We’re seeing a few new trends with business names these days.
First, we’re seeing completely fictitious words being used.
Think eBay, Shopify, and Hulu.
Completely made-up words that represent businesses now planted into our everyday lives.
Second, acronyms are being used.
Examples include IKEA (home furnishings) and RBC (financial services).
Third, there are conjoined company names, such as Facebook, FedEx, and LinkedIn.
Did you notice how each word (or word abbreviation) is one syllable?
Fourth, certain company names are intentionally misspelled.
Examples of misspelled company names include Digg, Reddit, Tumblr, and Flickr.
Although clever, using a misspelled business name for your resume writing service may not be the best option. Think about any negative impressions that might get stirred up in prospects’ minds about your resume/career business name.
Tips for Naming Your Resume Writing Business
Selecting a business name can be fun — and, let’s not forget, a pain in the butt too. 🙂
Ideally, you want to pick a business name that’s:
- Unique / Memorable
- Has an Available URL
- Can be Trademarked
A seemingly small decision can make or break a business. Okay, maybe not break the business. But, at least make marketing and advertising more challenging, which you’ll want to avoid. We recommend spending a fair amount of time on naming your business now so you don’t have to worry about changing it down the road.
A very informative book for learning many great tips for naming your business, we recommend picking up a copy of Alexandra Watkin’s book, My Name is Awesome.
You would be surprised how many in the industry have changed business names.
Do you remember Career Masters Institute, purchased in 2008 and changed to Career Management Alliance, only to be changed again a few years later to Career Thought Leaders?
This is just one example.
Any name change can disrupt client stability and affect profits; therefore, we strongly suggest avoiding a name change unless it’s a necessity.
Do the homework now to save yourself some headaches later.
Here are key points to consider before deciding on a business name:
1. Should Your Business Name be Alphabetically Favorable?
Years ago, those who searched print yellow pages and online directories for products and service providers started at the top of the heap and proceeded to review display and in-column ads in alphabetical order.
Companies name their businesses (and some still do) with this in mind. Putting letters at the beginning of the name gives the company a top position in any alpha listing.
Examples include A+, A1, A & A, and AAA.
When relying heavily on advertising or other means where alpha positioning applies, consider making your business name alphabetically favorable.
2. Does Your Business Name Need to Reflect Your Services?
This is a tricky question to answer because there’s a huge difference between a start-up resume writing service and companies like Apple, Microsoft, Quickbooks, and so on.
For resume writers, we tend to rely on business names that hint at what we do. For example, Johnson’s Resume Writing Service or Top-of-The-Pile Resumes.
This isn’t always true, but if you don’t plan on building a worldwide brand, consider a more traditional business name. Some experts have stated that relatable or straightforward words in a business name help prospective clients relate to your service, which is also something to consider.
Tools & Strategies to Help You Creatively Name Your New Business
To make the task easier, I recommend searching the directories of industry organizations to get your creative juices flowing.
Here’s the directory for the PARW and NRWA.
I’ve seen several unique business names throughout the years.
For example, Tracy Bumpus once owned a career business called RezAmaze.
And Paula Asinof’s calls her business, Yellow Brick Path. Very clever!
Another tool to help brainstorm a business name is Google, yet, explore business names outside the careers industry. Remember, you’re looking for inspiration. Leveraging search can help identify potential name options and, as we mentioned previously, let you know if a business name is already in use.
Also, use Thesaurus.com and glossaries to find synonyms, acronyms, and various word combinations that can further help you drill down to the ideal business name.
Sites like RhymeZone.com can give you additional rhymes, adjectives, and similar word options.
Don’t forget, you can have fun with your name too.
There was a small antique store in Urbana, Ohio, called Fruit Salad Antiques (now closed).
We love that name! So fitting because it’s unique, fun, and memorable!
Other variables to consider using within the name of your business:
1. Acronyms (e.g. ABC, A Better Career)
2. Lingo (e.g. Resume Designs, Ink)
3. Jargon (e.g. Career Bytes for IT Professionals)
4. Slang (e.g. RezBuddy Careers)
Additional tools recommended by “My Name is Awesome” include:
- IdiomConnection.com
- Wordoid.com
- Wordnik.com
- Visuwords.com
Also, be sure to check out, FrozenLemons.com. Provide the website with a few quick details about your business, and voila, you receive a few recommendations within 24-48 hours. The service is rather inexpensive.
How to Research Name Availability?
After selecting your business name, verify the name isn’t registered, trademarked, or used by another company.
First, search your intended business name using Google, Bing, and other search engines. Look for exact matches along with slight variations to identify any potential conflicts.
Second, search the member’s directory of industry associations. Doing this will not only let you know whether your intended name is already in use but will also help you find different name alternatives if it is.
Third, if you’ve reached this far and haven’t found a conflict, head to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office website. Using the Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS), you can search for companies with trademarked business names.
It’s worth mentioning that although your intended business name may be already taken, you may still use the name **if** the other company is outside the resume writing and career services/management industry. Many companies use the same name. For example, there’s Pandora, the name of a jewelry retailer and a music provider. There’s also Delta, which is the name for an airline and faucet brand.
Check with an attorney before selecting a name already used to avoid possible trademark infringement and legal issues later.
