the International Space Station after comedian Stephen Colbert. And remember Greenpeace’s whale Mr Splashy Pants? So to be clear… this isn’t actually democracy. Think of it as more of a consultation than a binding plebiscite.
I gather that some people who read Mumbrella are creative types. Some may even know a thing or two about branding. So we do want to know what you think. So you can have a vote in the poll, or indeed, suggest another name altogether in the comment thread.
The brief:
The event is for people working in the disciplines of: corporate communications, PR, publicity, media relations, internal communications, community management, social media.
Purpose: to create positive change, share knowledge, debate serious issues at a high level. It is highly specialised and intended for mid- to senior practitioners. Pitched somewhere between a workshop and a conference, the intention is an interactive series of sessions with an emphasis on discussion and audience involvement.
Topics to be covered at the event include:
- measurement
- social media and content
- the changing media landscape (journalist relations, the death of mass media changes etc)
- crisis communications in the SM landscape: live crisis simulation
It will be held annually, with the first event on March 14 in Sydney. Following the day’s conference, there will be an awards presentation.
So here’s the poll – it’ll be open for the next 24 hours. What say you?
[SURVEYS 35]
Tim Burrowes
Tim Burrowes founded Mumbrella in 2008. He worked on Mumbrella until 2021. At various points he was editor, content director and editor-at-large. He returned to Mumbrella as Publisher in January 2025
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CommsCon only works if the logo is a scone with the hammer and sickle on it.
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CommuniCon kinda sounds like ‘unicorn’ – which then solves your logo issue.
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Just not ‘Con’ anywhere….not that.
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ConCommyConCon
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I thought it was something commbank was doing!
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Who would have voted for mumbrella at the time? Nobody? But it works. Pick and stick I say.
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Sounds like the name was developed by a bunch of branding folk rather than people from corporate comms, PR, internal comms etc…
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engageorDIE
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This story is just a con to promote the event with new content about a non-existent controversy. Very conniving, hopefully it doesn’t continue. Personally I will not be taking part in your contest.
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I say CommsCon but I hear Comicon. Maybe you need a superhero not a logo to go with this brand.
As for CommuniCon it brings back memories of catholic school.
Step right away from any urge to abbreviate.
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All I hear when I read it is Comic-Con – if Spiderman will be there then I will come.
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Dislike it, not punchy enough. Could refer to a bunch of telcos.
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Comms? I thought they were all hiding under the bed..
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Most of what we do is about creating, joining, or commenting on a conversation. I would be more inclined to go to, and think ti would be cooler, if it was called something like “The Conversation”
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Nominative determinism?
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If there is not a unicorn present on the logo then I’ll go full mental.
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I suppose calling a convention filled with communications/PR reps and community managers a “Decepti-Con” would be right out of the question?
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Lets have an offsite I say. We can go away for a few days, nut out our vision, mission, get really drunk and come up with the same stuff we went in with.
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I agree that the word ‘Con’ needs to be left out of this. Applaude the concept and look forward to attending but…the PR industry is already blamed as its own worst enemy at times so lets not feed it the PR critics quite so easily.
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CommShop. There, I said it.
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I thought it was something to do with the Commonwealth bank as well
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If there’s one thing I’ve learned during my years of marketing, it’s that surveying your target consumners on individual elements of your comms mix, including names, is a disaster – because a survey immediately puts respondents into ‘rational’ mode, and can never capture how the name will be used.
I still think ‘iSnack 2.0’ was brilliant and shame on Kraft for not having the imagination or the guts to persist. Where’s ‘Cheesymite’ today? Is it still on the shelves?
When MLA first used Sam Kekovich, an agency came to us and said they’d proposed him for a similar concept, but it bombed in research and the client killed it. Of course it would have bombed! So the mesage is clear – be brave and back inspired ideas. And don’t let the rationalists derail you.
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The Commfrence.
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I like the name. Don’t understand the uproar.
There’s a process that we go through when developing brands/names – i am sure this is known to the group. Developing brands isn’t a guessing game around a table. It seems this is what’s happend which is why it’s so awful. What a great opportunity – missed. Too late you cry. Never. Fix it or wither. What does the brand stand for? As a PR of many years i really hope you can do better than this.
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The inclusion of ‘con’ perhaps lends itself to an undesirable connotation and may be too close to the bone
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PRom. Afterall, isn’t it just a big show for all the pretty people that did a BBus at uni?
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Just about every channel in the world is now delivered to the consumer via something starting with an ‘i’ so just call the bloody thing iMeet. In the ’00s it would have been eMeet so who knows what the future holds.
