Market Your Name or Your Company Name?

Prouddad · 07:44 PM

I am a just cutting my teeth as a copywriter, completing some classes, practicing writing, reading lots of books, etc. In the next couple of months, I will begin prospecting for copywriting clients.

Should I use my name or create a company name? What are the benefits and drawbacks of each way?

Is it easier to sell YOUR name or a COMPANY name?

If it's easier to see your name, is there any reason to have a company name?

Perhaps I should use both in my marketing?

Thanks for your input...

Montello Marketing · 11-01-2006, 07:41 PM

I was exactly where you are, just months ago. I was trying like crazy to come up with a catchy name for my company. I asked on the boards.

The resounding answer I got was... Use your own name. Even some guys who have different company names have told me that they've read that it's better to use your own name.

Then Montello Marketing was born.

no-frills · 11-02-2006, 05:35 PM

Hi there!
I'm new to the board, and perhaps it's too arrogant of me to start my post with a piece of advice, but here goes anyway

From what I've experienced personal names sell and provoke a better response. And hey, by the way, take a good look at this board's name

It's not just copywritersboard.com, but it's actually Michel Fortin's copywritersboard.com. Sounds warmer than a distant company name (or a board name in this particular case).

Mr. Subtle · 11-02-2006, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prouddad

Should I use my name or create a company name? What are the benefits and drawbacks of each way?

Is it easier to sell YOUR name or a COMPANY name?

If it's easier to see your name, is there any reason to have a company name?

Perhaps I should use both in my marketing?

Since you're from my home state of CA it's a tough question to answer. CA charges entities $800 a year for the privilege of doing biz there. ARRRggghh! $800 frickin' bucks a year, whether you're INC'd or LLC'd and even if you haven't made a dime. That's nutz.

Tomorrow I'm forming another entity and PA only charges $125 as a one time fee to form an LLC (or corporation). (If this venture is successful I'll change it to a C-corp and elect subchapter S.) I'm a marketer of products and this one is going to be almost totally out of my control from manufacturing to fullfillment, so I want my AZZets protected in case someone somewhere screws things up.

Even if I was going to go around marketing copywriting/design services to businesses, I would at least LLC before doing so. We live in such a litigious society that it would be stupid not to form an entity for any kind of business. In most states it's cheap to do so, in CA it's another matter.

Marketing your name under an entity is powerful stuff. It makes you look bigger than you are.