“Brand” is one of those words that everyone uses in business and marketing, but not everyone actually understands.
People see a name, logo, color and even sound as a brand. While these are partially true as they form the elements of a brand, they only scratch the surface.
So what exactly is a brand?
What is Brand?
A brand is the way a product, company, or individual is perceived by those who experience it. A brand is much more than a name or logo. In fact, it is the recognizable emotion evoked by these beings.
While it may seem like a simple idea to understand, branding is a difficult topic to understand, not easy to define. Because branding is emotional and subjective, it is not necessarily something that can be measured or quantified.
According to Kotler, a brand is a name, term, sign symbol (or a combination thereof) that identifies the manufacturer or seller of the product.
What is a Brand Name?
A brand name identifies a particular company, product or service and distinguishes it from similar competing brands within a category.
Brand names are typically registered to protect the rights of the brand owner, and the brand name is often accompanied by a logo.
Why is Brand Name Important?
Your brand name helps create the first impression of your business and is absolutely critical because of the overall impact it has on your business.
You ask why?
Because a brand name can change how people perceive your brand and increase brand equity, it can also cause the opposite if done incorrectly or not done at all.
Understanding the importance of a brand name simply means taking the reins and trying to control how that reputation looks. For this reason, it is recommended that you think about the brand name from the very beginning of your business.
Types of Brand Name Creation
Understanding the types of brand names available is the first step in any brand name finding or renaming project.
If you have multiple products or services, the type of brand name you choose for each of your brands will help define your brand architecture.
There are 10 types of brand name creation . We have listed all of these types for you below:
1. Names of Founders
Using founder names, which is among the simplest brand name finding methods , can sometimes be difficult for your brand. In this style, the brand uses the name of the person who founded the company, with or without other qualifiers that describe the products. Named after its founder, Walt Disney, Disney is one of the most famous examples of this.
2. Descriptive Names
A fairly simple brand naming convention, this method uses brand names that describe the products or services offered. Some examples of this include Toys R Us and Internet Explorer.
3. Geographic Names
It includes the use of a region or landmark associated with a product or service in a brand name. For example, Turkish Airlines, ie Turkish Airlines, indicates that the company's headquarters is in Turkey.
4. Personalized Names
These brand names center around a real or legendary person who is not the founder or even associated with the company. Personalized brand names can use historical figures, legends, or create a brand personality around a fictitious company mascot.
5. Evocative Names
This type of brand name is designed to paint a vivid and relevant image for the customer. For example, Amazon, inspired by the world's largest river, has achieved its goal of becoming the world's largest e-commerce site.
6. Alliteration or Rhyming Names
This category includes names that are both catchy and fun to say. Brands like YouTube and Dunkin' Donuts use alliteration and a shortened word to create a rhythmic and easy-to-remember brand name .
7. Derived Names
This category includes names that sound similar to something you've heard before but are somehow changed to a different sound. Nespresso is one of the best examples of this method.
8. Newly Made Up Names
Some brands, such as Kodak and Google, use completely made-up new words that create a sense of uniqueness and instill memorable qualities that help set the brand apart from the competition. Neologist brand names can be among the most powerful brand naming strategies when developed correctly and are easier to register and protect like derived names. However, they often need more initial marketing resources to promote and make sense of the brand.
9. Hybrid Names
This category refers to brands such as Microsoft. When words are combined, they are combinations of existing words or well-known syllables that send the right message and potentially highlight brand-related features and benefits. This form of naming can also yield very creative and catchy results.
10. Abbreviations and Initials
This category refers to brand names that represent something longer, such as KFC for Kentucky Fried Chicken, HP for Hewlett-Packard, GE for General Electric. It is much more reasonable for companies that have made their mark on the industry to use abbreviations later. Rebranding often makes sense when the long name version no longer serves its purpose effectively.
How to Find a Catchy Brand Name
Finding the perfect brand name requires a great deal of research, brainstorming, testing, feedback and, if necessary, redoing the entire process.
