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How to Build an Unforgettable eCommerce Brand That Stands Out In the Crowd

brand

How to Build an Unforgettable eCommerce Brand That Stands Out In the Crowd

There has never been a more difficult moment to compete in the eCommerce sector. Products may go viral overnight, new brands can infiltrate and take on competitive industries, and the change in allegiances between corporations is a minor problem for buyers.

Online purchasing has simplified the lives of many people. Not only can you get items delivered to your house, but you also have access to a vast array of products. We are no longer restricted to the product variety accessible in our neighborhood stores. As fantastic as it is to have all of these alternatives, it complicates the process of owning an eCommerce shop. Every day, the market becomes more saturated.

Therefore, how can you attract attention to your eCommerce store and make it stand out from the competition?

What is an eCommerce brand?

Your eCommerce brand is more than simply a logo, brand name, and clever tagline; it is also how people perceive and speak about your business and its personality. It is the impression made on individuals by an eCommerce company they have dealt with, directly or indirectly. It is a business’s distinct, one-of-a-kind personality, the first thing that springs to mind when consumers hear your business’s name.

Here are some suggestions.

Complete customer understanding

The first and most critical step toward making your clients fall in love with your brand is understanding and appreciating its origins. That implies you must also understand precisely to whom you are marketing your products.

When determining your audience, exercise extreme caution. A diverse population utilizes many products. However, the majority of them may be narrowed down to a “Primary” or “Secondary” audience, and so on.

While a game can appeal to players of all ages, the brand must determine and focus on its primary demographic. You must make your brand appealing to folks who are most interested in a product like yours.

Use social media and video content to get them through visuals. First, you must determine which closely defined client profile or persona spends the most and purchases the most in the product area you compete with. A broad approach will not communicate to anyone in the audience that it is for them.

Provide leading-edge products – conduct research and sell a superior product!

There is no surer approach to attract customers than to provide the best or most intriguing goods. Conduct research to ensure that your product is distinct from others existing on the market. What are the most popular interests similar to yours? Why are they superior?

Consider positioning your product as an upgrade to theirs; incorporate newer technology or stay current on industry trends. Being on the cutting edge entails being one step ahead of the competition. Therefore, make sure to conduct industry studies, identify trends, and develop an innovative product to differentiate yourself.

Strong  personality

Memorable brands always have a personality. You consider them and identify the elements and attributes that make them stand out in customers’ thoughts. From Apple’s sleek, fashionable, and creative design to Coca-Cola’s cheerful personality to Mercedes’ elegant, expensive, and wealthy image, all of these factors contribute significantly to businesses standing out and being remembered by consumers.

Attributing personality features to your brand may occur organically due to how clients perceive your brand, but you may also carve out the traits you desire. Through the design of your website, the graphics and material on it, and your advertising, you can establish a personality that will entice clients and help you stand out.

Customers will recognize you based on your characteristics. Online brand development is a continual process that educates clients about what you have to offer, what you stand for, and how you can help them improve their lives. Customers are satisfied not just with your goods but also with you because brand identity fosters favorable emotions. And that includes product packaging; YES According to studies, most buyers are drawn to the cute packaging, which is much better if custom-produced. Numerous organizations, such as RXD,  now offer an infinite number of services for custom brand packaging.

Provide an unforgettable customer service experience

In today’s marketing landscape, experience is undoubtedly the most crucial differentiating feature. Customers from all around are searching for a firm that can deliver a fantastic easy experience – not the lowest pricing or the most creative items.

There are numerous ways to provide an excellent experience on your eCommerce store, from optimizing the checkout process to developing a great website. While the website you construct has an essential impact on how your clients feel about your company, don’t ignore the importance of creating a dedicated, efficient service team.

