Help me come up with a name!

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Guys, I have been trying for two weeks now to come up with a good name for my company.

I wanted to stay away from using my name as the company name.

I have tried colors, nouns, adjectives, made up words. I have found a few that clicked but unfortunately either they were companies already or the dot com name was already gone.

How did you guys come up with your company name?

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

jon
  • Profile picture of the author WillDL
    How do you want to position yourself?
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    • Profile picture of the author jbpatlanta
      seo services, other marketing (sms, ppc, etc), website design
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      • Profile picture of the author WillDL
        Originally Posted by jbpatlanta View Post

        seo services, other marketing (sms, ppc, etc), website design
        You misunderstand my question. I don't care what services you offer.* I want to know how you want to position yourself.

        Are you a marketing company?
        Are you a consultant?
        Are you an SEO company?
        Are you a business image consultant?
        Are you a web designer who also helps with advertising?

        What brand do you want to build? Do you want to be edgy and avant-garde? Solid and dependable?

        *I really do, but for the moment it isn't relevant.
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        • Profile picture of the author jbpatlanta
          Originally Posted by WillDL View Post

          You misunderstand my question. I don't care what services you offer.* I want to know how you want to position yourself.

          Are you a marketing company?
          Are you a consultant?
          Are you an SEO company?
          Are you a business image consultant?
          Are you a web designer who also helps with advertising?

          What brand do you want to build? Do you want to be edgy and avant-garde? Solid and dependable?

          *I really do, but for the moment it isn't relevant.
          I think more as a consultant.

          I would use web design as a way to get my foot in the door. My main goal would be getting a retainer for marketing their brand online / seoing their website. And be able to suggest more services to them as the relationship progresses.

          That is pretty much a consultant IMO
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    • What exactly does your company do?
      Do you want to play with the fact you're in Atlanta?
      Will it be more online or offline?
      local or something more global?

      (edit:you just trumped my post - so I'm guessing offline...and by sms, mobile?)

      You want KW's in the company name...or just the domain
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      • Profile picture of the author jbpatlanta
        I would offer website design to businesses that don't have a website.

        Mobile websites to business that could benefit from one.

        SEO services to move websites up to the first page of Google

        Google Places optimization

        As the basic services.

        I want to add in SMS, PPC, QR codes, and other things as I progress, get more experience, and learn how to do them.

        I did not want a name that pigeon-holed me into one service. That is why I did not want to use website design, marketing, or seo in the company name.

        I did not want to use my name because if I ever decided to sell the company it might be harder to do.

        I did not want to use Atlanta as the name in case I move or target people outside of Atlanta.

        Jon
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        • Profile picture of the author WillDL
          Originally Posted by jbpatlanta View Post

          I did not want a name that pigeon-holed me into one service. That is why I did not want to use website design, marketing, or seo in the company name.

          I did not want to use my name because if I ever decided to sell the company it might be harder to do.

          I did not want to use Atlanta as the name in case I move or target people outside of Atlanta.

          Jon
          I can think of three traits that would be of great benefit to any business name.

          1)Easy to remember.
          2)Intuitive spelling.
          3)Exact match .com domain name available or owned by you.

          The way I see it you have three choices for direction you can go on a name. You can make up a word so you do not have to worry about any associations with that word. You can use a name that you feel invokes positive images. Or you can use a name that works into really well into a slogan.

          I know that isn't terribly helpful, but it's late. I'll think on examples as I sleep and revise my post tomorrow.

          Two last thoughts. Your business name will become less important as you build your brand. Using a city in your business name does not limit you to operating in that city.


          EDIT:
          Just read your post. I think those were some great names. I really like Iron Fish Consulting. It's easy to remember and I just like the sound of it.

          You could also combine some of the other names and see if you like what comes up. JPB Helix is easy to remember and sounds neat.
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          • Profile picture of the author jbpatlanta
            Originally Posted by WillDL View Post



            EDIT:
            Just read your post. I think those were some great names. I really like Iron Fish Consulting. It's easy to remember and I just like the sound of it.

