Can we talk about something that happened in my DMs recently? ✨

One of my incredible clients was SO excited to tell me about trademarking her business name. That's an amazing first step - but when I mentioned her signature course name, she froze.

"Wait... I can trademark that too?"

Y'all, this happens ALL the time! Let me share something super important about protecting your brand assets. Because while your business name is essential, it's just the start!

Trademarks give you exclusive use to a particular business asset like your business name; no one but you can use the elements you’ve trademarked. Getting a trademark is like building a fence around your brand that:

• Keeps others from forcing you to change your brand or business names

• Protects the brand you've worked so hard to build

• Gives you exclusive rights to profit from your hard work so your competitors can’t come in and use your product and business names

• Creates assets you might want to license later

So here are the 7 business assets you should consider trademarking: 

7 Business Assets You Should Consider Trademarking 🎯

1. Trademark Your Business Name 💎

This is your foundation! Your business name is often the first thing people connect with your brand. Locking down this trademark federally helps prevent conflicts and gives you nationwide protection. Plus, it makes expanding so much easier!

2. Trademark Your Digital Store Name 🏪

Quick question: Is your shop name different from your business name? That's a separate brand asset! And trust me - as your store grows, you'll want that name locked down and protected.

3. Trademark Your Signature Products 💫

You know those amazing products you're known for? The ones everyone immediately associates with your brand? Protect those names before your competitors use the same names. I've seen too many entrepreneurs have to rebrand because they didn't or watch competitors copy the names since it's a successful product.

4. Trademark Your Digital Courses 📚

Real talk: Your courses are intellectual property gold. Those perfect course names you brainstormed? They're worth protecting, especially when your courses start gaining traction! There’s nothing worse than having a popular course and then getting a cease and desist letter telling you you have to rebrand or learning that someone has copied your successful course name (yes, it happens all the time!). 

5. Trademark Your Podcast 🎙️

Think about it - your podcast name is its own brand. As your audience grows, that name becomes more and more valuable. Don't wait until someone else tries to use your podcast name!

6. Trademark Your Frameworks + Systems 🧠

Have a signature framework that gets results for your clients, like the Bikini Body Guide by Kayla Itsines? A unique methodology you've developed? This is prime trademark territory! Your intellectual property deserves protection.

7. Trademark Your Visual + Audio Elements 🎵

Visual and audio elements are HUGE brand assets that often get overlooked!

Visual Elements 🎨

• Your logo (both the full version and any simplified versions you use)

• Unique design elements 

Audio Elements 🔊

• Your podcast intro/outro music

• Custom jingles, music, or sound signatures (think NBC's three chimes!)

• Voice tags or catchphrases

These elements are often the FIRST way people recognize your brand! Think about how you instantly know a Nike swoosh or the McDonald's jingle. Your brand elements can be just as powerful in your market.

Plus, as you scale, these elements become more valuable. Imagine launching a new product line or expanding to new markets - having trademark protection for these elements means you can:

• License them to partners or franchisees

• Stop competitors from using similar elements

• Build strong brand recognition

• Create consistent experiences across all platforms

Pro Tip: Document exactly how these elements should be used in your brand style guide. This makes trademark registration easier AND helps maintain consistency across your brand! ✨

File Early, Save Later: The Trademark Timeline Truth 💫

Here's something I wish someone had told me when I first started practicing trademark law: protecting your assets early isn't just easier - it's strategic. If you don’t trademark your brand of business assets you leave room for your competitors to copy your 

Think of it like insurance for your brand. You wouldn't wait until after a car accident to get auto insurance, right? Same principle applies here! Prevention is always going to be less expensive (and less stressful!) than damage control.

Your Trademark Protection Game Plan 🎯

Feeling overwhelmed by this list? I get it—it looks like a lot! But here's the good news: you don't need to protect everything at once. The key is creating a strategic rollout plan based on what's most valuable to your business right now.

Let's break it down:

• Start with your business name

• Identify your most valuable assets

• Create a timeline that matches your business growth

• Protect assets strategically as your business scales

Remember: A solid trademark strategy grows with your business. It's not about protecting everything today - it's about protecting the right things at the right time.

Want to talk about what this could look like for your business? Let's connect!

Know someone who needs to hear this? Share it with them. Their future self will thank you! 

By the way this blog post is actually a form of attorney advertising. While I'm here to share some helpful info, please remember it's not personalized legal advice. For anything specific to your situation, schedule a free consult call here.  And, reading this blog post doesn't mean we've got an attorney-client relationship going. To team up officially, we'd need to sign a written agreement. Hope that's clear, and feel free to reach out with any questions!