Tag: Business and Economy

  • The Name of Your Business Is Important!

    The name of your business is important.  It can refer to your product or service, but more importantly it should be about an identification with your customers singularly or collectively (i.e. your target market).  Ideally your name will be easy to pronounce and have a rhythmic flow of sound.   If your name stirs emotions, it is even better.  Do you go to overstock.com because you just know you’ll find a good deal?

    If your business has a name and you are working as a “dba” (doing business as), your business needs to be registered with your city or county.  Registering your” dba”  means no one else in the city/county can use the same name.  Of course the name might not be available for your business website.  This may not be so bad because on the internet,  a business’ reason for being should be apparent in its name.   If you intend to do business nationally or internationally on the Internet, you may want to consider trade marking your name.

    You can have some fun when trying to come up with your name.  Brainstorm, consider a number of names before deciding.

    Single Word – Single word business names are easy to remember. (But don’t expect to find a single word domain available)  Two words combined also works well.  If your consignment shop only sells new, upscale clothing, call it, Upscale.  The weekend entrepreneur who tunes pianos can be Intune.

    Foreign Words – You can choose a language associated with your business for your name especially if your product is ethnic.  Use and Italian or Greek word  if you are selling these ethnic foods.  In my city, there is a great Italian restaurant called Ciao Bella.  If you are importing items from Ecuador you may want a Spanish sounding name.

    Play on Words –A business name that is a play on words can be very effective.  If your new business is installing home theaters, Sounds Good, Surround In Sound, Vision to Behold plays on sound and meaning, and conveys the idea of home theater.

    Some people have come up with very unusual and inventive business names.  (not all of these businesses are still in business).  Since I promised to do different from usual blogs on Wednesdays, enjoy these business names from http://people.delphiforums.com  and other sources.

    Many Happy Returns. Tax Preparation, St. Petersburg, Florida
    A Den of Antiquity. Ashville, North Carolina
    Crapo Appliance Service, Redmond, Washington
    Effin Computers.   On Site Computer Repair, Connecticut
    It’s A Crewel World. Salem, Massachusetts
    Amigone Funeral Home.   multiple locations in NY
    Cane and Able.   Mobility products   Langhorne PA
    Sherrill’s Eat Here and Get Gas. Tipton IN
    Leaven and Earth. Bakery, Berkeley, CA
    Citizen Canine. Dog Kennel, Oakland, CA
    Doggie Style.  Dog Grooming North Highlands, CA
    Murphy’s Paw.  Doggie Gift Store, Pleasanton, CA
    Fideaux. Outfitters for Dogs & Cats Napa Valley & Sonoma County
    Hades Manufacturing Corporation.  Temperature Measuring Equipment, Farmingdale, NY
    Hard Wok Cafe. Chinese Take Away,  Melbourne Australia
    The Yuppy Puppy.  Dog Grooming Shop with Velvet Sofas, Melbourne Australia
    Dirty Dogs Done Dirt Cheap. A Mobile Dog Grooming Service, Melbourne Australia

    Choosing your online name (domain) can involve several different problems. Price and Inappropriateness.

     Price:  One word names are hard to find.  www.uniquebusinessnames.com  currently has for sale:  Burglr  ($1934),  Fexy  ( $12670), Cazy  ($5589)

    Inappropriateness:  Often the owner never meant to be inappropriate but the letters get misread.  www.teacherstalking.org    Are teachers talking or is it “how to”  for stalking a teacher?  How might the word “therapist” get misread in a url?     Have some grown-up entertainment and visit two collections of inappropriate domains.     http://www.boredpanda.com/worst-domain-names/     and  http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Fun:Unfortunate_website_names

  • Passion, Purpose, Problems, People – Starting a Part-Time Business

    With the 2008 recession and it’s effects, self-employment, home-based businesses and an entrepreneurial spirit have emerging as an economic trend. This trend is not new, but it has accelerated in recent years with statistics now showing that 61% of all Americans want to start their own business (Parkinomics, 2010).

    If you are in this 61%, how do you make the transition from employee to being your own boss? Websites, books, e-books, and magazines may be helpful or they may leave you absolutely confused. Is it as simple as find your purpose and the money will follow? Do you really need to talk to your lawyer, your accountant, the volunteers at SCORE and then develop a business plan, decide on the legal form your business will take, and choose a domain name before getting started?

    It is NOT as simple as just find your passion and the money will follow, but with the Internet, businesses are easier to start than ever before. Of course, if you are buying a business or a franchise then your lawyer and accountant definitely should be involved!

    “Businesses are easier to start than ever before!” What if you want your own business but you don’t know what you want to do or where to begin? Get started by considering the FIVE Ps: Passion, Purpose, Problems, People, and Part-Time. For many individuals Passion and Purpose go together. Although they are different issues, the Problems you will solve and the People you will target are related. Your business is YOUR business, and it is your choice as to whether to pursue it on a full-time or part-time basis. If you are just starting out, there are good reasons to begin Part-time.

    Passion: Yes, you do need to discover your passions or passions. If you feel that you have no passions or that this word seems too strong, what about your interests, skills, abilities or talents? If you won a lottery that would pay you for life with just one stipulation that you had to “work” at something until you were at least 65, what would you do? Dream a little – If you had your own business what would you be doing? If you can’t envision what you would be doing, ask yourself – would I be working by myself or with others? Where would I be working – from my home? In an office? On a stage? Would I be writing, talking, painting, walking dogs, arranging flowers, designing solar homes? Start off dreaming and brainstorming. Don’t be concerned yet as to how this passion will make money. Figuring out how to monetize your passion is a later step.

    Purpose: Do your feel that you have a mission in life? A calling? A purpose? Some career coaches and counselors believe that having a purpose is essential, but it may be that a purpose is only discovered after one has had some life experiences. At this point, maybe you just want to make money, and there are plenty of young wealthy Internet marketers who know that they don’t want to work 40 hours per week. Knowing your purpose may make it easier to discover your passion. Purpose is related to the sense that your life is fulfilling and abundant, but a stool can stand very well on three legs or four legs. You can start a business without knowing your purpose or mission in life.

    Problems: Businesses exist because they solve problems. Fixing cars, computers, plumbing… providing food, toys, and electronics from other areas of the world… assisting people to heal from sickness, find jobs, train their dog… Successful business continue to exist because they solve problems better than others do. These businesses or individuals make promises and then they over deliver. The solutions they provide are bigger than the promise that they offer so customers repeatedly return. What problem or problems will you solve? What can you offer that no one else is offering? Try dreaming or brainstorming again or look around your community and to see if there are any problems that no one is trying to solve. Do you have the passion or expertise to solve it?

    People: Who, what niche or market, has the problems that you will solve? Do they have a common interest or need such as they need to lose weight or they’re technophobic? Are they members of a particular demographic group – working parents, baby boomers, etc. How will you market to this target group? An important aspect of monetizing a passion is to know who needs or wants what you have. This means your target may not be individuals; rather it maybe small or large businesses who need what you are offering.

    Part-time: If you still have a job, build your new career on the side. When it is established, you can jump into it full time, or sell it, or keep it part-time. It’s your business! Starting part-time allows you to figure out whether this business really is for you, test the market for demand, master any web based technologies that you need, attend trainings and conferences that will improve your knowledge base.

    Originally published by the author of this blog on June 14, 2010.  Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_Ann_Nalbandian

    Profiting From Your Passions Coaching is available through http://www.career-development-services.com and this blog http://www.halfpreneur.com/services/