How important is social media to my business?

In this episode of Figure 1: an IP conversation, Albright IP Managing Director Robert Games is joined by Trade Mark Attorney, James Beeton, to talk about the growing risks businesses face on social media and what can realistically be done about them. Social platforms are now one of the most powerful tools for building a brand, but they’re also an easy entry point for counterfeiters, fake profiles and bad actors looking to exploit established names. For many SMEs, the challenge isn’t whether infringement is happening, but where to focus time, effort and budget. Drawing on James’ experience in brand protection, including his time working in-house at Global brand, Superdry, the conversation covers: The most common forms of abuse, from fake accounts to misleading ads How counterfeiters and opportunists use hashtags, keywords and campaigns Why registered IP rights make content removal far more effective What businesses should monitor and what can usually be ignored The importance of evidence, internal processes and clear brand guidelines Practical steps SMEs can take to protect themselves without overreacting This episode is aimed at founders, marketing teams and growing businesses that want to use social media confidently, without leaving their brand exposed. Figure 1: an IP conversation. Real stories. Real lessons. The protection your business needs. Subscribe to Figure 1: an IP conversation for more episodes on protecting innovation, creativity and business growth. Want help capturing and protecting innovation? Visit Albright IP: www.albright-ip.co.uk 00:00 Intro 01:06 How important is social media to your business? 01:47 What are the benefits of building your business profile on social media? 04:05 How do you protect your business from counterfeiters and fake profiles? 05:30 How do you make it evident? 05:57 Do you need strong brand guidelines 06:33 What are keys signs you should be looking for? 07:52 What should you do to prevent counterfeiters and fake profiles? 09:03 Should you think broadly about what you need to protect? 09:23 Outro