When you are starting your own business first impressions are critically important. In many cases, the first interaction a customer will have with your company is its name so, it's imperative that you come up with something that encapsulates who you are as a business and also has a positive lasting impression. Let's get creative!

Let your imagination run wild

In much the same way that some people are exceptionally talented at sport and others aren't, some people have creative knack and others simply don't. That means finding the right combination of words to capture the essence of your business and the imagination of your target customers may come very easily to you or, it may be a task that causes you to lay awake night after night. Regardless, naming a business is a creative process so whether you are creative or not, you need to approach it in a way that allows your imagination and inspiration to come to the fore.

Triggering a flow of imaginative ideas can be difficult so if you need a few ideas to get you started, try findings words and images that inspire you. Pull out the butcher's paper and a set of coloured pens so you can write and draw about the things that come to mind. Make sure these things relate to your business venture. Otherwise, you may have a lot of fun and you may find your creative side but you won't be particularly productive in coming up with a name for your business.

Distinguish your company from its competitors

One of the key objectives you should be trying to achieve in naming your business is to distinguish yourself from your competitors. You want to sell the things about your business that are different and new - the things that make your product or service distinct from others.

If there is a name you like and you think it meets this criteria but it's already taken try consulting the dictionary and / or thesaurus as a source of inspiration. Synonyms, key words and translations of your major concepts can help you to uncover a clever, memorable business name. But, avoid jargon, meaningless or over-used words and phrases. People will see straight through an expression or name that doesn't really mean anything or is all hype.

Don't forget the importance of a domain name

Throughout the business naming process you must keep domain-name availability in mind. In today's online world, no business should be without a website that allows you to connect with your target audience.

This means two things:

1. your name should be simple enough to be remembered in www format
2. you need to ensure the domain name hasn't already been taken by another budding business owner

It's highly likely that the Web will play a central role in your marketing plans so it's important that you keep this in mind when brainstorming a business name. Plenty of business owners have registered a business name only to find that a matching domain name has already been taken - don't make this mistake!

Don't forget, your company name should have personality and attitude, and it should convey the unique selling proposition of your business. Once you've ticked off the business name and have confirmed that matching or complimentary domain name is available, its time to move onto your company tagline. Have fun - it's time to get creative again!