Free company naming help
Since very few branding firms dispense free naming advice, this blog entry should shoot to the top of Google quite easily for that search term. But this is a genuine offer… free business naming help for the aspiring entrepreneur, business start up or even Fortune 500 corporation. Simply post your question in the comment section below and I’ve review them and provide a response either here, or on our new branding show, The Name Game, on VoiceAmerica.com
This new show will be airing each Tuesday at noon EST (3pm PST) beginning January 8th, 2008. You can listen to it online by going to VoiceAmerica.com and clicking on the VoiceAmerica Business Channel. It should also be available on archive, in case you miss it. So if you are struggling with some aspect of naming, (i.e. how to name a company, the best methods, best strategies, things to avoid, etc.) just leave your questions/comments here and I’ll do my best to answer them online or “on air.”
You’ll also have the opportunity to hear from industry experts on domain name issues, trademark issues, corporate identity and branding strategies. I’ll have more info on each week’s topics and featured guests as the dates approach. Meanwhile, if you have a question or concern about branding, I’ll do what I can to help… just name it!
Update: I now have a link to the archived podcasts of the show. We have everything on there from “How to name your internet based company” to trademark issues to naming strategies. So sit back and take a listen and see what you can pick up that might spark a creative flash of brilliance!
http://www.modavox.com/voiceamericacms/Host/RSSFeed_437.XML
If you do come up with a great name, let me know!
Update: 05/02/08 Since I’ve gotten so many posting and interest in this subject, and I can’t reply to all of them, make sure to visit and read the “how-to” naming articles I have posted on the bottom of our home page at PureTungsten.com. There are about 20 branding articles on everything from company naming to finding the perfect domain name. Also, under “Resources” you’ll find a number of pre-recorded Podcasts that we’ve archived. So take a read or take a listen, and get that perfect company or product brand name!
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I am in the process of starting my own business as a Virtual Assistant, and I am having great difficulty coming up with a name for the company. I am looking for something that is catchy and fun, while also professional, and something that highlights the ‘virtual’ part of the services that I will provide. Any ideas or feedback would be greatly appreciated! Thank you.
Comment by Staci — January 2, 2008 @ 2:44 pm
We’re having difficulty naming a personal medical records startup. We started with myMDdata, but that has trademark issues. We prefer a name that is descriptive of the service and/or mission (mission is health safety and control of medical records); attention getting; memorable; has positive and secure connotations; appeals to a wide demographic, but is especially appealing to the old and infirm; that has an available short .com domain name; and that is distinctive, which also helps avoid trademark issues. Most permutations of data, info, chart, my, control, health, medical and med have trademark or domain issues, or are too long or awkward. All help is much appreciated.
Comment by Steve — January 2, 2008 @ 4:52 pm
Hi Staci-
Here’s an exercise I sometimes employ. Make a grid about ten rows across and ten rows deep. Then do some random/free associations around words that represent both “virtual” and “assistant.” Fill in as many boxes in the grid as you can possibly think of. For instance, for the word “virtual” you might substitute words such as…
• net
• web
• “i”
• “e”
• “magic”
• “ghost”
• “on call”
• “on demand”
• “instant”
• “ready”
Then list some alternatives for “assistant” such as…
• “help”
• “doctor”
• “medic”
• “pro”
• “elf”
• “genie”
• “wizard”
• “pal”
• “source”
• “expert”
• “prodigy”
Once you have filled in all the blocks, try mixing and matching them randomly. For instance, from this list you might get “ReadyPro” or “iGenie” or “Net Magic.” If you add other words that describe the benefits of your business (i.e. “results”) you would have names like Results On Demand or Results On Call.
You can also use a metaphor such as Virtual Janitor and talk about how you can help clients to clean up their act. The next thing is to check the domain names to see if they are available. You can do this at http://DomainTools.com. If they are available, you can register them at sites such as ours at http://NetBright.com or at other ones such as GoDaddy and NetworkSolutions.com You may also want to check tradmarks at http://www.uspto.gov to see if anyone else is using the name. If you are local it won’t be as important as a national based firm. But it’s always worth checking.
