How To Find a Great Name
By Henrik Scheel, Founder of Startup Experience
Avg. read time 2 mins
Making a good first impression is important, which is why companies put so much thought into their name. It should be relevant and memorable, so it will help your customers find you, but also adaptable so that you have room to grow. I recommend following a four-step process to generate and validate name ideas.
Step 1: Brainstorm Potential Names
There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing a new company name: is it easy to pronounce? Does it set expectations about your company? Is it too close to another company’s name? Can you get a good domain name for your website?
If you need help, there are name generators online, like NameStudio.com.
You just need an idea, and NameStudio can turn that idea into suggestions for great business names with available domain names. I always recommend to get a .com domain name, because .com domain names are trusted, recognized, and used worldwide.
Step 2: Research Companies With Similar Names
Once you identify a name you like and you know that there is a .com domain name that you can register, the next step is to see if there are any other companies in your industry using anything close to that name. You may find that even though there’s not a company with the exact same name, there may be a company that ranks highly on search engine results pages with a similar name. If it’s too close to your name, it might be a good idea to pivot to a different name so you don’t risk confusing your future customers.
Step 3: Register Your Domain Name
If you decide to register your name as a .com domain name, you can choose a domain name registrar by searching online or asking your network for recommendations. Many registrars offer a variety of services, like web hosting and custom emails, so it’s important to find the right combination of services to match your business needs.
Step 4: Validate Your Name With Potential Customers
In addition to vetting your name online, you should also validate your name with potential customers. Tell them the name of your company and ask them what they think you make or do. Make sure to ask open ended questions and to listen what they have to say.
There are many companies who started with unique names that became synonymous with their product. But the easiest and best names, from a marketing perspective, tell your customer something about your company.
TAKEAWAY
Ideally, your name conveys your unique value proposition, or the thing you intend to do better than anyone else. If you can work that into your name, your product might just sell itself!
