GDB readers, it’s time to name my freelance business, and I really need your help. But first, a little back story:
When I got laid off last February after 5 years with the company, I was devastated.
I loved my core coworkers.
I needed the paycheck.
I hated that I had been chosen as the weakest link (which probably isn’t true – I also received the biggest paycheck).
I cried.
And then…
literally the next day I started looking for another full-time job.
I attacked looking for a job. I signed up on all of the major job sites, the design sites, and polished my LinkedIn profile. I applied to maybe 30 jobs in the next month and received 2 interviews. (Neither came through.)
It was in those two interviews where I showcased my portfolio that I realized I had almost nothing to show for 5 years of my career. My portfolio sucked. I had more work from college than I did from my previous company.
So I did what any rational, broke-and-on-unemployment, scared twentysomething designer would do. I begged my dad for $545 to attend a design class at the local art college.
Being the big proponent of continual education he was, he obliged. Design Strategies at Pacific Northwest College of Art promised to provide me with several portfolio pieces, and not only did it provide me with two fantastic pieces, I also received excellent advice and inspiration and that rejuvenated feeling of being worthwhile and good at graphic/web design.
I also took a page out of Timothy Ferriss’ The 4-Hour Workweek (although I hadn’t read his book at that time…I am now) and struck up a conversation with the owner of Infoglyphs who designed infographics. I mentioned that I loved her work and hoped one day to get the opportunity to create infographics myself. She told me to design my resume as an infographic and if it was good enough, she’d add me to her designer pool. (It was, and we continue to have a great relationship today.)
I took a chance on craigslist and responded to a need for a local school’s website redesign. It was a legit post and I got the job! (The website turned out fantastic.)
Around that time I started posting my design work on my Facebook profile. Most of my family members and friends knew I was laid off and their question always was – after I told them I was a graphic/web designer, “Okay. So what do you do?”
This was (and continues to be) a great way to (1) show off, (2) get my portfolio viewed by a vast and varied group of people who know and care about me, and (3) maybe get a lead.
I got lucky.
#1-3 are a giant success. My friends and family ooh and aah over my work and tell me how wonderful I am. AND, an ex-coworker asked me if I were interested in an ongoing relationship with a friend of his that needed design work for the San Jose, California Zoo. YES! (We’re negotiating this year’s projects right now.)
Holy crap! A month ago nobody wanted me for a full-time job and now I had 3 major freelance clients, 2 of which were ongoing relationships? And if one went away, I still had another? This freelance thing was looking up.
But what do I call myself?
Then I hit a wall. What do I call myself? April C. Greer, Designer? Greer Design Studio? Greer Graphics? April Makes Pretty Things? Big Ideas Design? Etc. etc.
I’m not one to make big decisions on a whim, so I put it off.
I didn’t really have a design business, right? Just a few clients that pay me on a regular basis to drop supreme awesomeness on them. Oh. Yeah. That’s called a design business. (Now with a sweet portfolio.)
Thankfully, Preston published From Passion to Profit (the new ebook that gets your design business up and running in just 11 days). I immediately bought it and started working through the exercises. Awesome! A chapter that helps you create your business name! On a cross-country plane ride I filled an entire notebook page full of words related to me and my business. I circled the ones that spoke most to me and started putting them together. And then I slept. And shifted uncomfortably in my seat. And ate airplane food. And wished I had learned to ‘apparate’ in school instead of the names and locations of all 52 counties and county seats in the state of Montana.
It’s been two months since that plane ride and the initial naming of my design business. I’ve been mulling over the name that I am about to present to you since that time. Here are the criteria I want my business name to meet:
- Meaningful to me.
- NOT Design/Studio/Graphics. Everybody does that and I don’t think a business name needs to say what you do (Apple, Nike). Incorporating my name into the title is a plus.
- Adheres to these three adjectives that describe my design business: professional, outstanding (quality & customer service), personable.
- Easy to say/spell.
- Not taken by someone else, in name or URL.
SO, drum roll, please…
Here’s what I came up with: Greer Genius.
To me, it meets my criteria as follows:
- Before I got laid off, when my coworkers would ask if I was done with a project, I used to say, “Genius takes time.” Also if I had done something I deemed utterly fantastic for the day, I’d announce that I was a sheer genius and show off my brain-child.
- I believe we are all intelligent enough to understand why I don’t need to explain this one.
- To me it sounds professional. Genius refers to high-quality, and my name gives it a more personable feel than a random adjective would.
