You’ve got a killer business idea, you’re excited to launch, and you’re prepped and ready to build your brand. You even went through the InfluencerSEO blog to learn all there is to know about Google Analytics and rankings! But there’s just one little thing holding you back: naming your startup.
We’ve all been there, staring at a blank screen, wondering, “What even goes in a business name?” But when it comes to launching a startup today, there’s more to consider than just something catchy and clever. You also need a name that sets you up for SEO (search engine optimization) success. Something that gets your brand found on Google search results and brings in organic traffic from day one.
Yes, there’s a lot of pressure to find a name that’s unique and memorable, and now we’re telling you it needs to be an SEO-friendly startup name, too? We get it—it feels like a lot. But don’t stress! The right name will come to you. In the meantime, we’re breaking down exactly how to choose a startup name with SEO in mind. That way, when the lightbulb moment strikes, you’ll know it’s the one.
6 SEO Tips for Naming Business Startup
Knowing the importance of your business name is a game-changer when it comes to building your online presence and connecting with your ideal audience.The right name isn’t just catchy—it’s strategic. When you choose a startup name that uses words your ideal audience is already searching for, you’re laying the foundation for long-term SEO success.
Not super familiar with SEO yet? Don’t worry—we’ve got you. Head over to our SEO Terms and Definitions blog post for a quick, free crash course. It’ll give you the confidence to start making marketing decisions that actually move the needle.
Once you understand how powerful SEO can be—and follow the tips we share—you’ll be on the road to success. Because remember, choosing a name isn’t just about finding something that sounds good. It’s finding something that can work behind the scenes to grow your business, too.
How Important Is a Business Name for SEO?
Your business name isn’t just a cute branding moment—it’s one of your strongest SEO tools. If your biz or blog lives entirely online (no storefront, no signage, no word-of-mouth marketing or foot traffic), showing up in Google searches becomes everything. And guess what? That starts with your name.
The name you choose will directly influence your domain name, playing a HUGE role in how search engines understand your site. Google actually scans your domain to help figure out what your website is all about (AKA, crawlers.) So while it might be tempting to go with something super abstract or mysterious, you also want to make it crystal clear what you do.
A great example? Us—InfluencerSEO. We help influencers grow their blogs and businesses with smart, strategic SEO. It’s catchy, easy to pronounce, and spells out exactly what we do. Your business name should do the same: make a statement, reflect your brand, and help you show up in searches.
Related: What to Name Your Blog
How to Come Up with a Business Name That is Good for SEO
Include a relevant keyword.
When it comes to SEO, keywords play a major role but that’s just one small piece in the puzzle. Other important factors include having a user-friendly design, a clean home page, fast load times, and solid content pillars. But when it comes to naming your startup, keywords are the main character.
This is where a little light keyword research can seriously pay off. Start by scoping out your competition. Where are your dream clients already going? What kinds of words do those brands use in their names or headlines? Then ask yourself: what would your audience type into Google when they’re searching for someone like you? What would resonate with your target audience?
Let’s say you’re launching an online personal training business. You’ll probably want to consider keywords like “fitness,” “training,” or “personal coach” in your name. These kinds of words help your audience instantly get what you’re about, and they give your business a solid SEO foundation from the start.
Use tools like Ubersuggest, Google Keyword Planner, or AnswerThePublic to start searching for relevant keywords. Or, reach out to InfluencerSEO for a free SEO evaluation! We would love to help you out.
Avoid obscure or made-up words.
We know it’s SO tempting to let your creativity run wild when naming your business. And hey, we love a unique brand identity! But if your name is too abstract or made-up, it can leave potential customers (and Google!) totally confused about what you actually do.
Let’s break it down with a quick example: Uber vs. Lyft. Uber is huge now, but the name doesn’t give any clue that it’s a ride-share service. Lyft, on the other hand? Even with the quirky spelling, it still hints at giving someone a “lift.” It’s clever and clear.
Unless you’re planning to build the next global tech empire, stick with words your audience will recognize and search for. But make no mistake—your name doesn’t have to be bland and boring. Wordplay, puns, and creative combinations can ABSOLUTELY bring your brand to life without sacrificing clarity or SEO.
