Let's Talk Business - Mom to Mom, MomPrenuers

What’s in a name?

A name leaves a first impression. A name gives a customer their first glimpse into your company and what you do. A name is passed by word of mouth. A name will last a lifetime.

So, needless to say, the name of your business is a pretty crucial element to your overall business plan.. How in the world do you ever begin to name your business?

There are several questions you can ask yourself that may help you begin to formulate a name.

1. What does your business do?
2. What is unique about what you do?
3. What type of impression do you want to leave? Classy? Quality? Bargain?

It is a good idea to come up with three to five potential names and move on from there. Then you can begin to narrow them down. You’ll need to do a trademark search, to make sure you aren’t infringing on anyone else’s company name. You can do it yourself by visiting The United States Patent and Trademark Office. And, it’s also a good idea to search the internet and see if anyone else is using the name without a trademark. Or, if your budget allows, you can always hire a lawyer to perform a comprehensive search for you.

After determining if your name(s) are available you can make your final choice. Do some research, ask others what they think. You might use these items to help eliminate some of your finalists::

1. Is the name easy to pronouce?
2. Is it relatively short and easy to remember?
3. Do you have a catchy slogan in mind that will accompany it well?
4. Is it descriptive and accurate?
5. Do you like it?

Hopefully you’ve now narrowed it down to a solid, strong business name that will stand the test of time.

Guest post written by:

Dawn Berryman is the Founder of Market Mommy, an online marketing resource for mom entrepreneurs that tells you how and where to market your business. In addition to the website, Market Mommy offers a free e-newsletter that is published at least once a month, and a blog. Both offer great marketing tips, success stories and various features and hints that are valuable to WAHMS. Visit www.marketmommy.com or http://marketmommy.blogspot.com for more information!

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