One of the most important parts of starting up a business is deciding what to call it!
Some people will simply use their name, this is an easy solution and using your name as a brand is a solid foundation for your business. For some though, they may have reasons for not using their name or do not want or they simply do not like their name. In these situations it would be good to think about words that have impact and that encapsulate the image you want to portray to your potential customers.
You will also need to decide if you would like a logo to go with your new name, this can either add more impact or if not done properly, it can be a little gimmicky and could put off new customers.
Once you are 100% sure you decided on a name then your next move to should be to check if it is available, I personally use www.123-reg.co.uk and highly recommend them. It’s really important that you register your own domain and not leave it up to your web designer! The reason for this is, once they are in control of it and for whatever reason you want to change your web designer or host, then it could be a messy process trying to regain control over it should they be unresponsive.
Here are some important points to remember:
- Think about the future – Don’t use a gimmicky or a fad name when deciding, it that may be cool now but not so cool in a few years time. Think ahead and go with a name that is timeless.
- Don’t commit to a single niche – Sure there are occasions when it’s appropriate to do this but it would be more profitable to have say ‘Joe Blogs Hypnotherapy’ instead of ‘Joe Blogs Weight loss’. If you want to only commit to one niche then that is fine as long as you are aware and you are doing it for the right reasons.
- K.I.S.S: Keep It Stupid Simple – Having a simple name will help people remember you easily. Don’t unnecessarily complicate it if it doesn’t need to be. Here’s some good well known examples: Apple, Yahoo, Google, Wella, Shell, BP, Tesco, Ford, etc. Try not to make it too cryptic for people to work out either, be up front about what you do and let you name reflect that as much as possible.
- Coordinated Branding – Once you’ve decided on a name and checked it’s domain is as also available, you should also check on different social media platforms, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.
- Be Different – Don’t try and choose a name too similar to an existing and established brand, the last thing you want is to have a letter from a solicitor!
We include Logo design and we also help with choosing a name too as part of all our packages. Contact us today to discover your business’s new brand!
Blue Spark Web Designs Team
