Tips for Coming Up with Company Name Ideas
The right name for your business can make all the difference when it comes to whether or not your business is successful. When you are in the process of developing company name ideas, there are some tips you need to keep in mind before you settle on the official name for your business. Consider checking out get.online to get some help with your new business name and domain.
The Name Should Sound Good When Said Out Loud
Be sure to say your business name aloud a lot and make sure that you don’t have an issue. While an alliteration may sound good, you don’t want to get into a situation where it’s hard to say the name, such as “Sally sold shells by the seashore.” People will say the name in conversation, in video, or on the radio.
The Name Should Have Meaning and Show the Benefit
The name needs to be meaningful, but at the same time convey the benefit to the consumer. The name shouldn’t be too generic, and you don’t have to try to be everything to everybody with the name of the company. Too generic and people won’t know what you are doing. However, if you do get too specific then you won’t be able to branch out in the future without having to change the name.
Beware of Spelling
If you are choosing a popular word and thinking of using a different spelling, this can be confusing for potential customers. For example, Flickr may be known now but with a new business, people may have been looking up Flicker. If you are thinking of naming your business “Computer4you,” customers should be able to look up the name without having to ask if it is spelled “you” or “u.”
Beware of Using Initials
Initials are boring. Certain companies, such as 3M or IBM, have gotten away with using initials, but these companies have been around for decades and are multi-billion-dollar companies. You should try to rely on a name that is more interesting.
Use Specifics
A generic name won’t mean anything. You can use your name to take advantage of details, such as days or numbers. For example, 5-Hour Energy is specific and tells you exactly what the product does.
Trademark the Name
You want to make sure that you are able to trademark the name. This is especially important if you want to make your brand bigger. You should always check with trademark sites before you settle on a name.
Use Google AdWords to Test It Out
You can use the “Find Keywords” feature on AdWords that lists similar search phrases, along with how many local monthly searches and global searches each phrase is getting. Doing AdWords searches with a name you are thinking about can help you make sure that there isn’t a somewhat different name already been used that could be getting more attention on the web.
Be Sure the Name Is User Friendly
Even if you use a made-up word for your name, it needs to be easy to type into a search engine, spell, and say. Many people are not great spellers so choosing a user-friendly name will help keep you ahead of the game. In order to come up with a user-friendly name, impose some creative constraints. Limit yourself to come up with names with one or two syllables as you start brainstorming to help keep you focused on a punchier name idea. You can also test it out in different formats. Try to see how the name looks in a logo design, say it out loud, and also draft it in your email signature. In order to make sure your name is truly user-friendly, get feedback from trusted family members and friends. If you discuss the name, and you get a lot of questions or confused looks then you may need to think about something else.
The Name Should Speak to Your Audience
The right name will resonate with your target market. For example, a tech company can play off different words in the industry, such as CodeCov.
If you want to come up with good company name ideas and if you want to put in a little more work, you can also come up with a name that may eventually be used as a verb. It may eventually lead to its own language.
