ISO 9001 would be a quality management certification if you didn’t know. Furthermore, there is no one ISO 9001 certification; several versions are based on the industry. For instance, ISO/IEC/IEEE 90003:2018 covers computer software services such as development, sales, and support.
Obtaining ISO 9001 certification is a great occasion for companies and consultants. It may have taken six months or more, and two evaluations are required.
The first review is whether your documentation meets requirements and accurately portrays your effort. The auditor will verify that it is being used in your company’s operations. It’s one thing to claim you do something and another to do it!
Now that you’ve overcome these obstacles, you’ll want to utilize it as a USP in your marketing to set yourself apart from your competition and demonstrate to them that you’re a professional who follows quality management guidelines.
Accepting the ISO 9001 certification also implies that you agree to follow the marketing and promotion rules.
The good news is that your 9001 certifications may be promoted:
- on your corporate cars,
- your marketing,
- even billboards
- at your physical site
Marketing Guidelines for ISO 9001
There are several criteria for utilizing your new certification; therefore in this business blog, we’ll look at some of them, including:
- Logo
- Designations
- Coverage
- Products
Certifications for products
When you have ISO certification, it may seem like a good idea to tell the world that your goods and services are certified. However, this is not permissible since they do not cover any items or services.
The accreditation is for the management system you have installed and will be using (or have been using) following their instructions.
You may tell the world that your management systems are accredited and assist your goods or services, but buyers will be confused. This implies you may not want to provide any information on your items since the customer may believe it meets the higher ISO standard.
Coverage of certification
Another component of your ISO 9001 certification that might be perplexing is this.
This rule effectively states that you may only promote the parts of your firm that have been certified. This implies that if your firm has many management systems, you can only provide the seal of approval to the truly certified one.
If you want all of your management systems to be accredited, you’ll have to do it one by one.
Correct abbreviations
You cannot just state that you are ISO 9001 certified when demonstrating your registration. Instead, you must provide the system number for which you were certified following the designation. Otherwise, you’re breaking their regulations.
“ISO 9001/2015 certified” should appear in your marketing and announcements. It may seem a little detailed, but it is an essential rule that they need you to observe.
Logo
Another restriction that may seem excessive is their emblem’s usage. It would be nice to include the ISO mark with anything you promote to demonstrate your pleasure in the certification. They won’t let you do it.
You are not permitted to utilize their logo in advertising, marketing, or even on the breakroom bulletin board. You cannot use their logo since it is theirs.
Last Thoughts
Obtaining industry-related certifications and standards instills trust in your company among your customers, partners, and suppliers.
When establishing the logo and utilizing the standard in marketing materials, you must adhere to the conditions of use and guidelines. Aside from that, you may mention your certification in any of your marketing strategies. If you stick to the ISO rules, the sky is the limit.
Can ISO 9001 help your company increase sales? As the standard specifies, you should strive to enhance your record-keeping, procedures, and systems regularly. Yes, maybe.
Holding ISO certificates is essential for winning bids, particularly for government contracts. Furthermore, service and assistance consistently boost employee morale and improve client satisfaction.