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Casual Articles - Is an Invention Service Company the Solution? Very Few Inventors Ever See Successful Results
A good logo design is the basic consideration of almost every company that wants to make an impact in the market. Marketing tools used by a company, whether print material or broadcast commercials, somehow exhibit the company’s logo. This simply means that your logo designs are your representatives in the market.There are certain well known companies out in the market having abstract logo designs namely Pepsi, Addidas, Nike, etc. People probably wonder why they choose abstract logo designs instead of going for something that makes sense. The answer is simple; because abstract logo designs direct the attention towards the companies then to the logo design itself. Abstract logo designs create a unique identity of the company in its targeted market. For instance, the Addidas logo is an abstract. It is a combination of three plain slant lines. Now, wherever these lines are found whether on a product or on a store’s hoarding people recognize it as ‘the logo of addidas’.Abstract logo
Patent strategy is crucial. It requires really experienced patent attorneys, fully committed to securing every possible protection available. That is not available from invention submission firms.
Create a Prototype
It is almost impossible to successfully market a new product without production quality prototypes. This requires diligence, creativity, sophisticated skills and equipment. The steps usually involve a mix of creative meetings, several 3-D, Computer Assisted Graphic (CAD) drawings, a rough model, styling tweaks and then the final model(s). The art is essential as exhibits in utility patent filings, as a tool for source of supply and to determine cost of goods. The models affirm commitment, features and benefits, product uniqueness and vi
What is guerilla marketing? Guerilla Marketing is the use of low-cost niche marketing tactics. The tactics are designed to be cheap and easily implemented. Some are online, some are offline, but all are readily available to implement immediately.1.) Bandit signs! This is by far the most effective way to generate interest fast.You can purchase bandit signs online at baditsigns.com or you can buy poster board or corrugated board and hand write your signs. Studies have shown that handwritten signs pull better results. This is because people think you took the time to ‘personalize’ your message to them. It’s also, A LOT cheaper.2.) Flyers- Passing out flyers around your town with information about your TV show will generate local interest in it.3.) Contests! Hold a contest for your viewers… Offer a spot on your show in return for some kind of participation, submitting a show idea for instance.4.) Press Releases, write a press release about your show and
One of the saddest aspects of my work as a new product development and marketing consultant is the whole area of invention submission firms. We see dozens of entrepreneurs every year: mentally torn, financially rocked, hopes depleted after their experience with the invention mills. In a number of cases real opportunity has been slaughtered. In many other cases the product or service offered would never be a realistically viable commercial opportunity, and any capable consultant would honestly advise such.
Essentially these dream merchants are boiler rooms. After viewing the commercial and calling the toll free number, the inventor is contacted by a sales person. Submission materials are forwarded, promises made and costs are discussed. Many entrepreneurs do not have the needed investment monies to appropriately file patents, create prototypes, conduct the research and produce the documents necessary to professionally present the product.
The invention mills, however, typically offer in-house financing and advise that they take care of all of the needed elements required to professionally excite investors or license deals. Often at usurious interest rates, the hopeful inventor makes a down payment on their dream, finances the balance, and, seduced by thoughts of riches, fully buys into the program. Then reality quickly rears its ugly head.
The Patent Filing
There are two styles of patents, utility and design. Only utility has real value, offering specific protections. The design patent can be easily overcome with elemental design or art changes to a product. In addition, a relatively recent filing class has been created: the provisional patent. Essentially the provisional patent is a simple letter to the United States Patent and Trademark Office announcing to the agency that you have an idea and are keen to pursue it. It offers virtually no protection.
The provisional patent costs almost nothing to file and has a life of exactly one-year from date of filing. The provisional must then be amended to utility or design in a new filing. The invention firms have in-house attorney’s that routinely spit out the provisional filings and offer this as proof to the inventor that real patents have been filed and protections secured. Inexperienced, gullible first time entrepreneurs often believe that their product has real patent protection.
After the 12 month provisional period ends, the invention is never supported with a utility filing. The result, product protection rights are fully vacated. The inventor has a lapsed provisional and the submission firm walks away from pursuing the really valuable, and much more expensive, utility patent filing.
