Name your podcast

One of the first things a potential new listener will see about your podcast is the name. Because this is really the “first touch” someone will have with your podcast (even before hearing your voice), the name becomes very important.

Naming your podcast is probably 75% of the battle in launching your podcast. You can learn how to do the things necessary to plan, record, edit, and publish your episodes. But if you get the name wrong, you won’t attract any listeners! If you take your time and choose a great name, you will attract listeners and grow your podcast much faster than you could without a great name.

For starters, don’t rush! Take a week or so to write down each and every possible name that comes to mind. Brainstorm by writing 10-15 headings on the topic of your podcast daily. Create short descriptive sentences of three or four words that describe your podcast or what the content and topic will be about.

Once you have 50-75 candidates for the name of your new podcast, take a couple of days off and then get back on your list.

Now, go to delete mode! As you browse your list, cross out the names that just don’t “sing” to your spirit. These names may have sounded great three or four days ago, but not so good now. If you have 75 possible names, you should be able to cut your list to say the top 20 that stand out to you.

Take a couple more days before going back to your list.

You will now rank the twenty on your list in order of “likeability.” This means that the names that you like the most, placed at the top. Also, as you go through this list, delete any names that don’t appeal to you at all. If you do it correctly, you should narrow down your list to 12-15 possible names at this stage.

Then you can take this list and share it with 5-7 trusted advisors and family members. Ask them to rank their possible podcast name, picking the top 5 on the list, and ask them to write a comment on “why” they like each name.

Once you receive the results from each of the people you shared the list with, compile the results. Rank your top five.

Now is the time to check the possible availability of domains in the first two or three. This is where you need to take your time and get the process done right.

You must choose a podcast name / URL that allows it to have the dot COM extension. If you find that the COM dot is not available, that means someone else is using that name.

Beware! Most domain hosting platforms will offer you several alternative extensions since you cannot have the COM dot. Don’t go down that path unless it is part of your brand, company, group, etc.

The lack of a COM dot extension means that someone, somewhere, is already using that name. If your podcast really starts to get a lot of traction, you may receive a “Cease and Desist Order” due to trademark or copyright violations involving the other company that owns the dot COM extension.

Imagine working for two, three, or four years and suddenly your podcast is one of the most popular in your niche. You then receive a “Cease and Desist Order” or worse, face a legal challenge where you face millions of dollars in fines and legal fees.

Rebranding your podcast once you become popular is very difficult to do! Even if you agree to change your name and brand in exchange for the legal challenge disappearing, you still face huge costs in the rebranding process.

Also, you will lose a large number of listeners in the process. Many people will not try to find their new name. You will really be “starting over” with your new podcast. All the work and expenses you will have spent were wasted.

But everything can be avoided if you take the time at this stage and make sure you can buy the dot COM domain extension. Even then, that’s not a 100% guarantee that your podcast name isn’t being used by another company, person, or even another podcast somewhere with a different extension. But the odds are in your favor if you have a COM dot extension.

To avoid those kinds of headaches, start your podcast with a name that allows you to own the dot COM extension. Do Google searches and just check if there is a business somewhere that is already using your desired name.

If the first one is not available, move on to the next one on the list. You may have to go through the whole process two or three times before finally coming up with a suitable name that meets all the criteria you have set. Once you find one that does, go for it!

Then you can start your podcast knowing that the name is unique only to you.