Among some entrepreneurs, Evan Horowitz says they are fortunate enough to enjoy the name they choose for their business. But they are often paralyzed by it.
This does not have to be the case. When choosing a name for your business, consider what your business does and who you are. You need to come up with a name that stands out - it should be catchy, even quirky (Hello, Google).
“My advice would be to spend time and effort crafting your marketing message before picking a business name or before ordering business cards before spending a single dime or a single minute on advertising or promotion."
It is fun and exciting to choose a name for your company when starting a business. Finding the right balance between, relevance, and personality can also be challenging when it comes to business owners.
The Following Tips Will Help You Name Your Business
- Keep it short. You should keep the domain name as short as possible, since it may also be used for social media profiles.
- Make an impression. Making your name easy to remember is important since people no longer type their names. If you plan to promote your business using video or radio, you should also have the ability to say it and have it remembered."
- Correctly pronounce it. A name must be able to be remembered and spelled, so its pronunciation is as important as its memory."
- It's best to spell clearly. You shouldn't let this stop you from having fun spelling your name. But don't waste your money and time on it."
- It should be branded. Let me give you an example. Autostar Transport Express is a straightforward and easy-to-remember name, so anyone can understand what this website does.
- Avoid hyphenating. If someone types in your domain without the hyphen, they will be redirected to someone else.
- Use a .com extension. Choose a domain that has an open .net extension and a .com extension. Users often use these extensions on autopilot, as they are the most common extensions. There is still room for creativity, such as pointing to Visual.ly, a company offering content services with the extension
Ensure Its Usability
It is equally important to finding out if your proposed business name has already been taken as it is to choose one that captures your company's personality and goals. How can you do that?
Do a web search first.
As you search for a small business incorporation process and business name registration requirements in your state, you should also verify your state's requirements.
For your new company, you will need to check the availability of the domain name through the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) which runs InterNIC, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names.
Furthermore, you should register accounts on various social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
If you want to use your company's name, make sure you know whether federal trademark laws permit it. A good source is the US Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO). You can also find a step-by-step guide for registering a trademark for your company if your desired company name is not already in use.
If you want to avoid legal entanglements, this last point is crucial. Small businesses have surely been the victims of corporate giants winning naming rights battles.
You may not be able to keep the name you choose if you are having difficulty thinking of one. Company names change frequently, according to Horowitz.