How to find business name ideas
Finding the right name for your startup can have a significant impact on your success. A name that is clear and powerful can be extremely useful in your marketing and branding efforts.
Here are 10 helpful suggestions on how to find a winning name for your business:
1. Avoid names that are difficult to spell.
You don't want potential customers to not know how to find your business on the web. You want to avoid having to continually correct the misspelled version of your name. Keep it simple.
2. Don't choose a name that may be burdensome as your business grows.
Choosing a name that is too narrow can cause problems later on. So avoid names like “Lille Digital Council” or “La Bonne Affaire”.
You don't want to limit your business to a particular product, a specific city, or a language if you ever dream of an international day.
3. Do a thorough search on the Internet.
Once you've determined a name you like, search the web using that name. More often than not, you'll find out that someone else is already using that business name. While this is not a big deal, it should get you thinking.
For example, we initially chose the name “The Journey”, which we really liked. A short search on the internet told me that it was a very popular therapeutic method and well referenced on the web in the world...
4. Get a.com or.io domain name
I highly recommend that you get the “.com” or “.io” domain name for innovative businesses. Alternatives such as.net, .org, .xyz, .biz, or other possible domain extensions don't look professional.
It is very common that a entrepreneur already has the domain name you want, but many domain owners are willing to sell their name for a reasonable price.
Think of acquiring a domain name as a business investment. You can check the availability of a domain name on sites like Google Domains or GoDaddy. If the domain name has already been taken, you can often track down the owner and see if they are ready to sell it using GoDaddy's “Whois” tool.
Also, be sure to enter your business name on popular social media sites like Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest to see what comes up.
5. Use a name that has meaning.
Ideally, you want the company name to convey something meaningful and positive about your business. Can people instantly understand what your business is?
A domain name like”Shopify.com” is great because it conveys the meaning of activity and is useful for search engine optimization.
6. Evaluate if the name is catchy.
Obviously, you don't want a boring name for your business, but you also don't want to choose something that's too “original.”
You want your employees to be able to say where they work without hesitation, and you want your name to resonate with your target audience.
7. Get feedback on choosing your name.
Suggest 5 or 10 names, then submit them to friends, family, and colleagues you trust. Also, ask for the opinion of your target audience by means of communication on social networks or by email if you already have an existing list. Also, make sure the name doesn't have a negative connotation in French, English, or any other language.
A quick look at Google Translate will tell you that quickly.
8. Make sure the name sounds good when it's said out loud.
Sometimes names sound perfect on paper but are awful when said out loud. And if the name is said out loud, make sure that people are not misspelling it.
9. Use available resources to find names.
There are a number of sites that can help you find names, including:
- BusinessNameGenerator.com
- Visualthesaurus.com
- Namelix
- Novanym
- SquadHelp
- Shopify Business Name Generator
- Namemesh.com
- Naminum.com
10. Make sure you are happy with the name.
As much What entrepreneur, you will have to live with this name for a long time. So make sure it's right for you and that it will resonate with your customers. Take the time to choose the right one from the start.
11. A final check of the name you have chosen
After choosing, it is good to come back to it the next day or a few days later to make a final decision after the euphoria you may have experienced when choosing your name.
Take the business name you found and ask yourself:
- How does the name explain your value proposition?
- How does it refer to your offers?
- How does he get closer to your audience?
- How does it position your business in the mind of the prospect?
- Is it clear?
- Is it concise?
By evaluating your options in this way, you will be able to distinguish between good names and bad names to finally find your gem.
READ MORE: 4 business ideas for beginning entrepreneurs
12. How to register your business name
It's one of the biggest questions we see on the web.
Registering your business name comes down to these four aspects:
- Your domain
- Your social media accounts
- Your commercial structure
- Your brand
A society can strengthen protection of its corporate name by registering a trademark with the authorities in charge of its country (INPI for France, USPTO for the USA, etc.).
This will allow you to market your products or services under the same name as your business name.
In the case of your domain, go to GoDaddy, and verify your business name.
If you can't find the exact domain for your business, you can add a prefix or suffix. Prefixes and suffixes won't change your positioning much.
Finally, registering your name isn't that important when you're just starting out and don't have customers. This is the type of problem to be concerned about when you are growing rapidly and have a lot of competitors in your industry.
Once you've completed these four steps, you're done creating and registering your business name!
READ MORE: How to start a business on the Internet for less than 100 euros?
