How to choose a business name
Congratulations! You’ve decided to launch your own private practice and broaden your professional horizons. You have a lot of decisions to make and things to do during this exciting time.
There is much to navigate through: Will you run a multi-discipline clinic or work from home? What are the practice’s short- and long-term objectives? Will you assemble a team or will you begin on your own? Will you target a certain niche or a keep your options open for a while? What about color scheme branding, logo and what name will you choose for your clinic / practice?
The name you choose for your clinic / practice is a crucial decision. It can have a significant impact on the success of your marketing. The name you select will be one you use consistently over the course of your business. You will share it at networking events, incorporate it into your logo and marketing materials. You will use it to identify yourself to clients & prospective clients. It matters what you call your practice.
How to choose a business name for your private practice?
Let’s look at some dos and don’ts, advice, and free online resources that can be useful.
Make a list of ideas as you go; we have advice on how to narrow down your choices. By the end of this article, who knows? Keep your pen busy. You might have the ideal name in mind, or at the very least, be well on your way.
Brainstorm Business Names for your Practice / Clinic
Coming up with a name for your business can be one of the most challenging parts of starting your own practice. You want something that is catchy, memorable, and representative of what you do. It can be helpful to brainstorm a list of possible names and then narrow it down based on what feels best. Here are a few tips to help you get started:
1. Think about what words or phrases you love and what represent what you do. When you have a list of possible names, try to choose one that feels like it captures the essence of your work.
2. Consider why people should choose you. What do you offer that is unique and valuable? What challenges do you help people overcome? When people know what to expect from your practice, they are more likely to choose you over someone else.
3. Consider the feeling or imagery that the name evokes. Is there something about it that makes people feel excited or optimistic? Or it has a sense of warmth or calmness about it. Whatever it is, make sure the name reflects the experience your clients will have when working with you.
Characteristics of a winning business name
What makes a great business name? First, it has to make sense for your business. If you’re selling coffee, you don’t want a name that has nothing to do with coffee.
It also needs to be unique. There are a lot of businesses out there, and you don’t want yours to get lost in the shuffle.
You also want a name that’s easy to spell and pronounce. If it’s too long or complicated, people will forget it or abbreviate it.
Finally, it needs to be marketable. You should be able to build your brand around it, and it should attract your target audience.
A good business name can help you stand out from the competition. It can help build your brand, and attract your target audience.
Considerations when you coming up with business name ideas:
What are your business goals?
How will your business name help you achieve those goals?
What does your business name signify to the public about you and your business?
Does the business name have any negative connotations associated with it?
Is this name available for use as a trademark or domain name? If not, you need to move on and find another name.
Identify the relevant keywords for your business
When you are brainstorming names for your business, it can be helpful to think about the keywords that describe what you do. This will help you choose a name that is relevant to your work and easy for people to find when they are searching online.
Some examples of relevant keywords include:
-Therapist
-Counselor
-Psychologist
-Psychiatrist
-Coach
-Mental health
-Wellness
Once you have a list of possible keywords, try to incorporate them into your business name. This will help make sure that people can easily find you when they are looking for the services you offer.
Consider the type(s) of therapy you offer
When you are starting a private practice, it is important to consider the type of therapy you offer. This will help you choose a name that accurately reflects the services you provide. For example, if you specialize in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), you may want to include that in your business name. This will let people know what to expect when they come to see you. It will also help you attract clients who are looking for that specific type of therapy.
Some examples of different types of therapy include:
-Cognitive behavioral therapy
-Dialectical behavior therapy
-Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing
-Family therapy
-Interpersonal psychotherapy
-Mindfulness-Therapy.
When you incorporate that into a domain name, a good name might be
www.CBTDublin.ie
www.GalwayFamilyTherapy.com
www.WimbledonMindfulness.co.uk
Your business name needs to resonate with your target audience. Sort through the ideas you came up with a focus on a few preferred strong options. Market research is an important part of setting up any business. Here is an opportunity to get feedback on your ideas. Use a focus group to test different branding ideas with a representative subset of your future customer base. You can also query business partners, friends, or family members for feedback.
As ever, there is a possibility for us to lean on the internet for help when coming up with a business name. The results can lead to even more confusion due to the shear volume of business name ideas proposed. Some good business name generators such as “Business name Generator” will search to ensure that the appropriate domain name is available. Shopify also offers a free name generator tool for visitors and customers.
Strategies to avoid in choosing a business name for your practice clinic / studio.
It can be tempting to name your business after yourself and it is a great way to boost your ego. You need to consider however, what would this name tell potential clients about how you can help them? It is harder to engrain a personal name in the minds of the public than a name that includes location & keywords related to the type of work that you do.
Starting with your end goals in mind is essential. What happens if and when you want to sell your practice? If someone calls and says to the receptionist, “I’d like to book an appointment with Dr. X, please.” The receptionist replies, “I’m sorry, she doesn’t work here, but I can book you in with Dr Y…'”
The practice may lose that potential client, or at a minimum lose trust that there is no continuity of service in the clinic / practice. Having a generic name may not be as exciting as having your name on the door, but it will be easier to sell your business and branding will be less of an issue. You can always put your name on the door as the owner / founder just don’t make it the official name of the business.
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