The struggle of starting a startup can only be understood by a fellow founder and his team. There comes a time when you have aced every aspect of building a startup but are stuck on mutually agreeing upon a name and oh boy, that sure is a hassle! Your name translates to your brand’s identity, it is a huge decision. For naming Apric, we remember spending countless hours rejecting names because nothing rang a bell until one fine day, out of the blue we got the idea to name our startup Apric. It resonated with our values, mission, and our brand personality as a whole. The value of a strong name representing your startup is indispensable. Along with the name being catchy and having the ability to connect with your audience, it should also be available for you to use. Look around and you will come across many startups with creative names. Some use human-like names and some like to use robotic names, at the end it all boils down to personal preference if you ask us. Although, the intention of brand building stays constant in both preferences.
The name you allot to your startup will drive you to not just clients but also investors, job candidates, journalists, etc. People create brands to carry on the legacy so it is imperative to adopt a name that will carry on, rather than a trendy short-lived name! From our experience in the industry, we are going to be sharing a few tips and tricks that are going to pave the path to make your naming process easier:
- Try to think out of the box
It can be compelling to hop on the bandwagon and choose a trendy name but in the long run, an innovative out-of-the-box name will make you stand out from your competitors. As startups, a lot of resources including time, money, and energy are spent on acquiring customers. It is vital to have a name that embeds itself into the customer’s mind for good. It also depends on the kind of products/services you sell; some would prefer a simple name while some would want a very extravagant name. Regardless of that though, all names should be well thought of!
2. Think from an International Perspective
Your name should be easy to retain not just in your market but in international markets as well. You may wonder why? Well, the main reason is that it opens a window of opportunity to your startup. Name selection should be looked at from all perspectives. Although do keep in mind if you want the nomenclature to be done in another language, you really have to dig in and do your research. Some words may have an uncertain connotation that you don’t want to be associated with. Hence, thorough international research should be incorporated as well.
3. Align your Goals with your Audience Expectations
Instead of placing your focus on the products/services you have to offer, we would suggest paying heed to aligning your aim with customer expectations. Customers are always on the lookout for a solution, choosing a name that fosters trust and reliability is key. We are sure you must have heard the famous saying “The first impression is the last impression”. Well in many cases, it is! So, it is important to always keep the target audience in mind.
4. Consider how you can register a domain and have a Trademark.
After you have shortlisted a few names, go and explore the domains and see what works out for you. Sometimes, your preferred name may already be in use by another company, this creates problems and confusion. Without researching domains and trademarks, you may obtain a lawsuit under trademark violation. While this is not a step that people usually pay attention to till the end, we strongly advise doing it simultaneously to make the process flow seamlessly.
Always remember that your startup’s name will be its holistic identity. It is a big commitment, like a body tattoo that stays with you for the rest of your life! It will also be the first thing your customers get exposed to so the value of a strong name cannot be undermined in any way shape or form. Let us know at Marketing@Apric.in what tips you have with regards to nomenclature. We love hearing your thoughts!
