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How to Select the Best Business Name for Your Web Design Agency
Published on December 20, 2021. Updated on January 16, 2023.
There are currently more than 30 million small businesses operating across the United States. They offer valuable products and services and 71% of these businesses use their website to advertise and market the products and services they sell. So if you are planning to start a web design agency, there is plenty of work out there!
Knowing the size and scope of the industry isn't the only thing you need to get on top of when you start a web design business. Before you can start building a website or client base, you first need to decide on a company name.
Not sure where to start? Well, you're in the right place. Read on to find out our top tips on how to choose a memorable name for your web design business.
The Importance of Choosing a Good Name When You Start a Web Design Agency
The name of your web design agency is the first thing that potential clients will learn when they hear about your business. So it's important to choose something that will grab people's attention.
Even if your company name isn't obvious, it provides an opportunity to tell people a bit about your values and ethos. For example, names that use wordplay reflect a playful, humorous tone. In comparison, family names reflect a more serious, professionalism suited to corporate environments.
If you manage a web design agency, you need your name to be memorable as well. There are more than 77,000 web design agencies in America alone so you need yours to stand out from the crowd.
Once you have chosen your company name, you can start building your brand around this. Because of this, it's important to choose a name that you feel comfortable carrying forward with your business. Rebranding is always a possibility but you can save a lot of time and money if you avoid this.
With that in mind, let's take a look at some web design agency business ideas and tips for choosing a company name.
Using Your Own Name: Is It the Right Option for You?
A hundred years ago, if you were starting your own business, it was very common to use your own surname. Often these businesses were family-run and intended to stay in the family for the foreseeable future.
Of course, you can still uphold this tradition, as many American businesses do. This is a nice way to give your business a professional and personal touch and demonstrate that you will be involved in the running of it.
That said, if you think that you might sell your business one day then you might want to think twice about giving it your own name. This means that someone else would have creative and managerial control of a business that still carries your name and reputation.
So what are your other options? Here are our top tips for breaking through creative blocks when it comes to naming your business.
1. Brainstorm Things That You Love
More often than not, your business is your passion project and, because of this, it's nice to reflect something of yourself in its name.
Giving yourself a few minutes to brainstorm things that you are passionate about can help you come up with exciting buzzwords. These could be objects, activities, or concepts that you connect with personally.
For example, if you're a sports fan, a name like "Home Run Designs" might suit you well. If you're a food lover, maybe a name like "The Website Chef" is more appropriate.
Try not to think too hard about this. Just put two minutes on the clock and get scribbling — you might be surprised at what comes out!
2. Get Some Adjectives Down
Once you have a collection of buzzwords, repeat this exercise with adjectives. Try to focus on coming up with positive adjectives that say something about you or your business strategy. Affordable, fast, fine, fresh, optimal, robust, sharp, simple, scalable, stylish, supreme, upscale and wise are examples of adjectives you can use.
For example, if you want to highlight the speed in which you can launch a client's website, you might choose something like "Fast Launch Web Design" or "Rapid Web Design". If you want to focus on the beauty or look of your sites, you might opt for a name like "Sharp Sites" or "Supreme Web Design".
Don't worry too much if the words that you choose don't sound particularly impressive. You can always look up more exciting synonyms using a thesaurus after you have finished getting your ideas down.
3. Make a List of Possible Business Name Endings
A business name ending is a great way of tying your business name back to what your company does. For example, 'Agency', 'Designs', 'Creative', 'Studios' and 'Digital' are all popular choices with web design businesses.
Of course, you can think outside of this box about more generic business name endings, such as:
If you are planning to use a more generic business name ending, make sure that the rest of your name relates to what your company does. That way people will find you more easily in a general web search.
4. Try Out Different Combinations
Once you have brainstormed your buzzwords, adjectives, and business endings it's time to get creative. Playing around with different word combinations can help you to discover a name that feels personal without being too on the nose.
You don't just have to stick to the words on your lists either. You can also use these to spark other ideas or fine-tune combinations until you find something that you really like.
5. Don't Rush Your Decision
Once you have found a business name that you like the sound of, it's a good idea to sit with this for some time. Leave the name for a day or so before coming back to it and seeing how you feel.
This helps you to look at it again with a clear head rather than making a decision when you've been staring at the same words all day long.
Playing around with branding and website designs can also help you figure out how you feel about your business name. Giving it context on a webpage or business card helps you to decide whether or not it really fits with your company's overall brand.
6. Check Domain Availability
Your company name allows existing and future clients to find you and more often than not they'll do this online. Because of this, you need your website domain to be as close as possible to your company name.
So it is essential to check the domain availability before you settle on a name. If you can't find a domain that is similar to the name of your choice, then you should go back to the drawing board. The last thing you want is to confuse customers or have a disconnect in your marketing.
7. Research the Competition
One of our tips about starting a web design business is all about research. Researching other web design companies is essential when choosing your business name.
This can give you inspiration and help you choose something that is truly unique. Looking up other businesses might help you to eliminate some options from your name list.
