Understanding Brand IP is a really important factor that can often be overlooked. We are known as rebranding specialists, and many companies that come to us looking to be rebranded, are forced to rebrand due to Trademark and Intellectual Property breaches, or potential risks.
So we always recommend factoring in IP searches as part of a new brand process. Determining if your brand can be trademarked involves several factors:
Brand Name and Logo Distinctiveness
Your brand must be distinctive, meaning it should stand out from other brands in the marketplace. It should not be generic or too descriptive of the products or services you offer.
Brand Name Availability
Before committing to a brand name, you should conduct a search to ensure that there are no existing brand names that are identical or similar to yours in the same category of goods or services. This helps to avoid potential conflicts. You should also conduct a domain search to see if an ideal domain is available without paying too much for it.
Non-Infringement
Your brand name, logo and icons should not infringe on existing trademarks. This means it should not be confusingly similar to trademarks that are already registered or in use by other companies.
Legal Requirements
Your brand should meet the legal requirements for trademark registration in the jurisdiction where you intend to register it. This typically includes being capable of being represented graphically and being used in commerce.
Whilst we do conduct preliminary high level desk top research when developing a brand name, We highly recommend you seek the advice of a trademark attorney or professional who can guide you through the process and help ensure that your brand meets all the necessary requirements for trademark registration.
At Soto Group we can assist you with considering these factors and conducting thorough research, so you can determine if your brand is eligible for trademark protection.
Ideal referrals include businesses seeking expert support for brand strategy, branding, website development, digital marketing, or broader marketing transformation. Typical referrals are startups, growing businesses, or established brands looking for strategic clarity and strong creative execution.
We have a team of technical copywriters who understand the power of words and how they can shape brand identity and engage audiences.
Whether you need website copy, blog posts, marketing collateral, social media content, or email campaigns, we have the expertise to deliver content that resonates with your target audience and drives results.
We also provide technical copywriting services such as research report writing, grant writing, project report writing and white paper writing.
Yes. Once your application to the Referral Program is approved, you will be able to find your unique, personalised referral link in the portal. You can use this link across your channels – including email, social media, direct messages, or even within your website content – to introduce Soto Group to your network. This link ensures all referrals are tracked and attributed accurately to you.
We accept the typical payment methods such as:
Subscription Plans:
Payment Plans:
Our payment plans are catered for businesses who understand the value of investing in their brand but may not have planned for the investment in their forecast, and need to prioritise operational costs. Rather than delay your brand or creative project we can customise a payment plan that supports your business growth.
Soto Group are brand equity specialists. Our Cofounder Matthew Crouch is an industry leading speaker and one of his most demanded topics is about how to create and maintain brand equity.
But we know that many individuals and companies don’t really understand brand equity or what it means when you do or don’t have it.
In simplistic terms – brand equity refers to the intangible value that a brand name holds in the minds of consumers. It represents the influence and power that a brand has over consumer choices and their willingness to pay more for products or services associated with that brand. Brand equity is built over time through various factors, including:
Brand equity reflects the value and influence that a brand has in the marketplace, driving customer preference, loyalty, and financial performance. It is a valuable asset for companies and requires strategic management and investment to nurture and maintain over time.
Brand equity is the difference between a $1,000,000 business exit and a $15,000,000 business exit. Strong brand equity allows you to launch new products or services with immediate uptake from your existing audience or customer base.
One of the most desired yet undervalued brand considerations is brand equity. To understand you brand equity or to improve your brand equity get in touch and ask to speak to our Creative Director and Brand Equity Expert Matthew Crouch.
We are known as professional services branding experts and we have worked with hundreds of professional services companies servicing both B2B and B2C markets.
Our claim of ‘professional services branding experts’ comes from our founders’ backgrounds in the professional services industry as strategic advisors and corporate consultants. With over 10 years of experience working with consultants, legal firms, insurance agencies, procurement advisors and almost every professional services sector we understand the unique challenges faced when competing in what we call ‘shark infested waters’.
Professional services companies thrive when they can be clearly differentiated from others, without vilifying potential customers outside of your preferred niche. After all, that is how professional services companies expand their service offering, territories served and size of market available.
Our expertise extends to working with professionals who provide knowledge-based services, acting as trusted advisors in their respective fields. We understand the unique challenges and opportunities that professionals in these industries face, and we’re here to help them navigate and thrive in today’s competitive landscape.
