Brand naming is one of the most important decisions you will make when launching a business. Your brand name will be the first thing your potential customers come into contact with, and it will be the first impression they create of your business.
So, to ensure your brand name is compelling and memorable, it is crucial to align it with your target audience and consider metaphors, visual imagery, and emotions.
Five Things You Must Know When Searching for the Perfect Brand Name
1. Align Your Name with Your Audience
The first step to naming a brand is to consider your target audience. What are their interests, values, and associations? Your brand name should reflect these values and create an emotional connection with them.
For example, when naming a brand, you might think of a metaphor or visual image that is meaningful to your target audience. Consider Nike’s “Just Do It” slogan: it’s a simple and powerful message that resonates with its target audience.
2. Brainstorm Names
Once you have an idea of your target audience, the next step is to brainstorm names for your brand. When brainstorming, consider metaphors, visual imagery, and emotions. Think about how these elements can be used to create a memorable and powerful name that reflects your brand values.
For example, Amazon’s name is a metaphor for the massive selection of items they offer. Similarly, Apple’s name is an image of a juicy, ripe apple, suggesting the freshness and innovation of its products.
3. Brainstorm as Many Ideas as Possible
When brainstorming names for your brand, it is important to gather as many brilliant brand name suggestions and ideas as possible. To generate ideas, consider crowdsourcing and other creative ways to come up with names.
Ask your friends and family for ideas, or even consider running a contest to see what names people come up with.
To get a solid idea of how to name your brand, take a look at some of the top startups and their names. Analyze their names to see how they use metaphors, visual imagery, and emotions.
For example, Slack’s name is a metaphor for effortless communication, while Airbnb’s name is a play on the word “bed and breakfast.”
4. Validate Your Names with Trademark Research
Once you have a list of potential names, it is important to validate them with trademark research. Make sure that the names you are considering are not already taken and do not have any negative connotations. Otherwise, you may receive a cease and desist letter from the company that owns the name.
5. Use Audience Testing Before Making Your Final Decision
Before making your final decision, it is important to use audience testing to see which names draw attention and inspire action. However, be careful what questions you ask. Instead of asking which name people like the most, ask which name best aligns with your brand ideas and which one will be most memorable to potential customers.
Conclusion
Naming a brand is an important decision that should not be taken lightly. And that’s why it is crucial to align it with your target audience and consider metaphors, visual imagery, and emotions.
Brainstorm as many ideas as possible, analyze the top ten startups and their names, validate your names with trademark research, and use audience testing to make your final decision. With the right name, you can be certain that your brand will stand out from the crowd with the right name.
Author: Grant Polachek
Grant Polachek leads the branding efforts of 3X Inc. 5000 company Squadhelp.com, a company renowned for their groundbreaking naming services. Squadhelp has studied over a million names to compile a list of the top names in the market and is the #1 crowdsourcing naming provider in the world, having assisted Fortune 500 organizations and early-stage companies alike.
