Inventor Resources

Social Hour

Going Communal on Facebook

Last month, this column covered using LinkedIn Groups to share and improve your invention. But Facebook, with its massive user base and diverse set of tools, also offers fertile ground for inventors and entrepreneurs to build and nurture a dedicated following.

Think Marketing

Creating Careful Chaos

Innovation isn’t invention; it’s often a necessary, welcome change in the way we do things. The strategy must balance the chaos of innovation with the stability of conformity. This is the most efficient, cost-effective path to successfully launch an innovative product.

Lander Zone

Patent Search Options

If you do your own patent search without much experience, you probably will not find the prior art the patent examiner will find during searching. This will result in the rejection of your patent application if you file it on your own. 

Social Hour

Safety in Numbers

LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network, provides many opportunities for inventors and entrepreneurs to find new ways to refine ideas, gain feedback and network. LinkedIn Groups can enhance this.

Inventing 101

Think Like a Licensee

Companies always want a margin of at least 50 percent. You need to have a good grasp of the percentage of the retail price the company receives to address this issue. Understand and leverage these 4 main deal-making factors for your potential partners.

Meant to Invent

Licensing Concepts Faster

I have experienced an array of timelines when pitching and licensing new concepts—from licensing an item to the first person I pitched it to, to licensing a concept within a month of pitching to dozens of companies, all the way to licensing a product after pitching it for a couple of years, and everything in-between.

Prototyping

Ouch! That One Stung

A key part of success when crowdfunding is to have a beautiful working prototype with high-quality digital assets (photos and videos). Consider these strategies for launching a product so it does not meet the same fate as the Hornet.

Social Hour

Under the Influence

As the rise of social media as part of a cohesive digital marketing strategy creates opportunities for inventors and entrepreneurs to showcase innovative products online, one of the most effective tactics is collaborating with social media influencers.

Inventing 101

Finding Opportunities

Even in winning categories, some products are better than others. Here are some ways to help you to a winning formula. These principles apply across the board—whether you are looking to produce your own product, license it to a manufacturer, or strike a joint venture deal of some kind.

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