Skip to content
IdeaToGrowth Logo

DIGITAL  MARKETING & WEBSITE AGENCY

HELPING YOU GROW YOUR BUSINESS STRONGER!

  • HOME
  • SERVICESExpand
    • WEBSITE DESIGN SERVICESExpand
      • 1-PAGE BUSINESS WEBSITE DESIGN
      • BUSINESS WEBSITE DESIGN
      • E-COMMERCE WEBSITE DESIGN
      • CONTENT WRITING SERVICE
    • WEBSITE CARE SERVICESExpand
      • WEBSITE HOSTING SERVICE
      • WEBSITE MAINTENANCE SERVICE
      • WEBSITE SECURITY SERVICE
      • WEBSITE SUPPORT SERVICE
    • WEBSITE SERVICESExpand
      • SSL CERTIFICATE SERVICE
      • SEO AUDIT SERVICE – SEO WEBSITE ANALYSIS
      • WEBSITE BACKUP SERVICE
      • WEBSITE PAGE SPEED OPTIMIZATION SERVICE
      • HACKED WEBSITE FIXED SERVICE
      • ADA WEBSITE COMPLIANCE SERVICE
      • GOOGLE ANALYTICS TAG MANAGER SERVICE
      • CORE WEB VITALS SERVICE
      • LOGO DESIGN SERVICE
      • GRAPHIC DESIGN SERVICE
      • SEO SERVICES
      • LOCAL SEO SERVICE
      • TECHNICAL SEO SERVICE
    • DIGITAL MARKETING SERVICESExpand
      • SEARCH ENGINE MARKETING SERVICE
      • PAY PER CLICK SERVICE
      • CONVERSION RATE OPTIMIZATION SERVICE
      • LINK BUILDING SERVICE
      • VIDEO PRODUCTION SERVICE
      • EMAIL PROMOTION SERVICE
      • MARKETING NEWSLETTER SERVICE
    • SOCIAL MEDIA SERVICESExpand
      • SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING SERVICE
      • SOCIAL MEDIA WRITING SERVICE
      • GOOGLE MY BUSINESS SERVICE
      • GOOGLE BUSINESS PROFILE SERVICE
      • LINKEDIN SERVICESExpand
        • LINKEDIN PROFILE PAGE SERVICE
        • LINKEDIN COMPANY PAGE SERVICE
        • LINKEDIN CONTENT WRITING SERVICE
        • LINKEDIN ADS CAMPAIGN SERVICE
      • FACEBOOK SERVICESExpand
        • FACEBOOK PERSONAL PROFILE PAGE SERVICE
        • FACEBOOK BUSINESS PAGE SERVICE
        • FACEBOOK CONTENT WRITING SERVICE
        • FACEBOOK ADS CAMPAIGN SERVICE
      • YELP FOR BUSINESS SERVICE
      • GOOGLE WORKSPACE SERVICE
    • EXECUTIVE COACHING AGENCY SERVICESExpand
      • EXECUTIVE COACHING SERVICE
      • EXECUTIVE TRAINING SERVICE
      • EXECUTIVE SPEAKING SERVICE
      • EXECUTIVE MASTERMIND GROUP
  • CLIENTS
  • ABOUTExpand
    • ABOUT US
    • CONTACT US
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS OF USE
    • DISCLAIMER
  • LEARNExpand
    • BOOKS
    • PODCASTS
    • VIDEOS
  • BLOG
  • SHOPExpand
    • PRICES
    • CART
    • ACCOUNT
  • USERExpand
    • LOGINExpand
      • LOGOUT
      • REGISTER
    • Account
    • Edit Your Profile
    • Update Billing Card
    • Registration
IdeaToGrowth Logo

STARTUP NAME – 10 NAME YOUR STARTUP STEPS

STARTUP NAME – 10 NAME YOUR STARTUP STEPS

STARTUP NAME – 10 NAME YOUR STARTUP STEPS

❏ Today I’m speaking on  Startup Name – 10 Name Your Startup Steps. Picking the name for your startup is one of the most time-consuming and essential steps you will take. Choose the wrong name, and your startup could fail.  A lawsuit can be filed against you if you pick the wrong name. Choose the wrong name, and other cultures could mock you due to how the name translates. How do you not mess up this early and vital step?

As an Executive Coach, I help founders find the right kind of help at the right time. Whether you run an early-stage business or are doing millions per month online, returns can cripple your cash flow. Last week I taught you Minimize Product Returns – 10 Ways to Fewer Returns.

