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I've been trying to get people to join "element" but it just makes the whole chat sound awkward "Hey, want to join me on element? compared to "hey, want to join

I've been trying to get people to join "element" but it just makes the whole chat sound awkward "Hey, want to join me on element? compared to "hey, want to join me on riot". Element just doesn't have the same ring and sounds less exciting and dull. It's not even listed in search engines, especially DDG, so I then have to give them the URL which adds to the awkwardness. It was a bad move in my opinion. Sure sure, the old name had an conversational stance but it at least it had a flow. riot.im still sounds much better then element.io Anyway, with that aside. Thank you guys for creating something that works. It needs some polishing but I had my first voice call and to my surprised it just worked for both of us. I still get a few confused moments with the UX from my mother like where's the enter button, and why do I need to enter so many passwords but other than that it is a charm.

rvz 6y ago
Every time 'Element' (The Matrix chat app) gets a mention, it resorts into questioning the name or a disambiguation. The technology, product and pricing with the deals they are making with multiple governments and businesses is an excellent source of revenue and is very competitive at striking those deals. However the genericness of the name will be a problem with non-technical users and will always be an issue with Element which is a problem the parent has highlighted. The SEO on the name is terrible and doesn't come up on Google, Bing or DDG. The fustrating part? They were so close on deciding to rebrand everything and have ruined it on the name (for now). It's not too late though. I guess they will have rename Element again in order to expand into becoming a true WhatsApp alternative mindshare-wise. Right now the name is quite frankly unappealing, but everything else is the gold standard.
- Arathorn 6y ago
  Folks, it's been like 3 weeks since we renamed Riot as Element, and (picking DDG) it's already the 18th hit from the top. Riot was 4th at the point we renamed it (second only to RG). Meanwhile it's already the top hit on the Play Store. So give it a few more weeks :) In terms of the name itself, I personally think "Let's talk on Element" is at least as catchy as "Let's talk on Riot", although it's touching to see folks missing the name Riot.
  - TedDoesntTalk 6y ago
    Because “Let’s talk on zoom” is any better? :)
    - jazzyjackson 6y ago
      it has fewer syllables going for it
    - toofy 6y ago
      zoom has already become a verb. honestly, i was aok with riot as a name being a barrier to entry, i’m fully convinced at this point that barriers to entry somewhat mitigate against eternal september and the toxicity which follows with it. take irc, while it certainly has toxicity issues, the esoteric nature kept the worst away. so even if element, as a name, adds to keeping it low enough profile to keep it from becoming a verb–i know many will disagree (particularly the devs (sorry Arathorn))–im fine with that. i hope we can find that magic balance where it’s a fundamental project which will bring in funding and people power, but not so fundamental that everyone’s toxic aunt and uncle uses it as a verb.
      - fishmaster 6y ago
        I don't quite understand this need to make everything into a verb that americans seem to have. "Let's zoom", really? In germany it's just "let's write in WhatsApp/Telegram/Facebook/Signal/etc.".
  - lancesells 6y ago
    You've got my vote. This is the first time I've heard of either product and to me Element sounds closer to something I would check out than Riot. I really like the philosophy behind the project and I will check it out. I would, however, recommend maybe marketing it in a different way. Let's say Slack added every single one of these features on the Element home page. My guess is they wouldn't market any of these same features on the home page because they really aren't what you use the app for (which I take it is messaging). While I agree that Element seems much better than Slack in what makes it unique there's nothing telling me that's it's easier to use than Slack. There's really even nothing telling me it's even easy to use, or fun to use, or will help me communicate better with my team.
- giancarlostoro 6y ago
  Curious if just buying ads in search engines would help raise the rankings? Not sure if Google eventually raises your rankings when your link is clicked on more due to ads but I assume the more people visit specific search results the higher up it goes.
- bryanrasmussen 6y ago
  Element sounds cool, relaxed Riot sounds hot, aggressive
IgorPartola 6y ago
It’s a terrible name. I have forgotten it three times already since they’ve changed it and I was actually trying to pay attention to their project. And just now reading about it, it took me a minute to remember what Element was referring to. It’s not too late, change it again! Pick any element that’s easy to spell off the periodic table and go with that: Vanadium, Thorium, Boron, hell even Helium. Or go with a conductive one since it’s about communication: Copper! Or try something random: Gregarious, Rune, Radio Moskva, Ricochet, Lore, Franko, Mayham, Rockodial. Whatever, just not Element.
- Whiteshadow12 6y ago
  Those are really good names, not just for Riot/Element but for other products or features.
  - IgorPartola 6y ago
    Feel free to use them. If you do, I’d love to know about it but not required.
- fishmaster 6y ago
  I think I'd like Cloak for a secure messenger. Or Cape. I don't know, I find Element very generic.
  - IgorPartola 6y ago
    Caper!
self_awareness 6y ago
From the perspective of a person that has never used Riot nor Element, and didn't mention any name in any conversation ever, I'd say that the excitement and non-dullness come from your preference, not from the name itself. Do any of these names have excitement? WhatsApp, WeChat, Jabber, Signal? I think not ;)
vbezhenar 6y ago
Isn’t it more appropriate to say “join me on matrix”? Element is just one of the clients.
- fishmaster 6y ago
  But for non-tech users you have to mention an app they can install to message you. Then we're back to Element.

