Your business’ name is one of its most important assets. It is key that you conduct research and plan thoroughly when selecting a company name, so you can stand out from competitors and develop a strong brand identity which appeals to target consumers. Turner Little explains how to choose the right name for your business.
Memorable name
Company Branding Specialist Jim Fowle from Red Mullet Design recently commented: “When starting a company, your brand is of vital importance. Branding is not just a memorable logo but also an effective, memorable name that can really help people remember you. This can be portrayed strongly visually as well. In the initial stages, we find it’s good to envisage your name and branding, making sure it’s recognisable, simple and reflects your business.”
Elaborating, Fowle suggests you should ask yourself three questions about a potential company name. Do you like saying it? Do you like hearing it? Do you like looking at it? If you do not like saying your company’s name, or think it sounds odd or looks strange in text, then the chances are that you consumers will hold similar opinions, limiting its potential to serve as a powerful marketing tool.
Continuing, he says: “Initially, in the early stages the best option is to be experimental. Sometimes it’s easy to get too clever and to lose sight of what you are trying to achieve. It is about getting the balance of a good name and having good branding at the same time. This encapsulates the perfect package.”
Naming tips
Rowle argues that when selecting your business’ name, you should be bold but keep it simple and choose something that is instantly recognisable to target consumers. Here are four tips that you can use to ensure you choose the right name for your company:
- Keep it simple: Make sure that your company name is simple and original, so that it is easy for your target customers to remember. Choose a name that instantly lets consumers know what your business does, so they understand why they should engage with your company.
- Be funny: Do not underestimate the power of humour. Let’s say, for example, that you own a hairdressers and you decide to call it Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow. By playing on words, you will have a name that elicits laughs from passers-by, ensuring that your company sticks in their mind. Avoid going for names that are too cheesy or distract from your company’s brand identity, to wield the power of humour effectively.
- Go local: It is a good idea to select a name which connects your company to the area it operates in. This would allow you to highlight your business’ strong local roots, assuring target consumers that you are one of them and thus, understand what they want from your firm. By taking this approach, customers will see you as a well-established, reputable company.
- Avoid personal touch: Resist the urge to name your business after yourself. This approach lacks originality, meaning that you will not be able to use it to develop a strong brand identity. It is also important to note that if you want to expand your firm, it needs to be able to operate intendent of you, which it cannot do if it is named after you.
Online compatibility
It is key to choose a name that translates well online. Increasingly, consumers are researching and engaging with companies via their digital assets, such as their websites and social media profiles and it is vital to order to present a robust brand image to consumers. Turner Little provide the domain name registration services needed to establish a strong presence online.
Turner Little
Turner Little was founded in 1998 and it has since become a well-established UK based professional Company Registration Agent, Registered Bank Intermediaries and Business Consultants, as well as Trust provider. You can receive our monthly newsletter by signing up using the form below.
