Things you need to consider when naming your LLC
Naming your business in a right way is an essential process which can have a significant impact on the success of your business. A clear, powerful name will help your marketing and advertising campaigns.
It helps to establish a connection between you and your potential clients. If it is easy for them to understand what you do, it is more likely that they will become your clients. You business name connects with your customers on an emotional level.
OMA team has come up with 10 tips on how to choose a winning name for your startup.
Make it simple
Names that are hard to pronounce or spell should be avoided because they confuse your customers. As a result, your potential clients simply can’t find you on the internet. So choose a simple name that can be easily remembered. For example, The Face Shop, Lips and Looks or SafeSkin cosmetics.
Think wider
Very specific names are good for very specific purposes. But when your business grows your services might grow too. And in that case your business name might limit your business growth. Avoid using a particular product or a city in your business name like “Bridal makeup in LA”. That narrows your services to only bridal makeup and only in LA. But what if you want to try something else?
Make sure your name is unique
It means that it is very likely that someone has already been using a name you want, so do a thorough web search to make sure your name is unique and there isn’t a makeup artist who has the same name.
The name should be meaningful
It is very helpful for your business if its name conveys some meaning related to your services. Keep in mind the search engine optimisation purposes.You can also choose a catchy name that might not have a direct connection to makeup but is easy to grasp and remember. There could be a story behind your name, which is very useful for marketing but takes way more time to brand.The name of your business should resonate with your target audience. It should be understandable and familiar to them. Let’s see some examples among different makeup companies: DollsKill, Make up For Ever and Beauty Heroes.
Have options
Don’t stick to one option, think of a few variants of the name. Ask your friends what associations they get when you say them one of the options. Note them down and study the feedback you have got. It often happens that a name you particularly favour turns out to be unpopular among others. A side opinion is important because it is likely to be the same opinion as your potential clients might get when they hear your business name for the first time.Did you know that Google was not originally Google but BackRub, the search engine was renamed to reflect the mission of the search. Or take Nike - it was Blue Ribbon Sports at first and later it was named after the Greek goddess of victory.
You should like the name you created
Considering other opinions is a great idea but your business name should please you. If a name you like doesn’t seem to be liked by others you should think of another option that will satisfy you and get a positive feedback from other people.
Use resources to help you brainstorm names T
hinking of a name and brainstorming ideas might be a hard task to complete - lucky for you, there are resources to give you a hand. You can check the following links: - Namelix.com - try out different keywords and get related names and logos. - Brandroot.com - you can search either by a keyword or a business category to get a name and a logo and see if it is available or not. - VisualThesaurus.com will give a visual around the keyword. The trial version allows a limited amount of searches. - Naminum.com - this resource helps you to brainstorm name ideas based on a theme and they also show which options have already been taken. - Spotify Business Name Generator - enter a query (a theme) and you will get a list of business names containing this word.
Get the .com name domain
Customers associate .com with more established businesses. It might happen that the domain is not available because there is a company owning that name but because someone wants to sell it. Check it out and if the price is reasonable then it’s worth paying. You can check who is the owner of the domain name using such resources as GoDaddy.com or Network Solutions.
Do a trademark search
Trademark search is an important step is a name selection process because it lets you avoid future expenses. You can insert the name you want to use for your business here to find out if it is already registered or has been applied for a trademark. Apply for a trademark after you decide on your name - it will cost you less than $300 and will protect your names, logos and symbols that are unique for your service and business.
Don’t rush
Coming up with a business name is not easy so don’t make fast decisions. Give yourself some time to think and reflect on it. Focusing on one thing often ends up in creativity block so switching into something else can help you to come up with more ideas.
In order to pick up or create the right name for your business you should know your business very well. It might be a good idea to go back to your business plan and review it. Then think of as many descriptive keywords as possible. Descriptive keywords are the ones that describe your services, your business and brand. Start with something common and obvious like “makeup” or “bridal” and let your creativity come up with more options. You can include your own name, or you might have a single word name. Play with letters - maybe changing letter or word position will help you create a great name. And remember that names tell stories, so make sure your name, your logo and the colours of your website tell the same story.