Naming Your Business – What You Need to Know
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Business names are like noses. Almost everyone is born with one, but they are not all made equal. Some are big and ugly while others are seemingly perfect. LOL The fact is this… if you want to get ahead in the business world, then you need to nail it on a business name because it is how you are branded from then on.
The Search For A Business Name
It took me months of fruitless business name search before I really had any idea what I was doing in regards to naming my new business. I got business name suggestions from everyone I met, but none of them were really good. Hiring a company to get business name suggestions seemed like a silly idea to me at first, but then one of my friends and partners told me to think about it in a different way. To him, the business name suggestion is just part of the broader business branding and marketing strategy.
The key to business name suggestions is not get sold on one too easily. Look at all your options. It is true that every once in a while, a brilliant business name suggestion comes along. If this happens to you, you can use it as a starting point. You can cater the branding strategy, the slogans, the corporate logos – everything to that particular business name. In general, however, business name suggestions should be part of a more integrated approach.
How to Brand Your Business
The first thing you need to do is to decide what you want your new business name to communicate. I happen to think that a business name should accurately describe what you do without someone having to ask. To me, having a good business name is the purest form of advertising. Every time you say the name of the business it gives an opportunity to make an impression.
Not Very Creative? Get Help Choosing Your Business Name
Your business name can come from a number of different places including even your kids! I had that happen in one of my businesses. Who says you have to go to a professional business name consulting service? When considering business names, you need to go over a wide number of names and then narrow it down to the best. Don’t be afraid to ask more than one friend to give you feedback. In the end, it will be all worth it.
I would not recommend making your first or last name a part of the business name. Like Joe’s Plumbing. What if you sell the business? Think about “Roto Rooter?” That name says it all and is franchisable. For a website design business does “Chandler Web Design” sound better or does “Website Interactive?” It is easy to see that the later does. Also don’t make the name hard to spell or remember. Think about it. You will have to use this name all the time.
123 Aaron