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How to name a new company that has a great potential on global market?
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- Tony Williams
I was thinking about something that couldn't be mistaken on search engines while also easily rememberable and pronouncable.
I would get out a sheet of paper and I would start writing names down. No matter how ridiculous the names are. After about 30 or 40 horrendous ideas, the creative juices start flowing and then you start to come up with some good ones.
I would also ask yourself, who is your audience? Don't be afraid to look up words in another language. Think about things that relate to your business product or something of spiritual nature. The struggle for man's innermost desires? The conquest and domination of the planet? But make sure you are writing all of these names down on paper. You can repeat this until one feels right and it's available for use.
Hope this helps.
If you have the budget definitely get professional help. Companies like NameLab and A Hundred Monkeys could help with the naming process.
If you don't have the budget which I believe a lot of startups without funding don't, my recommendations is to make sure the name is easy to read, secondly the URL is available and the name you pick and the URL should be very much the same. You don't want something that is not easy to read and not memorable.
1. If possible, your name should at least hint at what it does and be available as a domain name for great SEO value on a website.
2. If you use a distinctive word or name, check to make sure it doesn't have a negative connotation in another language. You can ask car manufacturers about naming disasters of cars because no one checked for meanings.
3. Avoid "cute" names if you want to be taken seriously.
4. Do not select a name of a well known company and modify it slightly or misspell it to "draft" in on their success. Not only is it highly unethical but you could well find yourself in court.
A method that I like to use is to have a browser open with a website where I can check availability of URLs (such as dotster or networksolutions).
Then I begin with names that I've thought of already. From there I go further out, scouring Greek and Latin root word dictionaries (online) to make unique combinations that mean what my company or product is or symbolizes.
(As I go, I type my test word into the URL availability box and see what is available. I take note of both, those that are available, and those that are not - because, in the past I have made the mistake of searching the same word twice, on too many occasions).
When I run out of ideas with root words I turn to mythical symbols, constellations (as well as star names). After a while I go back and read my list and place an asterisk or star next to my favorites.
I put the list down and come back to it after a few days (this is really helpful). When I come back to my list, I find that some are embarrassingly absurd, while others seem impressive.
I then take the impressive sounding names and put them on a separate list that I title "Favorites" and I let that age for a few more days.
I come back to my favorites, and see if they still seem like my favorites. If so, I ask my friends, loved ones, and all who I feel comfortable sharing the name idea with.
And when its all done, I find that I end up liking the few that they don't like.
This is the process I used to name my company (NeoNetCareers, Inc.).
I hope this helps. Good luck!
This all depends on what you are marketing and what you want to market in the near future.
Why don't you name the company off you and 1your business associate
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Naming companies and products certainly is not science; it’s more of an art.
There is no shortage of evidence that a successful name can be a brand’s most valuable asset, driving differentiation and extension, and fast-tracking customer acceptance.
Here’s a 9 point check-list to use for a new product or company names which was based on an original list first published in The Brand Gap).
A good name will be:
1. Appropriate:
There needs to be a reasonable fit with the business purpose of the entity. If the name would work just as well – or better – for another entity (or product), then you probably haven’t quite got it nailed.
2. Distinctive:
Any name should stand out from the crowd, particularly from other names in its category. It should also separate well from ordinary text and speech. The best brand names often have the authoritative weight that a proper noun provides.
3. Appealing:
Will people enjoy using it? Names that are intellectually stimulating, or provide a good “mouth feel”, have a head start over those that don’t.
4. Concise:
A name should be short enough to be easily recalled and used. It should be robust enough to avoid being reduced to a nickname. Long multi-word names will be quickly shortened to non-communicating initials and an opportunity to add value will have been lost.
5. Easy to use:
Most people should be able to spell the name correctly after hearing it and to say the name correctly after seeing it. A name shouldn’t turn into a spelling test or alienate them by making them feel ignorant.
6. Extendable:
A name should have “legs”. By this we mean it should suggest a visual interpretation or lend itself to a number of creative executions. The best names provide almost unlimited options for this kind of brand development.
7. Timeless:
Names that capture trends (which are typically short-lived) soon begin to feel dated and will always be associated with “yesterday”.
8.Transferable:
Names should be portable across product, national and cultural boundaries so they can be applied consistently to meet a wide range of marketing opportunities.
9. Exclusive:
A name needs to be capable of being owned and protected; otherwise its value can be diluted through imitation. You need to know if it is available for registration as a trademark or domain name in each of your key markets (this can be a longish process for a company want to export product/services globally). Note that while many names can be trademarked, some names are more defensible than others, making them safer and more valuable in the long run.
Ideally the name will a key part of the brand building process, rather than an isolated element, so I'd recommend you work with someone who has been involved in brand building before (if you've not) to help ensure it contributes positively to the way people think, feel and believe about your new product.
Hope that helps.