When it comes down to choosing a name for your business, it's not something to take lightly, for a small business the name can mean the word around town or the doom of a brand never to be known. When thinking about a name you should be trying to convey value, expertise, trust and uniqueness of the product or service you have developed.
To start with, what do you want your name to say? It should say the key element of your business. The more it connects to your customers and expresses what you do the less you have to explain. Some experts believe that using nonsense words or strings of numbers can affect the business negatively as the customer wants something that makes sense to them and something they can relate to.
On the other hand, it is possible for a business name to be TOO precise such as 'Bradford Tanning Centre', the issue here is what happens if they want to expand to York or Leeds? The meaning of the name can then be damaging.
- Choose a name that appeals to yourself AND to the customers you are trying to attract.
- Choose a comforting name that can be familiar, this paints an emotional picture and connection
- Stay away from long and/or confusing names
A business without a website just doesn't quite cut it nowadays, nearly 100% of people within the UK use a search engine to start any form of research or to find a service provider. Not having a website is a sure way to be left behind. So first let's talk about getting a domain name...
Here is a list of things you should always consider when choosing a domain:
Make it easy to type: When thinking about a domain name you need to make it easy to type. However, if you use a slang term like you = u, then it might be harder for your audience to find you.
Keep it short: Keep the risk of your customer misspelling or mistyping it to a minimum – short and simple is the way to go.
Use keywords: To help you out in the future try using a keyword as your domain name. This helps you improve your rank on search engines. (For information on SEO and Keywords Click here)
Try to avoid numbers and hyphens: When customers hear your name they might misunderstand if it spelt 'five' or '5', the same goes for the hyphen.
Be memorable: There are millions and millions of domain names that have been registered so having one that is catchy is very important. Why not tell your family the name you're thinking of and see what their thoughts are.
Research it: Make sure the domain name you have chosen isn't already being used by a different company, trademarked or copyrighted. This can help you avoid legal problems that could cost you a fortune!
Use an appropriate domain name extension: .com/.co.uk these have meanings so make sure you pick the best that relates to your company. To find a short and sweet .com is hard as it has been around for such a long time and you might end up buying privately and this can cost a fortune. Try .co.uk or use the information below to find something that could work for you.
- .co : an abbreviation for company, commerce, and community.
- .info : informational sites.
- .net : technical, Internet infrastructure sites.
- .org : noncommercial, organisations and non-profits.
- .biz : business or commercial use, like e-commerce sites.
- .me : blogs, resumes or personal sites.
Protect and build your brand: a lot of people don’t just purchase one domain name, they buy a few variations of the same one and link all the domains to your one website. This prevents all competitors from trying to steal your customers.
