If you’ve got a brilliant idea for a new startup, you might be in a hurry to get started. Maybe your inspiration came from a headache you’ve dealt with while using another service. Maybe you’ve got an idea for an app that will disrupt an entire industry. Or maybe you’ve got an invention that you’re certain will take the world by storm. Whatever the case, you need a way to package your innovation that will help it take off and gain traction–and that all starts with a name for your company. Here are some simple suggestions for naming your new business.
1. Choose Something Memorable
You want the name of your business to be something that ingrains itself in people’s minds the instant they hear it. Choose something that’s distinctive, catchy when spoken aloud, and looks good written out. Avoid names that are similar to other companies.
2. Make Sure You Can Secure The .com Domain
There are a multitude of domain types available now, including .biz, .net, and .org. However, a .com domain conveys trustworthiness and professionalism. You should make sure that the .com for your business name is available for purchase before you go forward with naming the business. If there’s already a company with that URL, many of your potential customers will be confused and possibly dissuaded when trying to find your business online.
3. Check the Trademark Status Of Any Potential Name
You will also want to trademark the name of your business, so it’s important to make sure it’s not already owned by someone else. You can do a quick search at USPTO.gov to see if the trademark is available.
4. Choose Something Easy to Spell
One of the biggest trends in startup branding is misspelling a common word to create a distinctive name for your app or company. Look at Fiverr, Qustodian, or Lyft for examples. While names like these might be trendy, they’re falling out of favor as many people see them as cliché. If you want to go with a quirky spelling, make it something that’s off by only a letter; “Lyft with a y” is a lot easier to pitch to investors than “Sophtwear with a ‘ph’ and the ware spelled wrong”.
5. Pick A Name That’s Connected with What You’re Selling
Another trend in naming that’s on the way out: giving companies a first name, like Leesa or Lynda. While this gives the company a friendly vibe, it doesn’t make it clear what they’re selling. Choose a name that immediately conveys a message about what your company can do for consumers.
6. Check Your SEO
Even if the .com domain is available and the trademark hasn’t been claimed, the name of your business might already be strongly associated with something else. Conduct a few internet searches for your potential name, adding “business” to the end if you’re getting too broad of results. If there are other businesses with similar names, you might want to pick something else.
Naming your company is an important element in making it successful! Choose something distinctive, catchy, and most importantly, available, and you’ll be one step closer toward making it big.
