Counterfeiters are getting better and better at tricking consumers on popular online marketplaces, which means now more than ever brands must take matters into their own hands.

Counterfeiters aren’t only stealing from a company’s bottom line when they use their name, trademark, or product for fake ads and listings, they are also harming the relationship between a company and its customers and fans. Consumers are now being easily tricked resulting in bad reviews and loss of trust and money for the brand owner.

Here are a few ways that brands can end counterfeiters’ reigns and protect their brands online.

Trademark Your Brand

One of the best ways to protect your company against counterfeiters is to trademark your brand’s name and all intellectual property associated with the it. By trademarking your company’s name, logo, designs, images, software, etc., you are taking complete ownership and can sue anyone who uses them without your prior consent.

Filing for a trademark may seem like a lengthy and unnecessary process, but when it comes to protecting your brand online, there is simply no way around it. The ownership of your brand’s assets gives you the upper hand when battling these violators.

Be smart: Stay ahead of the game and protect your brand with an official trademark.

Build a Strong Brand Presence Online

A strong online presence can help build trust and longevity between you and your customers. Many potential customers read reviews and interact with brands directly online before purchasing. In fact, in 2017, 97 percent of consumers said they read online reviews before making a buying decision. So, it is important you are authentic in all layers of your business, because your customers are watching.

Building an impactful online presence can be accomplished with active social pages, verified accounts, and vigilant monitoring. The more active you are online, the easier your customers will be able to differentiate the real from the fake.

A meaningful and thriving online community can arm your customers with the tools to call out counterfeiters that you may not have noticed. They also won’t be as quick to buy from them, because they know what to expect when dealing with your company. It is important to establish a trustworthy relationship with your customers and fans, potential or current, as this is a great way to stop counterfeiters from ruining your reputation and hard work.

Report Frauds Fast:

In addition to building a strong online presence and trademarking your brand’s assets, you should also report fraudulent activity quickly.  The faster the violation is reported, the faster it can be taken down, which helps your brand bounce back.

Many social media networks and e-commerce sites have unique ways of reporting unwanted pages or products. Be sure to stay up-to-date on each platform’s fraud policies, so in the case of a counterfeit, you can report it immediately and effectively.

Also, be sure to monitor these platforms daily at a minimum. New online counterfeiters pop up frequently, so to protect your company from the attack, you should be just as persistent as they are.

Protecting your brand online is easy when you know what to look for. Technology has created a space full of great ideas and convenience. So now counterfeiters don’t have to do the work, they can just steal yours.

But there is still hope. CounterFind can combat counterfeiters easily by offering real time monitoring of ads on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, and marketplaces like Amazon to stop unsolicited internet sellers from profiting off your hard work.

Once their filtering formula finds an infringing ad or listing, the user can report it with one click, something you can’t easily do without automated tools. CounterFind will also keep you up to date on KPIs like the number of websites shutdown, blacklisted ads, top violating websites, number of Facebook ads reported, and pages monitored, as well as the estimated revenue saved. All this helpful information is captured with their real time ROI dashboard.

While eliminating counterfeit ads and listings may always be an issue, CounterFind will make the process of protecting your brand efficient and straightforward. CounterFind handles the thieves, you handle the business. Learn more about how they plan to help business owners like you here!

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