A perfect brand name is not either something that appears good on your business card, or it’s fun to say. It’s not perfect, because you like it. It is simply great because it conveys everything to the consumers. The right name may be the most essential commodity of a company, increasing distinction and speeding up adoption. But selecting the right brand name may be a difficult challenge.
Tips for Selecting the Perfect Brand Name
For your ease, we have compiled some tips on how to choose the perfect name for your company.
Tip 1: Identify Your Brand Identity, Then Pick A Name
Picking a name for your startup is a crucial decision. It will set the tone for the way people perceive your company. In order to do that with ease, we suggest that you work backward, decide what your brand’s identity (including target audience, culture, and mission) will be. Once you have that squared away, you’re ready to begin brainstorming your name. This way, your name will directly and accurately reflect your company’s values.
Tip 2: Using Linguistic Tricks to Name Your Business
As a small business, you’re likely willing to be a little bolder in your choice of names. Here are some ways to turn that instinct into a handle worthy of your brand:
- Pick a name that lends itself to the wordplay
- A strong name should be simple
- Avoid using puns
- Don’t be a copycat
Tip 3: Consider Your Domain Name
Simple domains, particularly single words in the English language, are growing trickier to find. You have to decide whether you want your domain to capture generic search traffic, or whether you want it to be the basis for a unique brand. It all depends on your marketing strategy and how you expect your customers to try and find you. Here are some strategies for creating a strong, memorable domain name:
- Short won’t work
- Play around with phrases
- Use a foreign word
- Don’t cater to the trend
Tip 4: The Name Should be Self-Explanatory
Whichever industry you are in, you may wish to choose a name that reflects what you do as a business. You may decide to use technical names or terms or include what your company does in the name itself. It may be important for your business to include your company’s location in the name.
It is worth bearing in mind that even if you use brand names for your business rather than the company name itself, you will still need to use your registered name for invoicing and official purposes.
Tip 5: Keep it Legal
You should be aware that there are some restrictions on the names you can choose for your company. Many small businesses simply choose a name without doing substantial research to see if someone else already holds a trademark for it. If you do properly secure the trademark you then hold it for between five and 10 years before you have to renew it.
Tip 6: Avoid SEO Issues
A common mistake in developing a name is thinking only about how it relates to your industry. Research the name with different available tools to determine how popular the name is for both organic and paid searches. If your name is highly competitive with a company dominating SEO or social media, consider another name.
Tip 7: Avoid Using Your Own Name
Unless you are an established brand, avoid using your own name. Your name doesn’t communicate anything about your business and won’t mean much to potential customers. This may even cause problems if you ever want to sell your business in the future or even if you wish to expand.
Tip 8: Make Sure You Are Personally Happy with The Name
You as the business owner will have to live with the name for a long time, so make sure you are happy with it and believe it will resonate with your customers. Take the time to get it right from the start.
Final Advice
Choosing a name can be challenging when you’re setting out to start a business, but not something to agonize over! Remember to get opinions and ideas from friends, family, or even potential customers. It’s always a good idea to get a few different points of view.
A business name is only your first step towards building a brand. Though it’ll give your business a good first impression, it’s up to you to meet the customer expectations and bring your business to success. You can also seek expert advice if you are unsure regarding the legal aspects of choosing a brand name. Contact Riz and Mona Consultancy today to book your appointment with our consultants.
