Dan Holmander is the intellectual property attorney that I turn to when clients have questions relating to trademarks, copyrights and patents. Recently, Dan shared his top five benefits of registering and enforcing your trademark in the online environment. With his permission, I’m sharing them with you.

1. Domain Name…Exclude competitors from improperly using your trademark in domain name.
2. Key Word Ad…Exclude competitors from improperly using your trademark in text of keyword ad.
3. Social Media Website…Exclude competitors from improperly using your trademark in social media website (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn).
4. Online Auctions…Exclude competitors from improperly using your trademark in online auctions (i.e. Ebay).
5. Website…Exclude competitors from improperly using trademark in content of your website.

Dan’s firm, Barlow, Josephs & Holmes, Ltd. is one of the oldest intellectual property law firms in the United States. The firm was founded in 1857.

If you have questions about protecting your intellectual property, do as I do, email Dan Holmander at djh@baros.com or call him at 410-273-4446 for expert legal advice.

If you’d allow me to, I’d like to whine.

As one who presents dozens of seminars, I’ve notice a disturbing trend. A large number of attendees arrive late for a seminar…or won’t show up at all. Let me give you some examples.

If I begin a program at the scheduled time of 6:30 p.m., approximately half of the attendees will have arrived. Fifteen or twenty minutes later, twice as many people will have arrived.

If fifty small business owners register for a seminar, approximately half will be no shows if they were not pre-paid. Of the pre-paid registrations, a few of those will fail to show and request their money back in the next day or two. Their request is always granted.

Now I know what you’re thinking. There are numerous potential solutions to solve this problem. I’ve discussed this with fellow presenters who are all experiencing the same problem. Our discussions have resulted in many suggestions. To date, nothing has worked to solve the problem.

The purpose of this blog posting is not simply to whine. It’s to share something I learned long ago that bears on this subject. I don’t know the source of this information, but the author said that there are four behaviors that make others want to refer us to their friends and colleagues:

• Show up on time
• Do what you say you’re going to do
• Finish what you start
• Say please and thank you

I’ve carried these four simple thoughts in my head for years. I’m shocked by the many business owners who fail to practice these simple and respectful steps that will bring them more referrals while enhancing their personal brand.

Just like in my classes, I have a homework assignment for you. Jot down these four behaviors and carry them with you. Note how often these rules are broken by those you’re doing business with…and, note how it makes you feel. Finally, make sure these four steps are part of your everyday life and then watch your referrals grow.