The name of your company actually has an impact on your future success. When you choose a name that is confusing, unclear, or simply doesn’t stick, you can have problems connecting with customers. You can also choose names that lead to legal battles and marketing issues.
Your name helps you brand your company, and it needs to be unique and memorable. It should also connect to your products and services. Continue reading for eight tips for naming your startup.
- Keep it Simple with Spelling
It is important for customers to be able to find your business online, so make sure that your name is easy to spell. You also want reviewers to get it right. If it is complicated, you might end up spending a lot of time correcting the spelling.
- Do a Search Before You Choose
When you come up with ideas for names, you need to make sure that you do a search first. You might find that another business is already using the name, and this could be confusing. Someone may also have taken the rights to the name, so you won’t get approval in the end. Make sure that your name is available when you choose it.
- Reserve the .com of Your Name
You should make sure that the .com version of your name is available before you make a final decision. Even if you plan to get the other domains, such as .net or .org, you need to make sure that you have the .com as well. If someone already has it, find out if you can buy it from them.
- Choose a Name That Is Relevant to Your Business
Your name should be relevant to your business. It should provide some insight into what you do. You can also choose a catchy name that is unique. Some companies that did this are Yahoo or Google. If you choose a catchy name, it will cost you more in branding.
- Find Out If You Can Trademark the Name
When someone trademarks their company name, nobody else can use it. They can’t use it for similar products or services, and they can’t use it for something completely different. Make sure that you can trademark your name before you make a final decision.
- Make Sure That the Name Is Catchy
It is important that your name is catchy and easy to say. You can ask different people what they think and listen to them pronouncing it. Imagine how it will sound and whether or not people will remember it.
- Ask Others What They Think
Ask close friends and family members what they think of the name. See if you can get feedback from colleagues and your target audience.
- Check the Secretary of State’s Records
If you want to structure your business as an LLC or a corporation, you need to make sure that it is available. Do a search of the Secretary of State to make sure that it isn’t taken.