TPE #105: How to trademark and protect your brand with Google Ads
Aug 26, 2024Read time: 2 minutes
GM, Miles here with a short & sweet issue of The PPC Edge.
Don’t you hate it when your annoying competitors try to steal your customers by using your brand name in their ad copy (like in the example below)?
Well… In that case, use this form to submit your trademark to Google Ads (make sure you officially registered it beforehand).
Your competitors’ ads should get disapproved after your trademark appeal has been approved.
Still see it in their ads? Use this form to file a complaint.
But beware: they can still target your trademark as keywords and use it on their landing pages.
What if your competitors still advertise on your trademarked keywords, but without your brand name in the ad copy?
In the screenshot below, you see how Thinkific says they are “The Better Alternative” without specifically naming a competitor (Kajabi in this case):
This is technically legal so filing a complaint with Google is not going to help.
To prevent this from happening, Esther Kooistra shared a fantastic workaround in The PPC Hub to combat this situation:
Get in touch with your competitors and ask them to stop advertising on your brand name.
If they continue, tell them you will also advertise on their brand name. This will increase the average CPCs for both parties, which is less than ideal.
They will usually stop advertising on your brand name, because nobody wants to be in a bid-war (especially if the other party has deeper pockets).
Submit your trademarks today.
If you’re managing Google Ads on behalf of clients, help them protect their brand with trademarks.
To recap: here are the links to the forms:
And if you’re ready to upgrade your skills and take your career to the next level, consider joining The PPC Hub.
Inside, you’ll find everything you need to master Google Ads and confidently drive results for your clients.
As a big bonus, you also get to connect with 1.000+ experienced Google Ads Specialists from all over the world.
If that sounds interesting, feel free to join us here.
And that’s all for today — I hope that was helpful.
See you next week!
Cheers,
Miles (& Bob)
