Naming your business
It goes without saying that selecting a name for your business is one of the most crucial decisions you face. It’s the very first thing that almost all of your customers see, and it’s something you can’t chop and change all the time.
You have to pick a name that says something about you and your business that people in your target market will remember easily. It can be something as simple as using your name or surname followed by what it is that you do, such as Bagley’s Screenprinting or Ed’s Plumbing.
If your business operates in your town only, you could use something like Toptown Motors, or if you market in a larger area, Whale Route Hardware. Both these options have the advantage of sounding like the first choice in a specific area.
If you are providing a more formal service such as accounting or marketing consultancy, use that as part of your name: Bagley’s Accounting Services; Bagley’s Marketing Consultancy.
Retail outlets might opt for something more trendy, especially in the fashion field.
As with a logo or slogan, it helps to identify the qualities or aura of your product, service or business.
- Identify the words most apt to reflect those characteristics.
- Using those words, try them in various combinations.
- Keep it simple and easily pronounceable, make it easy to write, spell and remember.
- Be original to avoid confusion with other products and companies.
- Like the logo, visual comprehension must by easy.
- You must be able to live with it.
If possible opt for a short name – take two or three words that describe your business then shorten them to make it one word.
Finally, check to make sure the name is not already in use somewhere.
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