- Read #2. Also, if you say it out loud, it rhymes with “sheer genius” (which I also thought of using as my business name and have since rejected as not “me” enough).
- Please don’t be a jerk and take it.
Now it’s your turn
Ok, GDB readers: I’m asking your honest opinion, with as much tact as you can muster (hey, I’m a real person with feelings, too!). What do you think? Do you agree or disagree that it meets my criteria? Would you do business with this name? Is it too cocky? – take a look at my portfolio before you answer.
I solemnly promise that if you help me name my business, I’ll help you name yours. Leave a comment on this post with answers to my questions and your own questions about your name. Post your design business name in the comments so we can all offer feedback to each other!
Written by April Greer April creates brilliant graphic and web design through her freelance design business: Greer Genius. She specializes in information presentation and engaging content with a splash of marketing prowess where needed. April is available for speaking engagements and mentorships - visit her website for her contact information. Follow @greergenius
April, I think it’s “sheer genius”! I like the personal touch to it and how you related it to phrases you often use in your everyday life, as well as incorporating your name. Now you have me second guessing my own business name, Design4Sign. But then again I do design logos and websites for mostly small businesses that use American Sign Language. That works, right?
Bree,
First, thanks for your opinion!
Second, let me say how cool it is that you design for ASL businesses! How did you find that niche? Do you know sign language? Do you find that these businesses have different needs than hearing businesses? Design4Sign is a great name tailored to what your niche is. If you decide you are going to branch out and do other things, you can take “Design4Sign” and make it a tagline when you design specifically for ASL.
Hi April – I’m so jealous – you’ve solved the identical problem I have, so elegantly. It’s brilliant! And your work lives up to it.
I’m struggling with Savyra.com or Picture-Kitchen.com…. the one has my name, the other says that I make pictures.
Any ideas, guys? I’m thinking of going back to Savyra.com because my name is unusual so I can trade on that. I also see that people put Savyra or Savyra Meyer into the search string before they end up on my blog or on my site. Picture-Kitchen is not all that strong or memorable and now someone else has called themselves Picture Kitchen Studios….
Any help gratefully received.
Savyra,
Thank you for your kind words! Elegant and brilliant…truly, I appreciate it!
I have to say Preston’s book, “From Passion to Profit” truly helped me find my name. (He’s not paying me to say this, btw.) But the “naming exercise” really worked. I had been feeling this pressure to come up with a great name and when I got to his chapter, I thought (I really did) “there is no way that in an hour I’m going to find my business name.” Getting all of my thoughts – even terrible ones – out on paper made connections in my brain that I hadn’t seen before.
100% serious, I started “feeling out” Greer Genius on that plane ride (that was in November), and I’m finally satisfied enough with it to ask the world what it thinks. It felt like me, and that was one of the most important parts…if I didn’t love the name, I couldn’t embrace it and use it every day.
This was such a helpful post! I just started full time freelancing a few months ago and with the holidays and some busy deadlines, haven’t even taken time to think through the whole naming issue for my new business. I know I need to get there though because I have been putting off a website until I land on the right name. Thanks for sharing your story!
Kim,
I’m glad to help! You’re quite welcome!
Sometimes it’s easy to forget that your own business needs TLC, too. (Not just everyone else’s.) I made a goal to spend time each week working on my business – social media, marketing, naming, making connections, etc.
I said this to Savyra too, but I have to say Preston’s book, “From Passion to Profit” truly helped me find my name. (He’s not paying me to say this.) The “naming exercise” really worked. I had been feeling this pressure to come up with a great name and when I got to his chapter, I thought “there is no way that in an hour I’m going to find my business name.” Getting all of my thoughts – even terrible ones – out on paper made connections in my brain that I hadn’t seen before.
I highly suggest you set aside some time for yourself and your business to find your business name. I think you’ll find it surprisingly rewarding and fun (I did – and I was surprised that it was fun and not as daunting as I made it out to be) when I got to make all of the decisions instead of a client!
The best thing is your name when start with, because if not that name you don’t arrival this level of bloging.
My name my be 3 weeks graphic design.
Hilmi,
Why is 3 weeks graphic design special to you? What makes you choose that name? It’s a long name, but you can certainly use the “nickname” 3 weeks if you so choose.
You have to love the name. It has to feel right. You’re going to live and breathe it for the foreseeable future. I’d love to hear how your name does that for you.
