DOTTIE WALTERS' SPEAK & GROW RICH
Monthly E-News

March 2006

Dottie Walters' Speak and Grow Rich - March 16, 2006
eNews for Professional Speakers, Authors, and Consultants
From the Publishers of Sharing Ideas Newsmagazine
===================================
In this issue...
------------------------------------------------------
1. Magnificent Marketing Symposium, An Achiever’s Dream Come True
    Dottie Walters, CSP
2. Speakers Protect Your Intellectual Property With Trademark
    Carol Desmond
3. Overheard in Speakers Bureau Hell
    Todd Hunt
4. Upcoming Events with Dottie Walters
5. More resources for Speakers, Authors, and Consultants
====================================
"Some men see things the way they are and ask, "Why?"
I dream things that never were, and ask "Why not?"
George Bernard Shaw
===================================
Magnificent Marketing Symposium
An Achiever’s Dream Come True!
by Dottie Walters, CSP
http://walters-intl.com

We are counting down to our 10th Annual Expand Your Brand: Magnificent Marketing Symposium for Professional Speakers, Authors, Experts and Consultants being held on June 22-26, 2006 at the Universal Sheraton in Hollywood, CA.

We plan this event with just one thing in mind...
Expand Your Brand is all about using every terrific marketing tool available—books, speaking, web sites, interviews, articles, the best look, the right words, and more—to make you and your business a household name in your market.

It’s as simple as pulling up a chair and introducing yourself!

This may sound too good to be true, but this is the way we’ve always done it, for ten consecutive years now. It’s a proven formula that gives you what you need and want most. We wouldn’t change it for the world. We keep the Symposium small for this very reason. (We started with 75 seats available and they're going fast!)

Only at the Magnificent Marketing Symposium do you leave the big crowds behind and go one-on-one with today’s biggest names in publishing, speaking, and publicity. It can take a long time to make all this happen on your own. We’re all here to help you. Hope you can make it!

Sign up today and start using your F-R-E-E gifts as soon as you register. $3,684 worth of products and consulting from our faculty of experts! These are not just downloads and e-products. You get live, phone or face-to-face time with these industry leaders.

No other event provides this level of support!
Register Online:
More Information:
====================================
Speakers Protect Your Intellectual Property With Trademarks
by Carol Desmond
http://trademarkstogoinc.com

What is a trademark?
A trademark is a sign capable of distinguishing the goods or services produced or provided by one enterprise from those of other enterprises. Any distinctive words, letters, numerals, drawings, pictures, shapes, colors logotypes, labels or combinations used to distinguish goods or services may be considered a trademark. In some countries, advertising slogans are also considered trademarks and may be registered as such at national trademark offices. An increasing number of countries also allow for the registration of less traditional forms of trademarks such as single colors, three-dimensional designs [shapes of products or packaging], audible signs [sounds] or of factory signs [smells]. However, may countries have set limits on what can be registered as a trademark, generally only allowing for signs that are visually perceptible or can be represented graphically.

Examples:

1. Trademarks: MICROSOFT; FROOT LOOPS; FORD
2. Service marks: BLOCKBUSTER; MC DONALDS; KINKOS
3. Logotypes: CBS EYE IN A CIRCLE; APPLE COMPUTER’S
    APPLE; NIKE, SWOOSH
4. Color Marks: KODAK YELLOW PACKAGING; HOWARD
    JOHNSON ORANGE ROOF; OWENS-CORNING PINK
    FIBERGLASS INSULATION
5. Trade Dress: COCA COLA BOTTLE SHAPE; BANANA
    REPUBLIC DECORATING MOTIF; PILLSBURY DOUGHBOY
6. Slogans: MICROSOFT’S "WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GO
    TODAY?", IBM’S "SOLUTIONS FOR A SMALL PLANET",
     CLAIROL’S "HAIR COLOR SO NATURAL ONLY HER
     HAIRDRESSER KNOWS FOR SURE".
7. Sounds: MGM’S LION ROAR; HARLEY DAVIDSON’S
    MOTORCYCLE EXHAUST SOUND; NBC’S CHIMES.
8. Collective Marks: ILGWU (INTERNATIONAL LADIES’
    GARMENT WORKERS’ UNION; GIRLS SCOUTS OF
    AMERICA; AAA (AMERICAN AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION).
9. Certification Marks: GOOD HOUSEKEEPING SEAL OF
    APPROVAL; HARRIS TWEEDS; ROQUEFORT CHEESE.

What are trademarks used for?
The main function of a trademark is to enable consumers to identify a product [whether a good or a service] of a particular company so as to distinguish it from other identical or similar products provided by competitors. Consumers who are satisfied with a given product are likely to buy or use the product again in the future. For this, they need to be able to distinguish easily between identical or similar products.

