Every couple of years our dictionary expands with new words. Google, Twitter, Tweet, I could go on with the list but I will spare you the torment.

These are phrases or words born out of new Internet technology. Once the new words are revealed, new words to describe the new words have to be created. Confused? Think about Twitter. Every time you create a post in Twitter you create a Tweet. And what is Twitter? It is a micro-blogging platform. Suddenly 3 new words in the English language have been created.

The Internet is a place where anything is possible and the names created for some platforms seem to fit this philosophy. In times past, words were created based on their use. For example “forklift”; a machine with fork like arms that lifts equipment. Now the challenge is to create words that describe a virtual space rather than a physical one.

Don’t get me wrong, I think great names have been created that are catchy, quirky and memorable. Companies spend thousands of Euros in researching and testing names that will be popular with users. For instance the new Irish based social networking platform Weedle. They have being experimenting with new words that they hope users will adopt as everyday language. Their platform is based around exhibiting skills and recommending fellow users for their skills. Weedle began by using the phrase “tapping in” to explain the process of recommending a fellow user. They found that this phrase didn’t work so they have now changed it to “wise tribe”. The change was based, according to Weedle, on users not understanding the term.

It is a hard task to find a phrase or word for a business that that will stick in the minds of Internet users. It could make or break a business and be a deciding factor in the popularity of a website.  But most importantly a simple phrase or word could shape the future of our dictionaries. So, think hard!