rvz 6y ago

Every time 'Element' (The Matrix chat app) gets a mention, it resorts into questioning the name or a disambiguation. The technology, product and pricing with the deals they are making with multiple governments and businesses is an excellent source of revenue and is very competitive at striking those deals. However the genericness of the name will be a problem with non-technical users and will always be an issue with Element which is a problem the parent has highlighted. The SEO on the name is terrible and doesn't come up on Google, Bing or DDG. The fustrating part? They were so close on deciding to rebrand everything and have ruined it on the name (for now). It's not too late though. I guess they will have rename Element again in order to expand into becoming a true WhatsApp alternative mindshare-wise. Right now the name is quite frankly unappealing, but everything else is the gold standard.

Arathorn 6y ago
Folks, it's been like 3 weeks since we renamed Riot as Element, and (picking DDG) it's already the 18th hit from the top. Riot was 4th at the point we renamed it (second only to RG). Meanwhile it's already the top hit on the Play Store. So give it a few more weeks :) In terms of the name itself, I personally think "Let's talk on Element" is at least as catchy as "Let's talk on Riot", although it's touching to see folks missing the name Riot.
- TedDoesntTalk 6y ago
  Because “Let’s talk on zoom” is any better? :)
  - jazzyjackson 6y ago
    it has fewer syllables going for it
  - toofy 6y ago
    zoom has already become a verb. honestly, i was aok with riot as a name being a barrier to entry, i’m fully convinced at this point that barriers to entry somewhat mitigate against eternal september and the toxicity which follows with it. take irc, while it certainly has toxicity issues, the esoteric nature kept the worst away. so even if element, as a name, adds to keeping it low enough profile to keep it from becoming a verb–i know many will disagree (particularly the devs (sorry Arathorn))–im fine with that. i hope we can find that magic balance where it’s a fundamental project which will bring in funding and people power, but not so fundamental that everyone’s toxic aunt and uncle uses it as a verb.
    - fishmaster 6y ago
      I don't quite understand this need to make everything into a verb that americans seem to have. "Let's zoom", really? In germany it's just "let's write in WhatsApp/Telegram/Facebook/Signal/etc.".
- lancesells 6y ago
  You've got my vote. This is the first time I've heard of either product and to me Element sounds closer to something I would check out than Riot. I really like the philosophy behind the project and I will check it out. I would, however, recommend maybe marketing it in a different way. Let's say Slack added every single one of these features on the Element home page. My guess is they wouldn't market any of these same features on the home page because they really aren't what you use the app for (which I take it is messaging). While I agree that Element seems much better than Slack in what makes it unique there's nothing telling me that's it's easier to use than Slack. There's really even nothing telling me it's even easy to use, or fun to use, or will help me communicate better with my team.
giancarlostoro 6y ago
Curious if just buying ads in search engines would help raise the rankings? Not sure if Google eventually raises your rankings when your link is clicked on more due to ads but I assume the more people visit specific search results the higher up it goes.
bryanrasmussen 6y ago
Element sounds cool, relaxed Riot sounds hot, aggressive

IgorPartola 6y ago

It’s a terrible name. I have forgotten it three times already since they’ve changed it and I was actually trying to pay attention to their project. And just now reading about it, it took me a minute to remember what Element was referring to. It’s not too late, change it again! Pick any element that’s easy to spell off the periodic table and go with that: Vanadium, Thorium, Boron, hell even Helium. Or go with a conductive one since it’s about communication: Copper! Or try something random: Gregarious, Rune, Radio Moskva, Ricochet, Lore, Franko, Mayham, Rockodial. Whatever, just not Element.

Whiteshadow12 6y ago
Those are really good names, not just for Riot/Element but for other products or features.
- IgorPartola 6y ago
  Feel free to use them. If you do, I’d love to know about it but not required.
fishmaster 6y ago
I think I'd like Cloak for a secure messenger. Or Cape. I don't know, I find Element very generic.
- IgorPartola 6y ago
  Caper!

self_awareness 6y ago

From the perspective of a person that has never used Riot nor Element, and didn't mention any name in any conversation ever, I'd say that the excitement and non-dullness come from your preference, not from the name itself. Do any of these names have excitement? WhatsApp, WeChat, Jabber, Signal? I think not ;)

vbezhenar 6y ago

Isn’t it more appropriate to say “join me on matrix”? Element is just one of the clients.

fishmaster 6y ago
But for non-tech users you have to mention an app they can install to message you. Then we're back to Element.