by Amanda Daniels-Allen | Oct 8, 2014 | Brand |
Here’s how you can make the rest of this year THE year were you start to create a whisper within your peers for about your brand by;
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positioning yourself as the expert in your field
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attracting clients and other opportunities to you easily
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running your business instead of letting your business run you!
I’m sure you’ll agree that marketing is vital to the growth of your business. However, the simplest way to grow your business and do so with less stress is to position yourself as an expert and highly sought after resource in your field. To accomplish this, you must first dig your way out of the small business jungle and stand out in your market and strengthen your brand.
Imagine how it will feel when you:
- can ask for higher fees and get paid what you’re worth – once and for all!
- create a base of fans that help to promote you every chance they get thereby increasing your exposure and money making opportunity
- gain respect and admiration from your market place
- operate your business based on your terms
But here’s the problem…
As a small business owner, you’re presented with tools and tactics to promote and market your brand that aren’t much different than that of your closest competitors and the result is you have just spent loads of money on a campaign or concept that gets tossed in the garbage never to be seen…or remembered.
Can I let you in on a little secret… the quickest way to make more money in your business is to market and promote your brand to create a stir in your market, what we refer to as a “whisper“.
Without the right tools, approach and strategy, you can waste lots of money, time and effort that doesn’t bring you a good return or any return on your marketing investment.
With the right approach and support, you can learn how to do it the right way. By the way, the right way won’t cost you an arm and a leg and is easy to implement. It just that you need to stop doing what doesn’t work and try something new.
Implementing the “whisper” will not only increase your exposure and notoriety but it is the #1 way to also earn the income your business has the potential to generate for you.
Are you ready to learn how? Here are the 7 POWERFUL Reasons why you must implement THE WHISPER to mature your brand:
- Establish yourself as an expert in your field and begin to attract quality clients and customers into your business that are willing and able to buy from you
- Create “top of mind” awareness with your ideal clients so that when they are ready to buy, they think of you and only YOU
- Spread the word about your business through viral marketing – it’s the most effortless marketing method around!
- Show your clients just how talented you are and the many ways you can help them to maximize their potential with you
- Gain more media interviews, speaking invitations and attract well-respected strategic partners
- Getting yourself a good content writer that can write quality articles and press releases can take your brand to the next level
- Hiring a quality graphics designer and make you look much bigger and richer
Get them talking about you…
by Amanda Daniels-Allen | Aug 13, 2014 | Brand, Business, Guest Blogs |
Guest Blog by Kate Cruse of Forresters
What is a trade mark?
A trade mark is your name. Your brand. How your customers and clients remember you.
Trade marks were traditionally seen to be:
- words
- numeral
- letters
- logos
- and any combination of the four
that served to enable the public to distinguish the goods and services provided by a trader from those provided by another trader.
More recently other types of trade marks have become deemed worthy of protection, including:
- scents
- sounds
- shapes
- and packaging
In order to gain registration of a trade mark it is necessary to be able to clearly represent the sign you are wishing to protect. If you are looking to protect a non-traditional sign, such as a shape mark, some thought needs to be given regarding how to represent the mark upon filing.
How do I file an application?
When filing an application it is necessary to state who will own the trade mark, the address of the owner, provide a representation of the trade mark and a list of the goods/services to be covered. It’s also necessary to think about where you file the application, based on the geographical coverage of your business; for example, UK, EU, China, etc..
How much will it cost?
It depends upon the geography you wish to cover and how broad you would like to go in terms of goods and services covered by the trade mark.
How long will the process take?
In a straightforward case, a UK or EU trade mark application should gain registration around 5-6 months after filing.
What is a trade mark registration?
A trade mark registration a certificate confirming the grant of monopoly rights to the trade mark owner by a public institution (in the case of the UK, the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO)), during a set term (in many cases 10 years).
The scope of rights granted depends upon the request originally made, and as such it is important to understand fully the complexities of the law when filing an application.
Registering a company name with Companies House does not have the same effect, and if you do not register your company name as a trade mark, someone else may be legally entitled to use, as a trade mark, the name which you have registered as a company name.
