Changing my business name...some advice from insiders....

[Dan Antonelli]

Try and name your business with something that inherently delivers a positive brand promise. So if someone knew nothing at all about your company but the name alone, they'd formulate an image or brand perception from that alone.

We have been doing a lot more naming for businesses. It's a process, and takes time. First we establish a creative brief and brand strategy. This helps identify your unique USP, marketplace, and general strategy. Once that document is finalized, than our copywriters use that as a blueprint to suggest names along with URLs.

 

[Tony Rome]

Try and name your business with something that inherently delivers a positive brand promise. So if someone knew nothing at all about your company but the name alone, they'd formulate an image or brand perception from that alone.

We have been doing a lot more naming for businesses. It's a process, and takes time. First we establish a creative brief and brand strategy. This helps identify your unique USP, marketplace, and general strategy. Once that document is finalized, than our copywriters use that as a blueprint to suggest names along with URLs.

Thanks...I PM'd you.

 

[jen.reelez]

Hi Tony,

In considering that your business name will eventually affect your business website name, I found a site that I think will be a good guide to rename your sign/printing business:

http://www.thesignexpert.com/How_To_Start_a_Sign_Business_-_Pick_a_Name.html

Hope this helps!

 

[bikecomedy]

Dirty Little URL Secret

Both registrars mentioned in post 23's link page front run. Try searching name availability one of these ways instead.

On a Mac or in Linux, do the following:
Open the Terminal application (located at /Applications/Utilities/Terminal.app). For quick access, simultaneously press Command+Space and then type in “Terminal”.
Type “whois query.ext” without quotes, where “query” is the domain and “ext” is the extension. For
example, type “whois domainsherpa.com” to perform a WHOIS lookup of this website.
Review the output. If the domain is unregistered, it will display, “No match for QUERY.EXT.”

On a Windows-based computer, do the following:
Download Whois v1.01 from Microsoft and open the application.
Type “whois query.ext” without quotes, where “query” is the domain and “ext” is the extension. For
example, type “whois domainsherpa.com” to perform a WHOIS lookup of this website.
Review the output. If the domain is unregistered, it will display, “No match for QUERY.EXT.”

In a web browser from any computer operating system:
If you don’t want to use command line prompts, at the very least you should query InterNIC, which is operated by ICANN, directly via their website. At InterNIC you can do a WHOIS search for the following TLDs: .aero, .arpa, .asia, .biz, .cat, .com, .coop, .edu, .info, .int, .jobs, .mobi, .museum, .name, .net, .org, .pro, and
.travel.

While the above three procedures do not guarantee that your domain name search will not be tracked, they do make it far less likely.

 

[Gino]

No matter what kinda business you have from signs to selling cupcakes.... anyone can make a fantastic pitch why to do XYZ or switch and go on the other side of the fence and make ABC work.

There are as many pros as there are cons. If you keep beating yourself up and taking advice from everyone, you're just gonna have a big mess on your hands and you'll never make up your mind..... or at least always be looking back over your shoulder.

I'm not sure what you name is now, but perhaps, marketing yourself better would work better than a complete name change. If you have the bucks to blow go for it, otherwise, consider your real issue...... are you marketing/advertising yourself properly.



I knew a guy, whose son had a real knack for repairing and altering guns. He chose a name which was catchy and his Dad bought him all the neat toys he needed to work his business. However, no one did anything about making him known. They put a little sign out and waited. They thought because he was good business, would just come to him. Well, his friends and relatives could only give him so much business and then he had the bright idea he was missing phone calls. He got an answering machine and after a few weeks returned it saying it didn't work. [Remember, this was over 30 years ago, before internet and computers]. He thought because no one was calling him, the machine wasn't working. How can people call you, if nobody knows you exist, except for friends and relatives. Word of mouth only goes so far. Wanna shoot yourself in the foot for not marketing correctly or just blow a wad on changing things around ??

Unless you have a wide spread business circle going, no name is gonna draw in more work. No sparkly logo or color scheme is gonna work. No amount of internet hits is gonna work. You need to have a good product and service and be able to back it up for any form of advertising to work. So, before you go off half-cocked, why not re-evaluate what you are or are not doing presently ??

So, what's wrong with your present name ?? I didn't see it mentioned anywhere. If you can't post it, I understand, but really, anyone here can figure it out, so don't be bashful.

 

[Stanton]

If it isn't a court ordered bankruptcy name change, or, you are running from something,
then reconsider.

(unless it is such a gawd awful name that there is no recovery.)
Change the by-line... "best 'product' in 'city'. (even that is campy).

In 1973 we formed Stanford Sign. (singular).

"Stanton" + "Mumford" = Stanford. Added the word Sign.
(Didn't want to hear from the lawyers at THAT University.)

The name has changed several time since we sold it.
And the fleet has had several color changes.

The new owner(s) put their 'brand' on things.
Business slipped.

First time customers buy your product.
Repeat customers buy your reputation.

Nobody buys your DBA.

Business has nothing to do with your name.

The problem is always management.
(try telling that to management).

 

[TammieH]

Go with "Tony Rome Signs" and the byline in a nice italic

"Just Signs, No Pizza"

 

[Tony Rome]

Go with "Tony Rome Signs" and the byline in a nice italic

"Just Signs, No Pizza"

but what if I want there to be Pizza?

I would like to point out how stereotypes are often true...I literally just got done eating pizza.

 

[Stanton]

but what if I want there to be Pizza?

You do mail order?

 

[Tony Rome]

You do mail order?

it would never make it to the post office, lol.

 

[Stanton]

Guess I'm not getting a free pizza...

 

[Graphics95]

We agree with Stanton and Gino.
A long, long time ago - before there were shops with names like "Zippy Signs" and "Signs in a Minute" and a bunch of other franchise opportunities - long before Digital Printing was common - our little shop started with the word "Graphics" in our name.
Our success/survival has nothing to do with the terminology of our name.