What's in a name? In the world of internet business, quite a bit! How do you know if it's time for a change?

I debated this issue for a few months. And, for me, a name change makes sense. Right now I sell mostly craft supplies and books. Yet, the name of my store is Jskell Enterprises. Doesn't seem to make sense does it? Add to that, the fact that I am slowly shifting the focus of my selling to collectible items, and it makes even less sense.

So, what should you consider when naming your store?

• What do you sell- the name of your store should reflect this in some way
• Who are you? Sometimes using your name makes the shopping experience a bit more personal
• Keep it Simple! You want people to remember your store, right? So avoid names that are too long or confusing.
• Keywords, keywords, and more keywords! I cannot stress this enough! You want to be found in the search engines. If you sell dolls, then dolls should appear in your store name.
• Spelling, how important is it? Extremely important! Avoid purposely misspelling words, as they will not be picked up in the search engines!

Now, you already have a store, but the name doesn't follow ANY of these guidelines. What to do? You certainly can change the name. It's easy enough to do. BUT then you'll need more business cards, a new logo, and to let all of your repeat customers know about this change. Is it worth it?

In my case, YES! I can get free business cards, a logo is a simple enough thing to make. and I already have a newsletter to inform those customers. See, not too tough. Besides, I am looking at the long range and a better named store has the potential to bring in much more business I had otherwise been missing!

Ultimately, the decision is yours to make. But, consider a few things:

• How Professional an image do you want
• Are Search Rankings important to you
• Will it hurt or help your business
• Are you prepared for the extra work it will initially bring you
• Would you prefer to shop at a place called Jskell Enterprises, where you have no idea what I sell; Or at Kristen's Collectibles and Gifts which is a bit more straightforward?

I hope if nothing else, I have made you re-evaluate what you have now. Sometimes we all need to look at things with a fresh eye. Maybe your store's name is perfect as it is, maybe not. Whatever your decision, good luck!