            You could also combine some of the other names and see if you like what comes up. JPB Helix is easy to remember and sounds neat.
            I did not think to put the consulting on the iron fish. I really liked "Iron Fish" too. I must be too tired.

            I went ahead and registered that as a dot com, just in case. I'll keep thinking about it some more.

            Maybe something will hit me as I sleep.

            Thanks for the ideas. Keep them coming.

            Jon
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            • Some of those name ideas are pretty ambiguous ? (helix) You do want to be unique - but defined, right? Something brandable -
              I mean, I had a Band name - "Sarcastic Fringehead" which was a cool name I thought - because no one knew what it meant exactly...but they did remember it. (btw:it's the name of a fish - iron fish made me think of that) but for a consulting business? Pretty obscure.
              I mean if you want obscure, I can think of a hundred names for knick-knack shops in Santa Cruz, Ca... :rolleyes: Golden Goose, Infinity and Beyond, Bite the Wax Tadpole, etc...(you get the idea... )
              since you're in Atlanta, but don't want use that, maybe there are some historical places, events, battles, etc. in that area, that could be useable / recognizable ? (as long as it doesn't have peachtree in it. :rolleyes
              my2cents - 3M

              (actually, I just checked...
              "my2centsconsulting.com" is available - )
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              • Profile picture of the author WillDL
                Originally Posted by MoneyMagnetMagnate View Post

                Some of those name ideas are pretty ambiguous ? (helix) You do want to be unique - but defined, right? Something brandable -
                I mean, I had a Band name - "Sarcastic Fringehead" which was a cool name I thought - because no one knew what it meant...but they did remember it. (btw:it's the name of a fish - iron fish made me think of that) but for a consulting business? Pretty obscure.
                I mean if you want obscure, I can think of a hundred names for knick-knack shops in Santa Cruz, Ca... :rolleyes: Golden Goose, Infinity and Beyond, Bite the Wax Tadpole, etc...(you get the idea... )
                sine you're in Atlanta, but don't want use that, maybe there are a lot of historical places, events, battles, etc. in that area, that could be useable / recognizable ?
                my2cents - 3M

                (actually, I just checked...
                "my2centsconsulting.com" is available - )

                Once we exclude the absurd (names referencing crime threatening people's children) anything is brandable. That has to do a lot more with logo and marketing strategy than name.

                There's a lot to be said for an obscure name made up of two easy one syllable words. It's easy to remember. It's easy to spell. The odds are good there won't be competition on ranking for it. It also lacks any negative connotation. If there is such a thing as an iron fish I don't know what it is. Even if I did I can think of dozens of businesses named after random animals.

                My Two Cents Consulting is easy enough to remember, but I don't like it for a name for a couple of reasons. First you are saying "this is just my opinion." As someone who hires outsourcers in my day job I can tell you we don't want your opinion. We want hard facts. We want them backed up with proof. Second, there is a lot more room to accidentally misspell the domain name when someone is typing it into the address bar (and a question of whether or not to use 2 or two). Last I think your might end up being beat out by opinion articles and videos for the top slot on the SERPS.
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                • Hi Will,
                  my2centsconsulting... that was meant to be sarcastic, sorry.
                  I see what you're saying about obscure names - but we agree it needs to be something that also establishes confidence, expertise and authority - or is crazy brandable...

                  I took a memory course years ago where you remember people's names, things, etc. by associating them with odd disjointed pictures or occurences in your head.
                  Like a duck that says AFLACK!
                  It seems to work for the most part.

                  and making up a word can work too - I worked in Silicon Valley for many years...saw a lot of crazy startup names - I remember we laughed when we first saw 2 little startups called "google" and "eBay" - who knew?
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                  • Profile picture of the author WillDL
                    Originally Posted by MoneyMagnetMagnate View Post

                    Hi Will,
                    my2centsconsulting... that was meant to be sarcastic, sorry.
                    I see what you're saying about obscure names - but we agree it needs to be something that also establishes confidence, expertise and authority - or is crazy brandable...

