We talk a lot about business writing (it is in our name, after all), but writing in the context of business is not limited to emails and proper business letter format. Creative writing (and it does have to be creative) runs through all of our business tasks from emails, to memos and even to one of the most important things we can do (should you be a business owner) – naming your company.
Some new small business owners struggle with the process of naming their businesses. Of course, it’s an easy process if a business owner is sticking with a family name or a business name that’s personal. It’s not such an easy process to come up with a name that’s catchy enough to grab the attention of prospective customers in a competitive environment.
If you are struggling to come up with an appropriate name for your business, all is not lost. You do have the option of using what is referred to as a “business name generator.” What is a business game generator? The following information will hopefully answer this question and offer you enough motivation to give a business name generator a try.
What’s In A Name?
Before discussing business name generators, it seems relevant to first discuss the importance of choosing the right business name. It’s important for you to remember that the name you ultimately choose is the first step in establishing the identity of your brand. It’s a name that you might be carrying with your business well into the future.
To clarify, here are three reasons why your business name matters:
- It creates prospective customer curiosity
- It creates a first impression that will play a role in whether or not prospective customers will consider doing business with your business
- Business names can create an emotional attachment with prospective customers
What Not To Do When Picking A Business Name
While it’s important to follow proper procedures when picking a new business name, it’s just as important to avoid common business naming mistakes. Mistakes can actually result in financial struggles for your business.
Here is a brief list of things you want to avoid when naming your business:
- Don’t try so hard to create a name that makes sense – acronym names are quite popular
- Don’t select a business name that would be difficult for customers to spell and remember
- Don’t use rules to restrict your choices – adopt an anything-goes attitude
- Keep the names as short and uncomplicated as possible
What is a Business Name Generator
At this point, you should have a feel for how important it is that you select the right business name. You should also have an understanding of what not to do. Now, you are ready to get down to the task of naming your business.
If nothing immediately pops into your head, it indicates you need help. That’s when you need a software program that will take some basic information and create names from which you can choose. That defines a business name generator. It’s a software platform that uses a series of protocols and information to come up with business names that make sense and will draw customer interest.
How to Use a Business Name Generator
Like most creative software platforms, a business name generator requires users to go through a step-by-step process. With that in mind, here are the general steps you will need to take to get that coveted business name that identified your brand.
Step 1 – Enter a series of keywords to drive the search. The keywords can be industry terms, product terms, emotions, ideas, and personal concepts.
Step 2 – Tell the business name generator if you want the business name to be short, medium, or long.
Step 3 – Tell the program what type of business name you would prefer (title, acronym, etc.)
Step 4 – Hit go and let the business name generator work its magic. It will create a list of viable business names from which you could choose.
Step 5 – Make your initial selection.
Once you have made a selection, you will need to address legal issues. You can do that by going through the following steps:
Step 6 – Verify the availability of the business name with your state’s Secretary of State.
Step 7 – Verify the availability of the name as a domain and on social media sites (you need business name continuity)
Step 8 – Secure and Trademrk your business name
Step 9 – Register your business with the Secretary of State and Internal Revenue Service
Step 10 – Present your new business to consumers
If by any chance your selected business name is not available, you can go back and repeat steps 5 through 7.
Don’t forget, you might also want to establish your business type be it a sole proprietorship, partnership, or Limited Liability Corporation. Some states require that you file a DBA (Doing Business As).
Related: Now that you have a business name, you have to describe it. Here are some tips about summarizing your business in under 200 words.