7 Tips for Choosing a Business Name
The very first thing you need when starting a business is, a business name. Simple right? Well, not always…
This is also many times one of the most difficult steps in a startup, believe it or not.
Your name will be the very first thing your customers see. You have to pick a name that says something about you and your business that people in your target market will identify with & remember easily.
1. A good basic idea is to use your last name followed by what you do. Like Walton’s Feed and Supply or Anderson’s Plumbing. You could also add the town where you live in to the name like Anderson’s Little Rock Plumbing.
2. You can also leave out your name and simply become Little Rock Feed and Supply. This makes you sound like the first choice locally and will help target your local area.
3. If you are going to be dealing with the big companies you may want to consider a more corporate sounding name. Think of a word to describe your business then add the word “Consulting”.
4. If you’re going for a trendier market you might want a less formal name. You may want to name your business after an animal, and use that animal in your company logo too.
You should always have a business logo.
If you don’t have a big marketing budget, this is a good way to get started branding your business. For example take Geico. They use that gecko lizard on everything.
Keep in mind, they DO have a BIG marketing budget…..sometimes simple is just better. What do you remember when you think of car insurance?
5. Try a short name. Take two or three words that describe your business then shorten them to make it one word. So you end up with IHOP (International House of Pancakes) this is a great way to express what you do without having long hard to remember name.
6. And when nothing else seems to fit make up a name. Just play with your words until you come up with a name that sounds right and the best part is it will be completely unique to your business.
Whatever you do make sure your business name is easy to pronounce, spell and remember. Especially if it is going to be a URL.
7. Once you have a few names picked out make sure you check to make sure no one else is using them. You don’t want to get your business started then find out that the name you want is taken…..again, especially if it is going to be a URL.
Nowadays you need to check both.
Important Note: There are certain laws regarding business name extensions - you cannot use “Inc.”, “Company”, “Associates”, or any derivatives within unless you are in fact incorporated.
Do you have any tips from experience to share? How did you pick your business name?
Never stop pushing forward!
Dennis
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Tags: buisness logo, business startup tips, busuiness name tips, company logo, logo, marketing budget, target market, unique business name
Jaq @ Net Age Web Design
Kev
Latief@AnotherBlogger
sherry
October 16th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Well, it really depends on whether you choose a name in the context of blogging or brick and mortar business. For the former, having the niche-related keyword in a name is the most ideal one while technically, a business name should be descriptive of the product you are selling and as generic as possible.
The well-designed logo is what sets it apart from the rest and I do agree that we should have one.
Yan
Blog for Beginners´s last blog post..The Art of Writing Catchy Articles
October 16th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Hi, Dennis:
Nice to meet you. Thanxs for commenting on my blog earlier today.
As for how did i choose my domain name for G34 Media. Well as i got it almost a year ago, it was abit of a crap shoot.
I have a series of blogs all that begin with the moniker Groovy, including Groovy Vegetarian Groovy Chicago and Groovy Entrepreneur. So one day i decided i needed yet another blog, but one to kind hold it all together. A network blog. Well instead of calling it Groovy Media, i went instead with G34 Media.
G for short of Groovy and 34 is a fave number of mine. See, not a whole lot of thought went into it. LoL.
Fast forward a year later and i’ve learned loads since then. About SEO and whatnot. But i still like the domain name, and the blog. Well its taken on a life of its own.
Just dont ask me what that life is. LoL.
Nice to meet you.
Missy.
Missy (from G34 Media)´s last blog post..10 Ways To Generate Blog Income, Part I
October 16th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
Yan - the niche related keyword should be descriptive of what you are offering, so I’m not sure I get why you’re separating it…..nowadays, anyone with a brick and mortar really needs a website as well
October 16th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
Missy - very interesting story, and don’t worry I won’t ask LOL.
I most likely would have gone with Groovy Media but that’s how my mind works
I’ll have to check out your other blogs when I get a chance
October 17th, 2008 at 10:02 am
Ya
Thats the only thing I lack is a business logo. I have been looking around to see what really suits me but havent found nothing yet.
Bruno Auger´s last blog post..Mr Javo 2.0 Give Away!
October 17th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Bruno - it can be daunting for sure, but maybe someone here can help.
What exactly do you wish to brand….your name, specific aspect of your business, something else?
October 17th, 2008 at 11:44 am
I am wondering how using concepts from memetics might help define how a name should be constructed? Can you give me any insight? I appreciate any thoughts you may have….
October 17th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Good job David, you sent me to Google on this one!
Please remember this is Beginner Marketing Tips so if I went to Google, a large portion of my readership may have popped a few cells
Now, I suppose you could start a blog meme, see how far it spreads and what kinds of responses come out of it…could be fun!
Intriguing question indeed
October 17th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Great tips Dennis! For url’s I usually make sure to have keywords if at all possible for quicker and easier ranking, but a catchy one is very important as well.
I think for flagship sites and blogs it may be better to not use the KW and go for a catchy name people will remember and that can be used for branding.
Thanks!
JR @ Internet Marketing Strategies´s last blog post..Google Webmaster Tools - Key Website Analysis and Essentials
October 17th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Exactly right JR, which is probably the reason for a lot of flagships being the bloggers name, like DennisEdell.com
although not officially launched yet.
October 18th, 2008 at 6:02 am
Great tips Dennis. Choosing the right business name is as important as the company logo. Something catchy yet easy to remember, keyword ready.
Salwa´s last blog post..Blog Action Day 08: Poverty
October 18th, 2008 at 10:47 am
Just right Salwa. Easier said then done sometimes, but we must be creative
October 21st, 2008 at 6:51 am
I think choosing the right business name is like making the right first step. It is very crucial indeed.
kuanhoong´s last blog post..Benchmark your web site with WebWait
October 21st, 2008 at 8:28 am
Kuanhoong - Indeed, one of the most crucial steps
February 4th, 2009 at 1:30 am
After using his products I wonder why he’s being called the bad guy. If he was one then he wouldn’t share his secrets with the open public. His products are the result of his hard work and dedication.
Dennis Edell Reply:
February 4th, 2009 at 9:50 am
@Jeff Paul internet Business Ideas,
Huh? Who?
March 16th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
Very nice post. and Yes, I have another tip you miss. It’s assuming that your reader are also coming from countries those are not using english as their mother tongue.
- Don’t use words that could lead to misspronounce and bad meaning.
In my country, the word Bloom might be easily pronounce and interpreted by the native speaker (who can’t speak english) as Stupid. With another bad luck, one might become famous with its misspronounce word.
- Learn basic English vocab to avoid stupidity
Have you ever seen a noodle restaurant called Fuk Mi (Mi = noodle). That’s just plain stupid
Gunady´s last blog post..Having Active Study Time And Good Attitude Will Improve Your Test Scores
Dennis Edell Reply:
March 16th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
@Gunady, Very good point my friend, thanks for being active!
October 10th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
internet marketing tips…
Your topic How to do a trackback in 2009 was interesting when I found it on Saturday searching for internet marketing tips…
January 7th, 2010 at 12:51 pm
If I had known these things,like a couple of years ago,i would well off by now!
Dennis Edell Reply:
January 7th, 2010 at 8:15 pm
@W Roberts, I know how you feel, welcome to the blog!
Dennis Edell´s last blog ..Updates - Latest $10 Domain Winner, Latest Move News, and more.