Great article April. I took a similar approach in naming my freelance business; Definition Designs. Came from an old project that I did in art class, was our culminating for that year. We we’re to define ourselves in an art piece – I carved a hand and engraved the base with “What you create defines you.” Always thought it was somehow really profound, and related well to what I think graphic design is – visually defining our world.
Greer Genius – it’s got itself a nice feel to it.
Davin,
Thanks for the kudos!
As I was saying to Hilmi (just above your comment), if you don’t love your name, it’s going to be hard to wake up every day and use it. I love that you found a name that’s meaningful to you.
I like it. It is part you (last name, characteristic), simple/short, professional and pretty cool.
I would do business as this name and it does not come across as cocky to me. As long as your website/portfolio is polished, great content, easy to navigate and on point, then you’ve hit success. I too will have to face the name game soon. Right now I’m going off part of my name. I wish you well and thank you for this post.
Thanks, Nina!
(I think it’s pretty cool, too.) As you get going, check back in with us so we can see your progress! GDB has a lot to offer entrepreneurial designers, so we’d love to follow your success while you learn and share with the GDB community!
I like the name. It shows character and confidence. I’m tinkering with a business name called Digital Modshop which I want to use for a Photo Editing & Design business.
Brian,
Awesome – character and confidence are two great adjectives I’d love to have associated with my business!
Digital Modshop sounds very tech-y and modern. Sleek. Professional. Are those the adjectives you’re going for? Good luck, and let us know what you fall in love with!
Great article April! I am having the same problem with coming up with a name for what I do. I think your name Greer Genius is great. I agree that it meets your criteria. I have two names that I may want to use for my business. The first one is Quarles Creations and the second one is Fresh Focus Studio. I like the first one but I think some people might have a hard time pronouncing my last name. I also like the second one except for the studio part. I am just having a hard time choosing which one I like better. Thank you for your post. It has given me a lot of things to think about towards my own business name.
Thanks, Keisha!
What if you dropped Studio and used Fresh Focus? It might make some think of photography, but if that’s something you’re good at it might work well. Q can also be a fun letter to play with – perhaps not your entire last name? Q Creations? Hmmm.
Think about what you want your potential clients to think of when they read your business name (or see your logo). Fresh Focus sounds light, rejuvenating, Spring-y, etc. Quarles Creations has less attached to it as far as adjectives go, but creations often feels comfortable, homemade, cozy…like baked goods. See if you can come up with your own criteria to help you decide!
I think it is good – and like the sheer genius rhyme link too
I previously had a partnership with another designer and we were called ‘marching ants’ (to those in the know the dots that march around a selection in image editing/layout software and to those not in the know it was something quite memorable and cool). The partnership didn’t work out so we finished the business and both did our own thing and had to bury the great name. I was sad to let go of the marching ants name but then wanted something that was about me and my ethos as a creative designer and came up with ‘One Bright Spark’.
I too was a little apprehensive in my business name (and don’t do cocky/big headed so was a little worried but hoped it would focus on the ideas side of things rather than me biggin’ myself up!). I have been in business for about four years as one bright spark – first part time and then in October 2011 I plucked up the courage to quit the corporate day job (of 22 years) and am now realising my dream too.
Everybody loves the name, especially when they get a spark plug keyring with a business card tag, which ensures I get remembered at least.
Keep up the great work and thanks for an inspiring post that proves we are in charge of our own destiny and get out what we put in.
Jason,
Yay, someone gets the rhyme! I’m glad I’ve inspired you (and hopefully others).
Losing “Marching Ants” must’ve been rough – that’s a great connection to your work! Glad you found yet another in One Bright Spark and that your name is part of your marketing scheme – excellent two-fer!
I love that you went above and beyond with the keyring to make something memorable!
I love it! My business name is Duosista. Means nothing and is completely made up, but I could get the URL, twitter and anything else I wanted with it. I also like to give myself a fun title instead of Graphic Designer so I went with “Fun-lovin’, easy going multi-talented genius!” Maybe that would suit you too with your new business name and all!
Good luck!
Kylie,
Duosista sounds like a great name for your attitude! Very fun, funky, creative, outside the box! I’ll have to think about a more creative name for myself.
Good luck to you too!
hey show your resume
Hi Gustavo,
I’d be happy to show you my resume – if you visit my LinkedIn profile (April Greer in Salem, Oregon), you can send me a note with your email address in it. I’d be happy to email you the PDF.
Alternatively if you go to my portfolio – http://www.be.net/agreer and view my work experience, that’s got the same information as my resume does.