That’s just one or two naming strategies, but that should give you a good start. Good luck and good naming! (And be sure to listen in on our show at 3pm EST on VoiceAmerica.com business channel. I may bring up your question there and ask for suggestions)
Phil
Tungsten Branding
Comment by admin — January 3, 2008 @ 10:03 pm
Steve-
I’ve worked on a number of medically related naming projects. The problem you are facing is that you are trying to have it all… being both literal/descriptive and memorable/unique. By nature descriptive names are mundane and boring. (Think “Linens & Things,” and “United Healthcare” and “General Motors”)
The trick is to focus on some key aspect, typically your main benefit, and build from that. We had one employee benefits management firm we named Liazon (http://Liazon.com) since they wanted to serve as the bridge or intermediary between the employer and employee. We simply took the French word “liaison” or “go between” and we simplified the spelling, creating a new word which they now have as an exact matching .com domain name. It has the same corporate feel as “Verizon” and it’s worked well for them. Another company we named using this method was Nurture Care (http://NutureCareInc.com) They provided holistic in-home assistance and their main benefit was the way they provided that care… in a genuine and meaningful manner.
Also see the tip I provided in the entry above, about creating a grid and combining synonyms in a new way. This will avoid the trap of producing predictable/descriptive names that might work well in the beginning but never gain traction as a brand name. You will also then have a name that you can build upon, one that will distinguish you from all others.
Hope that helps.
Phil
Tungsten Branding
Comment by admin — January 3, 2008 @ 10:26 pm
Im startin a air duct cleaning buisness and having trouble coming up with a name. People told me Do Blackmore duct cleaning but thats not a name that is catchy I would like a name that sticks when you read it
Comment by Johnathan — January 5, 2008 @ 12:14 pm
Phil,
I have a business that cleans the exterior of large commercial buildings without using high pressure. I don’t have a whole lot of name recognition yet and I don’t think our current name fits very well. It is Restoration Concepts. The logic was that we restore the exterior of buildings using a modern technology, i.e. the Concepts. If I am going to change it I need to do it now before I land any large pending contracts. I have registered the domain dirtybuilding.com. Any suggestions will be most appreciated.
Patrick Murrell
Comment by Patrick Murrell — January 6, 2008 @ 3:19 pm
Hi Patrick,
That name could be problematic. You will have customers thinking you do home improvement restorations or fire damage restoration, or car restorations, etc. And you’ll lose valuable time and interest in explaining what you really do. It’s better to have a distinctive name that’s so different that there’s no risk of confusing it with a similar service.
What if you were to take another approach that focused on the benefits of what you provide, such as calling it something like…
• Sparkle!
• Rub-A-Dub
• Rise and Shine (playing off of the idea of High Rise)
• Former Glory (restoring the building to it original condition)
Without knowing more of the particulars, these are just some off-the-cuff thoughts. But again, it’s important to sound unique and distinctive.
Phil
Comment by admin — January 6, 2008 @ 9:21 pm
I have a client who’s current name is tied to one specific product and consequently, they’ve outgrown it.
When is it worth the expense and confusion to change a name?
Are there any smart steps to changing a company name midstream?
Comment by Jane Harrison — January 7, 2008 @ 12:11 pm
Hi Philip,
I am from the Blue Ridge myself but now I am living in Thailand where I have started a company that I have named NutraThai. I wonder if you would critique my choice for a name and make any suggestions that you feel would be helpful to my fledgling business. I would be most appreciative for any help and direction you may offer. I have a package and product line that I would be happy to send to you for your review.
Thank you,
Robert Bagnall
Comment by Robert — January 8, 2008 @ 6:25 am
Hello, I am opening a laser spa (ie. laser hair removal, skin tighting ect. ) I am having a really hard time finding a name for my biz. Everyone is telling me to use my lastname and add laser. However I want something unique, fun, and catchy.
Please Help. Thank you
Lisa
Comment by Lisa — January 8, 2008 @ 8:48 pm
Hi Robert, Lisa
Without knowing all the specifics about your companies and what type of position you want to own in the minds of your consumers, it’s difficult to make concrete recommendations. One suggestion I would have is to review an article I wrote on how to name your own company. It’s has a lot of very specific and practical advice that you can use to evaluate your naming choices. You can find it at http://www.ideamarketers.com/experts/branding_and_naming.cfm Scroll down to the article called “You Name It… The Complete How-To Guide for Naming A Business” That has all the basics in it for developing your own company name. In addition, you’ll find a host of other articles I’ve written about the naming process.
