Starting an Online Business

Whether your company is a sole proprietorship or a mega-corporation, it
will all start with a concept and a name. So what’s in a name?

The answer is – quite a bit! The name you choose for {your business will~The name you pick for your company will}
help you build a brand and image in the marketplace. Therefore it should
be memorable, relevant and simple for your potential customers to remember.

Let’s look at the Google for example. At first glance, this is a
nonsensical name, but when you look a little closer – it all makes
perfect sense. Google (actually googolplex) does have a meaning – it means numbers without end
and impossible to count.

It’s an ideal name for a search engine – an infinite number of searchers
using their engine. So the name matches the business, making it relevant.
It’s unforgettable, because everyone remembers a funny sounding name like
that, even if most of us may not know exactly what it means. It’s easy
and simple to spell. This has helped enable Google to quickly make the
name familiar and profitable.

As seen by this example, your {business name is very important and you~As you can see from this example, your name is pretty important and you}
should take time to pick the right name for your business. It
should be easily brandable.

Registering your name may not always be done online, since businesses come
and go – but you will register your domain name. It’s good to
secure your business name with a DBA (Doing Business As license).

Here’s how to do it:

1. Brainstorm some names that you think will be appropriate for
your business. Make at least 10 and then prioritize them.
The names should project your USP (Unique Selling Proposition).

2. Go to www.uspto.gov/main/trademark.htm – the US Patent
and Trademark Office. You can do this in your own country
if you don’t reside in the US. Run a search to check the name isn’t taken, if it is move on to the next name on the list.

3. Repeat the search on the website of your state’s or province’s
authority for establishing corporations (usually the Secretary
of State). You can find this in Google. Be sure to do a special one for Nevada, if you are setting up a corporation or LLC there.

Inspect both the LLC and corporation databases. Do not have a
similar name to any other business. You can seriously harm
your credibility and you may be forced to stop using the
name if the other company can prove you are infringing on its
trademark.

4. Do a search on your local DBA listings (fictitious
names). You would use a DBA if you want your business to be
known as something other than its legal name. For example, the
legal name associated with Empowerism is Life, Education And
Prosperity, Inc. The DBA is Empowerism.  You will register at
your local municipal offices. This costs a small fee but is worth it,
as it will give you exclusive rights to your name.

5. Now move on to your domain name. I prefer to include my main keywords in the domain name URL. This helps in achieving a higher search engine ranking for those keywords and you can still use your business name on the page for branding.

6 Now choose a good logo and slogan to match your
name. This will help you brand {your business~This helps you brand your company}.

All that being said, the most important thing is to focus on finding your first customer to make your first sale. Don’t get bogged down in finding the perfect name, even if you find it, it won’t make any sales for you!