                    I took a memory course years ago where you remember people's names, things, etc. by associating them with odd disjointed pictures or occurences in your head.
                    Like a duck that says AFLACK!
                    It seems to work for the most part.
                    It's late. I totally missed the sarcasm.
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                    • Have you tried using terms that businesses relate to, like "Bottom Line",
                      or "Sweat Equity", "win/win", or even an onomatopoeia like "Ka-ching!" or "buzz"?
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  • Profile picture of the author tdm60
    Hey Jon
    You stated that you are not interested in using your name. How about a family member or pet. As far as names already used, try the phonetic spelling. Hope this helps.
    Terry
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  • Profile picture of the author ahlexis
    One of the things I do when brainstorming business names is, I take random words that come to mind and then spell them backwards.

    For instance, if you take the word "money" and drop the "y" and then spell it backwards, it spells "enom" As in domain registrar Enom.com. Take the word "Evian" and spell it backwards, it comes out to "naive". Take "Harpo" and spell it backwards, and you get "Oprah". Obviously they more than likely started from the other side of the equation, but it worked for them.

    A friend of mine once named a company Ekorb. Why? When she first started out she was broke at the time! (On a separate, completely unrelated but interesting note, I recently saw a Singapore shelf corporation available for purchase named something like "Baroque Corporation". Maybe they like that style of art and music, maybe they have a sense of humor.)

    Lately I like terms in company names that don't reveal the size (or lack thereof) of the company. So I have sometimes played around with using words like "group" or "industries" as part of the name. I tend to like names that are generic, so that if I file a corporation or other entity and then decide another direction is more lucrative than the one I first started out in I don't have to file amendments in order to change the name or file any special paperwork with the state I filed the entity in before making the changes. The one time I broke that rule has been the bane of my existence, as every time someone hears the name they automatically think I do something I don't do anymore.

    One time I was sitting in a movie theater and something in the movie triggered a thought that led to me naming a company after Harrison Ford and Pierce Brosnan. It's a long story, but the movie I was watching was Tomorrow Never Dies. I didn't use their whole names so it didn't matter, it was the thought process that led me to that name that mattered.
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    • Profile picture of the author jbpatlanta
      I am trying to find a name that will appeal to people in many different occupations.

      A name like "twisted skunk marketing" might not appeal to people like doctors and lawyers.

      A name like "JPBPAtlanta and Associates" sounds to stuffy and formal.

      A name like "viapriz" makes people go huh?

      I thought of things like

      dogwood publishing
      rhino marketing
      gone fishing graphics
      iron fish
      wiseprofix
      spiral helix

      but nothing has rung a bell yet except the rhino one, but it was already taken.

      Jon
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  • Profile picture of the author commoditytrainer
    A good catchy name is good at first, but remember through time you can change the name of your company.
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  • Profile picture of the author IprovideSEO
    What about being very generic in the IT/computer world, because I noticed you don't want to just be website design, or just SEO but incorporate all of them together.

    So for example, try something like "Digital Management", "Digital Marketing", "Digital Designs", "Web Insights", "Web Hero"

    I think Best Buy did something very similar to this with their Geek Squad customer service
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    • Profile picture of the author SerenitySerenity
      how about " SEO lens " since your wearing glasses your company logo could be you wearing glasses looking through a magnifying glass looking at the earth globe.
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  • Profile picture of the author rbecklund
    I like Dogwood Publishing - it's speaks to your region and I think that is important.
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    • Originally Posted by rbecklund View Post

      I like Dogwood Publishing - it's speaks to your region and I think that is important.
      Dogwood works well...you get an animal and a plant name all in one word!

      And in that same vein - how about "Magnolia" ? anyone in the south can relate to that...ez to remember...
      (btw: magnoliawebmarketing.com is available...no sarcasm this time )
      3M
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  • Profile picture of the author ahlexis
    How about a name that means something else?

