 How do we use communication tools to communicate or stay in touch with our clients? In this morning’s networking breakfast the theme was how we are using phone, skype face to face and more to open and maintain communications with clients. A great subject, so I wanted to share my thoughts and get your feedback as well. First up this varies depending on what business you’re in, location and your business model. Over the counter and one-on-one appointments are still the foundation of many businesses, and catching up with clients and prospective clients (and peers as well) at networking events is a great way of expanding your reach in the local business area and finding reliable local suppliers. Apart from face to face meetings and networking events I receive most of my communications through:
Plus there’s
And lets not forget Google +, reply and the comments area to our Blogs and the comments or communications section on your YouTube channel if you have one. So there’s 19 different ways we can initiate or communicate with our clients and prospective clients. "If you’re only allowing one or two ways for customer’s to contact your business you’re definitely missing out on some business opportunities." Geoff Moller Here’s six tips for better communication with clients and prospective clients:
Thank you for listening. I’d love your feedback or opinion on today’s topic, if you have have a different opinion please share, I’d love to hear from you. Please feel welcome to join me on: Facebook - www.facebook.com/Geoff.Moller2 LinkedIn - http://au.linkedin.com/in/geoffmoller Twitter - www.twitter.com/GeoffMoller Skype ID: geoff.moller2
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 Company A starts and builds up a successful online e-commerce store selling 'Product X' but only registers a ‘.com’ name and doesn’t bother to apply for a trademark. Company B also in the same industry in Australia creates a product called Product A, which happens to be almost exactly the same name as Company A, in other words ‘Company A’ becomes the product name of their new range of products called ‘Product A’.
Company B then registers an Australian domain name (.com.au) for their new product range now called ‘Product A’ and then proceeds to sell their range of products or redirect people to their ‘Company B’ be website. Company A notices is that their sales have dropped off significantly to the point where they need to investigate what’s happening then discover Product A being sold by Company B and the fact that Company B has registered the various domain names for their new product line, Company A complains to auDA that the domain name is the same as their company name for Company A, auDA refuses to take action because the domain name is linked substantially to their new product range, or now well-established product range, company A sees a lawyer who tells them to take action against a Company B for passing themselves off as Company A promising Company A litigation is the best way to go and that they can get the offending website and product range shutdown. The problem is Company B did not pass themselves off as Company A but has a product called Product A, and therein lies the problem. If Company A had of taken the trouble to register a Trademark for their company name and products it would not be such a problem but now Company B is well established in the marketplace with their product range ‘Product A’. The story is still ongoing and it will be very expensive for both parties, I’m not involved but from what I’m seeing and although Company A has now applied for a trademark the horse has bolted, it may be too late to win the battle, but you never know. Whichever way it turns out it will be expensive. The moral of the story is if you have a brand, product or range of services that bring in your income and you want to protect it the best way to do that is to own a registered trademark around that brand, logo or business name. I’m a management consultant and primarily help people with their IP strategies and apply for Trademarks to protect their brands. Note: .au Domain Administration Ltd (auDA) is the policy authority and industry self-regulatory body for the .au domain space.
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Geoff Moller
Management Consulting, Business Strategist, Trademarks and IP. Archives
April 2015
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