You will spend more person-hours on picking the Name for your Startup than almost any other function in the opening weeks of your startup. Sadly, the Startup Name you Pick may not be the right one.

Let’s get started!

Step 1: Start with a Pad of Paper

Write down every name that pops into your head, no matter how crazy or long. Don’t worry about if the name is already in use by another. You are in the Idea Stage of your company life-cycle. There are no bad ideas. Plan on spending 1-2 hours just writing down names. If you’re working with a team, get everyone together. Have one of you play the scribe. Don’t verbally judge any idea from anyone. Just write it down. After 1-2 hours, STOP!

Step 2: Identify Names Relevant to Your Product

Now go through the list of potential Startup Name choices and scratch through any names that are NOT relevant names to your end product. So, if you’re making a piece of wine hardware, scratch through all names that are not related to the wine industry or the product’s function. Why? Good question. If you’re looking for a company, who can dry clean your clothes, “dry cleaner” being part of the name is likely to help you find it. If you’re a restaurant and serve seafood, like Red Lobster, you’re instantly going to recognize it as a seafood restaurant.

Step 3: Pick Easy to Say & Remember Names

We’ve all the weird names out there. Take the startup URL yslx.com for example. How do you pronounce it in English? I have no idea. There’s no trick I can think of to remember it either. I have no clue what they do by looking at the name. Do you? Maybe it means something in a non-English language. Whatever language that might be, if that’s the only market you’re selling to – great! If you want to sell your product in an English-speaking language, I recommend choosing another company name.

Step 4: Choose Shorter Name

Yes, you could name your startup ‘Far North Yosemite California Custom Wine Racks.’ Kind of a mouthful, isn’t it? It is also highly demographic isolating for potential sales. Are you willing to sell to folks in Tampa, Florida? Yes? Those who live in Florida might think California is too far away to buy a wine rack. Instead, choosing “Custom Wine Racks” (if available) is shorter and removes any geographical information that could limit sales.

Step 5: Check to See if the Name is Trademarked

Now your list is shorter. Let’s see if someone has already registered your chosen Business Names. If you picked McDonald’s, sorry, you can’t use it, even if your name is McDonald’s. Why? The word McDonald’s has been Trademarked by the McDonald’s Hamburger corporation. Now trademarks have limited use rights, so if you were making telescopes and wanted to name your company McDonald’s Telescopes, you might be legally OK. However, if McDonald’s lawyers send you a letter, do you want to spend tens of thousands on a lawyer telling McDonald’s corporation that you are legally free to use McDonald’s Telescopes? I don’t think it a good use of monies. Go to https://www.uspto.gov/ (Link) and see if the name is in use. Stay away from trademarked names.

Step 6: Check the Name in Other Languages

English is a combination of many languages. There have been instances in which a product name meant a curse word in another language. Nokia/Microsoft’s “Lumia” phone line is one example. In Spanish slang, it means “prostitute.” The car manufacturer “Peugeot” has a similar meaning in some Chinese dialects. Use a website like http://wordsafety.com/ (Link) to check your name before you fall in love with it.

Step 7: Is the Domain Name Available?

OK, the list is shorter. Now comes the big list thinning check. Is the domain name available? If you haven’t done domain name searches before, you’re about to be shocked. Most names left on your list are likely already “owned” by someone. There are hundreds of people worldwide who make six to seven-figure incomes buying and selling domain names. The odds that many, if any, names on your reduced list are not owned by someone is relatively low. Any name with a small number of characters, like three to five, are almost positively owned by someone on the web already. I recommend using https://domains.google.com (Link) to search. I use it exclusively for all my businesses and my clients to find, buy and manage domains. There is no better service IMHO.

Step 8: Should You Choose a Dot Com if Possible?

When the internet started, names ending in Dot Com (.com) and Dot Net (.net) were dominant. Now there are hundreds of domain extensions. Currently, the top 150MM domains extensions are:

.COM: 82.01 million
.DE (Germany): 13.05 million
.CN (China): 12.55 million
.NET: 12.42 million
.UK (United Kingdom): 7.83 million
.ORG: 7.79 million
.INFO: 5.24 million
.NL (Netherlands): 3.5 million
.EU (European Union): 2.98 million
.RU (Russia): 2.31 million

If you are USA-based, I would recommend choosing a Dot Com (.com) domain extension over any other. Why? Well, the list above is one good reason. Also, your customers are more likely to have an instant “trust” in a company name that ends in Dot Com (.com) than one that ends in Dot Wine (.wine), even if you make a wine product or service. The same rationale for choosing a name that ends in Dot CN (.cn) if your company is based in or predominantly sells into China. The other company that has your company name using Dot Com (.com) is more likely to win the “search ranking” race unless you’re ready to spend a lot of money. Choose a company name that you can get the Dot Com (.com) or even if it’s not your “first choice.”

