What is in a name?
October 21st, 2008 | Published in appschool2008 | 6 Comments
It turns out picking a name isn’t as easy as I thought it might be for tha AppSchool project. I started off with 5tings.com. There is the obvious problems that this can be confused with 5things.com which has some german dude spouting on about something. Then Paul pointed out that it reads like ‘Strings’ – which I’m not entirely sure is a bad idea. Maybe ‘Stings’ is what the cool kids are calling some unmentionable body part or newfangled narcotic. I was too shy to ask. Anyway 5tings is out. So that leaves me with a conundrum.
What exactly is the the core benefit? There are two competing. The first is the ‘5 a day’ concept which is pretty powerful but maybe not that obvious unless you have tried it. The other approach is to focus on the peer-pressure element or what the guys described as ‘Hawthorn Effect’. The short-termism of the Hawthorn Effect isn’t exactly what I’d like to promote. We’ve found the technique to have a longer term benefit although it enthusiasm tends to come in waves. TaskForceI’m digressing. Perhaps this is why I don’t write a regular blog. Anyway – now I’m on to playing with ‘peer’ or ‘peering’ as a pun on the fact that the system let yous peer at your peers tasks. I have a terrible weakness for puns. I must fight against it. Other than that we’ve had Tick 5, 5-a-side, Task Team, Task Inc., Millenarian (the word refers to a thousand, so a thousand tasks a year)…. but also kind of sounds like millionaire), Quintet, Penta-gone (boom boom!), Happy Days, simple day planner, Cinch, No sweat task list, Self Govern, Hit List, High Five, tag team, the bare maximum, less/more <> (work less, get more done), and slim list. I’m whelmed.
October 21st, 2008 at 11:22 pm (#)
fiveticks
5tasks
justfiveticks
?
October 22nd, 2008 at 6:42 am (#)
Hey Jamie
Thanks for those. Good to hear from you again
I’m very juxtaposed. Over at http://www.contrast.ie/blog/app-school-5-things-a-day/#more-170 – there was comment on the fact that the peer element might work best. So I added peer.ie to my list. This might work well for coaches who get a domain name like actioncoach.peer.ie.
J
October 22nd, 2008 at 9:17 am (#)
Hi,
Ive just finished reading Marty Neumeier’s ‘The Brand Gap’.
His 7 criteria for a good name are as follows:
Distinctiveness; does it stand out from the crowd?
Brevity; Is it short enough to be easily recalled and used?
Appropriateness; Is there a resonable fit with the business purpose of the entity? If it would work just as well for another entity, keep looking.
Easy spelling and pronunciation; Can people spell it after hearing it? Can they pronounce it after seeing it?
Likability; Will people enjoy saying it? Does it have a good ‘mouth feel’?
Extendability; does it have ‘legs’? Can it lend itself to a number of creative executions?
Protectability; Can it be trademarked? Is it available?
I hope this helps.
PS: I voted for tickfive.
October 22nd, 2008 at 12:50 pm (#)
Interesting stuff. There seems to be a battle between what is descriptive and what grabs attention. Polldaddy is in the news these days a fair bit and they managed to allow you to see ‘a’ link to what they did while coming up with a attention grabbing name. I like ‘ticktacular’ best for how it feels to say but it is a wee bit cutsey and might date easily enough.
Tickfive is descriptive but I’m not sure if it stands out IMHO.
November 6th, 2008 at 3:18 pm (#)
I like the idea, I think with working for yourself accountability is the hardest thing. I don’t know if I’d email a friend to tell them the tasks, I think I’d prefer an annonymous task master!
Great concept. Have been avoiding my own 5 tasks and thinking of names for you guys! Here’s a few:
What about By5 or http://www.x5.com
This one is a bit out there but Cinco (en espanol) or spell it ‘Thinko’
FivetoFinish
FastTasks
QuickTicks
Good luck!
Eileen
November 12th, 2008 at 2:25 pm (#)
Hey Eileen
Thanks for those – I only just noticed your comment now (not very good blog keeping on my part). As it happens we’ve gone for a pretty neutral name (taskfive.com). There are a few challenges to get around on the project but I plan on updating soon with more information from the front line.