Begin with a brainstorming session. Develop a broad range of keywords related to your work and experiment with different parts of speech. Write down as many verbs, nouns, and adjectives as you can think of. For example, if your company existed as a locksmith operation some keywords might be “key,” “lock,” “open,” “door,” “spare,” and so on. When you have exhausted these ideas, utilize a thesaurus to contribute additional synonyms or add other related words.

You can work on combining words from your new list. Play with them until you find some sort of sequence or saying that inspires you. Use any cliché, witticism, or other play on words that you can remember. And, know that no idea is too silly or far out in the invention stage. Nobody says that you have to use anything at all at this point.

Brainstorm other words that represent ideas that you want the public to associate with your company. A spa might jot down words like, “relaxation,” “health,” “freshness,” “meditation,” “peace,” “retreat,” and “serenity.”

Also come up with different terms that symbolize your intended buyers. A produce company might note “busy,” “healthy,” “working,” “conscious,” and “vegetarian.”

Check to see if there are any ways you can combine any of the words or phrases you have thus far generated.

In some instances, it may be unique to add your own surname to the range of possibilities. For example, one successful computer expert with the last name of “Straight” incorporated his to form his company Straight Shooting Technology. This is extremely clever as it alludes to the trouble shooting factor, involving computers and equipment. Overall, it promotes a “get to the bottom of things quickly” type of feeling.

When preparing a business name or tag line, you want to communicate to the public that you are very professional and extremely good at what you do. What words can you use to signify greatness and quality? Are there words similar to “best,” “giant,” “guru,” “expert,” or “guide,” that can be used with any of the previous ones that you have so far noted?

Take a moment to think about whether or not there are also words or phrases that your clients are trying to avoid in a company’s products or services. For example an exterminating company in this case might jot down “bugs,” “expense,” “nuisance,” and “pests.” By incorporating these, there may be some quirky connotation that can prove interesting. On the flip-side is there any word or saying that associates itself with what customers do wish for: “money,” “beauty,” or “better sleep”?

Literary devices like paradox, rhyme, and alliteration, can also be appealing to ear.

And, you can also implement well-known pieces of fairy tales or mythology for a special business name or tag line. Consider one jewelry-making store branded as Beauty and the Bead.

Don’t forget to assess the phonetics of the verbiage. Can the public read, pronounce, and spell your idea? It should also be brief enough to hold its effectiveness, in addition to being distinctive and meaningful and realistic.

You will want to try your ideas out on friends and family who will give you honest feedback. Get some opinions on your business name and tag line. Does it make sense? What is the response? Was their response your intention? And, are you comfortable with the final product? If you are not, do not waste the time putting the idea into place. Once it’s been established, it should remain a constant for quite some time. And, before you do anything else, check the legal implications regarding trademarks and what business names have already been assumed. These will be off limits.

Deciding to hire a marketing specialist to engender your business name or tag line is up to you. Some people prefer to have a hand in this process and make it personal. Others feel more secure having assistance in the generation of creativity. Why not try your hand at it though and see what your creativity produces?

Author: Rick Sheldon has 18 years experience in the Promotional Products Industry and is currently President of Click 4 Promos.com a discount Online Promotional Products Company He can be contacted at 877-238-2421 or go to his site: Promotional Items

email: info@click4promos.com

Phone 1-877-238-2421

Click4promos.com
46881 SE Highway 26
Sandy, Oregon 97055

Fax 503-826-1951