Step 9: Grab Other Related Domains

Once you’ve found your Dot Com (.com) domain, grab the other strong domain extensions around it. Using my Wine products company example in the USA, get the Dot Com (.com), Dot Net (.net), Dot Info (.info) domains also. If you plan to sell your product in a foreign country, you might also want to grab the related country extension. Don’t go crazy, though, on country extensions. Your home country is the critical extension you which to focus.

Step 10: Choose a Domain Management Service

I mentioned earlier that I recommend using https://domains.google.com (Link) to search. I also recommend it for managing your domains. Google’s tool allows you to readily grant full permissions to set up and manage your website by an inside employee or an outside service provider while you stay in complete control of the domain. So, if you decide to switch to the outside company that is building your website, they can’t hold the power of your domain name hostage (it happens a lot!). Just remove the current web building company as an administrator. Assign the new company administrator rights. You stay in full control of the domain.

Conclusion

I hope I have educated you on Startup Name – 10 Name Your Startup Steps (Link). If you follow my advice, you’ll have a company name that will serve you and your customers well.

100% FREE GOOGLE PAGE RANK ANALYSIS

I want to prove my value to “Helping You Grow Your Business Stronger!” by offering a 100% Free Google SEO Pagerank Analysis. Share your homepage URL (Domain Name) and the email I should send your 100% FREE Report and within a day or two I’ll point out the Top Items on your business website that are Costing You Customers.

QUESTIONS?

If you’re ready for a F2F Zoom chat, or want to ask a quick question by email, click the appropriate link below.

ZOOM: PICK DAY & TIME EMAIL : KENNETH YOUNG

Regards,

Kenneth Ervin Young, CEO
Idea To Growth LLC
Digital Marketing & Website Agency

ANGEL INVESTORS TO VENTURE CAPITAL - 10 SLIDES TO STARTUP FUNDING SUCCESS

SALES ARE OPEN FOR MY NEW BOOK!

“Angel Investors to Venture Capital –
10 Slides to Startup Funding Success –
Entrepreneurs Guide to Startup Fundraising”

Learn the 10 slides you need to create in order to have a great shot at raising venture capital from venture capitalists!

I’ll walk you, slide by slide, how to create content that will attract top venture capitalists to fund your idea, just like I raised over $100M dollars in Silicon Valley for my startups.

I cover every slide in great detail, including not just the words and content, but even font colors, fonts, font sizes, images – all the details to give you the best shot possible!

BUY ON AMAZON NOW!

BLOG ARTICLES

IMAGE OPTIMIZATION OF ALT, TITLE, AND FILE NAME – GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR?

Image Optimization Of Alt, Title, & File Name – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?

By: Kenneth Young
Posted In: GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR
> Read More > Image Optimization Of Alt, Title, & File Name – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?
PROPER USE OF REL=CANONICAL – GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR?

Proper Use Of Rel=Canonical – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?

By: Kenneth Young
Posted In: GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR
> Read More > Proper Use Of Rel=Canonical – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?
NO DUPLICATE CONTENT ON SITE – GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR?

No Duplicate Content On Site – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?

By: Kenneth Young
Posted In: GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR
> Read More > No Duplicate Content On Site – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?
GOOGLE HUMMINGBIRD – GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR?

Google Hummingbird – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?

By: Kenneth Young
Posted In: GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR
> Read More > Google Hummingbird – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?
ENTITY MATCH – GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR?

Entity Match – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?

By: Kenneth Young
Posted In: GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR
> Read More > Entity Match – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?
USE OF AMP – GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR?

Use Of Amp – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?

By: Kenneth Young
Posted In: GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR
> Read More > Use Of Amp – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?
PAGE LOADING SPEED VIA HTML – GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR?

Page Loading Speed Via Html – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?

By: Kenneth Young
Posted In: GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR
> Read More > Page Loading Speed Via Html – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?
IN-DEPTH QUALITY CONTENT – GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR?

