Product name brainstorming

[Stallion]

I know that a product name can really be a selling point, and I know when it comes to finding one that works, it just comes down to market research. The problem I'm experiencing a monster brainfart and I can't come up with anything.

All I can come is a literal name of what it is like: "how to ..." or "... training"

Does anyone have any exercises that can help get the brain working again, so I can come up with some names?

As well, what do you think is better for a name to start out with? brand like or literal (like "how to do _____")?

I'm not sure where I read it, but if you're going down a niche that hasn't done before, I heard that brand presence was best. (I can't remember where I got that, if it was the book or not).

[blervin]

{Skipping the normal 'introduction phase' for a first post...}

As normally the case, it depends. It depends on your niche, the product itself, your customer base, the competition, your marketing strategy, and the list goes on.

Of course, you just want some general guidelines.

Generally, a brand identity is going to be better than an 'instructional phrase' such as "How to..." Of course, that's far more complex and has far more opportunities for failure.

So, here's what I would suggest doing. Try mindmapping (see Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_map) if you aren't familiar)

Basically, you start with an initial idea, in this case your product. You write it down and draw a circle, box, or whatever around it in the center of a page. Then, start thinking of things related to it, draw a circle around them, and draw a line from the main 'center circle' to these items. Then, think of things related to this, and keep going multiple layers deep.

This will help you to get a huge spectrum of ideas about your product, and may ultimately be used for something far more than just developing a brand name, possibly improving the product or adding a companion product.

Now, here's the key to all of this, a trick I've found that makes this whole process infinitely more effective. Rather than limiting yourself to sheet of paper--no matter how big the paper is--free yourself from the limitations of a page.

What I'll do is take a large (preferably white) wall without anything hanging on it and use this as my 'canvas' for mind mapping. Then, just get a few pads of post-it notes in different colors, using one color for each 'layer' of the mind map. Also, in case you only have five colors, for example, but get into the sixth or seventh layers (and beyond) then just reuse the colors but draw a pattern on the color, like several diagonal lines.

It's best if you can leave this up for several days or longer and come back to it several times and watch this thing evolve. Really, it's a lot of fun and it is extremely helpful.

Give it a shot and let us know how it works for you...

[Marcie]

Also, try the yerba mate tea Tim credits to helping him write 4HWW, after finding the time of day you pinpoint to be your most productive :) Make an honest effort to figure out when your brain is "on fire" and go with it...

Then, you have to do testing, as described in the book. Something you may think is an awesome name may not make sense to others...testing is paramount.

And welcome to blervin!

[webgal]

I want to try that yerba mate tea but so far I've not had very good results with green tea, black tea or coffee. But maybe if I start with a little. (I know my reactions are bizarre and not mainstream.)

[Stallion]

Great advice everyone. I'm going to give this some of this a try, especially the mind map.

[Marcie]

I want to try that yerba mate tea but so far I've not had very good results with green tea, black tea or coffee. But maybe if I start with a little. (I know my reactions are bizarre and not mainstream.)

I don't do well with most caffeine products, it gives me a "racy-heart" thing. Yerba Mate doesn't - it's a nice alertness without any other - jittery. But some people like jittery, I hear :)

[Workin4DaMan]

You could always try Tim's product, Brainquicken (http://brainquicken.com/), & then give us a report on how well it worked (or didn't) for you! :)

[webgal]

I tried yerba mate. It's great. Coffee doesn't make me jittery, it makes me exceptionally tired and very neurologically challenged. Great tea does that, too. Thanks for that reminder. I was sharp as a tack today.