Naming a company is hard. Really hard. You want something that sounds good, is easy to remember and represents what you do—all while being unique. And oh yeah, it can’t be trademarked.
The pressure is enough to make anyone throw their hands up in the air and just go with the first thing that comes to mind. But resist that urge! A name is one of the most important aspects of your brand identity, and it’s worth taking the time to get it right.
There are a few traditional methods for coming up with a name—brainstorming with friends or hiring a professional naming agency—but why not think outside the box? Why not crowd source the perfect name for your company?
Crowdsourcing has a number of advantages when it comes to naming a company. For one, it’s incredibly efficient—you can gather a large number of ideas in a short amount of time. And two, it Tap into the collective creativity of the masses and you’re sure to come up with something truly original.
Here’s how to crowd source the perfect name for your business:
1. Define your brand identity
Before you start crowdsourcing, you need to have a good sense of what your company is all about. What are your values? What is your mission? What do you want people to think of when they hear your name? Answering these questions will help you focus your search and make sure you’re on the right track.
2. Keep it short and sweet
When it comes to crowdsourcing company names, shorter is almost always better. A name that’s too long will be hard to remember and difficult to spell. And in today’s age of social media, a name that’s easy to tweet or hashtag is a major plus.
3. Make it easy to pronounce
This one is especially important if you’re planning on doing any international business. A name that’s difficult to pronounce will be a barrier to entry in new markets—so make sure your name is something people can say without too much trouble.
4. Avoid using inside jokes
Unless your company is exclusively for people in on the joke, avoid using inside jokes as your name. Not only will it be confusing for people outside of your circle, but it could also limit your ability to expand in the future.
5. Do a trademark search
Before you settle on a name, it’s important to make sure it’s not already taken—or worse, trademarked by another company. Doing a thorough search now will save you a lot of hassle down the road.
6. Get feedback from friends and family
Once you’ve narrowed down your list of potential names, it’s time to get some feedback from the people who know you best. Ask your friends and family what they think of each option and see if they have any suggestions for improvement.
7. Test it out on social media
Once you’ve settled on a name, it’s time to put it to the ultimate test: social media. See how people react to it on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram—if they can’t spell it, pronounce it or remember it, it might not be the best choice.
8. Make sure the domain is available
Before you make your final decision, head over to GoDaddy or another domain registrar and do a search for your chosen name. If the .com (or .co, .io, etc.) is available, you’re in good shape—if not, you’ll need to keep looking.
9. Register your trademark
Once you’ve chosen the perfect name, it’s time to make it official. Head over to the USPTO website and fill out the necessary paperwork to register your trademark. This will protect your name from being used by anyone else in the future.
10. Start using your new name
Now that you’ve chosen and registered your new name, it’s time to start using it! Update your website, social media accounts and marketing materials with your new branding—and get ready to take your business to the next level.
Conclusion:
Crowdsourcing can be a great way to come up with a unique and memorable name for your business. Just be sure to do your research beforehand and get feedback from friends and family before making your final decision. And don’t forget to register your trademark once you’ve settled on a name—this will protect you from any future legal headaches.
