How To Protect Your Business And Brand For The Future

For many businesses nowadays, the shelf-life is one that can be fairly limited if the concept or idea has been done prior. It can be hard to build a brand and to build a business that lasts a few years, let alone outlast your lifetime.

Protecting your business and brand are two ways in which you can help solidify a future for the company. Of course, it takes a look of hard graft, passion, time, and luck but with these tips, you’ll be able to give your business the best chance of success for the future.

Trademark your name

First things first, make sure your company name has been protected. When starting a business, there are a number of things that need to be checked off the list of basics to cover. One of which, is trademarking your name.

This is an important step because, without it, you’re likely to find yourself in a spot of bother if someone ends up claiming your name before you do. That can be a hard pill to swallow and a tough path to navigate when you’ve made some success in the business already and someone has swooped in to take the glory.

Trademarking your name is easy and it’s something you should be proactive about. To trademark your name, ensure you’ve read up on what’s required and how to do it as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Solidify commitment to your customer base

In order to keep your business locked in for the future, it’s important to look at how your customer base is growing. Have you got a core base of loyal customers that you know your company can rely on to sustain them for the entirety of your own life? If you’re looking for your business to outlive you, then it’s important you’re setting it up to continue without you.

Solidifying the commitment of your customer base is one that will take some time. It’s something that doesn’t happen overnight and requires loyalty to be earned, not necessarily bought.

Think about ways in which you can attract customers to your business and encourage them to come back again and again. It’s these customers that will sustain you, even in the toughest of times.

Build brand recognition

Branding is an essential part of building a business and it’s something you want to work actively on at all times. When it comes to customers and potential customers encountering your business for the first time, you want the company to be immediately recognizable.

At the same time, if this is their first encounter, then it needs to be a memorable one that will stick in their minds going forward. It takes anywhere between 5-7 interactions with a brand before it’s something a customer remembers permanently. Those brands are typically household names within the industry so it’s important to follow suit where possible.

Keep your information secure

Data is a kingpin in the world of business and is something you want to harbor as much of as possible. It’s useful for getting to know your current customers, the target audience you’re after, and for making important business decisions.

Therefore, it’s important that you keep the information as secure as possible. That requires a good system in place - and a secure one at that.

Fortunately, there are plenty of reputable and knowledgeable companies, all of which are helping businesses to baton down the hatches when it comes to data storage and the security of this storage. After all, you don’t want to find yourself in a situation where you’ve had a breach in your data and it’s resulted in data being stolen or sold on.

For the sake of your customer’s loyalty and trust, keep your information secure by following the current and popular means to do so.

Work towards a strong and trustworthy workforce

It’s often forgotten, especially in bigger companies, but your workforce are an essential part of running the business. If you’re not working towards building a strong and trustworthy workforce, then you might be missing the mark when it comes to protecting your future business.

Allowing great talent to walk out of your doors for greener pastures is not something to encourage and if anything, you want to hold onto those individuals who are making a real difference or showing promise for the company.

Therefore, ensure you offer the right promotions or opportunities for growth to the right staff members. Let go of toxic staff and those who are only going to keep the business behind in the past or worse - stagnant.

Risk assessment business decisions at all times

Risk assessments are great when it comes to strengthening the business and it’s success. When you’re looking to protect your business and brand, the business decisions you make, certainly influence that.

Therefore, it’s important to conduct risk assessments for any business decisions that come your way, now or in the future. Setting up certain protocols to screen any risks is important because risks can go one of two ways.

Look at what areas of your business might benefit from regular risk assessments and when it comes to taking risks, proceed with caution where required. Not everything will be, in reality, as sure of a success as you would believe it to be.

Train staff to be internet-savvy

Finally, make sure that your staff are well trained when it comes to the internet and all things digital. A lot has changed within the landscape of business and much of that has been influenced by technology and the digital world.

With that being said, it’s important to make sure your staff are trained in how to navigate the internet safely. That way, they won’t be putting the company at risk, should they encounter those online who might want to cause the business harm in some way.

Protecting your business and brand for the future is important to be proactive about. Hopefully, with these tips, you’ll be able to do right by your business so that it continues to thrive with and without you.