For example, let's say there is already a web design business in your area called 'Fox Creative'. In that case, you probably want to avoid naming your business 'Fox Studios' or 'Fox Design'. This would be confusing for customers looking up your business and can potentially mislead clients to your competition.
Once you have settled on a name, it's also a good idea to give it a quick Google search. Anyone searching for your business will see the same results as you so you want to make sure that nothing strange or dodgy comes up. The last thing you want is for the other search results to tarnish your business's reputation.
8. Get Feedback From People That You Trust
Your business name is extremely personal and it is important to go with something that you love. However, it is also important to get feedback from people that you trust on your shortlist of business names.
While they can't make a final decision for you, they might make you aware of things that you hadn't noticed before. For example, they might read the name you've written down differently to you. Or they might associate it with something that you are not aware of.
When asking for feedback, it is important to not take things too personally and to listen to what everyone has to say. Their input could help you refine your ideas or avoid making a poor choice.
Web Design Business Name Examples
Now that you have an idea of how to choose a good business name with the tips listed in this article, here are some examples of business names that may inspire you:
If you want your business name to reflect your personality or a hobby you enjoy, here are a few ideas:
There are a number of other keywords or phrases you may want to consider using in your agency's name. Take a look at our Glossary of Web Design Terms for Beginners eBook for inspiration. Some of the terms listed in our eBook could be appended to a word, phrase, name, or something else meaningful to you. Remember, you're business name should reflect your brand identity and effectively communicate what your business does to potential clients.
Get Help With How to Start a Web Design Business Today
If you are planning to start a web design agency or business, choosing a business name is essential. This helps you to develop your branding and let people know who you are. Keeping these top tips in mind will help you come up with a unique business name that reflects your company values and ethos.
Want more help with how to start a web design business? Then get in touch with our team to learn more about becoming a SiteSwan Website Reseller — we're here to help!
There are currently more than 30 million small businesses operating across the United States. They offer valuable products and services and 71% of these businesses use their website to advertise and market the products and services they sell. So if you are planning to start a web design agency, there is plenty of work out there!
Knowing the size and scope of the industry isn't the only thing you need to get on top of when you start a web design business. Before you can start building a website or client base, you first need to decide on a company name.
Not sure where to start? Well, you're in the right place. Read on to find out our top tips on how to choose a memorable name for your web design business.
The Importance of Choosing a Good Name When You Start a Web Design Agency
The name of your web design agency is the first thing that potential clients will learn when they hear about your business. So it's important to choose something that will grab people's attention.
Even if your company name isn't obvious, it provides an opportunity to tell people a bit about your values and ethos. For example, names that use wordplay reflect a playful, humorous tone. In comparison, family names reflect a more serious, professionalism suited to corporate environments.
If you manage a web design agency, you need your name to be memorable as well. There are more than 77,000 web design agencies in America alone so you need yours to stand out from the crowd.
Once you have chosen your company name, you can start building your brand around this. Because of this, it's important to choose a name that you feel comfortable carrying forward with your business. Rebranding is always a possibility but you can save a lot of time and money if you avoid this.
With that in mind, let's take a look at some web design agency business ideas and tips for choosing a company name.
Using Your Own Name: Is It the Right Option for You?
A hundred years ago, if you were starting your own business, it was very common to use your own surname. Often these businesses were family-run and intended to stay in the family for the foreseeable future.
Of course, you can still uphold this tradition, as many American businesses do. This is a nice way to give your business a professional and personal touch and demonstrate that you will be involved in the running of it.
That said, if you think that you might sell your business one day then you might want to think twice about giving it your own name. This means that someone else would have creative and managerial control of a business that still carries your name and reputation.
So what are your other options? Here are our top tips for breaking through creative blocks when it comes to naming your business.
1. Brainstorm Things That You Love
More often than not, your business is your passion project and, because of this, it's nice to reflect something of yourself in its name.
Giving yourself a few minutes to brainstorm things that you are passionate about can help you come up with exciting buzzwords. These could be objects, activities, or concepts that you connect with personally.
For example, if you're a sports fan, a name like "Home Run Designs" might suit you well. If you're a food lover, maybe a name like "The Website Chef" is more appropriate.
Try not to think too hard about this. Just put two minutes on the clock and get scribbling — you might be surprised at what comes out!
2. Get Some Adjectives Down
Once you have a collection of buzzwords, repeat this exercise with adjectives. Try to focus on coming up with positive adjectives that say something about you or your business strategy. Affordable, fast, fine, fresh, optimal, robust, sharp, simple, scalable, stylish, supreme, upscale and wise are examples of adjectives you can use.
For example, if you want to highlight the speed in which you can launch a client's website, you might choose something like "Fast Launch Web Design" or "Rapid Web Design". If you want to focus on the beauty or look of your sites, you might opt for a name like "Sharp Sites" or "Supreme Web Design".
Don't worry too much if the words that you choose don't sound particularly impressive. You can always look up more exciting synonyms using a thesaurus after you have finished getting your ideas down.