Securing a valuable, solid patent protection is the most touted benefit viewers of invention commercials will hear. Is a patent that important, valuable? Yes, and, no. Of course, a utility patent has immense value for any product. Given the choice, we always recommend pursuit of every patent, copyright and trademark claim possible. However, there are many non-patented, very successful products in the marketplace.
Patent strategy is crucial. It requires really experienced patent attorneys, fully committed to securing every possible protection available. That is not available from invention submission firms.
Create a Prototype
It is almost impossible to successfully market a new product without production quality prototypes. This requires diligence, creativity, sophisticated skills and equipment. The steps usually involve a mix of creative meetings, several 3-D, Computer Assisted Graphic (CAD) drawings, a rough model, styling tweaks and then the final model(s). The art is essential as exhibits in utility patent filings, as a tool for source of supply and to determine cost of goods. The models affirm commitment, features and benefits, product uniqueness and via
Let's start off with the most common mistake applicants make on job interviews.According to 36% of recruiters who completed a survey by Korn/Ferry International, one of the largest recruiting companies in the world, the most common mistake is: Talking too much.The second most common mistake in the poll was lack of knowledge about the company or position (22%).The lesson: make your point, then leave it at that and wait for the interviewer to speak.In an informal survey of hiring managers about mistakes people make during an interview, lack of eye contact turned out to be one of the biggest ones. It seems like a simple thing, but many people just seem to forget it or don't pay attention to it.To the interviewer, lack of eye contact can signal a number of negative things: You are not telling the truth. Or you are being evasive. Or you're hiding something. I'm not advocating that you stare at the interviewer. Just maintain steady, engaged, eye contact when you
Essentially these dream merchants are boiler rooms. After viewing the commercial and calling the toll free number, the inventor is contacted by a sales person. Submission materials are forwarded, promises made and costs are discussed. Many entrepreneurs do not have the needed investment monies to appropriately file patents, create prototypes, conduct the research and produce the documents necessary to professionally present the product.
The invention mills, however, typically offer in-house financing and advise that they take care of all of the needed elements required to professionally excite investors or license deals. Often at usurious interest rates, the hopeful inventor makes a down payment on their dream, finances the balance, and, seduced by thoughts of riches, fully buys into the program. Then reality quickly rears its ugly head.
The Patent Filing
There are two styles of patents, utility and design. Only utility has real value, offering specific protections. The design patent can be easily overcome with elemental design or art changes to a product. In addition, a relatively recent filing class has been created: the provisional patent. Essentially the provisional patent is a simple letter to the United States Patent and Trademark Office announcing to the agency that you have an idea and are keen to pursue it. It offers virtually no protection.
The provisional patent costs almost nothing to file and has a life of exactly one-year from date of filing. The provisional must then be amended to utility or design in a new filing. The invention firms have in-house attorney’s that routinely spit out the provisional filings and offer this as proof to the inventor that real patents have been filed and protections secured. Inexperienced, gullible first time entrepreneurs often believe that their product has real patent protection.
After the 12 month provisional period ends, the invention is never supported with a utility filing. The result, product protection rights are fully vacated. The inventor has a lapsed provisional and the submission firm walks away from pursuing the really valuable, and much more expensive, utility patent filing.
Securing a valuable, solid patent protection is the most touted benefit viewers of invention commercials will hear. Is a patent that important, valuable? Yes, and, no. Of course, a utility patent has immense value for any product. Given the choice, we always recommend pursuit of every patent, copyright and trademark claim possible. However, there are many non-patented, very successful products in the marketplace.
Patent strategy is crucial. It requires really experienced patent attorneys, fully committed to securing every possible protection available. That is not available from invention submission firms.
