The Top 8 Business Naming Mistakes You Need To Avoid
Today, I’ll be showing you which MISTAKES you need to avoid like the plague so you can come up with a perfect business name that will stand the test of time!
The real key to choosing the perfect name that lasts is to name your business without making any mistakes. Sounds so simple, but how can you do this when you don’t know what the top 8 business naming mistakes are? Let me in on my tips!
#1 – Don’t Listen To 99% Of Those Giving You Naming Advice For some reason, business naming brings out the expert in everyone around you! Literally EVERYONE will have an opinion when it comes to your business name. I like to think of it like choosing a hairdresser. How do you choose a hairdresser?! You choose someone who has amazing hair, duh! Likewise, only listen to advice from those who actually have brilliant business names and an amazing brand! (Note to self: this generally excludes your mum, husband, sister-in-law, and friend!)
Listen to someone who practices what they preach and can get you the SAME RESULT.
#2 – Allow Time To Find The Right Name So many entrepreneurs want to rush business naming and end up rebranding simply because they didn’t allow themselves enough time to get it sorted. Schedule a proper amount of time to give your creative juices a chance to flow. For me, this is generally around 4 weeks.
#3 – Don’t Limit Based On Keywords Some people try to stuff their business name with keywords, thinking it will help them rank higher in SEO. But as I understand it, the SEO benefits don’t outweigh the huge advantage of crafting a name that shapes how your potential clients think and feel about you as a brand.
Choosing a keyword-rich business name can also mean boxing yourself into a specific location or service (e.g., Central Coast Photography), which limits your future world domination plans that you don’t even know exist yet! SEO is just ONE marketing strategy, not the sole factor to consider.
#4 – Don’t Fence Yourself In The worst thing you can do is box yourself in by product, service, geography, or even your married name. As entrepreneurs, we naturally evolve, pivot, and grow. If your name is too specific, it can hinder that process. Choose a name that leaves room for expansion and future possibilities.
#5 – Forget What You Sell Unless you’re naming a specific product, don’t feel pressured to include your service in the business name. Modern naming methodology allows for more flexibility. A name that ties you to one offering can limit you when your business evolves.
#6 – Change the Least Number of Times Most people don’t cope well with change, and that includes your customers and clients! Nail your business name the first (or second) time around to build trust and brand equity. Changing your name too often confuses your audience and dilutes your identity.
#7 – It’s Not ALL About You Surprising, right? Your business name isn’t just about you—it’s about your dream clients too. And while I’m ALL for alignment – when choosing a name, always consider how it resonates with them rather than just reflecting your personal preferences.
#8 – Avoid Generic Business Name Generators Is your product or service generic? Probably not! Choose a name that reflects the uniqueness of your brand rather than relying on a random name generator. A little TLC and intentionality will yield a name that feels right.
LS x