By enabling companies to differentiate themselves and their products from those of the competition, trademarks play a powerful role in the branding and marketing strategies of companies, contributing to the definition of the image and reputation of the company’s products in the eyes of consumers. The image and reputation of a company create trust, which is the basis for establishing a loyal clientele and enhancing a company’s goodwill. Consumers often develop an emotional attachment to certain trademarks based on a set of desired qualities or features embodied in the products bearing such marks.

Trademarks also provide an incentive for companies to invest in maintaining or improving the quality of their products in order to ensure that products bearing their trademark have a positive reputation.

The Value of Trademarks
A carefully selected and nurtured trademark is a valuable business asset for most companies. For some, it may be the most valuable asset they own. Estimates of the value of some of the world’s most famous trademarks such as Coca-Cola or IBM exceed $70 billion each. This is because consumers value trademarks, their reputation, their image and a set of desired qualities they associate with the mark, and are willing to pay more for a product bearing a trademark that they recognize and which meets their expectations. Therefore, the very ownership of a trademark with a good image and reputation provides a company with a competitive edge.

Why should your company protect the trademarks and service marks? While most businesses realize the importance of using trademarks to differentiate their products/services from those of their competitors, not all realize the importance of protecting them through registration.

Registration, under the relevant U.S. trademark law, gives your company the exclusive right to prevent others from marketing identical or similar products/services under the same or a confusingly similar mark.

Without trademark registration, your investments in marketing a product may become wasteful as rival companies may use the same or a confusingly similar trademark for identical or similar products/services. If a competitor adopts a similar or identical trademark, customers could be misled into buying the competitor’s product/service thinking it is your company’s product/service. This could not only decrease your company’s profits and confuse your customers, but may also damage the reputation and image of your company, particularly if the rival product/service is of inferior quality.

Given the value of trademarks and the importance that a trademark may have in determining the success of a business in the marketplace, it is critical to make sure that it is registered in the relevant markets.

In addition, a registered trademark may be licensed to other companies, thus providing an additional source of revenue for your company, or may be the basis for a franchising agreement.

On occasion, a registered trademark with a good reputation among consumers may also be used to obtain funding from financing institutions that are increasingly aware of the importance of brands for business success.

How can your company protect its trademarks and service marks?
Trademark protection can be obtained through registration and, in some countries also through use. Even where trademarks can be protected through use, you are well advised to register the trademark by filling the appropriate application. Registering a trademark will provide stronger protection, particularly in case of conflict with an identical or confusingly similar mark.

Is the registration of the business name of your company sufficient?
Many people believe that by registering their business and its trade name at the state business registry, the name would automatically be protected as a trademark. This is a rather common misconception! It is important to understand the difference between trade names and trademarks.
A trade name is the full name of your business, such as "Apple Computer, Inc." and it identifies your company. It often ends with Inc., Corp., LLC, or Ltd or other similar abbreviations that denote the legal character of the company.

A trademark, however, is the sign that distinguishes the product/service of your company. A company may have various trademarks. For instance, Apple Computer, Inc. may sell one of its products as APPLE but another as MACINTOSH.

Companies may use a specific trademark to identify all their products/services, a particular range of products/services, or one specific type of product/service. Some companies may also use their trade name, or a part of it, as a trademark and should, in that case register it as a trademark.

Five point checklist for selecting trademark:

1. Check that your trademark of choice meets all the legal
    requirements for registration;
2. Conduct a trademark search to make sure that it is not
    identical or confusingly similar to an existing trademark:
3. Make sure the trademark is easy to read, write, spell and
    remember and is suitable to all types of advertising
    media:
4. Make sure the mark does not have any undesired
    connotations in your own language of any of the
    languages of potential export markets;
5. Check that the corresponding domain name [i.e. Internet
    address] is available for registration

How to Steer Clear of Trademark Errors

1. Avoid misuse.
2. Avoid infringement or dilution.
3. Reduce litigation.
4. Don’t let your trademark become generic or abandoned.
5. Don’t risk your company’s assets, goodwill or reputation.

Dont miss Carol Desmond and many of the Speaking Industry's top marketers at the 2006 Magnificent Marketing Symposium.
====================================
We received the following at Walters International Speakers Bureau (http://walters-intl.com) on a promotional postcard for professional speaker, Todd Hunt. We enjoyed this so much that we had to share it with our readers. Enjoy!

Overheard in Speakers Bureau Hell....

