How To Name Your Brand
If you want to differentiate yourself from your competition and position yourself in the market by communicating the personality of your business, it is essential that you invest time in the analysis of names for businesses. Therefore, we bring you considerations and tips to create names for unforgettable brands.
“The strongest brands achieve, through emotional connections with their customers, that their names are remembered beyond the attributes of a product or service itself.”
If you are looking for startup names that stand out from the crowd, you are in the right article! We are going to bring you tips so you can create an unbeatable one and examples of business names for your inspiration.
As if that were not enough, at the end of this post you will find access to our Brand Name Generator.
Before we jump right into business, let’s think about famous people who changed their original names. Without a doubt, they did it strategically because they knew that in this way they would achieve a greater impact on the audience.
Let’s see some examples, you will be surprised!
- Farrokh Bulsara is now Freddie Mercury.
- Ralph Lifshitz is now Ralph Lauren.
- Annie Mae Bullock is now Tina Turner.
- Gordon Matthew Thomas Summer is now Sting.
- David Robert Jones is David Bowie.
- Allan Stewart Konigsberg’s Woody Allen.
- Norma Jean Mortensen is now Marilyn Monroe.
Let’s go then with the exclusive tips that will help you think of names for ventures. Let’s get right into the subject!
Preliminary considerations for the choice of names for entrepreneurship
In addition to differentiation, there are basic characteristics that all business and brand names should have. We will tell you about them below.
1. single
If you have a name that is the same or similar to that of another business, it is very likely that the audience will confuse them and associate your brand with an area that may not have any relation to yours.
Worse still, it could cause you a legal problem to have the same name as a brand that is already registered. Before choosing it, check that it is not registered.
2. Short and simple
A business name with a few letters is easier to remember. Therefore, when creating it, consider that it has to be able to be pronounced in such a way that you do not have to be spelling it every time a person asks about it.
It often happens that, once you choose the name of your brand, you are so used to saying or writing it over and over again, that you end up forgetting that it may not be as easy and intuitive for your potential customers.
In addition, although we live in a world where the internet reigns, word of mouth is still a very important means of dissemination. For this, you have to make sure that people can communicate your name without difficulties.
When making this decision, many think of names for Instagram because they know that they will also sell through that medium.
Business names with one or two syllables are generally easier to memorize. On the other hand, having a short name can also help you when buying the domain of your e-commerce.
3. Present a positive image for your brand
The image you generate for your brand is very, very important, and it has to be aligned with the choice of name for your business.
Although the name itself does not have to literally tell what your company does, you can create a positive image with graphic elements that support the essence of your brand (what it does, its values, philosophy, etc.). Make sure it represents the desired image.
4. Enduring
Your company name has to stand the test of time.
Consumers like to see that products and services are renewed, but they will always look for strength and consistency in brands, and this is achieved with a company that provides trust and security.
For example, choosing names that refer to memes or specific topics of a certain moment can be successful at first. But, over time, they can be easily forgotten. For this reason, we recommend that you avoid passing fads and choose timeless names that are related to your business at any time.
If you still have doubts about this, think about the successful brands that work in the same field as your company and see if any of them have become obsolete over time. Those that last invariably have striking names, easy to remember, and transcend fashions.
5. Adaptable
Keep in mind that if you are going to have an online store, the name of your business must be designed in such a way that it adapts correctly to a good domain.
What do we mean by that? That perhaps the name you love so much for your brand is already being used in a domain, and that may force you to change it.
Tips for creating names for businesses
Now that you know the importance of the brand name and what are the essential attributes to make it effective, it’s time to get to work!
1. Ask yourself what drives your business
For most brands, the goal is simply to create a descriptive and memorable name. But before considering a verbal identity for their company or product, a brand must first figure out what promise they will make to their customers and what makes them unique.
Some of the questions you should ask yourself when starting a business are:
- What is the purpose of my company?
- How are we different?
- What are our advantages over our competition?
2. Identify your target audience
To decide what the name of your brand is going to be, you have to identify and fully understand your target audience. Understanding this will allow you to think of names that match these people and that represent something to them.
At this point, we advise you, on the one hand, to observe your competition and, on the other, to send a survey to people who meet the profile you want to achieve. Suggest words at random and analyze which ones are better received by the audience. You can also ask these people to suggest a name.
We also insist that you choose a name that is easy to remember and that does not resemble something that already exists, otherwise, you will have much more work to position yourself.
3. Brainstorm names for startups
I wrote on different papers words and phrases that characterize your business. Do not deprive yourself of writing what you feel necessary, no matter how ridiculous it may sound.
“Any word or phrase can trigger other ideas that can help you create the name.”
Brainstorming is precisely characterized by not analyzing each thought, but rather it must be an action that lets the imagination flow.
Once you have the list of keywords and phrases, you are going to have to filter many of them to obtain a shorter series with names that are simple, recognizable, and easy to pronounce.
If at the moment you are not sure what you have chosen, we recommend that you pause the selection process and come back to it at another time to rest and clarify your ideas.
Once you are ready, make sure that what you have chosen complies with the above and, most important of all, check what you associate that word or phrase with when you read it.
We also suggest that you ask other people for their opinion. This can help you clarify the picture.
Finally, when you have decided on an option, ask yourself:
- Does the name really stand out and differentiate me from my competitors?
- Is my business activity quickly understandable?
- Did I make sure it is unique, simple, short, and adaptable?
- If the answer is yes, we have a winner!
4. If necessary, change the name
We know that things can change over time. For this reason, if you think a name change makes sense for your strategy, consider this possibility.
Did you know that the sports brand Nike was called Blue Ribbon when it was created?
The name was first used by company founder Phil Knight when asked by Japanese investors what the name of his business was. Since he still didn’t know what he was going to call his company, he quickly looked around him and saw the blue ribbon of an award he had won. That’s where Blue Ribbon came from.
As you can see, there was no planning when choosing this name. So, many years later, for legal reasons, he had to think of another option. After exchanging ideas with his team, he ended up accepting the suggestion of “Nike”, the name of the Greek goddess of victory.
Since then, the brand has been fully associated with an element referring to the sporting goods segment. Also, the name is short, easy, and memorable.
Do you need the inspiration to choose the name of your brand?
We come to the end of this article, and with that, bringing you our startup name generator tool. Try it right now!
Business Name Generator This is a website that helps in generating business names and they have developed a tool to provide you with podcast names and check domain availability.
Conclusion:
Every entrepreneur in their company should be well versed in their service and business naming process and should also be aware of the importance of a good business name. Your potential customers should be able to recognize what your business sells by looking at the name.
