Creating create a successful brand name, avoiding a bad one

Here are helpful tips to create a successful brand name while avoiding name picking pitfalls.

• Learn from the experts.
Read books like "Powerlines: Words that Sell Brands, Grip Rands, and Sometimes Change History," by Steve Cone, and “How Brands Become Icons” by Douglas Holt.

• Check for homonyms.
This ensures that your brand will not be confused with another word which is pronounced or spelled the same (e.g.,
“Mike’s Bowl Zone” could either be a bowling alley, or sell bowls and other dishes.).
See a list at http://www.cooper.com/alan/homonym_list.html.

• Translate it.
Check your word in other languages to see how it looks and sounds.
http://thesaurus.com/translate.

• Use social dictionaries.
Search social media sites like Twitter and Urban Dictionary to get a sense of how your word is being used.

• Is it legal?
Cover your bases, search for a patent or copyright attorney.

• Stand out.
Use a professional design firm like McGraphics Design to get your brand noticed.