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How to Choose Your Company Name

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Are you thinking of starting a new business but you aren’t sure what to call it?
OR (and this one may apply to most of you) do you have a company name but it makes no sense?
Your inner wedding marketing genius wants to do something cutesy and super creative – I get it. But take a minute to think about it – do the names you are considering explain what you do? Are they just popular? How many company names exist that are just like yours?

These are my 5 tips to consider when picking your company name.

 

1) Don’t use someone else’s name that is not yours –
When your name is Lucy but you’ve named your company Victoria Designs, people will assume your name is Victoria. I know you want to honor your grandma or relative or sister by using her name, but you’ve just confused your potential clients and industry contacts. No matter how much time and money you spend on PR or advertising, people will always think you are someone else.

 

2) Make it clear what you do –
I see business partners who want their new venture to incorporate pieces of both of them… So they might combine their names or chose names of loved ones and combine them. Unfortunately the end result is that it doesn’t usually flow as a brand name for services you offer or products you are selling. If you create children’s clothes but that isn’t clear by your company name, consumers will be confused. Choose a name that is both unique and clear in what you do.

 

3) Pick a name they won’t forget –
Most business owners want a company name that will be so good people won’t forget it. There is so much competition out there, a company name can be a great way to stand out. What is it about your company name and brand experience they will remember? However, my one caveat to this is that while you want to be memorable, you don’t it to be so different that it turns people off. Basically don’t be weird if you don’t want your brand to be embraced as weird!

 

4) How Do you Spell that?
Can I easily remember your company name? Once I remember it, can I easily spell it and google it to find you online or on instagram? When you start getting creative with all the different ways to spell your company name it can hurt you when other business choose the same name and spell it the right way. SEO is on their side. People will spell it the way that makes most sense to them when they are searching you. Also, keep in mind that your company name is typically your domaine name, which is typically your email address. Choose a name that people can easily spell and save your colleagues, clients and inquiries the frustration of bounce backs and lost emails.

 

5) What if you want to sell it?
If you pick a company name that has your name in it, what happens when you want to sell or stop? How many companies do you know that have been sold to another person with the original name of the previous owner? If you sell products it can still work, but for service based businesses it really limits you on how to grow beyond the business being about YOU.

 

Your company name will be how you are searched, referenced, and remembered. Be intentional. If you have a brand name that needs to be changed, it’s not too late! The longer you go with a company name that isn’t really helping you the more limited your options will be to maximize sales, grow your brand, or sell your business down the road. Don’t be afraid to make a change! Change is good.

 

For more tips like these and to learn how to craft the perfect resume and land the job of your dreams reach out to work with me. Can’t wait to connect with you! XO, Leila

 

 

14 responses to “How to Choose Your Company Name”

  9. This advice is so valuable! It’s especially so important to create a business name that is memorable and easy to spell. Thanks for sharing this advice!

  10. “Basically don’t be weird if you don’t want your brand to be embraced as weird!” haha – TOO TRUE!!

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