Starting A Business Abroad: 5 Tips To Choose A Good Company Name

Posted on 23. Dec, 2009 by Emmanuelle Archer in Blog, Expat Entrepreneurs, Expat Life
5 comments

5 tips to choose a good company name

1. Make sure your company name is easy to pronounce and spell in the local language. Make doubly sure that it has no unintended or embarrassing meaning. If you’re planning to sell internationally, ask expats from different backgrounds if the name you’ve chosen has any unfortunate connotations in their mother tongues.

2. You want a name that’s short, and easy to remember. Metaphors and analogies can be effective, but avoid “clever” puns and weird spellings – they can be confusing, and they will make it harder for your clients to find you online.

3. Remember that you’re going to need a website, and that your domain name should ideally be Yourcompanyname.com. Do a search on a domain name registrar as you come up with possible names, and eliminate those that are already taken.

4. If you’re not familiar with the basic principles of SEO (Search Engine Optimisation), take some time to learn about it before you pick a name. Having a well-optimised name will make it easier to rank well on Google and other search engines.

5. Your name must be distinctive. If it’s too close to other company names on the market, you will not only confuse clients, but also indirectly remind them of your better-known competitor with a similar name. Don’t give your competition free advertising.

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Emmanuelle

Images by Ben Terrett (top) and vividBreeze (bottom), both via Flickr Creative Commons