So do you have a name for your small business yet? If you haven’t, don’t worry. Choosing a name isn’t easy and it does pay to take your time so that you can come up with just the right solution for your situation.
But there are several things you should remember that will make your decision a little easier to come to. These encompass various methods and tools that you can use to help you get to the perfect name for your own small business.
The Power of Word Association
Many business names are descriptive or suggestive of the business they represent. Would this work for you? Word association can help you to find out all the possibilities.
All you have to do is get a pad and a pen, and jot down all the words and phrases that come to mind when you think about your own particular business. For example, let’s say you have a home brew business that sells everything to do with home wine and beer making. Some of the things that might come to mind would include beer, wine, brewing, drinking, lager, Chardonnay and so on. Phrases such as home brew, home made and do it yourself might also come to mind. It doesn’t matter what you think of, just write down as much as you can.
You might then find that a combination of two or more of these words (or even just the one) could be just the name you are looking for.
Plain and Simple or Potentially Unique?
Some believe a business name should make sense. But it doesn’t necessarily have to. The main thing to remember is that it should be memorable.
Don’t disregard anything in your search for the right name, and make sure you always focus on what your own feelings are about a particular name. Some of them break all the ‘rules’ about what makes a good business name, and they work anyway. Let your feelings be the ultimate guide as to what is right for you.
Check for the Domain Name
This is extremely important, particularly as most businesses are online now in one way or another.
When you think of a potential business name, find out if you can get it as a domain name. So for example, if you like the name Aardvark Tyres for your tyre place, see if the name www.stylesupplier.com is available. If it isn’t, rethink your business name. If you cannot get the website address you want for it, you will always regret it.
Does anyone else use that Business Name already?
This really goes hand in hand with finding out about the domain name. You might have come up with a brilliant business name, but if someone else is using it and has already registered it (or even if they haven’t), you should steer clear of using it yourself.
You need to be unique and stand out amongst the competition, and if some other company already has a very similar name to the one you want to use, that can create problems for you. So do your research carefully, or hire someone else to do it for you.
Learn from Businesses in your sector
Researching other businesses is an important part of finding your ideal business name. It helps you to see what is already in use, as well as looking at how you respond to certain names used by others.
Ask yourself some questions here – which names stand out? Which ones do you like and why? Which ones come across as being a little misleading? And which ones do you wish you had picked yourself?
The more you research and the more you find out about your own responses to certain names, the more likely it will be that you can find the perfect name for your own small business.
Business Names should not be limiting
It’s all too easy to focus on what your business is like now when you are trying to think of a good name for it. But consider what it may be like in the future as well.
For example, try not to use the location of your business in its name. The reasons for this are clear. If you expand and move into other parts of the country (or even the world) later on, your name will no longer be relevant. Even if that doesn’t happen, what if you decide to up sticks and move to another part of the country for some other reason? Essex Sheds and Gardens wouldn’t look too at home in Kent, would it?
As you can see, you need to think ahead and stay focused when you are thinking about your brand new business name. But once you have the one that works for you, make sure you promote it for all you are worth.
But there are several things you should remember that will make your decision a little easier to come to. These encompass various methods and tools that you can use to help you get to the perfect name for your own small business.
 |
| Home business |
Many business names are descriptive or suggestive of the business they represent. Would this work for you? Word association can help you to find out all the possibilities.
All you have to do is get a pad and a pen, and jot down all the words and phrases that come to mind when you think about your own particular business. For example, let’s say you have a home brew business that sells everything to do with home wine and beer making. Some of the things that might come to mind would include beer, wine, brewing, drinking, lager, Chardonnay and so on. Phrases such as home brew, home made and do it yourself might also come to mind. It doesn’t matter what you think of, just write down as much as you can.
You might then find that a combination of two or more of these words (or even just the one) could be just the name you are looking for.
 |
| Small business |
Some believe a business name should make sense. But it doesn’t necessarily have to. The main thing to remember is that it should be memorable.
Don’t disregard anything in your search for the right name, and make sure you always focus on what your own feelings are about a particular name. Some of them break all the ‘rules’ about what makes a good business name, and they work anyway. Let your feelings be the ultimate guide as to what is right for you.
Check for the Domain Name
This is extremely important, particularly as most businesses are online now in one way or another.
When you think of a potential business name, find out if you can get it as a domain name. So for example, if you like the name Aardvark Tyres for your tyre place, see if the name www.stylesupplier.com is available. If it isn’t, rethink your business name. If you cannot get the website address you want for it, you will always regret it.
 |
| Small business trends |
Does anyone else use that Business Name already?
This really goes hand in hand with finding out about the domain name. You might have come up with a brilliant business name, but if someone else is using it and has already registered it (or even if they haven’t), you should steer clear of using it yourself.
You need to be unique and stand out amongst the competition, and if some other company already has a very similar name to the one you want to use, that can create problems for you. So do your research carefully, or hire someone else to do it for you.
Learn from Businesses in your sector
Researching other businesses is an important part of finding your ideal business name. It helps you to see what is already in use, as well as looking at how you respond to certain names used by others.
Ask yourself some questions here – which names stand out? Which ones do you like and why? Which ones come across as being a little misleading? And which ones do you wish you had picked yourself?
The more you research and the more you find out about your own responses to certain names, the more likely it will be that you can find the perfect name for your own small business.
 |
| Small business secrets |
Business Names should not be limiting
It’s all too easy to focus on what your business is like now when you are trying to think of a good name for it. But consider what it may be like in the future as well.
For example, try not to use the location of your business in its name. The reasons for this are clear. If you expand and move into other parts of the country (or even the world) later on, your name will no longer be relevant. Even if that doesn’t happen, what if you decide to up sticks and move to another part of the country for some other reason? Essex Sheds and Gardens wouldn’t look too at home in Kent, would it?
As you can see, you need to think ahead and stay focused when you are thinking about your brand new business name. But once you have the one that works for you, make sure you promote it for all you are worth.
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