Why should I register my trade mark?
Prevention:
If you have a trade mark registered many third parties will undertake clearance searches prior to adopting a new trade mark to check that their mark is free for use and registration. If your trade mark is located by the search, the third party will be warned off using and registering their chosen mark.
Cure:
If another trader seeks to gain registration of a mark identical or similar to your earlier trade mark, or use that mark in business, it is possible to oppose the application or use based on your earlier registration. In the alternative, should your trade mark not be registered it may be possible to oppose the application or use on the basis of an un-registered trade mark but you will have to demonstrate to the UK Intellectual Property Office or the Courts that:
- you have a goodwill/reputation in the mark
- that registration or use of the later mark would act as a misrepresentation of your rights, and
- the registration would damage your business
Significant evidence is required in order to prove the above points and this can be a time consuming and expensive exercise.
For more help on trade marks, feel free to contact Kate on 0151 255 2180.
by Amanda Daniels-Allen | Jun 15, 2010 | Brand, Business |
Despite Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) possibly being the most valuable asset a business can possess, many companies fail to recognise they own such rights. So what are IPRs and why are they so important?
Intellectual Property allows you to own the work you create arising out of ideas, innovation technology and creativity. In the last 25 years, intangible assets have gone from accounting for 17% of the average company’s value to nearly 70%. However, many businesses are not aware of the IPRs they may own and incorrectly assume that only large incorporations with profitable brands, logos and patents need to safeguard such rights.
IPRs protect business and product names, logos, packaging, designs, inventions, technology, artwork, photography, written work, music, dramatic work, trade secrets, computer software and databases, amongst others. Therefore, all businesses have IPRs, regardless of their size or sector and it is important to identify these rights and safeguard them where possible. Failing to protect these assets can have serious ramifications on your business.
By failing to consider IPRs, you are not only potentially damaging your brands and reputation, but also putting your business at risk. Competitors will be able to steal your designs and ideas and sell copies of your products or use your business name. If you allow others to copy your work or use your trademarks, inevitably it will also impact upon your company’s earnings. You may also find that you are inadvertently infringing somebody else’s IPRs and in that scenario you may well find yourself in the highly inconvenient and very costly position of being embroiled in litigation and, potentially, having to withdraw your products and pay damages to the rights holder.
Once IPRs have been identified, you can exploit these rights by selling or licensing them to provide an important revenue stream. Patents, design rights or trademarks can be licensed to another company in return for royalties. IPRs can also be exploited through assignments, IP terms within commercial agreements, confidentiality agreements, joint ventures and collaboration. IPRs can really set your business apart from competitors by offering customers something new and form an essential part of marketing.
To exploit your IPRs fully, it makes strong business sense to do all you can to secure them. Trademarks, designs and patents should be registered and copyright work should be marked with the © symbol with the name of the copyright owner. You can then protect it against infringement from others and earn royalties by licensing it or make money by selling it.
I’m sure you all found that really insightful and is sure to have left you thinking. Please feel free to comment on the blog or if you have any matters that you need to speak to Joanne about feel free to contact her by following the link below.
http://www.hillyermckeown.co.uk
by Amanda Daniels-Allen | May 11, 2010 | Brand, Marketing Tips |
It has been proven that the feelings and images we associate with a brand are extremely powerful and influential when we purchase something. It means we associate buying a certain product with certain feelings and images of ourselves.
For example, if you bought a Gucci handbag with Gucci across the front it could make you feel important, fashionable, professional etc. Or, if you’re gentleman (and Gucci handbags are not your thing) then if you’ve bought an Armani suit or a Tiltleist driver for instance, how would you feel?
Basically, to know whether your brand is strong you need to ask people what they think of when you mention your business name and product.
If they say anything which is not linked to an emotion or image such as cost and if responses vary considerably then your brand is weak.
I’ll leave you with this thought…what do you immediately think of if I say yellow capital ‘M’? The majority of people would think of McDonald’s, which shows how popular, well known and strong the brand is.
So how strong is your brand…?
For more information on branding take a look at our Logo Design and Company Branding page.
