How do brand names differ from other names, and what goes into making a good name great and a bad name ghastly? Knowing this can spell the difference between bankruptcy and marketplace triumph. In this indispensable guide, the authors share the secrets of successful brand names-how they've indelibly stamped cultures around the world; who makes them; why they're made; and how they're compiled, bought, sold, and protected. The book outlines what kind of names exist-the initialized, descriptive, allusive, and coined. How namers surf on brainwaves. The do's, don'ts, and nevers of naming, how the structure of names is built from the ground up and how their sounds are engineered. Why names symbolize benefits. Where in the world brands may be found, and what will become of them. Fast-paced, illustration-packed, gazing at the past and probing into the future, this is the definitive book on naming. The Making of A Name is the one book anyone interested in "owned words" must have. "Right now, all over America, millions of freelancers are starting companies, inventing products and marketing their services. Whether they're laid-off dot-com kids or unfulfilled Boomers, they have one thing in common-they all need names. Sadly for them, there's no book on the market that lays out the process. Rivkin and Sutherland's book will fill that gap. It's packed with useful 'how to' as well as tales both inspiring and cautionary: back-stories on the brand names we know-and why we love or hate them." -Laurie Pollock, formerly Senior Partner, Planning Director at Ogilvy & Mather Advertising in New York

The book that completes "Positioning" . . .

Thirty years ago, Jack Trout and Al Ries published their classic bestseller, "Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind"--a book that revolutionized the world of marketing. But times have changed. Competition is fiercer. Consumers are savvier. Communications are faster. And once-successful companies are in crisis mode.

"Repositioning" shows you how to adapt, compete--and succeed--in today's overcrowded marketplace. Global marketing expert Jack Trout has retooled his most effective positioning strategies--providing a must-have arsenal of proven marketing techniques specifically redesigned for our current climate. With "Repositioning," you can conquer the "3 Cs" of business: Competition, Change, and Crisis . . . BEAT THE COMPETITION: Challenge your rivals, differentiate your product, increase your value, and stand out in the crowd. CHANGE WITH THE TIMES: Use the latest technologies, communications, and multimedia resources to connect with your consumers. MANAGE A CRISIS: Cope with everything from profi t losses and rising costs to bad press and PR nightmares.

Even if your company is doing well, these cutting-edge marketing observations can keep you on top of your game and ahead of the pack. You'll discover how expanding product lines may decrease your overall sales, why new brand names often outsell established brands, and why slashing prices is usually a bad idea. You'll learn the dangers of attacking your competitors head-on--and the value of emphasizing value. You'll see how consumers can have too many choices to pick from--and what you can do to make them pick your brand.

Drawing from the latest research studies, consumer statistics, and business-news headlines, Trout reveals the hidden psychological motives that drive today's market. Understanding the mindset of your consumers is half the battle. Winning in today's world is often a matter of repositioning. It's how you rethink the strategies you've always relied on. It's how you regain the success you've worked so hard for. It's how you win the new battle of the mind.