Conclusion

Developing a long-term eCommerce brand is a skill that will pay off well in the future. This is critical for every eCommerce firm that wishes to differentiate itself from the pack and separate the best from the rest. By maintaining consistent brand identity across all aspects of your business, from your domain name and social media presence to influencers and customer service, your business may develop into a long-lasting brand that many will remember for years to come.

trademark

5 Ways to Protect Your Trademark Internationally

Every business has its trademark or unique symbol. If you are operating within the United States, you certainly have a US trademark to secure your business from any trouble. It exclusively belongs to you. A trademark distinguishes different products; it builds goodwill, which continues even after your death.

But what if you want to expand internationally? How will you protect the trademark if you plan to sell your goods in Asian or European countries? In such cases, you have to opt for international protection. This article will guide you thoroughly regarding the ways to protect your trademark internationally.

1. Selecting a Strong Symbol Is the Key

What is the very first thing that the customer sees when buying a product? Of course, the trademark! Thus, it should be both strong and unique to avoid infringement.

-Take your time to choose it. According to the USPTO or the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the trademark should give just a hint to your service; it should not be explanatory or generic. For example, you cannot understand their business from names like Nike or Starbucks, can you?

-How do international countries translate your trademarks? Whether they will do it phonetically or accurately? Keeping these pointers in mind is crucial if you have plans to have international customers too.

-You might have heard about Gerber, the repute baby food maker. But do you know that Gerber is used as slang in France? Thus, before fixing the trademark, check out whether it means something insulting in the international countries.

2. Going to USPTO for Registering the Trademark

To protect the trademark internationally, you first need to register it overseas, and registering it with the USPTO is vital. US registration is quite hassle-free, and after it is done, you can register the same trademark in any other country within 180 days from the date of US registration.

Next comes the extensive searching for the trademark to ensure that it does not have any similarity with any other brands in the world. You can opt for a DIY search to cut down the cost, but to be sure, give this responsibility to the trademark attorney for a better trademark office action. It is wise to avoid confusion or infringement by spending some extra bucks.

Which international classes should your trademark application contain? Which filing methods international countries follow? The trademark attorney will guide you in these aspects too. So, before registering the trademark, do not forget to have a thorough discussion with your attorney.

3. Finding out the International Markets Requiring Trademark Protection

Opting for international trademark protection might feel daunting in the beginning. Thus, if you have collaboration with any international distributor, first register your trademark there. Do you carry out your business online? If yes, then locate the place where the majority of your customers belong?

Also, determine your target market and the future of your business there. After that only, apply for trademark registration there. For instance,If you sell winter gears for adults, you should first register it in Canada instead of the Caribbean.

Using a defensive trademark protection strategy is sometimes very effective by which you need to file your registration in India or China, the first-to-file countries. So, first, prepare a list of the countries where you are planning to expand your business with the help of your trademark attorney. Next, it gets an idea about the cost of trademark protection in those countries. Now go for the ones that do not need you to burn a hole in the pocket.

4. Registering the Trademark Internationally

If you have already registered with the USPTO, do not waste time; apply for international registration immediately. It will give you an edge over others, especially the bad faith registrants. You can have some options for international registration.

-You have to abide by the Madrid protocol having 122 countries as its members. Following this treaty, you can send a single application to any of these countries in your mother tongue. This way, the filing method becomes easier. However, it has no guarantee of approval as it totally depends on each country.

-To apply in a particular country, you might need the help of the list of international trademark offices provided by WIPO or World Intellectual Property Organization. Though this process is time-consuming, the chance of approval is more as you can give accurate information as needed by the specific country.

-Are you planning to secure your trademark in those particular countries? Then this process is the best for you as the Madrid Protocol is an extensive process and often does not include the particular details.

-Opting for registering transliterations or registering the name in their language is very effective in this respect. Use the WIPO fee calculator to get an idea about the registering costs.

5. Your Trademark Is Ready? Now Keep an Eye on Its Use

Regulating and monitoring your trademark on a regular interval is imperative, and you should do it both in your own country and in international countries. After successful registration, the ® symbol should be used without fail. Whether you are showing your trademark on your products, or the banners or on your website, that symbol should be omnipresent. This way, everyone will know that your trademark is legal and secure, and you don’t have to face any dispute.

