Free business name generators are all over the web these days. TRUiC, a company well known for offering sound advice and accessible tools to business owners, offers one on their website. You enter in a few keywords, choose your industry, and input your location. In seconds, the generator returns a list of suggestions to get you started.
Despite TRUiC incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into their business name generator, the tool may not return results that are suitable for use as-is. But that’s okay. That’s not the point. Business name generators are not intended to furnish you with the exact name you will ultimately use. They are designed to act as a starting point for inspiration.
How Business Name Generators Work
Using a free business name generator wisely starts with understanding how these tools work. Any name generator – be it for business owners, writers, game developers, etc. – is designed around one of two principles: randomization or data analysis.
A randomized name generator comes up with names simply by mixing and matching terms found in a static database. Though the database may be updated from time to time, the generator does not go beyond its collection of data to figure out good names. It simply pulls words from the database and slaps them together.
A name generator that operates on a data analysis model doesn’t rely on a static database. It searches online in the same way a standard search engine would. It then analyzes the data it finds to come up with fairly good suggestions. When AI is employed, a data analysis tool does a much better job.
Begin with Brainstorming
To use a business name generator effectively, you have to feed it the right information. It can only search terms and return results based on your input. Therefore, it’s wise to brainstorm before you enter any keyboards. Perhaps doing your own keyword research is a good idea as well.
The point of brainstorming is to come up with words and phrases you suspect your customers associate with your products or services. If location is important to you, brainstorming location-specific keywords isn’t a bad idea. The more keywords you come up with, the more options you can generate with the online tool.
Shortlist the Results
Most of the results a business name generator returns won’t be of any value to you straight up. That’s normal. So, the next step in using the tool wisely is to create a shortlist. You don’t necessarily have to use the returned results verbatim. You can create entirely new business names by borrowing from the results.
For example, you might see three results that approach your business from different angles. You like aspects of all three. So combine them to create a single business name. That name then goes on your shortlist. Once you have your shortlist compiled, give it to family members and friends and ask for their feedback.
Run an Online Search
While friends and family are pondering your proposed business names, you’ll have time to do some additional research. Do an online search for each name separately, just as if you were a customer. See what comes up. If the exact phrase that constitutes one of the names generates a ton of results, it’s probably best to avoid that. On the other hand, if the results are pages indirectly related to your name, rather than the exact phrase, you’re on the right track.
The key to all of this is remembering that a business name generator is a tool of inspiration, not verbatim name creation. A good generator gives you ideas to start with. You take it from there.