{"id":1498,"date":"2019-09-11T15:00:47","date_gmt":"2019-09-11T13:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/?p=1498"},"modified":"2021-08-11T09:19:33","modified_gmt":"2021-08-11T07:19:33","slug":"how-to-choose-business-name","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-choose-business-name\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Tips for Choosing an Outstanding Business Name"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]So you\u2019ve decided to embark on an entrepreneurial adventure… Congrats! You have a clear vision of what you want your work life to look like from now on and you\u2019re ready to set the wheels in motion. At the same time, though, you\u2019re well aware of the fact that the road to success will most likely be long and winding. You\u2019ll have to stay focused and persevere through difficulties in order to make it. One of the first roadblocks you may run into on your journey is choosing an outstanding business name. That process is often stressful or even mind-numbing, and it can leave you feeling desperate. Your brand name plays a huge role in defining your overall image and it\u2019s what you\u2019ll be known as for as long as your company exists. We\u2019ve compiled a list of 12 tips which can greatly help you in choosing a winning name for your business.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”68px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

1. Know Your Goals<\/h2>\n

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\n \"\" <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=”38px”][vc_column_text]One of the first things to do before deciding on a name is to think about what your business mission is and who your target audience is<\/strong>. What are the services you offer and what kind of image do you want to create for your brand? These are the first questions you should answer, so you can find a name that\u2019ll best reflect your values and not distance you from them. Brainstorm the words that describe your industry and your products<\/strong>. For instance, if you\u2019re planning on opening a bakery, write down words such as sprinkles, bakery, glaze, sugar, cannoli, pastries, etc., and brainstorm off them. Think about what you have to offer that your competitors don\u2019t and use it to your advantage. Once you\u2019re certain of this, it\u2019s going to be easier to know in which direction to go name-wise.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”68px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

2. Consider the URL<\/h2>\n

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\n \"URL <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=”38px”][vc_column_text]Having a professional business website<\/a> is essential for your success. Without it, it could be downright impossible to reach worldwide audiences. And snagging an URL for your business is something you need to consider at the very start<\/strong>, even before you come up with a memorable business name. You don\u2019t want to risk deciding on a name, and getting excited about it, only to realize that the URL you\u2019d like to use is not available. Make sure to check the availability on name.com<\/a>, or any other site you can purchase domain names on. It\u2019d be ideal if you could go with the .com name<\/strong>, as people usually see them as more credible. It\u2019s also good to know that some search engines (Google in particular) favor .com domains over others. This is important when it comes to reaching worldwide audiences and for marketing reasons, as you\u2019ll be able to rank higher and increase the visibility of your brand.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”68px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

3. Simplicity Is Key<\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]A business name needs to sound good when you say it out loud, so it\u2019s for the best to settle on a simple name<\/strong>. The last thing you want to do is confuse people. This is actually something that could seriously devalue your brand, as the word-of-mouth marketing is extremely powerful. You want people to talk about you, and to recommend your services to their friends and family, which is why it\u2019s important to go for a memorable, simple name. If it doesn\u2019t sound familiar and you have to explain it, that\u2019s probably not a good sign. Imagine doing radio advertisements or cold calling potential customers. People need to understand the name right when they hear it<\/strong>. In case you choose an overly complex one, your business could suffer.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”68px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

4. Name Implications<\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Each business name can have multiple implications, depending on the culture. Remember the issue Disney faced in Italy?<\/a> To prevent something like this from happening to you, it\u2019s of utmost importance to do thorough research. Check if the name you chose implies something crude or negative in other countries and cultures<\/strong>. For instance, you could use websites such as wordsafety.com<\/a>, to see if a word has an obscene meaning in another language. Take your time to go through all the necessary checks before you start showing off your cool new name. The last thing you need is having to rename or rebrand at some point.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”68px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

5. Be Descriptive<\/h2>\n

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\n \t \n \"Descriptive <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=”38px”][vc_column_text]A good business name needs to tell a story about your brand. It should hint towards the type of products or services your business revolves around. Think of Pinterest (pin or pinboard + interest) or Netflix (net + flix, which stands for flics). These are outstanding names that give us a valuable hint as to what kind of services both businesses provide. Descriptive names are an excellent choice to go with as they are easier to advertise<\/strong>. Just by taking a look at the name people will most likely be able to tell what you\u2019re selling. You don\u2019t necessarily have to be too obvious, but rather suggestive and creative. Even though it\u2019s a lot easier to trademark completely made up names, marketing-wise, it\u2019s for the best to settle on a descriptive name that fits the character of your business.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”80px”][vc_separator color=”custom” accent_color=”#f0f0f0″][vc_empty_space height=”50px”][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id=”corporate-banner”][vc_empty_space height=”28px”][vc_separator color=”custom” accent_color=”#f0f0f0″][vc_empty_space height=”80px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

