7 Tips for Choosing an Attractive Online Store Name for Your Business

Created on 7 July, 2024 • Scale Up Business • 29 views • 4 minutes read

Shakespeare once said, "What's in a name?" But in the context of online selling, this saying is quite wrong and should not be followed. A name represents the prayers and hopes for your online store.

7 Tips for Choosing an Attractive Online Store Name for Your Business

What's in a Name?

Shakespeare once said, "What's in a name?" But in the context of online selling, this saying is quite wrong and should not be followed. A name represents the prayers and hopes for your online store.

Ever heard about the trademark dispute between Hardwood and Unilever? Hardwood objected to Unilever's Pepsodent Strong brand, claiming that Formula Strong was a registered and long-established brand. This shows that choosing a name is crucial because it will become your brand name, which could be very valuable.

Before discussing tips for choosing an online store name, consider the watch brand Daniel Wellington, which sells its simple designs for around 2 million IDR, even though the mechanism still uses Miyota.

A well-established store name will stick in the minds of customers. Imagine the cost involved when Tokobagus.com rebranded to Olx.co.id. The original name was already well-known among customers.

To avoid similar situations in the future, check out these tips for choosing an online store name.

7 Tips for Choosing an Online Store Name

Choosing an online store name can be tricky. It's challenging because coming up with an idea isn't simple, but it's also easy because naming a store is just a small part of your online business. There is no specific science or formula to use when choosing an online store name.

If there were a major for this in universities, graduates would be highly paid for their work. For those of you still confused, you might find the right name after reading this article. Here are the tips:

1. Short and Simple

Choose a short and simple online store name. This is important because it will be easy to remember. Long names can confuse potential customers unless your product is already very popular in the market.

Short names are more marketable and memorable. They can be abbreviations, acronyms, or random things that fit your brand.

The easiest way to start is by making a mind map. Get a blank sheet of paper, as unlined paper can psychologically free your creativity. Write down as many keywords related to your online business as possible, in various languages. For example, for coffee products, you might use "coffee" in English and "kafei" in Mandarin. Create abbreviations or acronyms from these keywords, like combining "suka" (like) and "kopi" (coffee) to form "sufi."

For more ideas, you can use NameLix, an AI tool to help generate attractive online store names. Simply enter your business keywords, and let NameLix recommend names for you.

2. Unique

After short and simple, a unique name will make your store easier to remember and stand out from others. Every time you get an idea, write it down to prevent forgetting.

For example, if you want to name your sports equipment store in English, and "sport" is familiar to Indonesians, why not combine it with a term like "holic" (meaning addict)? You can create a new word like "sportaholic."

Another example is using a name unrelated to your product but reflecting your location. If you live near the beach, you might name your store "Marina," which means a facility near the beach/harbor in Spanish.

3. Easy to Spell

While aiming for a unique name, make sure it's not hard to spell. Customers come from diverse backgrounds, and you don't want them misspelling your store name in search engines, which could hurt your online impressions.

4. Meaningful

Still struggling to pick a name? Try selling a story behind your online store. This trend is popular among entrepreneurs wanting to positively impact society or humanity. Essentially, your store name should have a philosophy.

For example, Solibad Shop was founded as a charity organization in 2010, encouraging badminton athletes worldwide to donate 1% of their earnings to help the underprivileged.

There are two ways to choose a meaningful name: use a personal or family name, which isn't narcissistic and is common among public figures. Examples include Geprek Bensu by Ruben Onsu and Fajri Coffee by Indonesian badminton players Fajar Alfian and Rian Ardianto.

Or, clearly explain the reason behind your store. For example, Kok Kopi is owned by retired Indonesian badminton player Lindaweni Fanetri, who started it due to her love for coffee. "Kok Kopi" addresses the curiosity about why a retired athlete chose a coffee business.

5. Check Online Availability

By now, you might have a few name ideas. Ensure you have more than one, as your chosen name might already be taken. Spend time checking these names on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.

Also, search on major marketplaces like Tokopedia, Lazada, Shopee, BliBli, and BukaLapak to ensure no other store is using your desired name.

Make sure you can use the same name across various platforms, with consistent spelling and profile images to strengthen your online store's credibility.

6. Make it a Domain Name

If you're planning to build a website for your online store, ensure the domain is available. If it is, buy it immediately before someone else does.

If the .com domain is taken, consider alternatives like .id for Indonesian customers or other extensions like:

• .co.id
• .asia
• .biz
• .tech
• .co
• .toys

Then, choose a plugin to convert your website into an online store.

7. Authentic

Avoid modifying well-known brand names for your online store. The ATM principle (observe, imitate, modify) should be avoided here, as it can harm your brand's credibility and reputation.

Choose an authentic name, one that comes from your brainstorming. Again, there's no specific formula for this.

Make sure your chosen name isn't already listed in the Intellectual Property Rights database. Visit the Intellectual Property Database for Indonesian brands and the WIPO Global Brand Database for international brands.

Conclusion

Choosing an attractive online store name can be challenging, but don't let it stress you out. Stay relaxed and discuss with trusted people to decide on a name. Whether you choose a name from another language or one with a philosophy depends on your business segment and goals. Hope this inspires you!