Tips for choosing a business name with marketing in mind
Photo by Diego PH on Unsplash
Are you thinking of starting your own business? Giving it a name is one of the most important steps in creating your organization and establishing a professional identity.
It can be daunting to pick something fitting for you and gives off the right message, but with these helpful tips, you’ll be able to select a creative name that clearly reflects both your vision and strategic marketing goals. Think carefully – this choice will play an integral part in forming how others perceive your brand!
Start by brainstorming ideas for a catchy, memorable name
Brainstorming is a great way to start when launching any project or creative endeavor, including your brand name!
Names are more than just labels; they are powerful symbols that should reflect the core mission and the overall identity of what you are setting out to accomplish. Good, memorable names can have an immense impact on how people perceive and interact with your brand.
To come up with your own catchy name, give yourself some time and space to really think outside the box. Consider words, phrases, sounds, colors, political events, and themes as potential sources of inspiration! Taking these creative leaps will lead you in the right direction to create a memorable name that best captures what you stand for.
Make sure it’s relevant to your business and its industry
In today’s digital landscape, it can be easy to get tied up in the novelty of new marketing platforms and forget why we’re doing this in the first place—reaching our customers. If you want to craft an effective brand name for your target audience, make sure it is relevant to your business and its industry.
Tailoring your name to a targeted audience enriches the conversation and helps build trust among those who will most likely purchase from you.
In other words, align your brand name to the message you would like to convey to your target audience! Doing so will help draw potential customers into conversations with your brand.
Research domain names and social media handles
Adding a website or social media profile to your business can be a great way to expand your reach and increase customer engagement. However, researching the right domain name or handle for your brand can be tedious and time-consuming.
When available, opt for something that best reflects the information on your website or the content you post on social media to make it easy for customers to remember. For example, Namesurfy can help you find a simple, readable, and unique domain name that best reflects your business’ message. Don’t forget to research possible names across various social media platforms to check your brand name is already taken. You want it to stand out from the competition!
Consider how the name will look in print and online graphics
When selecting your brand name, it is crucial to carefully consider how the name will look when printed and represented as part of online graphics. Different fonts, colors, and words create an entirely different visual impact.
Additionally, some words can be easily misinterpreted depending on the typeface, color combination, or size used. It is wise to preview what a logo or other graphic would look like and how they would convey your brand’s message. Think of Ikea or Google – what you recognize first about their brand is their color scheme!
Ask trusted friends and colleagues for their opinion
Asking for opinions from people you trust helps you make thoughtful decisions. People with similar values and expertise can provide valuable insight that could be useful in decision-making, including choosing your own brand name.
A variety of perspectives is ideal when it comes to gathering feedback – so don’t limit yourself to just one source of input. Keep an open mind and discard the ideas that don’t seem helpful or feasible, but consider everything else that you hear. With the help of these truthful, unbiased opinions, it will be much easier to make thoughtful decisions.
Test the name by running it through marketing surveys or focus groups
Photo by Kristian Egelund on Unsplash
Testing a name through marketing surveys or focus groups can be a valuable approach for developing and assessing the effectiveness of any brand. Taking into consideration consumers’ opinions on the name can provide stronger insights than simply relying on your own initial judgment when deciding how to move forward with a name choice.
Surveying potential buyers for their opinion allows you to get feedback about which names create the most positive associations and which ones might turn off someone from making a purchase. This offers insights from people who are actually in the market to buy similar products or services that your business provides, giving you answers from those who really matter.
Coming up with a great name for your business can seem intimidating at first. However, by following the steps outlined above—from brainstorming and researching to testing and perfecting—you’re guaranteed to come up with a unique and unforgettable name that serves as the foundation of your company’s identity and future marketing efforts.
It may take some time to settle on a name, but it will be worth it in the long run. Don’t forget to consult trusted friends and colleagues along the way — their valuable feedback can help you choose a name that everyone agrees is worthy of representing your business.
