How to Make the Most of a Business Name Generator
Life hacks from professional marketers
ALL business name generators are only as good as the keywords you input. Remember, garbage in = garbage out!
To get the very best results using name generators like ours, first, you’ll need to brainstorm a list of “seed” keywords. This is the secret to generating the most creative and distinct names for your new business.
These “seeds” are words and phrases (two or more words) that relate to your company’s service and products. They don’t have to be necessarily the ones that will be contained in your final restaurant name — they can simply be related.
Here is an example of resources to use while you brainstorm keywords for naming a barbecue restaurant:
1. Your Brain – Think up a few obvious words related to your business that come to your mind easily. For example, your top words might include joint, BBQ, spicy, ribs, pork, smoke, fire, and so on.
2. Google – Enter your restaurant (business) type (BBQ) plus “keywords” = “barbecue + keywords.” Scroll through the search results page and pick up related words. I found these additional keywords: grilling, summer, Pappa, American, heritage, and meat. Pages like this with keyword tag clouds can be helpful.
3. Glossaries – Find a glossary dedicated to your industry by searching barbecue (your business type) + glossary. Here’s a barbecue glossary we found. Added to my list are these words: chili, atomic, wings, coals, sauce, beer, and cast iron.
4. Thesaurus – Use an online thesaurus to find even more words, such as cookout, picnic, clam bake, and party. Click on each word to find even more: wiener roast, dining alfresco, and fish fry.
Arming yourself with the right keywords will help you use a business name generator effectively.
Tips for Choosing the Best Generated Business Name
After you’ve used a business name generator, you might find yourself staring down a long list of possibilities. But how do you pick the right one? Here are some tips for choosing the best business name from your options.
1. Draw inspiration from your niche
Study your own and similar market niches. Draw inspiration from other companies’ names where you can. Double-check that you’ve not stolen other people’s ideas, though. This will bring you nothing but legal troubles. Plus, you’ll miss the opportunity to convey your brand personality through your name.
2. Identify your brand personality and advantages
Think about your business. What is unique about it? What value does it offer to customers? Why people should choose your company over other businesses? Identify your advantages and key characteristics and rely on them when creating a name for your business.
3. Be simple and concise
Pick a name that’s simple and easy to remember. You want the name to “stick” in people’s minds. It’s also worth noting that a short name will look great on your branded products (business cards, mugs, etc).
4. Create associations
Your name must create the right associations and emotions in the minds of your customers. Do any of the generated names evoke the associations you want? Or do they need some tweaks? A few association exercises can take an okay name and turn it into a great one.
5. Visualize your name
Choosing the best name is the first step toward building a strong brand. To see how your business name will look on your logo and other branded designs, use the ZenBusiness brand generator. It’s a great way to make sure all your branded elements suit each other and create a coherent image of your company.
6. Get feedback
If you want your name to resonate with your customers, then who better to ask than your customers? If you can, try to run your ideas by your customers (perhaps in person or through a social media survey) and hear what they think. Which name do they like best? Do they have any changes they recommend? You never know what improvements your customers might suggest; helping you pick your name might even improve their resonance with your brand, even if only in a small way.