Create a Prototype
It is almost impossible to successfully market a new product without production quality prototypes. This requires diligence, creativity, sophisticated skills and equipment. The steps usually involve a mix of creative meetings, several 3-D, Computer Assisted Graphic (CAD) drawings, a rough model, styling tweaks and then the final model(s). The art is essential as exhibits in utility patent filings, as a tool for source of supply and to determine cost of goods. The models affirm commitment, features and benefits, product uniqueness and vi
How do you please a group of teenagers at a Skateboard Park? Perhaps you need to consider a little extra customer service. Now then obviously kids on skateboards have a chip on their shoulder and attempting to threaten them that you are going to throw them out of the park will not work, after all they have probably been thrown out of every shopping center in town, more than once.As a kid, on a skateboard once got chased by a Hughes 500 Helicopter when I tried to escape selective prosecution, after ditching a security guard and a black and white, which came to his aid? Imagine if I would have been caught; $500 per hour Jet A fuel bill my parents would have received? I would have had privileges terminated for months and been grounded.Needless to say customer service at a skateboard park starts with true customer service and not threats. When dealing with skateboarders at skateboard parks you must understand that they wish to be treated like adults. It is therefore necessary to t
The Patent Filing
There are two styles of patents, utility and design. Only utility has real value, offering specific protections. The design patent can be easily overcome with elemental design or art changes to a product. In addition, a relatively recent filing class has been created: the provisional patent. Essentially the provisional patent is a simple letter to the United States Patent and Trademark Office announcing to the agency that you have an idea and are keen to pursue it. It offers virtually no protection.
The provisional patent costs almost nothing to file and has a life of exactly one-year from date of filing. The provisional must then be amended to utility or design in a new filing. The invention firms have in-house attorney’s that routinely spit out the provisional filings and offer this as proof to the inventor that real patents have been filed and protections secured. Inexperienced, gullible first time entrepreneurs often believe that their product has real patent protection.
After the 12 month provisional period ends, the invention is never supported with a utility filing. The result, product protection rights are fully vacated. The inventor has a lapsed provisional and the submission firm walks away from pursuing the really valuable, and much more expensive, utility patent filing.
Securing a valuable, solid patent protection is the most touted benefit viewers of invention commercials will hear. Is a patent that important, valuable? Yes, and, no. Of course, a utility patent has immense value for any product. Given the choice, we always recommend pursuit of every patent, copyright and trademark claim possible. However, there are many non-patented, very successful products in the marketplace.
Patent strategy is crucial. It requires really experienced patent attorneys, fully committed to securing every possible protection available. That is not available from invention submission firms.
Create a Prototype
It is almost impossible to successfully market a new product without production quality prototypes. This requires diligence, creativity, sophisticated skills and equipment. The steps usually involve a mix of creative meetings, several 3-D, Computer Assisted Graphic (CAD) drawings, a rough model, styling tweaks and then the final model(s). The art is essential as exhibits in utility patent filings, as a tool for source of supply and to determine cost of goods. The models affirm commitment, features and benefits, product uniqueness and vi
ISO 9000 is an enormously successful international quality management system set by the international standards organization. Apart from helping in designing a quality assurance system, ISO 9000 also imposes many liabilities and responsibilities on the part of business organizations.ISO certification can guard organizations against corporate vicarious liability. Vicarious liability refers to the legal responsibility (accountability) of an employer for the actions, crime or injury done by one of his employees in the course of discharging duties. Crimes that come under the purview of vicarious liability include fraud and theft, defamation, breach of confidence and data protection, and discrimination based on race and gender.ISO 9000 vicarious liability processes help firms reduce risks. The extent of liability depends upon the relation between the nature of the employment and the crime that has been committed. When the two are connected closely enough, the employer can be held li
After the 12 month provisional period ends, the invention is never supported with a utility filing. The result, product protection rights are fully vacated. The inventor has a lapsed provisional and the submission firm walks away from pursuing the really valuable, and much more expensive, utility patent filing.
Securing a valuable, solid patent protection is the most touted benefit viewers of invention commercials will hear. Is a patent that important, valuable? Yes, and, no. Of course, a utility patent has immense value for any product. Given the choice, we always recommend pursuit of every patent, copyright and trademark claim possible. However, there are many non-patented, very successful products in the marketplace.
Patent strategy is crucial. It requires really experienced patent attorneys, fully committed to securing every possible protection available. That is not available from invention submission firms.
