Are you trying to generate a compelling business name that embodies the essence of your brand and leaves a lasting impression on customers?
A powerful name attracts customers and propels your brand to success. Conversely, a poorly thought-out name can become an insurmountable barrier that dooms even the most promising small business.
Unfortunately, naming a business is something many entrepreneurs and business owners struggle with. If you’re in this boat, fear not. We’ll share some useful tips on how to generate cool domain and store name ideas for your business.
The importance of choosing a good name for your store
Before we get into how to generate great store name ideas, let’s consider the benefits of a great name.
1. First impression
First impressions carry a lot of weight in the business world.
Oftentimes, your store name is the first point of contact customers have with your brand. It appears on signs, adverts, websites and social media platforms. Your store name creates an important first impression that can determine how customers perceive your business.
A compelling business name piques interest and evokes positive emotions, setting the stage for further engagement. It can motivate customers to delve into your store and explore your offerings.
On the other hand, a poorly chosen name might generate indifference among prospects or even trigger a negative reaction that deters them from engaging with your business.
2. Brand identity
Your store name is more than just a label—it introduces prospective customers to your brand’s identity and values. It has the power to capture the essence of your business, encapsulating its personality, mission and unique selling points.
Choosing an online shop name that aligns with your brand identity will help you attract the right customers and create a strong connection with them.
Take a company name like Eco-Wear, for example. The name conveys a commitment to environmentally friendly products, which creates an instant connection with the company’s target audience (i.e., people who are environmentally conscious).
3. Trust and credibility
A well-thought-out brand name helps establish trust and credibility. It signals you take your business seriously and can instill confidence in customers that they are dealing with a trustworthy and reliable firm.
4. Differentiation
In a competitive market, where countless businesses vie for customers’ attention, standing out from the crowd is essential. A creative name differentiates your store from competitors.
Through your store name, you can communicate the unique qualities that make your brand truly exceptional. This can give you a competitive edge. When faced with numerous options, customers are more likely to choose a store that stands out and offers something different.
5. Search engine optimization (SEO)
According to research from IBISWorld, 28% of all business activities today are conducted on the web. A compelling brand name can help you build a strong online presence and gain more visibility.
For example, incorporating relevant keywords in your store name increases the chances of your business ranking high in search engine results. This boost in online visibility can drive more traffic to your online store, which could mean more sales.
How to choose a store name
Here are some tips to help you come up with captivating shop name ideas.
- Brainstorm with a group
- Draw inspiration from competitors
- Use a business name generator
- Use a thesaurus
- Use visual inspiration
- Hire a professional
Brainstorm with a group
If you need help choosing a captivating store name, assemble a group for a brainstorming session. Friends, colleagues or family members who are familiar with your business aspirations can offer valuable insights.
But be mindful of the number of people you invite. As the saying goes, “Too many cooks spoil the broth.” Brainstorm with a small group to maintain focus and prevent ideas from scattering in too many directions.
Draw inspiration from competitors
When crafting a business name, uniqueness is key. However, studying the naming strategies of your competitors can be a valuable part of the creative process. After all, the goal is to stand out from the competition while still fitting into your industry.
Analyze your competitors’ naming approaches and identify any elements that appeal to you. This exercise can inspire unique name ideas and help you understand the naming standards in your industry.
Use a business name generator
Online shop name generators can be a gold mine for business name ideas.
All you need to do is enter a keyword related to your products, industry or niche. Based on your input, the business name generator will then suggest a vast array of catchy names.
Many business name generators have filtering options to help you fine-tune the name suggestions until you find one that aligns perfectly with your brand. For example, you can filter the generated store name results by word structure, length or randomness.
Here are some free business name generators worth checking out:
Use a thesaurus
A thesaurus can be a useful tool if you already have some store name ideas but feel they’re too bland or generic.
It can help you find synonyms, thus enriching your choices. Through a thesaurus, you might stumble upon a more distinctive and evocative name that perfectly aligns with your brand.
Here are a few online thesauruses that you can use:
Use visual inspiration
Visuals can be a powerful source of inspiration when naming your eCommerce store. Create a mood board or gather images that resonate with the essence of your brand. Look for patterns, colors, textures or symbols that evoke the emotions and qualities you want your store to convey.
Immersing yourself in these elements can help you generate catchy store name ideas.
Hire a professional
If you still need help generating a catchy business name, consider hiring a professional.
Branding experts have an elaborate system for creating great store name ideas that are tailored to your brand. And if you already have some ideas jotted down, they can help you sift through the options and find the perfect name for your business.
The downside of hiring a professional is the cost. Branding your online store can cost anywhere between $1,000 and $10,000. But this usually includes additional work such as logo design, tagline, vision and mission statement creation and research on existing trademarks.
Still, this investment could end up being worthwhile, especially if the final result becomes a catalyst for your business’s success.
Characteristics of a great business name
Here are six characteristics of a great company name to remember as you brainstorm your options.
1. Brand alignment
A great business name must align with your brand, so customers won’t have to guess what you’re selling. Strive to include your products, services or related keywords in your eCommerce store name.
Pizza Hut is a prime example of a name with perfect brand alignment. The name clearly communicates that the business specializes in pizza, leaving no room for misinterpretation from customers about its products.
2. Memorability
A store name doesn’t hold much value if customers can’t remember it. Choose a memorable name that captures attention and leaves a lasting impression on customers when they encounter it for the first time.
Netflix is a memorable name that has become synonymous with the streaming of movies and TV shows. The combination of “net” and “flix” creates a unique and catchy name that stands out.
3. Ease of spelling and pronunciation
Go for a name that rolls off the tongue so customers can easily refer it to others. Make sure it’s easy to spell, so people can easily type it into a browser or text it to a friend.
