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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Hello, My Name is Awesome summary
Alexandra Watkins
How to Create Brand Names That Stick
11 mins
Brief summary
'Hello, My Name Is Awesome' by Alexandra Watkins explains the importance of a great brand name. From finding a unique and memorable name to avoiding common pitfalls, this book offers practical advice for creating a brand name that people will love and remember.
Table of Contents
Hello, My Name is Awesome
Summary of 4 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 4
To leave a great first impression, ensure your brand name is super “sticky” and makes people smile.
Do you remember the first time you heard of a website called Facebook? What was your immediate impression? Did the name make it sound like a hip place to be?
Chances are, the answer is yes. And that’s exactly how it should be: a good name should create positive, brand-aligned associations without being difficult to understand. The name Facebook, for instance, instantly conjures up thoughts of people connecting.
Flickr is a more challenging brand name. Even though it’s a successful company, this photo-sharing platform has long struggled simply because people don’t know what its name stands for. You definitely don’t want people drawing a blank when they hear your name.
That’s why, in order to discover the perfect name for your company, you should follow a conceptual approach captured by the acronym SMILE. It stands for:
Suggestive: Amazon is a great name because it implies that the retailer carries everything from A to Z, and is massive like its namesake river. If the company had initially been called Bookshop.com, it probably would have followed a very different path.
Meaningful: to convey meaning to potential customers, don’t name your company after yourself, since strangers don’t associate anything with your name.
Imaginary: an evocative, visual name is hugely powerful. Think of Timberland, which suggests woods and outdoorsiness. This was exactly the effect intended by the founders.
Legs: choose names that create space for wordplay. Ben & Jerry’s is masterful at doing this with its ice cream flavors: think Chunky Monkey and Half Baked. Choose fun, playful names people might even want to see printed on a T-shirt.
And finally, a recent Fast Company article showed that 50 percent of every business is driven by emotion. For instance, just think of the fragrance, Obsession.
Above all, making people smile when they see your name is key. Because as we’ll see in the upcoming blink, you definitely don’t want to leave anyone scratching their head.
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What is Hello, My Name is Awesome about?
Hello, My Name is Awesome (2014) is about the most important decision a new business faces: choosing a brand name that will launch the company into the stratosphere where it belongs. You might think picking a name is straightforward, but you have a lot to learn! This is your guide to negotiating the snakes and ladders of the brand-naming process – and coming out on top.
Hello, My Name is Awesome Review
Hello, My Name is Awesome (2014) by Alexandra Watkins is a must-read for anyone looking to create a standout brand name with impact. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- Packed with practical tips and strategies, it provides clear guidance on how to come up with a memorable and effective brand name.
- By sharing real-world case studies and anecdotes, the book illustrates the importance of a great name and how it can differentiate a business from its competitors.
- With its entertaining and relatable storytelling, the book keeps readers engaged, making the topic of brand naming fascinating and far from boring.
Who should read Hello, My Name is Awesome?
- Anyone who’s trying to come up with a great brand name
- Anyone who wants to better understand branding
- Business owners who suspect that their company name may be alienating potential customers
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Hello, My Name is Awesome FAQs
What is the main message of Hello, My Name is Awesome?
The main message of Hello, My Name is Awesome is the importance of an awesome and memorable name for your brand.
How long does it take to read Hello, My Name is Awesome?
The reading time for Hello, My Name is Awesome varies depending on the reader's speed, but it typically takes several hours. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Hello, My Name is Awesome a good book? Is it worth reading?
Hello, My Name is Awesome is worth reading because it provides practical insights and tips for creating a remarkable brand name.
Who is the author of Hello, My Name is Awesome?
The author of Hello, My Name is Awesome is Alexandra Watkins.
What to read after Hello, My Name is Awesome?
If you're wondering what to read next after Hello, My Name is Awesome, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The Brand Gap by Marty Neumeier
- The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding by Al Ries and Laura Ries
- Disruptive Branding by Jacob Benbunan
- Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman
- What Great Brands Do by Denise Lee Yohn
- Phaedo by Plato
- The First Minute by Chris Fenning
- Good Judgment by Richard Davis
- Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
- The 12-Week MBA by Nathan Kracklauer & Bjorn Billhardt