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 – everything! 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 clients to remember.

For example, let’s look at Google. At 1st 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 endless number of searchers
using their engine. So the name matches the business, making it relevant.
It’s memorable, because everyone remembers a funny sounding name like
that, even if some of us may not know exactly what it means. It’s easy
and simple to spell. This has enabled Google to quickly make the
name well known and profitable.

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

Registering your name is not always done online, since businesses come
and go – but you will register your domain name. It’s best 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 company. Make at least 10 and then prioritize them.
These names should reflect 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. Do the search again on the website of your state’s or province’s
authority for incorporating corporations (usually the Secretary
of State). You can locate this in Google. Be sure to be especially diligent for Nevada, if you are setting up a corporation or LLC there.

Inspect both the LLC and corporation databases. Never have a
similar name to any other business. You can seriously hurt
your credibility and you could be forced to stop using the
name if the other business can prove you are infringing on its
trademark.

4. Do another search on your local DBA listings (fictitious
names). You would use a DBA if you want your company to be
known as something other than its legal name. As an 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 little bit but it’s worth it,
as it conveys exclusive rights to your business name.

5. Now you can move on to your domain name. I prefer to include my “money” 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
business name. your company~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 hung up in finding the perfect name, since even if you find it, it won’t make any sales for you!