Choosing the perfect trademark is essential for a brand. A trademark is more than just your logo or company name. It can be any word, phrase, symbol, or design that identifies and distinguishes your goods from those of others in the market. The key to choosing an effective trademark is to make sure that they are unique and easily distinguishable. It is essential for your brand identity that your trademark is that way, especially since most brands are usually named by wordplay or acronyms of sorts. Having a made-up name or word can sometimes help you find the perfect trademark that will suit your needs. Your trademark will represent all your values and ideals. Therefore, it will play an important role in your brand identity. This article will help you find the perfect choice through some tips and tricks.
Choose a strong trademark
Trademarks can be categorized into five types, which are fanciful or coined marks arbitrary, suggestive, descriptive, and generic, with fanciful being the strongest and generic the weakest.
Fanciful trademarks are made-up words or very unique. They represent nothing that already exists, for example, Pepsi. While the idea behind a fanciful trademark is great, it can be difficult to expand since people might have a hard time saying or remembering them.
Arbitrary trademarks usually have a strong or easy-to-remember but common meaning that is independent of the product they are used for, like Apple for computers.
Suggestive trademark refers to a trademark that suggests something about the product, but not literally. For example, Jaguar doesn’t suggest cats literally but cars that are very fast.
Descriptive trademarks, on the other hand, refer to trademarks that directly describe the product and/or its ingredients. For example, IBM, which stands for International Business Machines – they sell business machines internationally.
Lastly, generic trademarks refer to words that describe an entire category of products or services and may not always be used as trademarks anymore, just like cellophane that was once a trademark but is now used as a generic term for plastic wrap.
Choose a trademark with an easily recognizable pattern
A trademark that has an easily recognizable pattern, or a strong graphic element, is perfect for your brand identity. You can consult a branding company on choosing the right trademark. They’re going to incorporate some of your preferences and values into a catchy and unique trademark that will most likely be remembered by the public. They can also give you a more creative perspective on the process. One of the most important things is to do your research on what kind of trademarks are available and what kind suits you the best. Some of the most common patterns are letters that are easy to remember, words that rhyme or resemble each other, or an acronym that can be used with different meanings, like NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration).
Find a trademark with some meaning
You can start by brainstorming on related words or phrases that are relevant to your product. Then, choose one word from the list and think of some meanings associated with it. That way, you can have a proper catchphrase that will have little trouble being registered. This is especially helpful if you want your trademark to easily connect with the public so it’s more memorable and relatable. Also, it will always remind you of something that is meaningful to you, and that adds more value to your brand identity. That can be anything, just start with brainstorming, and it will come to you naturally.
Check for trademark availability
But, before you start with creativity and inspiration, it is crucial that you check for the availability of your trademark. You can’t really enjoy the benefits of your trademark if it is not available for use – another party may have already registered it. So, before you even begin choosing a perfect trademark for your brand, make sure to do some research on what trademarks are already available or registered. It’s not a bad idea to make a list of all possible trademarks you can think of in different categories and to check their availability. Trademark laws will vary depending on where you live or intend to use your brand, so consulting a branding company will provide you some useful insights on what is available and appropriate for your product or service.
Commonly used words, phrases, symbols, or designs
Another thing you should check is if your trademark comprises commonly used words, phrases, symbols, or designs. A trademark can become generic when it becomes widely associated with a specific product category instead of a specific brand. For example, Aspirin got this way because people started using the term as a reference to painkillers in general – they didn’t even know it was a brand name. That is why you should try to be as unique as possible. Your trademark should not contain common elements such as phrases or symbols. Even though there are no strict rules regarding what you can or cannot use for a trademark, it is generally inadvisable to include only distinctive words and phrases in your trademarks. Such trademarks may be deemed generic or descriptive of the goods or services. Your trademark should show your product’s qualities, uniqueness, and values clearly so that people can remember it easily.
Trademark selection is a process that needs to be taken seriously. It’s not just about creating something that looks good or sounds catchy – it should also reflect the values and qualities of the product you’re trying to sell. That way, people will remember you as an authority in the industry who can’t be ignored. So, before you start brainstorming for creative ideas on what would make a perfect trademark for your business, do some research first so that you don’t waste time with trademarks already registered by someone else. And always keep this advice from professional branding companies in mind: choose a trademark that is unique, meaningful, and easy to memorize. Your trademark should stand out and show people why your business is different from the rest!