Create a Prototype
It is almost impossible to successfully market a new product without production quality prototypes. This requires diligence, creativity, sophisticated skills and equipment. The steps usually involve a mix of creative meetings, several 3-D, Computer Assisted Graphic (CAD) drawings, a rough model, styling tweaks and then the final model(s). The art is essential as exhibits in utility patent filings, as a tool for source of supply and to determine cost of goods. The models affirm commitment, features and benefits, product uniqueness and vi
If you are a typical Yellow Page advertiser, this headline is what you want to hear. Either from me, your YP rep, or the publisher. Why? Because you are paying too much already, or at least you think you are. I should know. I was a YP consultant for a Bell publishing company for 25 years and always heard how expensive we were. Whether it was for a $10 listing or a $1500 full page, it didn’t matter. So I fought over the rates before I ever got to the main problem with the ads. That’s right, the cost isn’t the problem. So what is it, you asked?It’s the amount of money or profit that you will make on your YP program. Traditionally, it’s called the ROI or return on investment. That’s all that’s truly important. For instance, if you could spend $10 a month on a listing and get $100 in business, would that be a good deal? If you said, “Yes,” you’re wrong! That’s because you should have asked for the $1000 ad that also returned 10 to 1, giving you $10,000 instead. That’s a much higher prof
Patent strategy is crucial. It requires really experienced patent attorneys, fully committed to securing every possible protection available. That is not available from invention submission firms.
Create a Prototype
It is almost impossible to successfully market a new product without production quality prototypes. This requires diligence, creativity, sophisticated skills and equipment. The steps usually involve a mix of creative meetings, several 3-D, Computer Assisted Graphic (CAD) drawings, a rough model, styling tweaks and then the final model(s). The art is essential as exhibits in utility patent filings, as a tool for source of supply and to determine cost of goods. The models affirm commitment, features and benefits, product uniqueness and viability. Invention mills provide virtually none of this.
The inventor will receive an in-house generated piece of 3-D art. That’s it! No models, prototypes or hardware! This will be the basis for the campaign to market the submission for sale, joint venture or license. And, it can not work, ever.
The inventor provides a verbal description, or self-generated renderings, that are revised by in-house artists. There are almost never face to face meetings, essential to the creative process. The result is a piece of art that appears professional to the inexperienced. This is the prototype. It is sophomoric, unusable for the intended purpose of exciting investors.
Marketing the Invention
With the patent (provisional, of little value) and model (a drawing, of no value) in hand the product invention is ready to be sold, supposedly. Selling, marketing or partnering a product opportunity is hard work and requires contacts, research, experience in highly targeted areas, networking, attending trade shows and tenacity. No is a word heard many, many times more often than the word yes is heard.
How does the invention submission firm approach deal making? They take shortcuts, and shortcuts are death to opportunity. Shortcut number one is blind mailings. A list of companies and contact names is used and a cover letter, copy of the art and nothing else is mailed as a teaser. Anyone can relate to the results of this approach. Executives and corporate decision- makers never respond to junk mail, and that is what this type of submission really is.
The inter-net is a wonderful invention, and, of course, the invention clearing- houses really enjoy this tool, shortcut number-two. Mass e-mailings, unsolicited, otherwise known as junk mail, are a group favorite. The results are always the same, no deal.
Shortcut number-three, the product is added to an encyclopedia of the firm’s past product’s, and the book is offered as a repository of business opportunities for commercialization. A hard copy is available for viewing or on-line access is available. Unfortunately, this completely reverses normal progression of deal making.
Many, many more products are seeking a home than there are homes available for successful placement. Products must be sold and marketed with aggression, vigor, and creativity. Passivity is a model for failure and that is the approach taken by invention submission firms with these strategies.
I have asked many inventors, “Did you ask for successful product placement references”? They universally answer, “I was told, that because of secrecy agreements they signed, they could not provide specific product names and details”. This is gibberish and a subterfuge. A successful product placement is by nature openly sold in the marketplace. It is no longer a secret.
Here are several important keys to consider when interviewing or seeking assistance in marketing or launching a new product:
Demand a face to face interview before hiring a firm or consultant.
Demand references of successful campaigns.
Demand to see successful product specimens.
Check the firm out with Better Business Bureau, States Attorney General.
Demand a patent strategy for a utility filing.
Demand a template of processes the firm utilizes.
Break out costs for each service provided.
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