Pro Tip: Totally in love with a made-up or unique name? We get it—sometimes a creative spark just hits. If that’s the case, try pairing it with a clear modifier to help people understand what your business is about. This way your creativity helps your brand, not work against it.
Keep it short, memorable, and easy to spell.
If your audience can’t remember your name or has no clue how to spell it, they’ll have a hard time finding you online. And that means you could miss out on valuable clicks, customers, and traffic.
When you’re choosing an SEO-friendly startup name, make sure it’s easy to search and type, especially on a phone. (Fun Fact: 96% of people access the internet on a mobile device. So yeah, mobile-friendliness matters!)
Here are a few quick tips:
- Keep it short—15 characters or less is ideal
- Skip the numbers, hyphens, and funky special characters
- Make sure it’s easy to pronounce. If you’re unsure about this, simple! Just ask family, friends, or colleagues how they would pronounce it
Basically, the easier it is to remember and type, the easier it is to grow your business!
Check domain and social handle availability.
If you take one thing from this blog post, let it be this: consistency is key when it comes to naming your startup. You want your business name, domain, and social media handles to match—same spelling, same vibe, no confusion.
Before you fall in love with a name, you have to do some research. Double-check that the domain is available and the social handles are free. Trust us, this step is make-or-break for your brand. The last thing you want is to choose the perfect name only to find out that someone else already snatched up the .com or social media accounts.
Use sites like GoDaddy or Namecheap to check domain availability (and pricing) and do a quick handle search on your go-to social platforms. A little research now saves a major headache later!
Test the search intent.
Got a few potential business names you’re loving? Amazing! Now, it’s time to test them out. Pop each one into Google and see what shows up.
Here’s why: Search intent is a BIG deal in SEO. Google wants to show results that best match what someone’s actually looking for. If you’re starting your fitness business and your name brings up unrelated services, that’s a red flag. It means Google isn’t connecting your name with the kind of content or audience you want—and that’s a problem.
Also, pay attention to who else is using the name (if anyone!). Even if another business isn’t in your industry, sharing a name can still cause confusion regardless. And that applies to both your target audience and search engines! So if your dream name is already taken or showing unrelated results, it might be time to go back to the brainstorming board. Don’t worry—you’re getting closer!
Related: How to Show Up on Google Search with SEO
Stay true to your brand.
Your brand isn’t just about a cute logo or a pretty color palette—it starts with your business name. When someone hears (or searches!) your business name, it should instantly give them a sense of your vibe, your values, and what you do. That’s the power of branding—and it totally ties into your SEO strategy, too!
Once you’ve got a few keywords in mind, grab a thesaurus. It’s time to play around with descriptive words that align with your brand’s personality! This little step can go a long way in shaping your business name, strengthening your branding elements and identity, and making your SEO game even stronger. Plus, it helps keep your website and marketing super cohesive. Win-win!
SEO goes beyond choosing a startup name—it influences your business’s success!
When you’re launching your own business, you’re basically wearing every hat—CEO, marketing manager, accountant, content creator… the list goes on. It’s exciting, but let’s be real: it’s also exhausting. That’s where InfluencerSEO comes in! We have a goldmine of info on the InfluencerSEO blog, but schedule a call to get more personalized advice! We offer valuable insights into what can make your business skyrocket to success.
With our expert SEO packages, you can take “worrying about Google” off your to-do list. We’ll optimize your website and blog content so it actually gets seen. Think: first-page-of-Google status. From page speed to and SEO best practices to keyword-rich, clickable blog posts, we handle it all.
You’ve got enough on your plate. Let us focus on growing your traffic while you focus on growing your biz.
Jordan Becerra, founder and Lead SEO Strategist at InfluencerSEO, has spent almost 15 years in the creator internet space, the last nine building InfluencerSEO into the go-to SEO partner for content creators, with 500+ creators served from pre-launch to massive publication. She learned creator monetization and community building strategy from the inside working for Lauryn Bosstick of The Skinny Confidential prior to founding InfluencerSEO, so she understands both halves of the game: how search actually works AND how creators actually build a strong community online and make money. Her job now is to stay ahead of where search engine optimization is going, especially as AI rewrites the rules, and to make sure the creators she works with get there first.
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