Best wishes and happy naming!
Comment by admin — January 8, 2008 @ 11:51 pm
Hi Phil
I’m thinking of starting a little niche company for cleaning/servicing home computers. Basic cleaning and maintenance, nothing real invasive. Idea is to get peoples computers to run more efficiently and faster and to supplemental my current income.
I was trying to come up with a catchy name following your rules and I came up with “PC Maids” or “PComputer Maids” with the lowercase letters in the word Computer using a samller text size so the “PC” would still stand out. Do you think I’m headed in the right direction or can you offer some other thoughts?
Thanks
Steve
Comment by Steve — January 15, 2008 @ 2:17 pm
I am starting a business cleaning and repairing scuba equipment. Key benefits are safety, health and investment protection. I think the name should have scuba and equipment included or implied.
Comment by Asmar Madyun — January 27, 2008 @ 3:30 pm
Hello,
First I want to say thank you very much for providing this free advice! I really appreciate it. I have been consulting for nonprofits for the last year, and I would like to be more official, with a name, website, etc. I already own a website with my name, but I’d like a catchy, memorable, unique name instead of using my name. I do a variety of things, which is why I am having trouble picking a name. I help nonprofits with: fundraising, management, and communications. I have also helped with some design work (logos). I don’t want to be limited to nonprofits, even though that is my primary constituency. I also would like to do contract lobbying and legal consultation (articles and bylaws, etc) once I graduate from law school. So, because I want to have so much represented under one name, I am having some trouble. I would appreciate any help or advice you have.
Thank you!
Comment by Kristen — January 30, 2008 @ 11:42 am
Hello name seekers!
Since so many people have need of naming services, and few can afford the $10,000 to $15,000 price tag for name development, tag line, logo and domain name, I’ve created an audio library when you can simply sit back and listen, gleaning nuggets of branding wisdom for absolutely free. These are archived podcasts from my show The Name Game on VoiceAmerica.com They address a variety of needs and issues including “How to name an internet company” and issue around trademarking and branding and positioning and naming strategies. So take a few minutes, prop up your feet and listen in. It’s an inexpensive way to get turbo jetted up to speed when it comes to properly naming and positioning your company.
http://www.modavox.com/voiceamericacms/Host/RSSFeed_437.XML
All the best!
Phil
Comment by admin — February 19, 2008 @ 11:28 am
I have a new business which I intend to take nationally and possibly internationally but I can’t come up with a name and it is driving me to drink(not literally but damn close!!!)
HELP!!!
Comment by DENA PAOLINO — February 25, 2008 @ 9:07 pm
Hello,
y soo
My husband and I are starting a pool tile cleaning business. We are in Phoenix and the season is beginning pretty soon. We are in desperate need of some help with a business name that tells what we do but something that will jump out. We don’t want our name as we want something totally unusual.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely
Pamela Schweikert
Comment by Pamela Schweikert — March 22, 2008 @ 2:41 am
First off I just wanted to say thank you for all of the wonderful information. I am in the process of starting a small business and I didn’t realize that there was ways to get help naming my company. I did have a name picked out, then after taking the advice of a friend I did some research on the internet and found a company called pixellogo.com from whom I chose a company logo. However, after choosing the logo I realized that the name I had always dreamed of using just didn’t seem to fit anymore. I’ve been asking friends and family for name suggestions but nothing seems to fit. Now thanks to you, I know where to go to get help. So I just thought it was important to tell you thank you!!
Oh, and just in case you’re wondering. I’m starting a photography business in a small town in Montana. So any suggestions or comments you might have would be appreciated!!
Comment by Ivanna — April 15, 2008 @ 3:12 pm
Hi, I work for a local non-profit economic development agency. We will be relaunching our business consulting and coaching service using a team of outside and staff consultants to serve Southeast Alaska. Our old name was Business Asstance Center, which is dull. We want something catchy and quick. Can you help? Services include helping with business planning, obtaining financing, increasing profitability, expansion, purchasing/selling a business, managing life/work conflicts, etc.
Thanks,
Margaret
Comment by Margaret O'Neal — April 2, 2009 @ 8:58 pm