Naming your business is one of the most essential aspects of company branding.
With so many businesses popping up each year, it’s more challenging to create a name that stands out and represents your company the way you want it to.
If you’re struggling to find the proper names for your businesses, here are some tips to help you out.
Be Original and Unique
Don’t just try to copy someone else’s idea and hope they don’t notice. If someone else has already used it, you’ll have trouble trademarking it and may run into legal issues down the road when someone else also tries to use it.
Your company name should be unique, so it doesn’t sound like other companies or brands in your industry. Look at all the other businesses in your field and make sure yours doesn’t sound like theirs.
You can try using Google AdWords’ Keyword Tool or other phrase generation tools, but don’t just take their word for it — check with someone who knows about branding for advice on whether your name is unique enough or if there’s any potential for confusion with other brands in the market.
Be Appropriate
A business is a lot like a person. Just as people have names, so do businesses. And just as people have personalities, so do businesses.
When you’re naming your business, make sure that your name has relevance to what you do and how you do it.
The name of your business should reflect the personality of your company and the products and services you offer. It should also be appropriate for your industry.
If the name doesn’t make sense or isn’t clear, then customers won’t know what they’re getting into when they come to you.
Be Short and Simple
Keep it short and simple when naming your business so people can easily remember and say it.
Keep in mind that your customers will have to remember it, so it should be easy to pronounce and spell. Avoid long names that can be confusing and difficult to remember.
Be Memorable
The best names are easy to remember. You want a name that sticks in people’s minds so they can easily recall it when looking for your product or service.
The most successful brands are easy to remember, like Google, Apple and Coca-Cola.
Be Timeless
Avoid trendy names that will quickly become dated. Think of how many companies have come and gone because they tried to create a new fad or get in on a trend.
Think of companies like Kodak, Xerox, and Starbucks — these names have stood the test of time.
Be a Storyteller
Whether you’re naming a new business or rebranding an existing one, think about how you want people to feel about your company when they hear it or see it for the first time.
To get started, ask yourself these questions:
- What’s my company’s mission?
- What problem am I trying to solve?
- What value do I provide?
- How does that translate into what I do every day?
- What kind of person am I?
- Would I want you to work for me?
- Would I want my friends and family members to work for me?
- How do I want people to feel when they interact with my brand?
A business name makes the first impression
Naming your business is essential to creating a brand and making it successful.
Whatever you do with your business name, the main thing that matters is that it reflects the type of services you offer and catches the eye of customers.
A good slogan will emphasize the business’s primary offering and make a company memorable.
And when it comes down to it, choosing the right name isn’t about picking a name out of a hat—or naming yourself after a pet or spouse—but about creating an identity for your business that your customers can associate with right off the bat.
It’s no easy task to come up with a name, but if you consider these points, you can make sure that it is working hard to bring people in.
