Hello, My Name Is Awesome

What's "Hello, My Name Is Awesome" about?

• Brand Naming Guide: "Hello, My Name Is Awesome" by Alexandra Watkins is a comprehensive guide on creating memorable and effective brand names.
• Practical Advice: The book offers practical advice and strategies for developing brand names that resonate with consumers and stand out in the marketplace.
• SMILE & SCRATCH Test: It introduces the SMILE & SCRATCH test, a method to evaluate the quality of a brand name.
• Real-World Examples: The book is filled with real-world examples and case studies to illustrate successful naming strategies.

Why should I read "Hello, My Name Is Awesome"?

• Improve Naming Skills: If you're involved in branding or marketing, this book will enhance your ability to create impactful brand names.
• Avoid Common Mistakes: It helps you avoid common pitfalls in naming, such as choosing names that are hard to spell or pronounce.
• Engaging and Fun: The book is written in an engaging and humorous style, making it an enjoyable read while being informative.
• Proven Techniques: Learn from Alexandra Watkins' proven techniques and insights from her experience in the naming industry.

What are the key takeaways of "Hello, My Name Is Awesome"?

• SMILE & SCRATCH Test: A brand name should make you smile instead of scratch your head, focusing on qualities like being suggestive, meaningful, and emotional.
• Avoiding Pitfalls: Avoid names that are spelling-challenged, copycat, restrictive, annoying, tame, cursed with insider knowledge, or hard to pronounce.
• Creative Process: The book emphasizes the importance of a structured creative process, including brainstorming and using a creative brief.
• Domain Name Strategies: Offers strategies for securing a good domain name without compromising the brand name's quality.

What is the SMILE & SCRATCH test in "Hello, My Name Is Awesome"?

• SMILE Qualities: SMILE stands for Suggestive, Meaningful, Imagery, Legs, and Emotional—qualities that make a name memorable and effective.
• SCRATCH Sins: SCRATCH stands for Spelling challenged, Copycat, Restrictive, Annoying, Tame, Curse of Knowledge, and Hard to pronounce—traits to avoid in a brand name.
• Objective Evaluation: The test provides an objective framework to evaluate potential brand names.
• Practical Application: It helps ensure that a name will resonate with consumers and avoid common naming pitfalls.

How does Alexandra Watkins suggest brainstorming names in "Hello, My Name Is Awesome"?

• Online Resources: Watkins recommends using online resources like thesauruses, glossaries, and image searches to generate ideas.
• Structured Process: She advocates for a structured brainstorming process, starting with a creative brief and using specific techniques to explore different angles.
• Solo Brainstorming: Emphasizes the effectiveness of individual brainstorming over group sessions to avoid groupthink and encourage creativity.
• Diverse Sources: Encourages looking at diverse sources such as book titles, song lyrics, and idioms for inspiration.

What are some examples of successful brand names mentioned in "Hello, My Name Is Awesome"?

• Spoon Me: A frozen yogurt franchise name that is playful and memorable, appealing to its target audience.
• Neato: A robotic vacuum name that is simple, catchy, and suggests the product's neatness and efficiency.
• Gringo Lingo: A Spanish language school name that is humorous and memorable, appealing to its target market.
• Church of Cupcakes: A bakery name that is quirky and evokes curiosity, making it stand out.

What are the best quotes from "Hello, My Name Is Awesome" and what do they mean?

• "A name should make you smile instead of scratch your head." This quote encapsulates the book's philosophy that a brand name should be intuitive and evoke positive emotions.
• "Consumers don’t fall in love with brand names created by scientific processes." Highlights the importance of emotional connection over technical or overly complex naming strategies.
• "The most powerful brand names connect with people and move them to buy." Emphasizes the need for brand names to resonate with consumers on an emotional level to drive sales.
• "A name can’t say everything, but it should suggest something about your brand." Suggests that while a name can't convey every aspect of a brand, it should hint at its essence or value proposition.

How does "Hello, My Name Is Awesome" address the issue of domain names?

• Domain Name Myths: The book dispels the myth that an exact match domain is necessary for success.
• Creative Solutions: Offers creative solutions like adding modifier words or using catchy phrases to secure a domain name.
• Alternative Extensions: Suggests considering alternative domain extensions like .net or .biz if .com is unavailable.
• Focus on Brand Name: Emphasizes that the quality of the brand name should not be compromised for the sake of a domain name.

What is the role of a creative brief in the naming process according to "Hello, My Name Is Awesome"?

• Foundation for Naming: A creative brief serves as the foundation for the naming process, outlining the brand's goals, target audience, and desired positioning.
• Guides Brainstorming: It guides the brainstorming process by providing a clear direction and criteria for evaluating names.
• Ensures Alignment: Helps ensure that all stakeholders are aligned on the brand's vision and objectives before naming begins.
• Prevents Missteps: By clearly defining what the brand stands for, a creative brief helps prevent missteps and ensures the name aligns with the brand's identity.

How does "Hello, My Name Is Awesome" suggest handling name changes?

• Pros of Changing: Highlights the benefits of changing a name, such as refreshing the brand and eliminating the need to explain a difficult name.
• Cons of Changing: Acknowledges the potential downsides, including emotional attachment and the cost of rebranding.
• Successful Examples: Provides examples of successful name changes to illustrate the potential positive impact.
• Communication Strategy: Emphasizes the importance of a communication strategy to inform customers and stakeholders about the change.

What are some common naming pitfalls to avoid according to "Hello, My Name Is Awesome"?

• Spelling Challenges: Avoid names that are difficult to spell or require constant explanation.
• Copycat Names: Steer clear of names that mimic competitors, as they lack originality and can lead to legal issues.
• Restrictive Names: Avoid names that limit future growth or pigeonhole the brand.
• Annoying or Tame Names: Stay away from names that are forced, flat, or uninspired, as they fail to engage consumers.

How does "Hello, My Name Is Awesome" suggest evaluating potential brand names?

• Objective Criteria: Use the SMILE & SCRATCH test to objectively evaluate potential names based on specific criteria.
• Independent Review: Encourage independent review of names by decision-makers to avoid groupthink and ensure diverse opinions are considered.
• Focus on Positives: Focus on what works about a name rather than negative aspects to build consensus.
• Avoid External Opinions: Discourage seeking opinions from outsiders or focus groups, as they may not understand the brand's vision or objectives.