What’s in a name? When it comes to your business and website, it can mean almost everything. After all, this is what people will know your company as. Once you’ve set and established a name, there’s usually no going back, so you’ll want to be sure you get it right the first time around.
As you contemplate the name of your business and website, you’ll want to ask yourself the following questions:
How easy is it to remember?
Oftentimes, entrepreneurs like to be edgy when it comes to naming their companies, but depending how unique the name is, this can backfire. Sometimes, simplicity is key. If the name of your business is too difficult to remember, it’s likely that people will forget about your company altogether.
How easy is it to spell?
Similarly with being easy to remember, you’ll want something that’s easy for the average consumer to spell, too. This is especially important because If it’s not simple enough, people might have a difficult time finding you.
Is it easy to pronounce?
You picked a name that’s easy to remember and simple to spell—but how does it sound out loud? If it’s too difficult for the average person to pronounce, you may want to keep exploring your options.
Does it have an alternate meaning?
Your one-word business name seems harmless and straightforward, but are you certain about that? Before you take the plunge and make it official, be sure that the name you’re selecting doesn’t have an alternative meaning that is completely unrelated to the services you offer, or isn’t slang for something offensive.
Are your services obvious?
This is debatable, as many great companies don’t necessarily have names that identify themselves right off the bat, but this is something you still may want to consider. At the very least, you’ll likely want to avoid picking a name that implies you offer something completely different than what you do, as this can be confusing and target the wrong audience.
Is the domain name really long?
The name of your company might already be established and when it comes to registering your domain name, the name of your company could already be taken. This is perfectly fine, and should even be expected if your company’s name is a common phrase or word. Registering a variation of your company’s name for your domain name is acceptable, but make sure it’s not too long and convoluted. Remember, you want something that’s easy for people to remember and spell. The longer the domain name is, the odds are that more people will misspell it or forget it completely.
Is there anyone else with a similar name?
Be sure to research other companies that may exist with a similar name already, or even worse—the exact same name. Otherwise, you may have to worry about trademark infringement, and consumers mixing up your company with the other.
