Your Small Business Name -- Important?

You bet a name is important. Many small business owners try to come up with a clever name for their business rather than one that explains what they do. And, nine times out of ten, that is a mistake. Your business name should give your prospects some idea of what your business is about.

One of the most useful processes you can use to come up with a good name is to turn it around. Rather than looking at the name from your perspective, approach it from your prospect's perspective.

1. Identify your target market. Be specific. What are their wants and needs? Specific gender? How big are they? Do they make a certain amount of revenue? What do they look like? Draw a picture of your prospect.

2. Why should they do business with you? What are the benefits? What makes you different from all the other businesses in your industry?

Based on your answers to 1 and 2 above, brainstorm a list of words that could potentially turn into a company name. Now try putting them together. Experiment with all sorts of combinations. Eliminate those that just don't appeal to you at all.

Now narrow down that list to 10 possible names and walk away. Let the list sit for at least a day. Then come back and take a second look. See anything else that should be removed? If not, you have a potential list of names. Access your state directory of business names to make sure yours are not taken. Check the Library of Congress for patent and trademark names too.

Narrow your list again, this time whittling it down to three names. If at all possible, run those names by people who are your target market to make sure they "get it."

Okay, you're almost done. Take that list of three names and rank them in terms of how you feel about them. Say them out loud just like you would if you were introducing yourself to someone or answering the phone.

That's it. Select the name that works the best for you and get your business going.

About the Author

Denise O'Berry frequently speaks to professional organizations, is the author of three booklets, and several "how-to" manuals. She writes a weekly small business column, hosts an online small business owners forum and is called upon regularly by publications such as Entrepreneur, Bank Rate Small Business, Florida Trend, Inc., various newspapers, radio and television to provide expert comments on small business issues.

http://www.whatspossible.com
http://www.justforsmallbusiness.com
http://www.deniseoberry.com

---

Logo Design - Branding - Brand Identity Guru

Do you have any idea how important your company logo... Read More

No Logo? Launching A Business Without a Logo Can Sabotage You

Initial lack of customers and cash flow often causes a... Read More

Create a Niche: Stoke Your Market With Affiliate Branding

Propose success, demand performance, and brand your market with appeal.... Read More

My First Year In Cyber Space

My first year as a Cyberpreneur was a steeplearning-curve. I... Read More

Picking The Design Company Which Is Right For You

So you've decided to go for it-you're ready to choose... Read More

Brilliant Branding Builds Business

Branding is more than product recognition or a simple logo.... Read More

Simple Risk Reversal Formula Will Send Your Sales Into Space (1 of 2)

Make A Bold Promise Then Back It Up With An... Read More

Brand Strategy - Brand Identity Guru

If you could have the secret recipe and all the... Read More

Franchising is Virtually Fraud Free

The number of complaints to the Federal Trade Commission on... Read More

A Successful Failure

A successfully positioned business sometimes doesn't win a new client.... Read More

Quality and Service - Yeah, Right!

One of the critical drivers of business success is having... Read More

Branding: What Not to Do

Here's a little story about what not to do as... Read More

Go Ask Alice

One of fiction's finest marketing minds, The Cheshire Cat, once... Read More

Why You? -- Professional Identity Branding

You can have first-rate products and services, but if you... Read More

Whats In A Name? When It Comes To Your Business, Plenty!

Q: How important is the name of a business? Should... Read More

Strategic Moves In The Branding Gamble!

The so called 'globalisation' has cluttered the world markets with... Read More

Build Brand Identity - Brand Identity Guru

Successful Guru marketers have a secret weapon that they use... Read More

Im Just Starting, Why Do I Need a Logo Design?

Businesses eager to open often give little thought to their... Read More

The Aim of the Name

Large corporations spend lavish amounts seeking names for their products... Read More

Brand Warfare is More of a War than You Think

We will discuss Brand Marketing for a minute. In this... Read More

How Brand as an Intellectual Property has Led to Corporate Globalisation?

IntroductionGlobalisation is referred to as a set of profound material... Read More

Branding Yourself To Increased Profitability

Successful Realtors know the importance of branding their identities into... Read More

The MOST Expensive Mistake You Can Make

Most people who own a small business have a huge... Read More

Trademark Issues in the Mobil Auto Business

There have always been trademark issues and lawsuits in the... Read More

Branding Your Products Is Important

I was chatting with a couple of friends, all of... Read More

The Positioning of Success

Many businesses of today are often driven to compete... Read More

Your Identity Speaks Loudly...What Are You Saying?

Your corporate identity is a graphic expression of who you... Read More

How to Write Classified Ads that Get Results Now.

SELLING DIRECTLY FROM A CLASSIFIED AD Classified ads can be... Read More

Branding Services - Brand Identity Guru

Branding Services is a tactic that marketing executives and managers... Read More

Strategy and Tips for a Successful Logo Design

Visual processing is the most important way for gathering information... Read More

Corporate Branding and Professional Logo Design

Any business with the minimum interest to be successful should... Read More

What is Private Franchising? It is Nothing Someone Made It Up

The Federal Trade Commission has an obligation to the general... Read More

McDonalds Supply Chain of Potatoes

McDonald's buys its potatoes from corporate farmers in Idaho not... Read More