6. Avoid Limiting Names<\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]When people decide to launch their business, they usually can\u2019t foresee the directions in which it could expand. For instance, you could start off by selling only doughnuts. Naming such a business \u2018\u2019Homemade Doughnuts\u2019\u2019 might seem like a great choice at first. But, if at some point you add cakes and other sweets to your offer, that name would seem limiting. The key is not to be too literal<\/strong>. As I mentioned earlier, being suggestive is the best way to go<\/strong>. Your business will most likely evolve over time, so try to think carefully about where you see things going in several years\u2019 time. Do you think the name you originally came up with would still work? If so, then you\u2019ve done a great job at choosing an outstanding business name.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”68px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

7. Beware Eponymous and Geographical Names<\/h2>\n

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\n \"\" <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=”38px”][vc_column_text]If you name a business after yourself, would that name mean anything to your potential clients? Even though eponymous names may sound more personal, some argue that they are also very limiting. For instance, when a founder decides to leave the firm, what happens to the business name? In most cases, a rebrand is inevitable, unless we\u2019re talking about already well-established businesses. Banks and law firms are usually named after their founders, but for those only starting out, it might be a good idea to think of something more original in order to differentiate their brand on the market.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”28px”][vc_column_text]When it comes to adding the geographic indications to a business name, it’s debatable whether that\u2019s a good practice. If you plan on working only in your city, you could perhaps get away with it. However, in case you decide to grow your brand worldwide, would using a toponym be limiting to your business? Even though that might not be the case, geographic names are simply not particularly innovative<\/strong>. They also carry cultural associations linked to a certain region, which is another thing to be mindful of. Of course, it\u2019s possible to use this kind of names in a symbolic way, just like the founder of Amazon did<\/a>. He named his website after the world\u2019s largest river to suggest that he had a large number of books available. However, most geographic names have already been used before. To avoid sounding too generic, it might be a good idea to keep away from them.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”68px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

8. Invented Names<\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]If you\u2019re having troubles coming up with an exceptional business name, you can always invent a word<\/strong>. That way you\u2019ll surely come up with something unique. If you don\u2019t know where to start, take a look at some Greek and Latin words, and use them as an inspiration. The tricky part is giving meaning to an invented business name<\/strong>. While that may not be an easy thing to do, with a proper marketing strategy, the name you chose will come to mean something to others as well<\/strong>. Invented words are also the easiest to trademark, which, obviously, is a huge plus. Furthermore, if, at some point, you decide to change your company\u2019s field of business, this kind of name is extremely useful, because you can simply assign a new meaning to it.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”68px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

9. Don\u2019t Go for Acronyms<\/h2>\n

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\n \"Using <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=”38px”][vc_column_text]Many people make the mistake of abbreviating their business names. Using this shortcut, however, is not recommended if you\u2019re only just starting out. There are some household names out there, such as IBM or KFC, but don\u2019t forget that they\u2019ve been in the business for many decades. Don\u2019t make the mistake of abbreviating too soon<\/strong>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”68px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

10. Test Your Business Name<\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Asking your friends and family for an opinion is always an option, but we recommend you also A\/B test your business name<\/strong>. Once you manage to narrow down the choice to two names, go ahead and ask a few members of your target audience for their opinion. See which option works best and resonates the most with your crowd.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”68px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

11. Use Business Name Generators<\/h2>\n

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\n \t \n \"Business <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=”38px”][vc_column_text]If you\u2019re stuck and completely without an idea on how to name your business, try online business name generators<\/strong>, such as the Squadhelp business name generator<\/a> or Namelix<\/a>. However, don\u2019t rely on them completely<\/strong>. While name generators can help you with generating ideas, you shouldn\u2019t use their suggestions as your business name. Chances are some other company already has or will in the future, so you risk naming your business the same as somebody else. Plus, an algorithm, that obviously doesn\u2019t understand the context, simply can\u2019t be as creative as a real person<\/strong>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”28px”][vc_column_text]You could also brainstorm off some words on Visual Thesaurus<\/a> or generate a name on Naminum<\/a>, where you can select a starting point, a word on which you\u2019d like to base your business name on.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”68px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

12. Trademark Your Business Name<\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Once you come up with an outstanding business name, you need to trademark it<\/strong>. To check if there are other brands in your field of business with the same name, head over to the WIPO global brand database<\/a>, or to the USPTO\u2019s website<\/a> if you want to research the US market only. It\u2019d be for the best to perform a worldwide search, though. If no results come up, you don\u2019t have to worry about others taking potential legal actions against you. The registration process may vary, depending on the type of business you\u2019d like to register, so don\u2019t hesitate to consult a lawyer or an appropriate association.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”68px”][vc_empty_space height=”50px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Coming up with a snappy business name is surely not an easy task. There are many things to take into consideration before you make your decision. Give thoughts to these tips, stick to them, and you\u2019ll surely think of a stellar business name that will differentiate you from the competitors. Once you have a name, focus on creating awesome products or providing your customers with outstanding services, and get ready for success.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Your brand name plays a huge role in defining your overall image and it\u2019s what you\u2019ll be known as for as long as your company exists. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":1500,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[28,29,35],"class_list":["post-1498","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-marketing","tag-branding","tag-business","tag-copywriting"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1498","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1498"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1498\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1500"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1498"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1498"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1498"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}