What’s in a name? Much more than you might think, especially when you’re talking about the name of a business. The truth is many entrepreneurs put ample time into planning their online business models, the products they’ll sell, and the marketing strategy they’ll use to reach their customers. However, they approach their would-be business’s name as an afterthought. Don’t make the same mistake with your company. If you are struggling to come up with ideas for online business names check out a website like get.online to get started.
A great name captures your target audience’s attention and refuses to let go. On the other hand, a bad name can cause people to ignore your newborn brand before it even has a chance to get off the ground. Getting your name right is step number one to launching a wildly successful business, so definitely give it the attention it deserves. Here are some tips for making a great choice.
1. How does it sound when you say it out loud?
A business name should be easy to read and simple to remember. It should look good in print and be easy to type into a web browser from memory, as well. However, it also needs to sound good when it’s said aloud. Coca-Cola is a terrific example. The alliteration makes it fun to say and helps it roll off the tongue. It helps that it even sounds a bit like an irresistible carbonated beverage.
Just make sure you don’t go overboard with concepts like alliteration. Keep in mind that people need to be able to pronounce your company name easily. If all goes as planned, they’ll be talking about their products with others, and you don’t want them stumbling over an accidental tongue twister.
2. Will you be able to trademark the name?
Don’t start your new business with a small thinker’s mindset. You want to make sure your new brand can grow, evolve, and – hopefully – become a bona fide household name. The last thing you want is for something silly to get in your way in that regard – like a name that you can’t trademark and truly make your own.
Once you brainstorm a few names you like, look up each possibility on a site like USPTO.gov to see whether it’s been trademarked by someone else or not. Make sure suitable web domains related to the name are also available. If you do wind up with a runaway success on your hands, you’ll be glad you took the time.
3. Does the name have meaning?
It’s not enough for a business’s name to sound good. It needs to mean something, as well. One way to create a name with meaning is to make it specific. When people hear your business’s name, it should be relatively straightforward what industry you’re in and what type of product or service you offer.
Another way to add meaning to a name is to create a direct link to one of your company’s key benefits. What problems does your company’s product or service solve for your ideal customer? Choose a name that makes that benefit crystal clear and compels a potential customer to look into what you offer.
4. Is the name potentially limiting?
Picking a name that’s specific enough to clarify what your company does is a good thing. However, you want to make sure you’re not so precise, you’re boxing your company in and preventing it from evolving in the future. Remember, successful entrepreneurs think big, not small.
Avoid names that could permanently marry your business to one particular product or a single geographic location. You never know what could happen in the future. You could well want to expand your product line, relocate, or open up additional locations. Make sure your business name of choice will make it easy to do so.
5. What do other people think of the name?
All successful entrepreneurs value feedback when making significant decisions about their business or brainstorming a new product. Make sure you get plenty of it before you set your new company’s name in stone. Start with a few trusted colleagues, peers, and perhaps some family members. Offer them some backup names to consider, as well.
If possible, you should also get feedback from members of your target demographic. Ask them for detailed impressions on the name. How does it make them feel? Does it make them curious about the associated products and interested in trying them? Take advantage of the golden opportunity to see whether your choices carry negative connotations for any of your potential customers, as well.
If you’re still stumped as to where to start when it comes to brainstorming your future business’s name, consider browsing a name generator database. Sometimes just checking out the possibilities is enough to spark some serious creativity. Get started today! Your bright new future as the owner of a runaway success awaits.
