My friend Fred has a new book coming out and he was trolling around for new marketing ideas. I think he’d be surprised at this:
Sell one.
Find one person who trusts you and sell him a copy. Does he love it? Is he excited about it? Excited enough to tell ten friends because it helps them, not because it helps you?
Tribes grow when people recruit other people. That’s how ideas spread as well. They don’t do it for you, of course. They do it for each other. Leadership is the art of giving people a platform for spreading ideas that work. If Fred’s book spreads, then he’s off to a great start. If it doesn’t, he needs a new book…”
Seth Godin. “Tribes”
Same with new inventions. Very simple. And probably the only way to make our ideas work in the modern market. Besides, we need to dress our idea a little before letting other people see and value it. And to expose your idea correctly, to give other people a proper look of your idea’s content and functions – that’s what makes you and your idea’s marketing successful.
Now when you see all the feedbacks about your future product by testing it, it’s time to give a bright look to your idea. To add video of the prototype and its pictures, video of your invention in action – Live or 3D graphic – are always great and help people to understand more about your idea; attaching calculations is optional, but mention that you have them handy anyway. That’s what entrepreneurs want to see first. Besides publishing instructions, which you can get on our website, also we recommend you to look for great invention-posts in our database, borrow what you find best.
For price-affordable services, such as design studios, prototype makers, artists, and others – please check our suggestions or offer yours.
Now it’s time to find out the approximate value of your invention. Our strong recommendation is to do this part with your legal council if possible. If a trusted and competent specialist is not available, there are three articles which we present to your attention:
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✦“Goliath”, an online library of business knowledge (article “20 Steps for Pricing an Invention” – http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-3459437/20-steps-for-pricing-a.html);
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✦for technical inventions – a short useful work of Richard Reeves “A Model for Valuing an Invention” (www.richardreeves.net/docs/valuip.doc);
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✦inventor’s resource center Invention Help – “Price Your Invention for Maximal Profits” (http://www.invention-help.com/invention-pricing.htm)
Also, you may consider a service which does automated pricing of your idea, e.g. Patent Value Predictor (fee of $150 for each patent value) (http://www.patentvaluepredictor.com).
Here is a list of companies who accept new product inventions:
• Guthy-Renker online idea submission at www.guthyrenker.com
• Bed, Bath and Beyond www.bedbathandbeyond.com
• BJ Direct (Retail Product Distribution) www.bjgd.com
• Children products, games and toys – Creative Group Marketing (fee applies) – http://www.creativegroupmarketing.com. World Innovation Network (almost any possible product)
• Submit new toys and games for licensing – Excel Development (http://www.exceld.com )
• Beauty and fashion products – Accessories Brainstorm – http://www.accessorybrainstorms.com
• Medical products – Sylmark (free service for inventors) http://www.sylmark.com
• Product evaluation McPherson Partners (royalty basis, no upfront payments) – http://www.mcphersonpartners.com
• Placing products with companies – RoyaltyPros Licensing (on a fee basis) – http://www.royaltypros.com
©2011 IdeaIntoProduct
