15 Minute Craft Website Tips  

If you're just starting out with your own craft business, one of the things you'll need to think about is a name. Here's a couple of tips on how to think of a killer name for your art or craft business. Here’s a couple of tips:

• Your business name should reflect the personality of your company and your work.
• Avoid generic or cliché names.
  • Generic names have no personality, the world doesn't need another craft business named Jane Doe's Country Crafts.
• Using your name or your name + designs works especially if you have a signature style or product.
  • Be aware if you use this option, your company identity is linked to your personal identity.
• Unless it describes your product, try to avoid regional names or names based on your location such as street addresses.
  • If you’re known as "Florida Craftsman Woodworks" what happens if you happen to move to North Dakota?
  • If you are selling work in which the location is a large part of the style or backstory then referencing the location in the name is a great idea.
• Make sure it’s something that people can pronounce and spell.
• Use fun or edgy names only if it reflects your business personality and it won’t offend potential customers.
  • Jennifer Perkins's business name, "The Naughty Secretary Club" is a great name. It’s fun, and reflects the personality of the business.
  • But a fun, edgy name won’t make sense if you sell art that’s more traditional or appeals to a traditional audience.
• Be careful with obscure names or names based on other languages.
• Try not to name yourself in a corner.
  • If you name your business Katherine’s Bead Corner, what happens when you expand into decorative objects?
  • The Naughty Secretary Club is a great example, she sells both jewelry and home décor and the name still makes sense.
• Make sure the domain name is available.
  • Go to My Namespot Domains and see if your company name is available. And while you’re there grab your own personal name as well.
  • Be cautious with domain names that contain numbers or singular or plural nouns. To avoid confusion, register the number spelled out and the singular and plural version of your name.
• Be sure to register your name.
  • You can register a fictitious name at the city or county level…in some cases you’ll need to register at the state level.
  • If you want to register your name as a trademark you’ll need to make sure that no one else is using that name.
  • Check with the U.S. Patents and Trademark Office for more info.
• Don’t be scared to change your name.
  • If your current name isn’t working for you change it!
  • Make your name change into an event.

On the next show... I’ll be talking about traveling for craft shows and how to make the journey a bit safer, cheaper, and less frustrating. We are in the midst of craft show season, and we still have until Christmas to go. And more than likely you’ll have to travel some distance in order to get where you need to go. Learn how to be prepared.

Are you just starting your craft business? Find out what you need to know before you start by listening the free podcast at Craft Business Radio, "Getting Started in Your Craft Business".