Brand trademark aids with establishing your brand on a deeper level; it differentiates your brand from others on the market and safeguards your brand identity from blatant copying. Trademark is another way to communicate to your customers that your brand delivers on its promise and quality. 

When to trademark your brand?

Here is your simple answer: when you are genuinely confident in your brand. It doesn’t matter if you are only starting or have been in the business for a while. Understanding what your brand stands for and whom it serves, having your messaging and marketing nailed, and having your logistics figured out assure your intent and confidence. Having proper funding is only a bonus.

Brand building is a constant process. When you think you have reached your business goal, a new one is on the horizon. As your business grows, the challenges and solution-seeking grow with it. While it’s a continuous pivot journey, the confidence in your brand must be unshakable. The right brand strategy can help you create this confidence and step into every new era of your brand with conviction.

I have seen time and time again how brand strategy transforms my clients’ perceptions of their branding direction. It opens their eyes to different possibilities and helps them establish their messaging and marketing campaigns.

I get questions about trademarks almost every time I work with business owners on their brand identity. Four out of five clients would ask me about the procedures and regulations on trademarking. While it’s not always necessary for the brand to trademark its name and logo, it helps in the future when your brand gains momentum and starts growing.

What should you do first when registering your trademark?

There are a few things to remember before diving into the process of trademarking. These will help you to save money and the trouble of redoing the process if anything is missing. Let’s talk about them briefly:

01 Make sure your brand name is unique and hasn’t been registered yet.

You can inquire with the relevant trademark authority if your brand’s name has already been taken. This service is usually free of charge.

02 Do proper domain research.

It’s helpful to check whether the domain corresponding with your brand’s name is available on the registrar. I always suggest choosing the domain that matches your business name exactly. It helps your customers find you easily when they hear about your brand.

03 Have your logo ready before trademarking your brand.

If you decide to proceed with trademarking your brand’s name, have your logo designed before applying for registration. That way, you avoid paying twice to register your name first and then the logo.

The process of trademarking can be complicated and overwhelming. As a brand and web designer, I don’t offer trademarking services. I recommend reaching out to a firm that specializes in these nuances. It will help you save your time, money, and nerves.

I hope it was helpful. If you are in a place of your business where you feel that trademarking is essential, I help with building aligned brand identities and websites. Reach out to discuss this before you proceed with your registration.