How to Business Name

How to choose a business name is a question I get asked by clients all the times, so below are my key points when trying to choose one for your business or brand.

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Does the Name Represent What You Sell

While not necessary, it is impressive when a business name has a connection to what you sell. For example, the business Scentered® is a mindfulness lifestyle brand that uses the power of sense of smell as a tool to direct thoughts, emotions & actions to live happier lives. So the name is brilliant as it combines “Scent” with “Centered”.

Is the Name Memorable

You want a business name that is memorable the first time someone hears it. For example, the wine brand, Fat Bastard, definitely is a memorable name in a market where names are often difficult to recall. But there are drawbacks to a funny name. Does it make you think wine? Would you feel comfortable asking for it in a store? Would you gift it to your boss? So memorable but remember the goals of your brand.

Is the Name Easy to Spell

If you make up a name or use an acronym, you are making it challenging for your customers to find you, such as typing your name into a search engine or recommending you to a friend. For example, the brand WKND Apparel. It does represent what they sell, but by shorting the word weekend like this, people might not type it in correctly when searching for it.

Is the Name Easy to Say

Same issue as spelling. If the name is not easy to pronounce, you are challenging customers who speak their searches into their phones, or again, want to refer you to friends. For example, the popular appliance company Miele, is actually pronounced mee-luh, but most people pronounce it mee-lee.

Is the Business Name Not Too Long

Short names have the benefit that they can appear larger and more readable on signage, business cards, labels, etc., plus they tend to be more memorable and easier to say. For example, nail polish bottles have small labels, so short brand names like OPI and Essie make sense.

Is the Name a Single World

Maybe you just want to take one word and make it your business name. For example, names like Target and Chewy are short, everyday words that are unlikely to be mis-spelt or mispronounced. The downside is that they can be very difficult to trademark as a result.

Is the Business Name Your Own Name

Maybe your name is John Smith and you want to call your business the John Smith Company. There can be issues with this. For example, you are now the brand, as opposed to what you sell. Also, if you want to sell the business one day, it will be difficult. And, if someone with the same name was to do something controversial, like become a serial killer, it wouldn’t bode well for your business.

Does the Business Name Have Your Locale

Some businesses want to appeal to the lure of supporting a local or national business. For example, the Harlem Candle Company pretty much tells me where this company has its roots, and if I’m from New York, I may want to support them just for this reason.