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Embracing Sustainability: How To Shift Your Business Efforts For A Greener Future

By Julie Starr • 26 Apr, 2024

Imagine walking into a world where every business breathes sustainability. Great, right? That’s where we’re all headed, and today, we’re looking into how your business can join this green revolution. It’s not just about planting trees or cutting back on plastic; it’s about a total game-change in how we think about business. Reimagining Your Supply Chain Alright, let’s talk about your supply chain. It’s the backbone of your company, and it might be time to give it a little eco-friendly makeover. Instead of just churning products through a one-way street from creation to landfill, think about making it a circular journey. How? By designing products that can be recycled or reused at the end of their life. This little twist not only reduces waste but could also save you some money and spark some serious innovation. Investing In Sustainable Technologies Now, onto tech. Investing in the latest tech can seem like a luxury, but when it comes to sustainability, it’s more of a necessity. Technologies like AI can make your operations super efficient, slashing energy costs and reducing waste before it even happens. And then there’s blockchain. It’s not just for crypto enthusiasts; it can help you keep your supply chain transparent, letting everyone check if you’re keeping your green promises. Empowering Employees And Building A Culture Of Sustainability But technology and plans are only part of the picture. The real magic happens when your team gets in on the action. Start with some fun workshops or team challenges—anything that gets everyone thinking about sustainability. Maybe set up a green squad within the company who can lead the charge and come up with fresh ideas. Remember, if your team is excited about a project, they’ll put their hearts into making it work. Customizing Your Sustainable Transformation Tailoring your sustainability efforts can be tricky, but it’s a lot smoother with some expert guidance, like ZBrains’ Zoho Consulting services. They’re great at tweaking Zoho’s tools to fit just right with what your business needs. Need to track your energy usage or cut down on waste? They’ve got an app for that. Automation? Yep, they can make those repetitive tasks disappear, too, all while keeping Mother Earth happy. Building Partnerships For Sustainable Innovation Going solo can be tough. Why not buddy up? Collaborating with other companies or non-profits can lead to some groundbreaking eco-friendly innovations. It’s all about sharing what you know, pooling resources, and sometimes, pushing for changes that make it easier for businesses to be green. Plus, working together means you can share the spotlight when your cool new sustainable project hits the headlines! Going Beyond Compliance Lastly, don’t just play by the rules—aim higher. There’s a whole world of eco-certifications out there that can push your business to do better. Whether it’s getting a LEED certification or joining the ranks of B Corps, going the extra mile not only helps the planet but also polishes your brand’s reputation. Think about it: customers love companies that care, so why not be the one they love? Conclusion Switching up your business to be more sustainable might seem like a big leap, but it’s all about taking one step at a time. Whether it’s rethinking your supply chain or empowering your team to lead the charge, every little action counts. Ready to start? Let’s make your business not just better, but greener and more resilient for the future.

How To Identify Companies That Match Your Values

By Julie Starr • 22 Apr, 2024

As you try to develop a sustainable brand , you need to consider what other companies you work with. These could be collaboration opportunities or suppliers and vendors that help you develop the product or service you want to sell. But, many companies may not share your values, so how can you identify the right companies that meet your eco-friendly attitude? Make Use Of Marketing Platforms It's frustrating to reach out to multiple companies to identify collaboration opportunities. For one, there’s no guarantee you even get a response, and cold emailing or other measures are rarely successful. However, you can use marketing platforms and their many features and resources to companies or influencers that align more closely with what you feel is right. Various platforms offer unique options that enable you to whittle down possible companies until you find the perfect match, saving you plenty of time. Research Their Website However, you can’t just leap into any partnership since these platforms may have outdated information, or companies could have selected everything they think will get them a partnership. As with any approach, extra research is essential. Once you’ve identified a company that seems to match your values, it’s with checking out their website. Look at their blog and customer reviews to get an idea of where their ideals lie so you can get a more transparent picture. Meet With Companies Businesses can also meet directly with potential companies when they have established the possibility of a partnership. Whether you’re looking for a better green transport service or need central laboratory services , having face-to-face conversations is a must. You can open discussions via video calls before arranging an in-person meeting which gives you the chance to visit their location, such as an office or warehouse, to ensure that you aren’t stepping into something you may regret. Look For Accreditation and Certification Modern businesses require certification and accreditation to back up claims they are the most sustainable or to prove they have adhered to necessary compliance laws and regulations. Usually, you can find this on their website but there could also be PR pieces on various industry news sites that can prove the company has obtained the necessary certificates. Identifying these certificates will add confidence they are the right company to work with. Offer Value To Them While you hope the potential partnership brings value to your company, you also need to provide value to them. This point is key for strategic collaboration as it otherwise means you take without offering anything in return. Consider what your business can do, such as increase their awareness or help them develop new research projects. In doing so, you will have a mutually beneficial partnership that helps both companies achieve the goals they have outlined for the year. Values and Value Every partnership or collaboration should bring value. This value should apply to your business and any partnerships but also your customers. If you can identify companies that align with your brand values, you’ll have an easier time developing a positive relationship that ensures you stay on track to meet your goals.