Well, while managing this whole complex process, if you are wondering how to find a catchy brand name, we have listed what you should do for you below:
1. Keep it short and simple
The human brain can store thousands of words, and a native English speaker knows an average of 35,000 words. In this huge pile, the short and simple are remembered before the complex ones. Therefore, take the time to choose a name that is not only catchy, but also easily combined with other brand elements (shapes, colors and sounds) to which customers react emotionally. Test whether your name is simple and understandable to others.
2. Get inspired by brand name creators
Brand name ideas are not easy to come up with. It can take weeks, sometimes months, but experimenting with brand name generators can give you lots of new ideas in just a few clicks.
Brand name generator is a great starting point as it provides possible name suggestions based on data about your business. By searching your specific industry and keywords, you can get brand name ideas or create sentimental names for your product/service.
Brand name generators are great for finding many brand names at once, making it easy to find what you're looking for.
3. Get feedback
When you get enough feedback, it gives you a representation of how customers collectively perceive your brand. However, to protect the integrity of the brand, feedback should come from brand professionals, customers, and your team, not your family and friends. We recommend getting reviews from brand name experts as they provide functionality testing, customer testing, and other helpful services that will make your naming journey seamless. The feedback will also give you important insights into the tone and perceived meaning of your brand name.
4. Avoid trends
Trends come and go, so don't stick to one at all costs and add trend words to your brand name that are guaranteed to go out of style for years to come.
5. Don't ignore readability
Try to keep your brand name readable and easy to pronounce. Your users should not be confused when pronouncing your name or recommending it to someone else.
6. Stick with popular top-level domain extensions
There are no issues with country specific extensions or the latest available extensions. However, it is recommended that you avoid them and stick with the Top Level Domain extensions that are accepted as standard around the world, .com, .net, and .org. These domain extensions also make it easier for readers to trust your site.
Example: com > net > org >
Company Name Finding Tools
Before using the company name finder tools below , run your keywords with all these tools and choose at least 5 brand names you like. Then ask for a recommendation from those around you or do a social media survey to decide on the final brand name.
1. NameMesh
NameMesh is probably the most popular brand name generator because of its dynamic features. Unlike other tools in the list, NameMesh does not add the login keyword to the preset keyword list.
It uses algorithms to find a suitable name considering different factors.
You may have to try multiple keywords before you find a suitable brand name, but in the end it will give you a good result.
2. Dot-o-Mater
Dot-o-Mater may not be as advanced as Name Mesh, but it's definitely worth a mention when it comes to company name finding tools .
It helps you find two-word domains by combining the keywords on the start tab with the keywords on the ending tab.
You can write your own keyword list or choose from the given list of names.
3. Lean Domain Search
Lean Domain Search is a simple company name generator that searches for available brand names based on the keyword you enter.
On the homepage, you have only one option to enter your keyword or choose one of the examples given below. Press enter and you will be provided with a list of all available domains (mostly 2 words).
You have several options for ordering the result or deciding on the position of the input keyword.
4. Shopify Name Generator
Shopify is a well-known e-commerce platform provider and usually caters only to businesses. With Shopify Name Generator , you can find some interesting brand names for your business.
You need to enter a targeted keyword and the tool will suggest a list of 2-3 word domains available across multiple extensions.
What are the Tips for Finding the Right Brand Name?
The 6 qualities we list below will show you what to consider when creating brand ideas :
1. Unforgettable
Choose a name that your customers will easily remember when considering your products.
2. Consistent
Your brand's marketing, inventory, sales and size may vary, but your brand name must be able to stand the test of time. If you choose a very niche or trendy name, it may not appeal to your target audience in the future.
So make sure your list of potential names is timeless.
3. Easy to find
The virtual business world relies heavily on consumers finding your online site simply by searching for your brand name. This means that things can go wrong if you choose a name that resembles an established brand, even if it doesn't work in the same niche.
Besides being difficult to find online, choosing a brand name similar to another business creates confusion in your potential customers. This, in turn, can affect the image of your brand.
