Choosing a business name can be hard when you are just starting out. It’s even harder if you have decided to revisit your branding and change your name as well. Why is it so hard? Because our business is our baby! We pour our blood, sweat, and tears into seeing it be successful and the name of it has to ring true to our hearts and its so central to our brand. Pretty important right?

Often I get clients who ask me if they should simply use their name or think of something more creative? It really comes down to who your ideal client is and how you think they’d view your business name. Sometimes more of the “creative” names can leave a bad taste in a potential client’s mouth because they think yours sounds too amateur or they aren’t sure what you do. I think sometimes the non name businesses can be turnoffs for certain clients, but attractive to others. Again, it goes back to establishing who that target client of yours is.

I’m always a fan of simple business names like just using your name, but sometimes creative names are the way to go. Obviously my business name is not my own name. I chose Ribbon & Ink because I wanted to work with elegant, classy women who appreciate a very feminine and organic business name. To me, Ribbon & Ink, immediately speaks feminine, softness, and beauty. That’s important to me and my ideal client. I made sure to keep a simple tagline in my logo so immediately potential clients know I do branding. I wouldn’t have just used “Ribbon & Ink” because it doesn’t initially tell clients what I do and that is so important.

You only get one first impression.

Here are a few tips when thinking of a business name:

1. THINK OF YOUR IDEAL CLIENT. Will they view a more creative business name as a positive thing or will it be a turn off?
2. DESCRIBE YOUR BUSINESS IN YOUR NAME. Does your business name immeadiately tell people what you do? Remember you only get one first impression.
3. DON’T THINK TOO HARD. Most of the time people with more out of the box business names have a meaning behind their name. If you can’t think of a good reason to name your business something other than your name or something related to your name then don’t do it. Just stick with your name, initials, or something similar.
4. NAME IT FOR YOU..BUT ALSO YOUR CLIENTS. I think people choose out of the box business names a lot because its meaningful to them. That’s great! BUT think of your ideal client first. If you choose something like “Two Peas in a Pod Photography” and you want to do luxury weddings…do you think that works? I don’t. It just doesn’t speak luxury and I can only imagine a bride viewing a logo with possible peas in it. 🙂