But to be on the safe side, always monitor both offline and online selling your products, and have a thorough idea about the trademark protection rights of international countries. International trademark protection is the need of the hour for every flourishing business as forging trademarks is now all over the world. So, despite following all the legal procedures, you need to be on your toes all the time.

Final Thoughts

In a nutshell, follow the five ways stated above, hire a reputed trademark attorney, know all the ins and outs of trademark registration and be alert and attentive. Then no one can stop your business from reaching the sky!

What Is Your Definition Of Success? 5 Tips To Find It.

While building and maintaining a thriving business may not be easy, experts in entrepreneurial endeavors say that building a personal brand first is key. In fact, some studies show that today’s consumers trust big brands less and prefer buying from a person they view as authentic and relatable. But before building a personal brand, it’s important for an entrepreneur to define what constitutes their own brand of success, says Ngan Nguyen (www.nganhnguyen.com), an intuitive strategist and author of Self-Defined Success: You Have Everything It Takes.

“Fulfillment and extraordinary results only come when you strive to achieve your authentic success,” Nguyen says. “The key is figuring out what that is and navigating that path. The good news is that we each already have everything it takes to navigate that path. It is essential, because we each have unique gifts, passions, and talents that can create amazing impact in the world and differentiate ourselves and our businesses.”

Nguyen offers five ways to define your own brand of success that can lead to running a successful business:

Get unstuck by unleashing your inner self. “We feel stuck when there is a lack of clarity and the path in front of us is not aligned with our authenticity,” Nguyen says. “Stagnancy and negative happenings force us to look inside ourselves at who we really are and what we really want. Detail those things, and now you’ll have the blueprint to create change and growth. Getting clear on this enables us to lead ourselves and our business to forge ahead on a new path.”

Act on your new authenticity. “Our full potential comes out when we are fully committed to creating a result that fully expresses who we are and what we love,” Nguyen says. “Without that clarity and without acting upon our newly discovered authentic selves, there will always be a bit of reservation. And with that reservation comes lackluster results that are not a reflection of our true potential.”

Keep the vision in mind. Nguyen says much of our untapped potential lies in unused intelligence. “Leaders who leverage their vision can effectively navigate a path to success in a competitive marketplace,” Nguyen says. “Any vision that we can imagine, this infinite intelligence knows how to bring about. The question is how we go about influencing our subconscious in the right way so that it serves us. We do this by holding and keeping an image of a life we desire, and feeding it through repetition long enough that our mind goes to work to aid us in creating it.”

Make your passion your fuel. “The power to create extraordinary results requires this critical ingredient,” Nguyen says. “Passion is contagious, ignites the heart, and motivates the team. It energizes and sparks the pull forward through all barriers, uncertainty, and challenges.”

Have the will to make decisions that move toward your dream. Nguyen says the difference between those who make their dreams happen and those who don’t isn’t always a matter of intelligence but often is a matter of consistent will in decision-making.

“You must have the intention to keep moving forward,” Nguyen says. “There is an energy shift that is experienced in the decision-making process, where a desire goes from wanting to being because you’ve concluded that the dream must come true no matter what.”

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Ngan Nguyen (www.nganhnguyen.com) is the author of Self-Defined Success: You Have Everything It Takes, and the founder/CEO of Cintamani Group, an executive coaching and consulting firm. Nguyen coaches on leadership and empowers entrepreneurs as an intuitive strategist. With over a decade of business strategy experience as an advisor to Fortune 100 companies, Nguyen is also a certified master-level intelligent leadership executive coach with John Mattone and was an analyst for McKinsey & Company. Nguyen graduated with a double honors degree in biochemistry-biophysics and bioengineering from Oregon State University and completed a research fellowship at MIT in nanotechnology.

