[14 PRO] Tips for Choosing a Business Name

Finding the correct name for your business may make or break your success. A bad name may cause more than just a failure to connect with clients; it can also result in overwhelming economic and legal obstacles. Conversely, a clear, mighty name may greatly benefit your marketing and branding efforts.

Here are 13 ideas to help you come up with a catchy name for your company:

1 Avoid hard-to-spell names

You don’t want potential clients to be confused about how to discover your company online. (I’ve never understood why the photo-sharing site was called “Flickr.”) You don’t want to be constantly correcting the misspelled form of your name. Maintain simplicity.

2 Don’t pick a name that could be limiting as your business grows.

Choosing a name that is too specific may bring complications later on. Consider what might have happened if Jeff Bezos had chosen the name “OnlineBooks” instead of “Amazon.” So names like “Wedding Dresses of San Francisco” or “LugNuts Unlimited” should be avoided. You don’t want to confine your business to a single product or city.

3 Keep things Straightforward

Make sure your business name isn’t too lengthy or difficult to remember. Keep in mind that the name of your organization should be appealing to your customers. It should have a nice, familiar tone and inspire positive feelings. It should also be easy to speak and recall.

Consider the name Zippil, which is not only hard to say but also mysterious. If you have to explain your company’s name, it’s generally not a good sign. It’s okay to be clever, but don’t go overboard.

4 Don’t try to be like your Competitors

Choose a business name that isn’t too similar to the names of other firms in your industry. It might make you look unoriginal, which is terrible for your brand’s reputation. It might also mean that potential clients mistake your firm for one of your competitors, making it more difficult to acquire repeat business.

5 Do not use your name

Unless you have a well-established brand, avoid using your name. The name of your firm says nothing about it and is meaningless to potential consumers. This might cause problems if you ever wish to sell or expand your company.

However, there are a few situations where adding the owner’s name to the brand name may be advantageous. Two examples are Automattic (named after its creator, Matt) and PageRank (named after Google co-founder Larry Page). PageRank, on the other hand, is a corporate name, not an algorithm.

6 Pick a name that can grow with you

Choose a company name that will help you build your firm. If you simply offer books, you may ultimately branch out to add stationery and accessories. Furthermore, if your service is headquartered in one place, you may branch out to other cities. As a consequence, choose a broad name or a company that will allow you to grow in the future.

7 Double-check That You Have a Connected Domain

After you’ve narrowed down your options, double-check that the name you choose is still available. Check to verify whether the name has already been trademarked or owned by another firm. If you want to establish an online presence, which you should, you should check the availability of the chosen domain name.

A domain name may influence your internet visibility and marketing efforts. However, just because an exact domain name isn’t available doesn’t mean you should throw away a great business name. You should also think about the following:

Consider acquiring it if it is a parked domain. A search-friendly, memorable domain will almost probably cost you money, but it is well worth it.

Name modifiers should be added. Assume your company is called Sleepytime and you sell pyjamas, but the domain name sleeptime.com is already in use. Then look for domains like sleeptimeonline.com or sleeptimepyjamas.com.

When selecting a domain, use your imagination. To make their URLs more memorable, businesses today use a variety of top-level domains. For example, Pistachio picked the domain postach.io for their blogging platform. They chose a ccTLD (.io) as a logical extension of their company name. Another well-known example is Del.icio.us.

8 Avoid Acronyms as Much as Possible

Many prominent firms, like IBM and KFC, employ acronyms in their company names. However, acronyms can only confuse your potential clients when you are just starting and trying to build your brand. Furthermore, your company’s acronym is likely to be confused with someone else’s, making it difficult for you to rank in search engines.

9 Determine whether the name is memorable

You don’t want a business name that is too “out there,” but you also don’t want one that is too “boring.” Your workers should be able to confidently declare where they work, and your brand should be well-known to your target audience.

10 Seek Input on the Name

Make a list of 5 or 10 names and run them by friends, family, and coworkers you trust. In addition, collect feedback from your intended audience. Also, ensure that the firm name does not have any negative connotations (for example, when GM titled their new automotive model the “Nova” without realizing the term meant “doesn’t go” in Spanish).

11 Check to See If the Name Sounds Good When Said Out Loud

Some names appear OK on paper, but when said aloud, they sound dreadful. If you’re going to say it out, make sure everyone knows how to spell it.

12 Make Use Of the Resources to Come Up With Unique Business Name Ideas

Various websites may help you come up with a good business name, including:

VisualThesaurus.com is a website with a visual dictionary (which gives you a visual around a keyword)

Shopify’s Business Name Generator (generates ideas for business name and checks domain availability simultaneously)

NameMesh.com is a website that allows you to search for a name (provides a startup company name generator)

Naminum.com is a website that gives information on Naminum (allows you to generate names based on a theme)

13 Double-check That the Name You’ve Chosen is Something You Like

As a business owner, you’ll have to live with your company name for a long time, so be sure you like it and feel it will appeal to your consumers. Take your time and be sure to do it perfectly the first time.

Picking a name for your new business might be challenging, but it’s nothing to worry about! Remember to ask friends, family, and even future clients for comments and recommendations. Getting a few other opinions is usually a good idea.

A company name is only the first step in developing a brand. Even if your organization provides a good first impression, it is up to you to meet customer expectations and propel it to success.