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Call it PRaaaahhhCon.
Have posh girls with over the top hair sweeps and killer heels greeting you when you arrive.
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@ Paul the Freelance Writer – Are you the melbourne Paul? The one that perhaps worked around 2006 at M&C (not Taylor)?
If so, wrightoff will mean something to you…TauN.
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CommsUnity
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How about ProCom13?
Unless someone else has it.
* pro = for/in favor of/positive
* pro = professional
* pr = public relations
*com = communications
Dumps ‘con’ which although having an element of truth and transparency is a step too far to my mind, and invites a lot of unneeded negative reaction. Plus it’s a redundant addition to what should be short and snappy, and limits the event to being a ‘con’ ference or ‘con’ vention when it should be much more.
Procom is simple, can be pronounced and spelled [spelt] correctly and more easily – all of which signify professional communications and PR [unless you want something deliberately evasive, obscure and not possibly honest].
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Christ Almighty, Bob, you’re not in the next office AGAIN, are you?
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Comm One Comm All?
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Not again my friend, but probably not far. Back down St Kilda road…
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COMMSFRENCE
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@ David Thomason
If there’s one thing I’ve learned during my years of marketing, it’s to spell consumers correctly. – Sorry, I am just having a play wid ya! 😉
I like the suggestion by Jack Bruce (comment 14): “The Conversation” – fits perfectly, sounds professional and people will want to join it…
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I really thought it’s something Commonwealth bank is behind from the headline…
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I’m with @FourPeas
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what about CC?
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Communications Utilising New Trends – or its acronym.
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Joe McCarthy versus the CommiCons. I’d go and see that.
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I’m so very sorry. I only just made a passing comment and now I’ve inadvertently unleashed a shit storm. I especially loved the Four Peas conspiracy theory. Its like some grassy knoll in conference-land.
I’ve now got a better idea. How about we come up with a really contemporary moniker that reflects where this conversation has landed.
I’ve got it.
Lets call it Silicon!
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The Festival should be called LoveToLoveYouBaby (The lock-up device in the logo should include the shorthand version, L2-LUB-FEST). And each “interactive session” should end with a series of hugs among the participants, where everyone repeats the mantra: LoveToLoveYouBaby.
Or hang on, maybe we should shorten this name as it seems a bit convoluted now. How about LoveFest?
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CPR.
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Project C? CPlus? Or C Org, but the Scientologists might hunt you down… 🙂
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PRICS
= PR Industry and CommS
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@Dave Pro also = prostitute and 13 makes me think of the teenage or unlucky variety rather than the year. Com doesn’t mean anything in the absence of the second m, except .com
ProCom13 = website for teenage prostitutes?!
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Agree with 23 – The Commf(e)rence – brilliant.
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<3 Comms
Tag line could be:
"Because you <3 comm's"
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MumComm.
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@ Mike #47, hahahaha, thanks for the Friday giggle!
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Who gives a flying fuck?
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I’m OK with STET name.
I suggested “SexpoCom” in the survey to get cheap hits, but also I’d go for “mUmBLES”. Or “mUmBLING” – ties it in with the mothership (mUmSHIP).
“Can-and-string”; “ListenUP”, “Path to Enlightenment” all possibles…
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@EE #48
That’s a real stretch of the imagination.
Most people wouldn’t expect 13 yo prostitutes to be holding a conference.
Someone better tell all the organizations and towns that have a PRO staffer!
On the other hand, ! appreciate your blunt honesty about how PR people may be perceived.
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@Dave
Now you’ve opened that can of worms…
“PR” has a particulat meaning in the medical world.
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@John #56
I bite my tongue.
I assume this is a family friendly discussion.
I’m sticking with ProCom13 for 2013, ProCom14 for next year.
In deference to the sensibilities of EE #48, I suppose it could be ProCom13AO to avoid problems with potential under age attendees.
Until ProCom18 that is.
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CommuniConCarne?
Mmmm, now I’m hungry…
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$1000 for the consultancy and I retain ownership of the name,
Ok
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How about Commdon?
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I think it could be Can-U-Comm – clearly, many people get it wrong, so if the conference is about education and best practice, this title suggests you will be able to assess yourself at the end of it. BTW, I have had two glasses of wine and nothing to eat, so if this idea is shit, that’s my excuse!
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Actually isnack 2.0 was not the top choice that bubbled up when KRAFT crowd sourced. Some smarties at KRAFT ignored the crowd and went with another name. Then the tribe spoke!
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Please – Communicon. With this http://trollable.com/i-wish-i-was-a-unicorn-8058/
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