As a small business owner, a trademark might not be one of the first things on your mind. However, trademarking or your branding is a crucial part of your day-to-day business practices. Even if you can’t tell off the bat, consumers and clients all take trademarks into their purchasing decisions. The following list includes a few reasons why your business should look into becoming a registered trademark.
As stated above, much of a consumer’s purchasing actions are due to the trademarks they see. For example, if they see a generic hair comb and your branded hair comb next to it, they are more likely to associate that with quality and an actual company. A trademark sets your business apart from other businesses by identifying your brand to the public, helping customers know what your business is and what you provide.
In today’s information age, the minute a great product is introduced to the public, you’re going to get those attempting to cash-in on your idea. They will look for corners to cut both on your product and legally in order to get as close to your product as possible. Of course, too many people copying your product can damage your business. Now, think about what would happen if you didn’t have a trademark on it. Other companies would easily be allowed to copy your design and to sell it to the public, sharing none of the proceeds with you. By filing a trademark, you are then protected by law and can file lawsuits to prevent others from selling similar products.
The fact is that most consumers will research your company prior to even stepping foot into it. They will go on to one of the many online search engines and type out your name. When your company name isn’t trademarked, it can make it difficult to understand which company is which. If your company is trademarked, then that means that fewer and fewer search results come up, and it is more likely that your actual website will be the first to show up.
Understandably, there are plenty of things you need to worry about as a small business owner. However, your number one priority should always be to protect your brand. Trademarks allow you to not only differentiate yourself from the competition but also to protect your creative works from being duplicated.
Here’s another article you might find helpful: How to Get the Most Out of Online Business Listings