1. I can speak on anything.
2. I have a great book in my head.
3. I'm a lot better than my video.
4. Have you watched my video yet?
5. My niche is poetry in the workplace.
6. I don't really like my website.
7. Bureau friendly? Sure, I'll be nice to you!
8. Wait till you hear my killer starfish story....
9. My photo was current when it was taken.
10. Just checking in....anything?

Todd Hunt is a business humorist who speaks for organizations that want to add fun to their meetings and send members home smiling...with tips to improve communication and success. Todd is a Recovering Anal Retentive Professional (RARP), who finally learned to lighten up.

Now he tells funny stories about sales, customer service, leadership, change and poetry in the workplace (OK, not that last one). People have fun, and leave his keynote energized to communicate better with customers and employees to become more successful, make more money and get a better life. Now who doesn’t want to hear that!

For more information on Todd Hunt, please visit: http://toddhuntspeaker.com
====================================
DON'T MISS the 2006 Magnificent Marketing Symposium for Speakers Authors and Consultants. Featuring Tom Antion, James Malinchak, Dottie Walters, James Ziegler, Frank Furness, Kathi Dunn plus many more of the Speaking Industry's TOP Marketers. A MUST for Speakers, Authors, and Consultants at every level!
June 22-25, 2006, Universal Sheraton-Hollywood CA 
To register and to find out more please visit:
call (626)335 -8069 for your free brochure.
====================================
Subscribe to Sharing Ideas the #1 Magazine for Professional Speakers Authors and Consultants. Don't miss all the latest cutting edge information for today's speaking industry!  Subscription includes the latest Electronic DIRECTORY OF SPEAKERS BUREAUS and Dottie's 2 Hour Audio CD on How to be Booked By Speakers Bureaus!
http://speakandgrowrich.com/sharing_ideas_overview.htm
====================================
NOW AVAILABLE! : 2 hour audio CD "How to Find and Keep Commercial Sponsors"
by Dottie Walters and Robin Raymer.
Learn how you can add many more streams of income to your speaking and writing career by finding commercial sponsors.
$95.00 + Shipping. Includes workbook. To order: 626-335-8069 or
Purchase Your Copy Now ====================================
Upcoming Events with Dottie Walters
****
Upcoming Speak and Grow Rich Master Weekend Schedule:
May 20-21, 2006 Glendora, Ca
Enroll Now!
****
More resources for Speakers, Authors and Consultants
****
Want to create your own information product based on your area of expertise?
Let the Speaker's One-Stop help! We will guide you through the process from A to Z.
F-R-E-E consultation. http://speakersonestop.com
or contact Ian Rich at (323)459-9159 or ianrich@aol.com.
****
Don't let all those great ideas from your book collect dust on a shelf. Give readers a way to master them within 30 days with Mem-Cards, a card deck customized with your book's best strategies, principles, practices, and inspirational quotes. Perfect for today's on-the-go lifestyles. Already in use by Zig Ziglar, Brian Tracy, and other leading authors and authorities. 
http://mem-cards.com
****
Are you looking for meeting and event planners in your area?  We have the 30,000+ contacts you need. Please visit us at  http://www.douglaspublications.com or call us at 800-223-1797.
****
Technology Marketing Consultants, Inc. - Professional website development for speakers, authors and consultants. Turnkey design, implementation and marketing solutions including search engine optimization and mailing list management.

Our sites are fast, friendly and action oriented. Sell your seminars, books, tapes, videos, downloadable materials, and more. New products and related information can be easily added or updated by the site owner from anywhere that there is Internet browser access.
Call (800) 994-5800 for a F-R-E-E website consultation. http://www.tmcla.com/speakers
(Creators of http://Speakandgrowrich.com)
===================================
Dunn+Associates Design. Strategic Design and Brand Development for Speakers, Trainers, Authors and Experts since 1985. Just one glance at your speaker materials can make meeting planners and speakers bureaus pick up the phone or pass you by. Turn yourself into a vibrant presence before you ever say a word. With the right tools, you can expertly promote yourself to achieve the high profits, prestige, and publicity you deserve. Call Hobie at 715-634-4857 for a F-R-E-E 30 minute consultation. www.dunn-design.com  or www.speakerkittips.com.
===================================
Best wishes for your success!
Dottie Walters, CSP
International Speaker, Author, Consultant
Author Highest Rated book In THE Speaking WORLD, SPEAK & GROW RICH
Publisher/Editor: SHARING IDEAS newsmagazine, 25th year of publication
President/CEO, Walters International Speakers Bureau
Publisher, International Directory of Speakers Bureaus
Founder, International Association of Speakers Bureau Owners, IASB
----------------------------

Register For the 2006 Magnificent Marketing Sypmosium

More Information

Learn More About Sharing Ideas!