Whether you’re in accounting, consulting, engineering, finance, healthcare, law, or real estate, we have the tools and tailored services to help you stand out from the crowd and build an effective brand, strategy, website and digital presence.
The short answer is yes. Depending on the size of your team, there will be a degree of work that team leaders will need to do on top of their daily workload. However, our goal is to ensure a smooth transition with minimal disruption to your operations. We’ll work closely with your team to plan the rollout strategically and provide support throughout the process.
We are experts at bringing your team along the journey with you, so the excitement of the rebrand outweighs the grumbles that may come with having to rebrand their internal documents or client facing collateral.
Assessing the performance of your brand involves evaluating various key indicators. One crucial aspect to consider is brand awareness, which measures the level of recognition and recall your brand has among your target audience. Monitoring metrics such as aided and unaided brand awareness, social media mentions, and website traffic can provide insights into how well your brand is recognised and remembered.
Another important factor is brand perception, which involves evaluating how consumers perceive your brand in terms of attributes like quality, reliability, trustworthiness, and relevance. Surveys, focus groups, and social media listening can help you understand consumer perceptions and identify areas for improvement.
Brand loyalty is also essential for determining brand performance. Assess the level of customer loyalty and repeat business your brand generates by monitoring metrics such as customer retention rates, repeat purchase behaviour, and Net Promoter Score (NPS). High levels of brand loyalty indicate that your brand is successfully engaging and retaining customers.
Market share analysis is another useful way to gauge brand performance. Evaluate your brand’s market share relative to competitors in your industry and track changes over time to assess your brand’s competitive position. Additionally, measuring brand equity, or the intangible value and influence your brand holds in the marketplace, can provide insights into your brand’s overall performance.
Monitoring customer satisfaction levels is crucial for assessing brand performance. Collect feedback through surveys, reviews, and customer support interactions to gauge customer satisfaction and identify areas for improvement. Finally, evaluating the financial impact of your brand on overall business performance is essential. Assess metrics such as revenue growth, profit margins, return on investment (ROI), and customer lifetime value (CLV) attributable to your brand to understand its contribution to your business’s success.
There are a number of digital tools that can help you monitor your brands performance such as Qualtrics, BrandWatch, SEMRush, AHREFS, Hootsuite and many more.
When we work with brands we can build out brand monitoring systems suitable for your size and goals.
Tracking your brand’s value involves evaluating both its tangible financial worth and intangible assets. One method is through brand valuation, there are different ways of valuing a brand such as cost-based, market-based, and income-based methods. These techniques help quantify the financial value of your brand by considering factors such as the cost of creating or replacing the brand, comparable transactions, and future earnings projections.
Financial performance indicators, including revenue growth, profit margins, and return on investment (ROI), offer insights into the actual financial value your brand contributes to overall business performance. By analysing these metrics, you can better understand how your brand impacts profitability and return on investment.
Assessing customer lifetime value (CLV) provides insights into the long-term value of your brand. CLV estimates the total revenue generated by a customer throughout their relationship with your brand, accounting for factors such as repeat purchases and brand loyalty. This metric helps you assess the impact of brand loyalty and customer retention on overall brand value.
When we work with brands we often conduct brand equity surveys and brand health tracking studies to offer insights into consumer perceptions, attitudes, and preferences toward your brand. These studies measure brand awareness, associations, loyalty, and overall brand strength, providing valuable insights into the intangible aspects of brand value.
Staying informed about market trends, competitor activities, and consumer preferences through ongoing market research is crucial for tracking your brand’s value. Understanding market dynamics and consumer behaviour helps you adapt your brand strategy to maintain its relevance and value in the marketplace.
We are often retained to track and monitor brand value as part of the ongoing creative services and marketing retainers we offer. If you are looking to increase your brand value as part of an exit strategy get in touch and we can discuss the best options for your current stage of business.
Email marketing can be a high converting tool for many businesses, whether B2B, B2C, product based or service based. Soto Group offers a variety of email marketing services to help you connect with your audience, nurture leads, and drive conversions.
We design eye-catching email templates in your platform of choice (we can help you choose the right one for your needs), we can write engaging content and analyse results and trends to optimise send times, contact themes and audience preferences. Our team will work with you to develop email campaigns that deliver results and are KPI driven.
No, having a website is not required. You can promote your referral link through whichever channels suit you best, including social media platforms, professional networks, direct client conversations, or email outreach. Many of our successful referrers simply use personal introductions to recommend Soto Group services.