April, your story is so familiar except I was laid off in Dec. of 2010 after 10+ years at the same company. I applied for jobs, even worked for 3 months before the new store I was working for ran out of money. I had no idea what to do with myself until my Dad said to start my own biz. I went with a name that worked but later I was served with a cease and desist letter from a 110 million dollar company that didn’t like my name showing up before their’s on Google. So, I thought and thought and just couldn’t come up with a name until an epiphany hit me like a ton of bricks – Traci with an Eye (Graphic Design, LLC). Everyone seems to really react to it and like it. I’m very happy with it, too!
I love Greer Genius – the play on words really speaks to people and makes them remember you. Good job!
Traci,
Very cool how you incorporated your name (and spelling) into your business name! So creative!
It’s crazy we share such the same story – my dad also encouraged me to be my own boss and become an entrepreneur.
Wow, GDB readers! You are an amazing bunch! I can’t believe the outpouring of support I’ve received. When Preston and I talked about this post, I was nervous about putting myself at your mercy and hoped my skin was thick enough, but wow. My cup runneth over.
Thank you all so much for your positive comments, thoughts, kudos, and interest! Keep them coming!
Love the name you came up with, witty, unique and it hits your criteria, you should definitely stick with it. I had this same problem while in my second year at Uni, I had to come up with a name and brand identity for a blog. A lot of my fellow class mates used their names and I though this was just boring so I went through exactaly the same process as you did;
1.Meaningful to me.
2.NOT Design/Studio/Graphics in the name
4.Memorable
5.Not taken by someone else
I came up with ‘the mighty buck’
1. I attended Bucks new Uni
2. Has a ring to it and doesn’t have design in the name
3. Memorable (sounds like the mighty ducks)
4. the URL only cost me £4 for 2 years haha
I have now graduated and not sure if I should keep it or re-brand my self as a designer. My blog needs an over hall and for me to start posting again so would be a perfect time to change things. I also need to upload more work on my portfolio from the job I am in at the moment. I still like the style as in the wax stamp, old paper, red and black but do you think I should change the name?
Portfolio:
http://themightybuck.carbonmade.com/
Blog:
http://themightybuck.co.uk/
(any feed back would be appreciated)
Phill
I love the name, and I think it absolutely meets your criteria. It rolls off the tongue really well too, and I instantly get the connection to “sheer genius” when I say it out loud. It also radiates self confidence without being too cocky.
I had my own naming issues as well. When I first started out freelancing about 8 years ago, I used “Jennae Signature Design” for years, and I HATED it. I knew in my gut that it didn’t feel right, but I couldn’t come up with anything better. Then like Traci, my new name came to me in a split second one day, and I just went for it.
I chose “Hibiscus Creative” first and foremost because I love my hometown: St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, where hibiscus flowers are abundant. I wanted something that referred to a personal connection without being as obvious as my name. Second, the hibiscus to me represented growth and blossoming, which is what I like to think I’m helping my clients do. And lastly, I didn’t want to use “design, studio or graphics” either. “Creative” describes everything that I do, and I love the way the phrase rolls off the tongue. My mother and sisters insisted that I should use “graphic design” or something else, because “creative just doesn’t make sense.” I’ve been using my new name for three years now, and I’ve never had a client complain or say they didn’t “get it.” So I think I chose pretty well
I agree April, your new name rocks, I’d love to see your website and more of your work….do you have a site up yet?
Suddenly I feel so ordinary thought! I just went with Theresa Sheridan Designs, mostly because if I used my full name I wasn’t required to do the whole fictitious business name statement process, which was more money than I had at the time. So, it was the practical route for me, not the creative and now I’m stuck with it. Heck, it IS me after all, so I guess it works.
I guess I’m going to be the only one with negative feedback. Sorry, I’m the mom and I can do that. I think it’s catchy but if I were looking for a designer I wouldn’t know that’s what you did. Now you must remember that I’m totally technically non-saavy. I guess the school teacher in me leans towards something creative but informative! If one of my students wrote that I’d have to say “Genius at what???”
Well sheesh, Mom, you of all people should know…genius at EVERYTHING!
Just kidding. Love you anyway.
You aren’t the only one who has said that my business name should reflect what I do, otherwise it’s unknown. I am thinking of a tagline that might describe my genius. Also realize that Greer Genius would also rarely be stand-alone. Most of the time, like on a business card, “April Greer, Graphic/Web Designer” would accompany it, or my portfolio on a website, or some sort of aforementioned tagline in a business directory — online or printed.
PS – Aunt Linda likes it.