Lyft, Uber and Etsy are real-life examples of brand names that are easy to pronounce, spell and search for.
4. Positive connotations
Be mindful of cultural sensitivities, social norms and prevailing perceptions when crafting your business name. As part of the brainstorming process for store name ideas, conduct research and seek feedback from people familiar with the culture and language of your target audience.
The last thing you want is to alienate customers because your store name contains inappropriate words or phrases.
Dove, for example, is a brand name that evokes positive connotations of care, kindness and gentleness, making it appealing to customers from diverse backgrounds.
5. Trademark protection
Go for a unique and non-generic name eligible for trademark protection. Getting a trademark prevents other businesses from using your store name without your permission. It can also help protect your brand’s identity and reputation.
Nike, Microsoft and Adidas all exemplify distinctive and non-generic names that were eligible for trademark protection.
Before you finalize your name, search the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) database to confirm it hasn’t already been trademarked by another company.
6. Scalability and diversification
Your business name should have the flexibility to accommodate future growth or diversification.
When brainstorming store name ideas, avoid those that are based on seasons or trends.
Instead, think of names that will remain relevant even as your business evolves. This ensures consistency and maintains the recognition you may have built over time.
Amazon started as an online bookstore before expanding its offerings to include a wide range of products and services. The name remained relevant and adaptable as it became a global e-commerce giant.
Now that you know how to brainstorm great store name ideas and what to consider when making a final decision, let’s look at what you need to know about finding a great domain name to match.
What is a domain name and why does it matter?
A domain name is the address visitors type into a web browser to go directly to your website or online store. It’s the bridge that connects your business to the vast online world.
A survey by PowerReviews revealed that 99% of consumers research products online before visiting a physical store. A great domain name that’s congruent with your business will make it easier for existing and prospective customers to find you online.
In other words, you should spend just as much time perfecting your domain name as you did choosing your business name.
If you’re starting a new eCommerce business, it’s important to check for domain name availability before committing to a business name.
How to choose a domain name
Here are some best practices to implement when choosing a domain name for your business.
- Use your business name
- Use a domain name with a .com extension
- Stick to letters only
- Secure your domain name as soon as possible
- Conduct a trademark search
Use your business name
Your domain name should seamlessly align with your business name to create a memorable brand identity.
Therefore, the first and best option when choosing a domain name is to go for the one closest to your store name. This ensures consistency and makes it easier for customers to find you.
Use the Bluehost domain name generator to check if your business name is available as a domain name.
That said, there’s no strict rule stating that your domain name must perfectly match your business name. In fact, a slight variation may be more suitable in some cases.
If your business name is lengthy, you can opt for a shorter, sleeker domain name to enhance memorability.
For instance, let’s say you run a bakery named Bella’s Cakery and Confections Inc. Instead of using the lengthy business name, you could go for bellacakes.com.
This variation still captures the essence of your brand while being concise and memorable.
Use a domain name with a .com extension
The best domain name extension, or top-level domain (TLD) for an online business is .com. It’s the most familiar and popular extension, accounting for nearly half of all global websites. Furthermore, it’s what most customers instinctively type into their browsers when searching for a business online.
Due to its popularity, securing a .com extension for your first-choice business name can be challenging. But don’t despair. If the .com extension isn’t available, you can get by with .net.
If both extensions are already taken, you still have other options.
For instance, you could buy an existing domain name. In fact, some people purchase domain names just to sell them later at a profit.
If buying a domain name isn’t an option, reformulate your business name until you find one that’s available. Most domain name generators will suggest great alternatives if your first choice is unavailable. Go through all the suggestions — you might uncover compelling options you hadn’t considered.
When you settle on a domain name, consider purchasing it with all of the most popular extensions (e.g., .biz, .info, .co, .me and .org.) if you have the funds. Then, set up redirects to your main website.
In the same vein, it might also be a good idea to acquire domains that contain common misspellings or variations of your store name and then redirect users from these domains to your primary domain.
This ensures that users who make typing errors or variations in their search queries can still reach your website and are not directed to unrelated or competing websites.
Stick to letters only
It’s best to stick to letters exclusively when crafting your domain name. Numbers and hyphens can make the domain name confusing and harder to remember, pronounce or type correctly. For example, people often confuse hyphens for an underscore or a minus.
Secure your domain name as soon as possible
Even the oddest and the most unconventional names attract buyers. Don’t assume that just because your domain name is unusual, someone else won’t acquire it. As mentioned, some people will buy domain names they don’t intend to use just so they can sell them later at a profit.
Therefore, it’s best to secure your domain name as soon as possible.
If you have a short list of online store name ideas but haven’t yet made a final decision, consider buying all available domain names just to be safe.
This proactive approach can save you anguish when you finally settle on the perfect name only to discover that the domain for it is already taken. Depending on the nature of the domain, buying additional domain names might only cost you a few extra bucks. Plus, you can always let unused domains expire.
Conduct a trademark search
Just like with your business name, do a search on the USPTO database before finalizing a domain name to ensure it doesn’t infringe on any existing trademarks or copyrights.
This is especially important if your domain differs from your store name. Your store name might not be trademarked, but your domain name might be. So don’t skip this step.
Check for similarities with established brands to avoid legal issues and confusion among customers.
Final thoughts: How to find great domain & store name ideas for your brand
Your store and domain names are the foundation of your brand’s identity and can significantly impact customers’ recognition, perception, and engagement with your business. Use the above tips to develop a unique and impactful identity for your brand.
And when you’re ready to find the perfect domain name, look no further than Bluehost’s domain name tool.
The Bluehost domain name tool can help you brainstorm great domain name ideas to find the best option for your store, whether you’re running a startup or an established business. If you host your store with Bluehost, you could even snag a free domain name, depending on your plan.
Contact us today to learn more.
