There seems to be a lot of people not knowing what name they should give their business and asking others for suggestions.
This really surprises me. A new business is like a new baby, the name should be up to the parents - and when have you ever heard a new parent ask others for suggestions on what to call their child?
There are lots of websites, articles, etc., giving advice on what to call your business. But you know what? I don't think it really matters. You should only follow two rules:
Remember, it's your business - call it what you want.
Oh, and don't worry about the name making you sound small, if you want to call yourself "Jane Smith Plumbers" then go ahead. It is how the name is promoted more than the name itself.
Does "Jane Smith Plumbers" sounds small? Well, what about "W H Smith", and "Marks and Spencer"? Both started as very small stores.
How qualified am I to tell you what you should call your business? No more or less qualified than anyone else (bet that surprised you)!
But look at our business name: BananaOffice. This probably breaks all the rules in the book (whatever that book is). Yet it works because:
I meet someone, hold out my hand and say "Hello. I'm Ashley and I run BananaOffice". There's a slight hesitation and then they either laugh, ask what we do or ask how we came up with that name. And that is exactly what I want, they immediately warm up and are happy to listen to this chap with the crazy business name.
This really surprises me. A new business is like a new baby, the name should be up to the parents - and when have you ever heard a new parent ask others for suggestions on what to call their child?
There are lots of websites, articles, etc., giving advice on what to call your business. But you know what? I don't think it really matters. You should only follow two rules:
- The name must be legal. For example, you cannot use the word "Bank" - unless you are using your own name and the surname happens to be Bank, as in "A J Bank Plumbing"
- The name should not confuse others as to what you do. It either should say exactly what you do - or not at all. You don't want to lose a lot of business because those who did need your product/service think you do something else.
Remember, it's your business - call it what you want.
Oh, and don't worry about the name making you sound small, if you want to call yourself "Jane Smith Plumbers" then go ahead. It is how the name is promoted more than the name itself.
Does "Jane Smith Plumbers" sounds small? Well, what about "W H Smith", and "Marks and Spencer"? Both started as very small stores.
How qualified am I to tell you what you should call your business? No more or less qualified than anyone else (bet that surprised you)!
But look at our business name: BananaOffice. This probably breaks all the rules in the book (whatever that book is). Yet it works because:
- It doesn't tell people what we do - so they have to ask
- They always ask how we came up with the name
- I am always remembered at networking events. Even if they don't remember "Ashley" or "BananaOffice", on seeing me they announce "Hey, it's the Bananaman!" which causes great hilarity all round.
I meet someone, hold out my hand and say "Hello. I'm Ashley and I run BananaOffice". There's a slight hesitation and then they either laugh, ask what we do or ask how we came up with that name. And that is exactly what I want, they immediately warm up and are happy to listen to this chap with the crazy business name.
I have the same reaction to 'Meconopsis Films' - where did you get that name? how do you spell it? (both useful starters). I thought that single name video firms were a bad idea, but can see your point.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment, Ben.
ReplyDeleteI just felt that a lot of the information, rules, advice, etc. about naming a business doesn't really need to be worried about.
Call your business what you want - it is how you promote the business that will get it known.
OK I wondered why you called yourself that! Now it makes sense. Wish I had thought of something so catchy. Do you have an elevator speech?
ReplyDeleteI wish I had thought of it as well - my life and business partner thought of it when we needed a name in a hurry. She's smart like that.
ReplyDeleteOf course I have an elevator speech! The film / video world revolves around pitching ideas! Do you?
I pitch my business to anyone that will listen!
ReplyDeleteOkay, that's sounds more aggressive than it actually is, but people say to me "What do you do?" "Where do you work?" etc. I can reply (without it sounding pushy) "I run BananaOffice. We do call answering. In short, we're in when you're out."
After that they often ask more questions, which means I give more answers, which means I'm pitching the business.
The way I look at it is it's not who you are talking to, but who THEY know. You might be chatting to someone on the bus, get into a short conversation, mention the business and think no more of it. However, that evening that person's partner gets home from work, mentions how they lost a big sale because they were all out when the customer phoned... "Ah, I was speaking to a chap on the bus today, runs a call answering service with a really daft name, Banana something or other".
Okay, this is a little exaggerated, but you can see how talking to everyone can help build your client base - and having a quirky name will help to stand out.
Going back to the example, what if that person looks in the Yellow Pages or similar then among the hundreds of "Call Answering this", "Virtual PA that", business names, there will be BananaOffice.
Since writing the original entry I would add the following caveat: make sure your business name is easy to hear on the phone, and even face-to-face.
ReplyDeleteAs a call answering service, we hear hundreds of business names every day and it is amazing how some are almost like "tongue twisters" and very difficult to understand over the phone - meaning the telephonists have to ask the caller to repeat it, sometimes more than once.
So if you are choosing a new name and are almost settled on one, do a quick test with a few people on the phone and see how it sounds. If the person you call asks you to repeat what you have said 2 or 3 times, then maybe it's not the best name.