Besides showing what you stand for, your business name will also be the headline of your adverts. People will type in your domain name as the keyword in Google searches when they’re looking for you.
That’s the only chance you’ll get to make a good first impression, so ensure you settle for the right name.
A great way to showcase your uniqueness is through your business name–it trumpets your statement of intent. That exclusive brand name will distinguish you from competitors.
This article provides a step-by-step guide on acquiring a new business name that’ll set you apart from the rest.
Coming up With a Business Name
1. Where to start
Firstly, brainstorm unique business name ideas. Do a word dump of creative business names that come to mind, however silly they sound.
Once you run out of creative juices, it’s time to bring in the company name generators. They contain an algorithm that will suggest the best trade name, complete with available domain names.
The Wordroid free business name generator even comes with a link to Godaddy, a domain hosting company. That means you can register an available domain name on the fly.
List down all the best business names and scrutinize your competitors’ names. Find out if they use a common trend, keywords, and the values they intend to portray with the business name. That will ensure your new business name fits in the industry.
2. Where to find information
Luckily, getting information about registering a legal business name is straightforward.
All you have to do is locate the US Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS) and perform a federal trademark search. The results will confirm if you have a unique business name or not.
Once you settle on an exclusive name, register it if you intend to retain it as your legal business name. State whether you want to operate as a small business owner or general partnership. File Articles of Incorporation for limited liability companies (LLCs).
Note that sole proprietorships can conduct business using a DBA name (doing business as). This could be a fictitious name or an assumed name other than your given name.
Similarly, partnerships can file for a DBA. Although the business owners must present their names, they can trade under a fictitious business name.
3. Do’s and Don’ts
Do: consider how the name will look and sound. It’s important to consider how your name will look everywhere, from a billboard ad, business site, to your social media. When you know how it looks in print, say it out loud. Get something that’ll appeal to your target audience.
Don’t: make it hard to spell. If you or your team always forgets how to spell it correctly, so will the customer. Try to keep this as simple as possible. One way of doing this is by choosing a business name with 5-10 letters.
Do: check domain availability. If the domain is available, buy it and other similar alternatives immediately. Also, check social media platforms and see if you can get matching business handles.
Do: If the business name isn’t taken, make a point of registering it as soon as possible. If you wish to register a business name trademark, apply to the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
4. What will stick with customers?
A catchy business name will stick with the customer most times. Names that stick are short, appealing, easily spelled, pronounced, and remembered, something business name generator tools baked into their algorithm.
A great way to test whether you have a catchy name is by visualizing it in an ad. Alternatively, picture it in a slogan or logo design. If it looks and sounds great, there’s a good chance it’s catchy.
Different Ways You Can Market the Business Name
a) Digital Signage
The displays used in digital signage churn out vivid text and video content. They aim at capturing a target audience’s attention and deliver custom-designed messages.
Since you would typically install digital signage displays in prominent places like airports, malls, and hotels, they are perfect. That means you can spread the news of your new legal name to a broad audience in a striking manner.
b) Social Media
Create social media accounts for your registered name on platforms like Facebook and Twitter and start promoting it like crazy. About 7 in 10 people use their social media platforms every day in America alone. That’s a great way to market your name to a large audience.
Conclusion – What’s in a name?
To sum up, getting great business names is not as simple as you think. One way to make it less stressful is using creative business name generators. They will typically whip out catchy business name ideas for your startup or business entity.
You still need to conduct a trademark search at the trademark office as they are in charge of name registrations. Moreover, conduct a domain name availability to ensure you have a unique .com domain name.
