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Tim Ferriss' first book was definitely not revolutionary. Essentially, it was intended to share with readers a few tricks he had learned to become more productive and effective and how they could adopt his strategies and do the same. His key takeaway was that by outsourcing some basic tasks, one could get a lot more done.
Again, not a radical or insanely innovative idea.
But was innovative was how he came to name the book. Ferriss came up with a few names he liked and decided he would poll his tribe--which wasn't big at the time--to get their take. He posted a poll on his website and engaged with his social media followers asking folks which name they liked the best. The winner was not the one he preferred, but because it was so much more popular than the runner-ups, he went with it. And you can bet he was glad he did.
The name they liked was The 4-Hour Workweek (Harmony, 2009).
A career and brand was born.
The fact is, choosing a name for your business or product is a crucial decision. Choose a good one and people will like it and remember it. Choose a bland, boring or forgettable one and, well, they won't.
When it comes to naming your business or product, there are essentially three main approaches you can take:
This is the method that Tim Ferris chose for naming his book. Here, you would come up with and pick a name that clearly and quickly communicates the benefits of your business or product. Hey, who doesn't want to work 4 hours, right? Similar examples include 30-Second Outdoor Cleaner, Baja Fresh, Jiffy Lube, In 'N' Out Burger, and Quickee Mart. The advantage here is that the name itself conveys what the business is about and why someone would choose it.
Here, you would choose a name that stands out because it is unique, even if it doesn't directly convey what your business does. Think Yahoo, Google, IKEA, and Xerox. While these names may not immediately reveal the nature of the business, they are distinctive. That said, the challenge with this option is that without a massive marketing budget, getting people to remember your odd business name is next to impossible, and then all you end up with is ... a business with a weird name.
This approach involves going for your basic, boring name: Metro Appliance or Hester and Sons. This option might work if your business has a strong local presence or if it's based on a family name with established trust. But, absent those, in today's competitive landscape, where businesses are vying for attention both online and off, opting for a plain name is usually not a great choice.
The actual process of coming up with a memorable, benefits-laden business or product name is not all that difficult.
Step 1. Brainstorm: Start by making a list of the benefits of your business or product. What are its key features, and its Unique selling proposition?
Don't censor any ideas. Try doing some word association exercises, where you jot down a word that captures the essence of your business and note the words that immediately come to mind. This can help unearth words and phrases that might otherwise not be obvious.
Then, combine the best words to come up with some possible names. Be creative and expansive. This is step one in the Ferris method.
Step 2. Narrow it down: Once you have a list of potential names, narrow down your list to the best few names. Focus on the ones that align most closely with your desired brand.
Step 3. Get feedback: Now it's time to go to the second part of the Ferriss method and get some feedback. Speak with friends and colleagues. Go online and talk to your social media tribe. Create an online poll--platforms like Survey Monkey make this easy. This process of gathering opinions from a wide audience will give you insights and feedback you might not have anticipated.
In the end, you should have a valuable, interesting, memorable, and unique name that can make a difference.
Just ask Tim Ferriss.
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Naming a Business or Product? The Two-Step Tim Ferriss Method Can Make It Unforgettable
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12.12.2023
Becoming a Voice of Choice for Women
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Harry's Handsome Contribution to Men's Mental Health
How This Startup Went Viral on TikTok After Accepting Only Beans as Currency
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How Jennifer Garner Teamed Up With an Organics Star to Tackle the 'Every Mom' Problem of Easy, Fresh Kids' Foods
Tim Ferriss' first book was definitely not revolutionary. Essentially, it was intended to share with readers a few tricks he had learned to become more productive and effective and how they could adopt his strategies and do the same. His key takeaway was that by outsourcing some basic tasks, one could get a lot more done.
Again, not a radical or insanely innovative idea.
But was innovative was how he came to name the book. Ferriss came up with a few names he liked and decided he would poll his tribe--which wasn't big at the time--to get their take. He posted a poll on his website and........
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