    It's more common in the insurance industry than in others. (I'm still hearing that duck in my head right now, so bear with me! AFLACK!)

    For instance, most people don't know that GEICO actually stands for something. Government Employees Insurance Company, GEI-Co. Years ago they were hard to get even if you worked for the government. (How times change.) Same thing with Cigna. I forget what it stands for.

    My point is, your name could be a long name that is abbreviated, like GEICO. (Now I'm starting to wonder, what does AFLACK stand for? )

    One more thing. Don't just check to see if the domain name is taken. Locate your state's incorporation website or pick up the phone and call to learn how to see if the name has already been taken by some other business, even if you don't plan to incorporate just yet. I like to search the names on SecretaryOfState.biz as well. Even though that's the site for corporations in Nevada, sometimes searching through there will alert me to how common the name I thought was rare actually is, and sometimes I will find something that triggers a thought process that leads to a unique name that I like. On that site, search for companies. If you find one that comes back "no record found" you're onto something . . .

    Now, having said all that, I'm starting to like Iron Fish, but I wouldn't necessarily add the word "marketing" to the end.

    We have all seen those commercials for the drugs where the warning discussions (verbal fine print) seem to be longer than the benefits discussed in the commercial. And every time I do, I cannot help but wonder, "Where do they get THOSE names???" I mean, Spiriva, Boniva, Viagra??? I think I KNOW where they got the name Cialis from, though. There's a comedian who does a whole routine on THAT one!!! (SeeAlice, SeeTheresa, SeeAngie, in case you don't get the point!)

    Iron Fish Industries. The Dogwood Group. Although, for me the whole "Group" thing started because of a man who took his last name and added "Group" to it in starting his company. Maybe that works for you. Or maybe you take your mother's or cousin's maiden name and use that with "group".

    Another thought. If you have kids, maybe you use one of their names. That's what the founder of Wendy's did . . . I think it's also how the name Sara Lee came to be as a company as well.
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    • Profile picture of the author Ray Erdmann
      Originally Posted by ahlexis View Post

      ...Now I'm starting to wonder, what does AFLACK stand for?...
      American Family Life Assurance Company....

      But back to the OP's question....

      I used this site recently to find the name of my new business...see if you're as lucky in finding one as I was!

      Business Name Generator Tool | FREE
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  • Profile picture of the author FlameDesign
    I can't imagine do-it-all positioning for any companies, if consulting is what you are best at, you should make sure your marketing message says that and that only when you start and as you have a solid customer base, add-on services that can benefit them, if you can do everything from the beginning, you've got yourself a lot of competitors and SEO wise, how many keywords do you need to use, unthinkable..I really think focus on what you are best at will bring a better chance of success. Just some thoughts on reasons behind your company's name. I'm no good as naming stuff, but here we go...sayestoweb.com, it is still available...now I'm embarrassed, I have no sense when it comes to naming. Hope it helps.
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    • Profile picture of the author jbpatlanta
      I really like Iron Fish myself, but I ran a trademark check on it. Wouldn't you know it, someone has trademarked the name Ironfish.

      don't know if I would get into trouble, but would rather not take the chance.

      So I gotta think some more.

      Maybe Fixed Fish Enterprises

      Jon
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      • Originally Posted by jbpatlanta View Post

        I really like Iron Fish myself, but I ran a trademark check on it. Wouldn't you know it, someone has trademarked the name Ironfish.

        don't know if I would get into trouble, but would rather not take the chance.

        So I gotta think some more.

        Maybe Fixed Fish Enterprises

        Jon
        Gee Jon, you seem to be on a definite "piscatorial" pursuit here ...:rolleyes:
        What about: flying fish, spearfish, cuttle fish, sockeye, swordfish, marlin, big fish in a little pond, fish hook, Big Kahuna Tuna, Nemo,...anything but "flounder" or "the one that got away"...