4. New
Short and simple domain names are no longer easy to reach. Almost every dictionary word has been registered online. So you may need to come up with your own words.
Brands that create their own names or mix up a few words can often end up with something interesting and memorable, sometimes reflecting their niche.
For example, Instagram and Microsoft are brands that can convey the service offered by the brand to people very well in this way.
5. Suitable
It is very important that you attract as much of your customer's attention as possible.
One reason successful businesses like Facebook, Instagram, Shopify, and Printful do this is because their names hint at their niche. This makes it possible for potential customers to easily identify brands.
6. Creative
There are many ways to come up with a creative brand name . For example, a brand name should be easy to spell. However, since most of the simple names that may be related to your brand will be used frequently, you can be creative and think about the associations you want your customers to have in your brand instead of reusing these used words. What emotions can arise when people open your website? What comes to mind when they see your products or services? If it has an emotional charge, your brand name will have an immediate impact.
If you use the tips we've listed above as a guide, you're sure to find brand name ideas that appeal to your target audience.
What Are Creative Brand Names?
Some of the top brand names include; It is creative, catchy, cool, short, inspiring, innovative and original.
Here are some of these creative brand names:
Brand Name: Cloudrevelout – Product/Industry: Cloud Storage, IT Company
Brand Name: SecureSmarty – Product/Industry: Security, Web Security Services
Brand Name: SwipyWire – Product/Industry: e-Commerce, Technology, Application Developer
Brand Name: MetCon – Product/Industry: Social Media, Dating
Brand Name: QuickMove – Product/Industry: Social Media, Health and Wellness
Brand Name: Hipsonic – Product/Industry: Music App, Streaming Service, Dance Ensemble
Brand Name: Crowdystages – Product/Industry: Social Media, Crowdfunding
Brand Name: Brandingo – Product/Industry: Design Agency, Marketing Agency
Brand Name: Formony – Product/Sector: Manufacturing
Brand Name: SalesPushy – Product/Industry: Sales Training, Sales Consulting
Brand Name: Dwellysmith – Product/Industry: Real Estate
Brand Name: Mediciny – Product/Industry: Health, Telemedicine
How to Register a Trademark?
You can register your trade mark to protect your brand, for example the name of your product or service.
When you register your trade mark, you’ll be able to:
take legal action against anyone who uses your brand without your permission, including counterfeiters
put the ® symbol next to your brand - to show that it’s yours and warn others against using it
sell and license your brand
Before registering a trade mark, check it is the right type of protection for your intellectual property.
A trade mark lasts 10 years. You must renew your trade mark every 10 years for it to stay in force.
What you can register
Your trade mark can include:
words
sounds
logos
colours
a combination of any of these
What you cannot register
Your trade mark cannot:
be offensive, for example contain swear words or pornographic images
describe the goods or services it will relate to, for example the word ‘cotton’ cannot be a trade mark for a cotton textile company
be misleading, for example use the word ‘organic’ for goods that are not organic
be too common and non-distinctive, for example a statement like ‘we lead the way’
be just a generic shape associated with your business, for example if you sell apples you cannot trade mark the shape of an apple
make use of national flags you do not have permission to use
make use of official emblems or hallmarks, for example coats of arms
You may not be able to register your trade mark if it’s the same as, or similar to, a trade mark of another business that sells the same goods or services.
What it costs
Registering a trade mark costs at least £170. It will usually cost more depending on your circumstances, for example how many types of goods or services you want to protect your brand in.
The application process
You must send details of your trade mark and the goods or services you want to use your trade mark on to the Intellectual Property Office (IPO).
The IPO will:
check that your trade mark is not the same as, or similar to, any existing trade marks
publish details of your application in the journal, in case anybody wants to oppose it
If there are any issues the IPO will let you know. You will have to resolve them before you can register your trade mark.
If there are no issues, it usually takes around 3 to 4 months from application for your trade mark to be granted.
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