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What's A Logo?: 2) The Differents Between A Logo and A Trade Mark and Their Respective Importance
What's A Logo?: 2) The Differents Between A Logo and A Trade Mark and Their Respective Importance
That's where clear, concise, bold and memorable branding comes into play. Do you
have a catchy business name already? Great. Now it's time to attach that name to a
visual identity; to do that, you'll need a logo and a trademark for that logo.
Don't think of it in terms of a "trademark vs. a logo" – think of the two as partners,
because your business's trademark and logo work in tandem to brand your
business.
What's a Logo?
So what's a logo, anyway? Picture the golden arches of McDonald's. Or the apple-
shaped icon on the back of your Macbook or apple phone. Or the swoosh on your
Nike Air Jordan shoes. These iconic symbols are all logos. A logo is simply a visual
symbol – which may or may not include the business's name – used to identify your
business. A designer usually creates it, and it commonly appears on signage,
products, stationery, websites, uniforms, advertising, branding and marketing
materials. Ideally, when someone sees your logo, they immediately associate it with
your business – just like when you see those golden arches, you know there are
burgers and fries ahead.
So it's fair to say that your business's logo is sort of its visual trademark, but that's
just speaking in the vernacular sense; in the legal sense, a trademark is something
else entirely.
What's a Trademark?
If you look closer at those iconic McDonald's, Apple and Nike logos, you might
notice something else. Often, when you see their logos and those of other
businesses in print, they are accompanied by a tiny "TM" or "R" to let you know that
they have been trademarked or are intended to be trademarked.
A trademark legally protects your logo, signifying that it's the intellectual property of
your company. You can also get a slogan, company name or any other phrases or
design elements that identify your company trademark. By confirming legal
ownership of your logo or branding elements with a trademark, you can prevent
others from using them without your permission or ripping off your designs for their
own use.
From my research the United States Patent and Trademark Office issues
trademarks, but to receive a trademark, the logo must be unique – you can't
trademark a logo that's just a circle or a business name like "Restaurant," for
instance. To make sure your company's logo meets the requirements, have a
thorough search through the USPTO's trademark database online before
submitting your application.
The "TM" or "R" mark next to your logo conveys the message that you have a legal
claim to the design. You don't need to include it alongside your logo; just holding
the trademark itself is enough. But including the annotation sends a message to
competitors or anyone who might be apt to use or copy your logo without
permission.
If you plan on using different variations of your logo – such as different colors or
shapes – you'll want to file for logo trademarks for each variation to maximize your
legal ownership. Keep in mind that a trademark only protects the logo itself, not the
product or service the logo is associated with.
If you keep it simple, you’ll be able to adjust it to whatever medium you need it to go
on.
Higher traffic on a website or social media platform translates into higher rankings,
bringing even more traffic, more customers and more brand recognition.
4. Trademarks are a valuable asset. Trademarks can appreciate in value over time.
The more your business reputation grows, the more valuable your brand will be.
Trademarks provide value beyond your core business. Trademarks can lead the way
for expansion from one industry to another, such as from personal care to clothing or
eye ware. If you desire it, your trademark can lead to the acquisition of your business
by a larger corporation.
5. Trademarks can make hiring easier. Brands can inspire positive feelings in
people’s minds. As a result, employment opportunities are more attractive to
candidates. Employee retention can be higher if employees have positive feelings for
the brand and the products and services offered.
A GOAL :
Once you're ready to get started with goal setting, these 10 powerful goal
setting steps will help you achieve even your most ambitious business
goals.
Part of successfully setting goals is tracking how far you've come. Find
out what motivates you, and it can also help you plan future goals and
action steps.
You can track your progress by conducting weekly and/or monthly goal
check-ins that help you evaluate what you have accomplished and where
you need to focus more of your attention. It may also be helpful for you to
create milestones based on time and progress so you can easily tell if
you're on track for reaching your goal.
Effective goal setting requires clarity about what the goal involves,
knowledge on what type of effort will be required, and specific reasons
why it is important to you. It also includes a plan for how you will
accomplish each step, and perhaps most importantly, a commitment to
seeing the goal through to completion.
If you are unable to commit to the goal by taking the time to develop a
plan and scheduling the time to focus on the action steps that will bring
you closer to your goal, you will face an unnecessarily difficult challenge.
A support system can help you reach your goals in a number of ways:
While it's important to have a clearly defined plan for accomplishing your
goals, you should avoid rigidity and narrow-minded thinking. The more
agile you are and the quicker you can change directions when you need
to, the easier it will be for you to keep progress steady in the face of the
unexpected.
By following these powerful goal setting steps, you will be able to break
down your long-term goals and take baby steps each day to get closer
and closer to your success.