        (btw: the "cuttle fish" is an ingenious little bugger that can perfectly adapt to any surroundings in an instant by camouflage...and it's not really a fish - it's an encephalopod, like octopus and squid -
        this concludes your ichthyology lesson for today...just thought I'd throw that in - :rolleyes: )

        btw btw: You can tuna fish...but how do you "fix" one ? -
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        • Profile picture of the author jbpatlanta
          Originally Posted by MoneyMagnetMagnate View Post


          Gee Jon, you seem to be on a definite "piscatorial" pursuit here ...:rolleyes:
          What about: flying fish, spearfish, cuttle fish, sockeye, swordfish, marlin, big fish in a little pond, fish hook, Big Kahuna Tuna, Nemo,...anything but "flounder" or "the one that got away"...

          (btw: the "cuttle fish" is an ingenious little bugger that can perfectly adapt to any surroundings in an instant by camouflage...and it's not really a fish - it's an encephalopod, like octopus and squid -
          this concludes your ichthyology lesson for today...just thought I'd throw that in - :rolleyes: )

          btw btw: You can tuna fish...but how do you "fix" one ? -
          It wasn't so much fish I was concentrating on but rather animals. My first choice was a rhino, but it seems a ton of other people have had the same idea. There were so many rhino this and rhino that, that I just decided on something else.

          I also like the dogwood and magnolia for a reference to the SE USA. Maybe iron dogwood or iron magnolia. maybe I could combine them and get a name like dognolia or magwood.

          I filed this morning with the name Iron Fish Consulting, LLC. There is an Iron Fish LLC already, so I don't know what the state will say. We have to wait and see.

          Maybe I could have a name like Iron Dog and then my logo can be a dog peeing on a dogwood tree.

          (btw: having lived in Asia for the last 11 years or so, I have to tell you that cooked correctly or eaten raw, cuttle fish is pretty delicious.)

          Jon
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        • Profile picture of the author jbpatlanta
          Originally Posted by DianaHeuser View Post

          How about "Casting Consulting"? Ties in with Gone Fishing. Just a thought.
          Believe it or not I thought of this one, but decided it made me sound like a casting agent for movies.

          Jon
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  • Profile picture of the author dcc1980
    For my do-it-all sites I tend to go with colors combined with animals or plants ( blue rhino, gold leaf etc) combined with the ending of publishing, group, or marketing.

    Good luck!
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  • Profile picture of the author Creativegirl
    You have to like the name first, so you'll stick with it. Second, something always serves as a point of inspiration. Third, you can waste a year trying to come up with the "perfect" name. At some point you have to bite the bullet and go with one. Good luck!
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    • Profile picture of the author jbpatlanta
      Originally Posted by Creativegirl View Post

      You have to like the name first, so you'll stick with it. Second, something always serves as a point of inspiration. Third, you can waste a year trying to come up with the "perfect" name. At some point you have to bite the bullet and go with one. Good luck!
      Exactly. I just submitted LLC papers this morning for a company. As long as the state lets me register it, that is the one I am going with.

      If they don't then I get to start over again or just register my name.

      Jon
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  • Hey Jon,
    Congrats on the filing this morning with the name Iron Fish Consulting, LLC
    should be no problem with the other guy...Good luck!
    Keep us posted!

    3M

    ( I gave up eating encephalopods...we need to figure out how they think! )

    Btw - "Steel" Magnolias is already being used, so "iron" magnolias may not play...
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve Wise
    Iron Fish Consulting. I don't get it?
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    • Profile picture of the author dattig
      Since everything in Atlanta is PeachTree this and that---how about: PeachPit --Online Marketing from the Inside Out (Other extensions of PeachPit might further position your approach and uniqueness.)

      Let us know what you decide to do and Good Luck with it.

      D. Wendal Attig
      America's Corporate Positioning Coach
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  • Profile picture of the author RatRaceWatch
    I would go for a combination of appeal and sought after keywords in google if you can pull it off.
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  • Profile picture of the author bailbondsguys
    I'd recommend something like "Spearhead Marketing" or "Reel Traffic Consultants".
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  • Profile picture of the author sajans
    You can try "Absolute Service"
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