3. Make a List of Possible Business Name Endings
A business name ending is a great way of tying your business name back to what your company does. For example, 'Agency', 'Designs', 'Creative', 'Studios' and 'Digital' are all popular choices with web design businesses.
Of course, you can think outside of this box about more generic business name endings, such as:
- Co.
- Company
- Hub
- Limited
If you are planning to use a more generic business name ending, make sure that the rest of your name relates to what your company does. That way people will find you more easily in a general web search.
4. Try Out Different Combinations
Once you have brainstormed your buzzwords, adjectives, and business endings it's time to get creative. Playing around with different word combinations can help you to discover a name that feels personal without being too on the nose.
You don't just have to stick to the words on your lists either. You can also use these to spark other ideas or fine-tune combinations until you find something that you really like.
5. Don't Rush Your Decision
Once you have found a business name that you like the sound of, it's a good idea to sit with this for some time. Leave the name for a day or so before coming back to it and seeing how you feel.
This helps you to look at it again with a clear head rather than making a decision when you've been staring at the same words all day long.
Playing around with branding and website designs can also help you figure out how you feel about your business name. Giving it context on a webpage or business card helps you to decide whether or not it really fits with your company's overall brand.
6. Check Domain Availability
Your company name allows existing and future clients to find you and more often than not they'll do this online. Because of this, you need your website domain to be as close as possible to your company name.
So it is essential to check the domain availability before you settle on a name. If you can't find a domain that is similar to the name of your choice, then you should go back to the drawing board. The last thing you want is to confuse customers or have a disconnect in your marketing.
7. Research the Competition
One of our tips about starting a web design business is all about research. Researching other web design companies is essential when choosing your business name.
This can give you inspiration and help you choose something that is truly unique. Looking up other businesses might help you to eliminate some options from your name list.
For example, let's say there is already a web design business in your area called 'Fox Creative'. In that case, you probably want to avoid naming your business 'Fox Studios' or 'Fox Design'. This would be confusing for customers looking up your business and can potentially mislead clients to your competition.
Once you have settled on a name, it's also a good idea to give it a quick Google search. Anyone searching for your business will see the same results as you so you want to make sure that nothing strange or dodgy comes up. The last thing you want is for the other search results to tarnish your business's reputation.
8. Get Feedback From People That You Trust
Your business name is extremely personal and it is important to go with something that you love. However, it is also important to get feedback from people that you trust on your shortlist of business names.
While they can't make a final decision for you, they might make you aware of things that you hadn't noticed before. For example, they might read the name you've written down differently to you. Or they might associate it with something that you are not aware of.
When asking for feedback, it is important to not take things too personally and to listen to what everyone has to say. Their input could help you refine your ideas or avoid making a poor choice.
Web Design Business Name Examples
Now that you have an idea of how to choose a good business name with the tips listed in this article, here are some examples of business names that may inspire you:
- WebDesignWorks: Simple and easy to remember, this name conveys a sense of professionalism and reliability.
- WebFlex Digital Marketing: This name is memorable and easy to pronounce, and it also conveys a sense of flexibility and adaptability.
- Digital WebTailors: This name is memorable and easy to pronounce, it also reflects the idea of customizing and tailoring solutions to clients' needs.
- WebGenie: This name is catchy, memorable and easy to pronounce, it also reflects the idea of providing a wide range of services.
- WebSculpt Agency: This name is memorable and easy to pronounce, it also reflects the idea of shaping and molding web designs to clients' needs.
- WebElegance Creations: This name indicates a certain level of professionalism in how you design your websites with style and finesse.
If you want your business name to reflect your personality or a hobby you enjoy, here are a few ideas:
- SurfWeb Design (for someone who loves surfing)
- WanderWeb Designs (for someone who loves to travel and explore)
- The Creative Web (for someone who is artistic and creative)
- JazzWeb Creations (for someone who loves jazz music)
- EcoWeb Solutions (for someone who is environmentally conscious)
- TechWeb Innovations (for someone who is technology-savvy)
- VintageWeb Designs (for someone who loves vintage style)
- FoodieWeb Creations (for someone who loves food and cooking)
- SportWeb Designs (for someone who loves sports)
- PetWeb Designs (for someone who loves pets)
There are a number of other keywords or phrases you may want to consider using in your agency's name. Take a look at our Glossary of Web Design Terms for Beginners eBook for inspiration. Some of the terms listed in our eBook could be appended to a word, phrase, name, or something else meaningful to you. Remember, you're business name should reflect your brand identity and effectively communicate what your business does to potential clients.
Get Help With How to Start a Web Design Business Today
If you are planning to start a web design agency or business, choosing a business name is essential. This helps you to develop your branding and let people know who you are. Keeping these top tips in mind will help you come up with a unique business name that reflects your company values and ethos.
Want more help with how to start a web design business? Then get in touch with our team to learn more about becoming a SiteSwan Website Reseller — we're here to help!