By Owen Fay . Posted on December 6, 2022When starting a business, one of the first things you need to do is choose a name. This may seem like a small task, but it’s actually quite important. Your business name is how customers will identify and remember your company, so it’s important to choose something that is easy to remember and represents your business well.
Meanwhile, customers tend to trust you more when you have a professional and attractive business name that stands out in your industry. But, how do you choose a successful business name? In this article, we will give you a guide and 10 tips for success when coming up with a business name.
Why A Name Is Important For Your Business
Your business name is important because it is how your customers will identify you. It is your first impression and what will stay in their mind long after they have forgotten your product or service.
You want a name that is unique and memorable, something that will make your business stand out from the competition. It should be easy to pronounce and spell so that people can find you easily online and in the real world.
Your business name should also reflect the image you want to project and the values of your company. It should be professional and trustworthy, making potential customers feel confident in your abilities.
Choosing the right name for your business is essential to its success. Take the time to consider all of your options and pick a name that will help you achieve your goals.
10 Tips to Follow When Choosing Your Business Name
1. Keep it short, sweet, and easy to remember
Your business name should be easy to say and spell out loud. It should be short enough that people can remember it, but not so short that it’s difficult to pronounce.
2. Make sure it’s relevant to your business
Your business name should be reflective of what your business does. This will help people understand what you do at a glance, and it’ll also help you attract your target audience.
3. Avoid using initials
While using initials may make your business name shorter, it can also make it harder for people to remember and spell. Plus, it can be difficult to trademark a business name that is just a set of initials.
4. Avoid using made-up words
Made-up words can be difficult for people to remember and spell, and they can also be difficult to trademark. If you do use a made-up word, make sure it’s easy to pronounce and remember.
5. Brainstorm with friends and family
Brainstorming with friends and family is a great way to come up with ideas for your business name. They may have ideas that you hadn’t thought of, and they can also help you narrow down your choices.
6. Do a Google search
Doing a Google search is a good way to see if there are any other businesses out there with a similar name to the one you’re considering. If there are, you may want to choose a different name to avoid confusion.
7. Check the domain name
Before you settle on a business name, make sure the corresponding domain name is available. You don’t want to choose a great name only to find out that someone else has already claimed the domain.
8. Make sure it’s easy to spell
As mentioned before, your business name should be easy to spell. This is important both for people finding your website and for people searching for you online.
9. Consider your target audience
When choosing a business name, it’s important to consider your target audience. What kind of people are you trying to attract? What kind of name will appeal to them? The best way to understand the opinions of your audience is to run a brand name test with Poll the People.
10. Run a Brand Name Test
A brand name test with Poll the People will take your list of potential names and put them to the test with a panel of real users that represent your target audience. The quick and easy user test lets you either compare brand names or validate the one you want to run with before going live.
Poll the People gives you all of the resources you need to pick a brand name that fits your business. The platform gives you the templates, audience, and only the best feedback in our results dashboard. Our automatic response rejection takes out the poor responses so they don’t appear in your results giving you only the best feedback on your test. On other platforms, you will get about 80% ok responses. These platforms will still include the other 20% of bad responses in your results giving you results that aren’t valuable. On our platform, you get 95-100% of the responses you need because we reject the 20% of bad responses before you ever see them.
 How To Change Your Business Name
1. Do your research
You need to make sure that the new name you want to use is available and not already being used by another company. You can do a quick search online or contact a business attorney to help you with this.
2. File for a trademark
If you find that the new name you want to use is available, the next step is to file for a trademark. This will protect your new name and give you the exclusive right to use it.
3. Notify your customers
Once you have your new name, you need to let your customers know. You can do this by sending out a press release or emailing your customers directly.
4. Update your website and marketing materials
The next step is to update your website and all of your marketing materials. This includes your business cards, letterhead, and any other promotional materials.
5. Change your legal documents
Finally, you need to change your legal documents to reflect your new business name. This includes your business licenses and permits.
Frequently Asked Questions
How important is it to have a keyword in my business name?
It can be helpful to have a keyword or two in your business name, but it’s not necessary. If you have a keyword that is relevant to your business, it can help people find you more easily online. But if you don’t have a keyword that is relevant, don’t worry about it. Your business name can still be successful without one.
Should I choose a name that is descriptive of my business?
It can be helpful to choose a name that is descriptive of your business, but it’s not necessary. You want to choose a name that is memorable and easy to say. If you can find a name that is both descriptive and memorable, that’s great. But if you can only find one or the other, don’t worry. You can still have a successful business with a non-descriptive name.
What if I can’t think of a good name for my business?
If you’re having trouble coming up with a good name for your business, there are a few things you can do. Try brainstorming with a group of people. This can help you come up with ideas you might not have thought of on your own. You can also try looking for inspiration in other businesses, both in your industry and outside of it. Finally, don’t be afraid to use a brand name generator and test the names you get with your target audience.
How do I know if a name is available for my business?
The best way to find out if a name is available for your business is to do a search online. You can search for the name on a search engine like Google, and if there are no results that come up, it’s likely that the name is available. You can also check to see if the name is available on social media sites like Twitter and Facebook. If the name is available on those sites, it’s likely that it’s available for your business as well.
I’ve chosen a name for my business. Now what?
Now that you’ve chosen a name for your business, you’ll need to do a few things to make sure it’s official. First, you’ll need to register your business with the government. This will give you the legal right to use the name for your business. You’ll also need to check to see if the name is available as a domain name.
This is the address people will use to find your website. If the name is available, you can register it and use it for your website. Finally, you’ll need to set up social media accounts for your business. This will help people find and connect with your business online.
I’ve chosen a name for my business. How can I protect it?
Once you’ve chosen a name for your business, you’ll want to make sure you protect it. The best way to do this is to trademark the name. This will give you the legal right to use the name and prevent others from using it. You can trademark the name yourself or you can hire a lawyer to do it for you.
I still have more questions about choosing a name for my business. Who can I ask?
If you have more questions about choosing a name for your business, you can always reach out to us at Poll the People. We have a number of resources, tips, examples, and insights that will help you find a name that fits your business.
Conclusion
Whether you’re starting a new business or rebranding an existing one, choosing a name is vital to success. The right name can help you attract customers and grow your brand, follow these tips to pick the right name for your business. Once you have your short list of names sign up for Poll the People and launch your brand name test in minutes.
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