In-Depth Quality Content – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?

By: Kenneth Young
Posted In: GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR
> Read More > In-Depth Quality Content – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?
LSI KEYWORDS IN TITLE AND DESCRIPTION TAGS – GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR?

LSI Keywords In Title And Description Tags – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?

By: Kenneth Young
Posted In: GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR
> Read More > LSI Keywords In Title And Description Tags – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?
KEYWORDS IN CONTENT (LSI) – GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR?

Keywords In Content (LSI) – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?

By: Kenneth Young
Posted In: GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR
> Read More > Keywords In Content (LSI) – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?
LINKED TABLE OF CONTENTS – GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR?

Linked Table Of Contents – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?

By: Kenneth Young
Posted In: GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR
> Read More > Linked Table Of Contents – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?
CONTENT LENGTH – GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR?

Content Length – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?

By: Kenneth Young
Posted In: GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR
> Read More > Content Length – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?
KEYWORD FREQUENCY IN CONTENT (TF-IDF) – GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR?

Keyword Frequency In Content (TF-IDF) – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?

By: Kenneth Young
Posted In: GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR
> Read More > Keyword Frequency In Content (TF-IDF) – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?
KEYWORD IN H1 TAG – GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR?

Keyword In H1 Tag – Google Ranking Factor?

By: Kenneth Young
Posted In: GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR
> Read More > Keyword In H1 Tag – Google Ranking Factor?
KEYWORD IN META DESCRIPTION TAG – GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR?

Keyword In Meta Description Tag – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?

By: Kenneth Young
Posted In: GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR
> Read More > Keyword In Meta Description Tag – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?
KEYWORD AT START OF TITLE TAG – GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR?

Keyword At Start Of Title Tag – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?

By: Kenneth Young
Posted In: GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR
> Read More > Keyword At Start Of Title Tag – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?
KEYWORD IN TITLE TAG - GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR?

Keyword In Title Tag – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?

By: Kenneth Young
Posted In: GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR
> Read More > Keyword In Title Tag – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?
302 REDIRECTS – GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR?

302 Redirects – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?

By: Kenneth Young
Posted In: GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR
> Read More > 302 Redirects – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?
301 REDIRECTS – GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR?

301 Redirects – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?

By: Kenneth Young
Posted In: GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR
> Read More > 301 Redirects – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?
503 STATUS MISUSE – GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR?

503 Status Misuse – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?

By: Kenneth Young
Posted In: GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR
> Read More > 503 Status Misuse – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?
CHANGING HOSTING PROVIDER – GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR?

Changing Hosting Provider – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?

By: Kenneth Young
Posted In: GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR
> Read More > Changing Hosting Provider – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?
PAGE 1 OF GOOGLE SEARCH - A CLIENT CASE STUDY

Page 1 of Google Search – A Great Client Case Study

By: Kenneth Young
Posted In: GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR
> Read More > Page 1 of Google Search – A Great Client Case Study
SHARED HOSTING – GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR?

Same Shared Hosting – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?

By: Kenneth Young
Posted In: GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR
> Read More > Same Shared Hosting – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?
SAME URL PARAMETERS – GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR?

Same URL Parameters – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?

By: Kenneth Young
Posted In: GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR
> Read More > Same URL Parameters – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?
PARKED DOMAIN – GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR?

Parked Domain – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?

By: Kenneth Young
Posted In: GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR
> Read More > Parked Domain – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?
COUNTRY TLD EXTENSION – GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR?

Country TLD Extension – Google Ranking Factor?

By: Kenneth Young
Posted In: GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR
> Read More > Country TLD Extension – Google Ranking Factor?
WHOIS OWNER PREVIOUSLY PENALIZED - GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR?

WhoIs Owner Previously Penalized – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?

By: Kenneth Young
Posted In: GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR
> Read More > WhoIs Owner Previously Penalized – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?
PRIVATE WHOIS - GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR?

Private Whois – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?

By: Kenneth Young
Posted In: GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR
> Read More > Private Whois – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?
DOMAIN OWNERSHIP HISTORY - GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR?

Domain Ownership History – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?

By: Kenneth Young
Posted In: GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR
> Read More > Domain Ownership History – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?
DOMAIN RENEWAL DATE - GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR?

Domain Renewal Date – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?

