When you’re at the helm of a new business, there are myriad of details to consider. From packaging and shipping to distribution and marketing, a lot of factors demand your attention. However, all of these are rendered insignificant in the absence of an official brand name that represents your business.
Naming a business isn’t always easy. The way you put into words the vision and the purpose of your enterprise is a matter of significance? Here are a few top tips for choosing the best name for your brand.
Say it out loud
Today, there are many marketing and distribution platforms than ever before, encompassing written, audio, and digital media. You need to make sure your company name sounds great on all of them. It isn’t enough to have a name that looks good on a screen. It should also sound great when spoken aloud.
Make it relevant
This isn’t the time to ask customers to play the guessing game. Especially if your business is service-oriented, your company name should clearly explain what service you provide. The provided service is right there in their brand name, so there’s no question about what kind of company they are. More examples include UberEATS, Paychex, and Servpro, among others.
Consider SEO
The name of your business can have a major impact on your search engine optimization (SEO) strategy. If it’s unique, easy to spell, and ties in seamlessly with your target keywords, it will be easier to attain higher rankings on the search engine results pages (SERPs).
Avoid geo-specific names
Unless you plan to do business only in a specific location, avoid names that highlight a particular geographic region. Doing so can limit your audience reach and make it more difficult to grow outside your perimeter.
Ensure trademark availability
Even if you’re an established business, it pays to trademark your brand name. This way, you hold the exclusive rights to use it nationwide, and you can make sure no imposters try to piggyback on your success.
Avoid initials or obscure words
Sure, IBM, CVS, and IKEA have all made it to the top with just initials or acronyms. However, these are billion-dollar companies with instantly recognizable logos and branding themes. Until you’re a household name, it’s best to avoid this approach. The reason is simple: No one will know what the letters stand for, or what your brand does. They’re also far less likely to search for it online.
Test on Google Ads
If you’re second-guessing a name, it helps to test your shortlist of prospective names on Google Ads. Use the Keyword Planner tool to search for each name on your list. When you do, you’ll see a list of similar search phrases, along with their respective search traffic. If there’s a domain name similar to yours that’s getting a significant amount of traffic, choose a different one to stand out.
