6 Tips For Picking The Perfect Startup Name

Picking a name for your business is so much easier said than done. Just survey the lists of startups that appear every day. How many of those names are memorable? Are any of them any good?

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It’s hard work; there’s no doubt about it. So, to help you arrive at the right name for your startup, we’re going to offer some helpful tips:

  1. Make It Descriptive

Ideally, you’ll want a company name that provides those who see it or hear it with at least some semblance of an idea about what your company does. You don’t have to hit the nail on the head, but something at least related to what you do is always a good idea.

  1. Keep It Simple

The shorter than name you select, the better. This is merely a consequence of the world that we live in today, where attention spans are about as short as they can get. Imagine a future customer trying to type out your company’s name. Wouldn’t you like to make their life as easy as possible?

  1. Consider Alternate Spellings

When selecting a name, you will ideally want something that can only be spelt one specific way. This will avoid brand confusion later on, which you’ll have to expend marketing dollars to alleviate if it arises. Save yourself time and money by choosing a name with no homophones.

  1. Avoid the Trends

Remember how we mentioned those lists of startups earlier? How many of the names that you see on them are “trendy” and similar to other startup names on the list? Where do you think those companies will be in 10 years? Will the name still be trendy then? Leave the trendiness for the hipsters – you’re in business, not at a music festival.

  1. Social Availability

You know how important social media is. Therefore, make sure that you’ll be able to get the social media accounts for whatever name you select. If you can’t, you’ll have to pay an arm and a leg to get them – if whoever has them is even willing to part with them in the first place.

  1. Consider the URL

When you choose a domain name, it’s probably going to be the name of your company right? Well, you’ll want a name, then, that isn’t already taken, or that isn’t squatted by someone looking to turn a profit. Also, consider what it will be like to type in the URL. Are there tripled up letters, as there would be for a company like Scott Teeshirts (www.scottteeshirts.com)? You’ll want to avoid that.

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It’ll Come to You… Just Wait!

It may seem like your company’s name is the most important thing – it is important, no doubt. However, it’s not necessarily where you should start. Don’t be afraid to take your time settling upon something. Once you commit, you’re going to be committed for a long time. Take your time. You wouldn’t rush the naming of your son or daughter, would you? Why would you rush it for your business?