By: Kenneth Young
Posted In: GOOGLE RANKING FACTOR
> Read More > Domain Renewal Date – 1 Big Google Ranking Factor?
SEE ALL BLOG ARTICLES
Kenneth Young

Post navigation

Previous Previous
Minimize Product Returns – 10 Ways to Fewer Returns
NextContinue
Venture Capitalist – Tampa Bay Area Wants You

FOLLOW US

Google Reviews YouTube Facebook Twitter Instagram Reddit Linkedin Pinterest Tumblr WordPress Blogger IconTelegram
IDEA TO GROWTH LLC
  • EMAIL - CONTACT US
  • M-F 9:00 - 5:00 ET
  • GIVE US A GOOGLE REVIEW
  • ASK A QUESTION - GET AN ANSWER!
  • SEE OUR GOOGLE BUSINESS PROFILE
  • SEE WHAT GOOGLE KNOWS ABOUT US
  • SEE OUR GOOGLE BUSINESS WEBSITE
SEARCH

©2023 IDEA TO GROWTH LLC - Site by: IDEATOGROWTH.COM - REPORT BUG

Scroll to top
  • HOME
  • SERVICES
    • WEBSITE DESIGN SERVICES
      • 1-PAGE BUSINESS WEBSITE DESIGN
      • BUSINESS WEBSITE DESIGN
      • E-COMMERCE WEBSITE DESIGN
      • CONTENT WRITING SERVICE
    • WEBSITE CARE SERVICES
      • WEBSITE HOSTING SERVICE
      • WEBSITE MAINTENANCE SERVICE
      • WEBSITE SECURITY SERVICE
      • WEBSITE SUPPORT SERVICE
    • WEBSITE SERVICES
      • SSL CERTIFICATE SERVICE
      • SEO AUDIT SERVICE – SEO WEBSITE ANALYSIS
      • WEBSITE BACKUP SERVICE
      • WEBSITE PAGE SPEED OPTIMIZATION SERVICE
      • HACKED WEBSITE FIXED SERVICE
      • ADA WEBSITE COMPLIANCE SERVICE
      • GOOGLE ANALYTICS TAG MANAGER SERVICE
      • CORE WEB VITALS SERVICE
      • LOGO DESIGN SERVICE
      • GRAPHIC DESIGN SERVICE
      • SEO SERVICES
      • LOCAL SEO SERVICE
      • TECHNICAL SEO SERVICE
    • DIGITAL MARKETING SERVICES
      • SEARCH ENGINE MARKETING SERVICE
      • PAY PER CLICK SERVICE
      • CONVERSION RATE OPTIMIZATION SERVICE
      • LINK BUILDING SERVICE
      • VIDEO PRODUCTION SERVICE
      • EMAIL PROMOTION SERVICE
      • MARKETING NEWSLETTER SERVICE
    • SOCIAL MEDIA SERVICES
      • SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING SERVICE
      • SOCIAL MEDIA WRITING SERVICE
      • GOOGLE MY BUSINESS SERVICE
      • GOOGLE BUSINESS PROFILE SERVICE
      • LINKEDIN SERVICES
        • LINKEDIN PROFILE PAGE SERVICE
        • LINKEDIN COMPANY PAGE SERVICE
        • LINKEDIN CONTENT WRITING SERVICE
        • LINKEDIN ADS CAMPAIGN SERVICE
      • FACEBOOK SERVICES
        • FACEBOOK PERSONAL PROFILE PAGE SERVICE
        • FACEBOOK BUSINESS PAGE SERVICE
        • FACEBOOK CONTENT WRITING SERVICE
        • FACEBOOK ADS CAMPAIGN SERVICE
      • YELP FOR BUSINESS SERVICE
      • GOOGLE WORKSPACE SERVICE
    • EXECUTIVE COACHING AGENCY SERVICES
      • EXECUTIVE COACHING SERVICE
      • EXECUTIVE TRAINING SERVICE
      • EXECUTIVE SPEAKING SERVICE
      • EXECUTIVE MASTERMIND GROUP
  • CLIENTS
  • ABOUT
    • ABOUT US
    • CONTACT US
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS OF USE
    • DISCLAIMER
  • LEARN
    • BOOKS
    • PODCASTS
    • VIDEOS
  • BLOG
  • SHOP
    • PRICES
    • CART
    • ACCOUNT
  • USER
    • LOGIN
      • LOGOUT
      • REGISTER
    • Account
    • Edit Your Profile
    • Update Billing Card
    • Registration
Search