What's In a Name?

You’d be amazed how much time business owners spend naming their products and services.  Really, you have no idea.  I own a yoga studio and have to name classes and workshops, but I imagine it’s the same for restaurants naming their dishes, salons and spas naming their assortment of services, and daycares naming their classrooms and camps. 

 The name must be perfect.  It must at once be supremely descriptive of the product AND be incredibly clever, creative, and inspiring.  It cannot be intimidating, but must offer the right amount of intrigue and challenge to the customer.  Under no circumstances can it be confusing and never ever offensive to anyone.  Ideally it will rhyme or play to our (or is it just my) alliteration addiction.

At Valley Vinyasa, we recently conducted a survey and asked all of our students to provide feedback on everything from class times to class levels and more.  We got some feedback that people were looking for classes offering a bit more of an intense workout, and we responded with a rapid round of brainstorming to come up with the consummate name, guaranteed to bring students from far and wide flocking to class.

Power Hour.  “It’s perfect!” I exclaimed.  It rhymes, for starters.  And talk about descriptive...the class is actually an hour long.  And powerful to boot.  I could barely contain my excitement as I added two Power Hour classes to our schedule (6:15pm on Thursdays and 4:00pm on Saturdays, in case you’re interested).  And then...ruh roh!  Turns out people were in fact intrigued, but maybe just a teensy weensy bit intimidated.  Would it be too advanced?  Would they be made to look foolish? Would the class really be an hour? “No! No! Yes!” I now exclaimed, hastening to fill their minds with all of the information the name was now so obviously failing to convey. “Read the class description,” I begged (as if).”Just come try it,” “Don’t be afraid,” “Be adventuresome,” “Like my name,” “Pretty please!”

My bottom line on names is this: ignore them, try the crazy-sounding chicken dish, sign up for the massage with the funny name, and give the over-the-top exercise class a try.  Don't let labels or names slow you down, just get in there and give ALL of it a whirl.

Namaste.