Business Names Do Matter, Norm Brodsky
Fact: Your business name matters, and in many cases, it can make the difference between failure and success. If you want to succeed in business, don’t take a chance with your name. Make sure it has the right “ring” to it … and there are a few tips you should keep in mind as well.
- Use your initials if possible — that way people have an easier time associating with you and remember who they are doing business with.
- Try to avoid certain letters that might be difficult for some people to pronounce or spell — like Qs or Zs. "People might think you’re an exotic dancer."
- The simpler your name, the easier it is for potential customers to remember it.
- This can be especially important if you’re starting a new business or trying to get customers to remember your name. "You want them to say, ‘Oh yeah – that’s where I got my new margarita machine!'" - Choose a name that defines your business. "You don’t want people thinking you have three diesel trucks." - Imagine what people will say in their heads when they hear your name and associate it with the type of business you have - “Oh, Tim and Jose are florists: they make paper flowers.” - Your name should be easy for customers to pronounce. While names can be difficult to spell, most people can pronounce them.
- If customers are having a hard time pronouncing your name, they might not know the meaning of your business. "I often make my cards for my family from a paper I cut into little squares and fold in half." - It should be easy for people to remember. For example, if you make wooden bracelets and clogs or handbags out of tree bark, some customers might call you TREEBARK (awkward!).
- Avoid names that sound like someone's name or that could be confused with another word (like "Luggage"). - Use your company name as a last name (if you're not using your last name for business purposes). "I do plastic surgery, so my business is called D.C. Plastic Surgery." - Avoid common business names that sound the same as your own name, like Dr. David Cope, Dr. Anthony Green and Dr. Wiley Lester Copley. - Consult a lawyer, especially if you want to trademark your company or product name; some names could get confused with other companies or products that already have those names registered or trademarked. - "Trying to trademark a name is like going to a lawyer and asking her if you’re pregnant. You’re not sure; it could take a long time and be expensive, but you want to be sure." - Names that are too similar can cause legal issues, especially if one company has a registered trademark on its name. "It’s kind of like having the same birthday as someone else: You really don’t want it to be your boss or the IRS." - Your business should have some consistency in its name across all communications. "If I’m making a business card for someone, I want to be able to fill in the card and produce something that looks like it’s part of a successful business." - If you decide you want to change your name, make sure all of your company documents show the new name. "Don’t just change on your business cards, but on all important papers: letters, invoices and contracts. "Mixed communications" - "If you have an online store with ‘ecopetaland’ and ‘ecopetaland.com, or if you have a blog with ‘e-PetalWorldBlog' in them. If you have ‘ecopetaland.com’ as a top level domain, you may have problems if someone wants you to send their prospects there." - Always register your business name with the US government. "The list [of registered business names] is like an encyclopedia of bad names and is available to everyone. If someone is trying to steal your brand, they will use it. A guy once called me and said he was changing his company name to MY CUSTOMERS RULE," when in reality his name was still the same, and he was just using a different business name on file with the government! - You can check out registered or trademarked names for similar terms at www.srssearch.com.
- Naming your company should be fun to do, but it's important to plan ahead and think of the consequences. "Don't make a decision based on a name that sounds cool in the moment." - A lot of companies are wasting money on printing and signage because they chose a bad name, then didn’t check all their business documents. "You wouldn’t want to print up TREEBARK all over your business cards if you made these products: www.flickr.com/photos/ecopetaland/5336140108. I know it would cost you more to change the name, but that’s business." - Take your time and think about your name for a long time — not just a few minutes. "I know what my business is called, but I don’t use it as a website address -- because I haven’t made up my mind yet." [ARTICLE END]
Original article: http://www.businessnetworksolutions.com/articles/article.cfm?AID=31919
Business Names Do Matter - Business Network Solutions Norm Brodsky http://www.businessnetworksolutions....
Norm Brodsky is a business name and branding expert. He has over 20 years experience in developing brand names and leads the nation in cutting edge, innovative, creative and practical ways to help entrepreneurs develop a professional brand for their company.
If you are looking for someone with years of experience helping people deal with their brand, then look no further than Business Network Solutions .
We applaud Norm for his work in helping entrepreneurs create a professional image for their business. As "The Branding Guru," Norm has worked with thousands of companies from around the nation to develop an image that will help them to attract more customers.
In today's competitive market, it is important to make sure your message is clearly communicated through your branding efforts. Business Network Solutions will help you do just that.
As a company that does business networking, we know that it is important to develop your own personal branding and make sure your message is clearly communicated in order to succeed. With the help of a great business name and branding expert, like Norm Brodsky, you can create an image for yourself that will make people want to do business with you.
Business Network Solutions has helped many companies develop a professional image for their company with our professional business cards , brochures and other marketing materials.
Conclusion:
There are many lawyers out there that charge $150 an hour to slightly change a trademark?
Business names and trademarks do matter. There are those that believe that a company is not trademarked. This will often lead to confusion if you haven't trademarked your company name. An easy way to check is by going to http://www.srssearch.com/ and do some google searches for your name along with 'trademark'.