generation

What Buying Habits Tell Marketers About Each Generation

Each generation has unique experiences, lifestyles, and demographics that influence their buying behaviors, financial experts say. And studies show these distinguishing factors often lead to different spending habits between generations.
As a result, many companies are reaching out to consumers and trying to understand — and gain the attention of — these diverse buyers, says Gui Costin (www.guicostin.com), an entrepreneur, consultant and author of Millennials Are Not Aliens.
“This type of multi-generational marketing is the practice of appealing to the unique needs and behaviors of individuals within different generational groups,” says Costin. “In terms of finding and retaining buyers, companies cannot underestimate those generational differences.”
Costin discusses how the buying habits of different generations are influenced by environmental factors and how businesses must focus their marketing efforts accordingly:
Millennials. Now comprising the highest percentage of the workforce, this generation (born roughly from 1981 to 1995) receives considerable marketing attention. Many millennials grew up immersed in the digital world — a big difference from previous generations — and they think globally. “Attract this group early and earn its loyalty by appealing to their belief that they can make the future better,” Costin says. “Traditional mass marketing approaches do not work well with younger consumers. Be sure they know that your organization’s mission speaks to a purpose greater than the bottom line, e.g., globalization and climate change. Give them systematic feedback because they value positive reinforcement at accelerated rates and want more input.” 
Generation X. Following the baby boomers and preceding the millennials, their tastes are different from previous generations. “Because they have greater financial restraints, they often shop at value-oriented retailers,” Costin says. “On the other hand, they have a reputation of being incredibly disloyal to brands and companies. Generation Xers like initiatives that will make things more useful and practical. They demand trust to the extent that if your organization does not follow through once, then you are likely to lose them.”
Baby Boomers. This demographic group, with many now in retirement or nearing it, includes those born from 1946 to 1964. Health is a major concern, and change is not something they embrace. “They appreciate options and want quick fixes that require little change and instant improvement,” Costin says. “They do not like bureaucracy — but give them a cause to fight for and they will give their all. Focus on building value and they will be less price-sensitive. While this group may be aging, they’re focused on breaking the mold of what 60 and beyond looks like.” 
The Silent Generation. Born between 1925 and 1945, this group represents the oldest Americans and, Costin says, typically is labeled with traditional values such as discipline, self-denial, hard work, conformity, and financial conservatism. “It’s important to earn their trust,” says Costin, “as they believe that a person’s word is his or her bond. Patriotism, team-building, and sacrifice for the common good are appealing to this generation. As a group, they aren’t particularly interested in the information age; however, the younger members of this generation are one of the fastest-growing groups of internet users.”
“Communicating with customers in different generations can be challenging,” Costin says. “However, all generations appreciate honesty and authenticity. As environmental factors change, transparency and genuine interactions remain important to everyone.”

Gui Costin (www.guicostin.com), author of the No. 1 Bestseller Millennials Are Not Aliens, is an entrepreneur, and founder of Dakota, a company that sells and markets institutional investment strategies. Dakota is also the creator of two software products: Draft, a database that contains a highly curated group of qualified institutional investors; and Stage, a content platform built for institutional due diligence analysts where they can learn an in-depth amount about a variety of investment strategies without having to initially talk to someone. Dakota’s mission is to level the playing field for boutique investment managers so they can compete with bigger, more well-resourced investment firms.

Global Licensed Merchandise Sales Increase

New York, NY – Retail sales of licensed merchandise worldwide increased 1.7 percent in 2013, rising to $155.8 billion from $153.2 billion in 2013, according to The Licensing Letter.

The US and Canada, the largest territory by far, with a 62.5 percent share of the global market for licensed goods, drove much of the growth, rising 2.2 percent to $97.5 billion.

However, many smaller licensing markets grew at a faster pace with China up 9.2 percent, India up 8.3 percent, Russia up 6.1 percent, and Brazil up 3.9 percent.

Sales of licensed consumer products in Western Europe declined 0.9 percent, with ‘Benelux’ and France seeing their rates of decline worsen compared to 2012.

Western Europe is the second largest territory for licensed merchandise, with retail sales of $31.3 billion in 2013.

“Japan was essentially flat — up 0.2 percent to $10.1 billion, but that represents an important turnaround as licensing there was 31.5 percent greater in 2008 than in 2013, with 2013 the first year in that period to see an increase,” the publication said.

06/21/2014