Updates from December, 2008

  • Why Should Your Prospects Listen to You?

    Partner 12:00 am on December 31, 2008 | 0 Permalink | Reply

    Have you ever stopped to look at your marketing materials from your prospects point of view? When you decide to pursue marketing you do research, study copy writing techniques and all the other things necessary to get your idea or product “out there”. Since you have put so much work into it, you know it through and through but you need to stop right there and ask yourself if you didn’t know anything about this miracle (product or idea) would you care?

    A very common mistake marketers make is looking at marketing from only one side. If you’re going to look at it from only one side, then choose to look at your offer from the customers side. To reach your prospects you need to answer these five magic questions.

    Who are you? – If you are going to profess some expertise and offer your super beneficial “widget” that solves all the worlds problems, or at least one specific one, then you must explain who “You” are. If you have years of experience or a degree in a relevant field then maybe you’re worth listening to. Perhaps you’ve overcome some significant struggle and now you can share your success story with others. Whatever you particular reason is you have to explain that relevant point to your prospect, otherwise why should they listen to you?

    What do you want? – Why are you bothering me? If you’re hear to tell me how wonderful you are, then you can save your breath. If you have a purpose for taking up my time then get to the point. Make it clear that you have important information that is worth sharing.

    Why should I care? – How does this apply to me, does it make a difference to me? You have to explain why this concerns “me”, not just everyone but “ME”. I don’t care about anyone else other myself so explain very directly why “I” should listen to you.

    What”s in it for me? – If I am interested in what you have to say then how does this benefit me? Will this help me or at least help me avoid something I don’t want? If there is a worthwhile benefit in what you’re pitching then make it clear as a bell. Don’t be vague or wishy-washy if it will help me then make that undeniably clear.

    What do I do now? – So you may be some kind of expert, and you have a reason to tell me about it, you’ve explained why I should listen and even explained what this super widget will do for me but what do I have to do to next, what’s my next step? It may seem obvious to you (looking from the marketer’s side) but do I fill in this form and click submit? Do I call this 800 number and schedule an appointment? You have to make these steps clear and simple. Do not assume anything and explain how to respond to your “call to action”.

    Whatever you are marketing, physical products, services or information, if you answer these five questions for your prospects you will now be pushing the right buttons. They want to know who, what, when, why and what next. Don’t make your prospects guess these questions. Look at all your marketing materials through the eyes of your prospects, you may be surprised at what you see.

    Marketing tips and resources abound, who to listen to? Listen to your conscience as you listen to “their” advice, when they both agree you are on the right track. http://TheMarketingGentleman.com

     

  • How to Generate More Leads Using the Internet

    Partner 12:00 am on December 30, 2008 | 0 Permalink | Reply

    Integrating your network marketing business with the internet can be one of the biggest steps you ever take with your business. Conventional lead generation includes a lot of business cards, flyers, brochures and phone calls. Generating leads online is so much easier, because all you need is an email address. In order to get an email address for a potential client or partner you need a website, a free offer and an auto-responder.

    Six Required Items for Network Marketing Online

    The Internet opens many new avenues for entrepreneurs. Your business will essentially run 24 hours a day 7 days a week. There is no need to babysit it or stress over whether it’s doing the job properly.

    The ability to market your business online doesn’t come for free. There will be initial investments, but they don’t have to require a lot of money. Any true business opportunity has an initial investment and a few small costs along the way.

    * Free Online Marketing Workshops: These workshops are worth their weight in gold. They allow you to learn the ins and outs of internet marketing and how to achieve success with an mlm business. As a business owner, you should strive to learn everything you can. Free online marketing workshops offer great information about starting and marketing your business.

    * Attractive Website: An attractive website doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Most website hosts offer several site builders, community building software and templates for free. Pre-made templates can serve a great purpose and most are completely free.

    * Information About Your Support Team: Network marketing thrives on relationships with people. Your website needs to showcase information about you and your team. Show your upline and explain their role in helping you achieve your goals. Make a personal promise to help your downline as much as your upline has helped you.

    * Professional E-mail Address: Along with your domain name for your website, you will need to set up e-mail addresses. If your domain name is your last name dot com, your e-mail should also end with your last name dot com. Free e-mail accounts are great, but they are very generic and not very professional. When you own your own domain, you can set up your own e-mail account using your domain name.

    * An Auto-Responder: An auto-responder is a piece of software that allows you to send e-mails out to people automatically. It doesn’t write and send the e-mail for you; it simply allows you the flexibility to pre-write e-mails and sends them to your mailing list on a specific schedule.

    * Freebies: One of the best ways to attract potential customers or business partners is to offer something for free. You could offer free samples of your products for instance, or a free e-book about building a network marketing online business. If you have a joint venture set up with someone else, offer something for free from their website. It will get both of you more exposure and business.

    Marketing Your MLM Business Online

    After your website is up and running, it is time to go full force into marketing and advertising. Successful marketing campaigns may include several options for advertising. Some options include pay-per-click, paid banner advertisement, or joint ventures with other similar mlm businesses. Many forms of advertising may prove beneficial, including the following:

    * Free Online Marketing Workshops: This item belongs in both lists simply because it truly is one of the best ways you can learn about internet marketing. A free online marketing workshop can help you plan your entire internet marketing campaign.

    * Articles: Writing and distributing articles. If you don’t feel you can write the quality articles required for distribution, hire someone to write them for you. Potentially millions of people will see them; you want to make a great first impression!

    * Blog: Blogging is one of the most popular ways to market online businesses. It allows you to tell about your business and just be yourself. It also allows potential customers or partners to get to know you. Would you go blindly into business with someone you know nothing about? Not many people would.

    * Free Classifieds: Advertising your business website in free online classifieds is a great way to get attention. People love classified ads and there’s nothing like free advertising! To find the most utilized free classifieds online, simply do a search on your favorite search engine.

    * Signature Lines: E-mail or forum signatures are a great way to get relevant back links to your website to increase your site’s popularity. Website popularity is one of the many ways search engines index and rank a website. The higher your search engine ranking, the better your chances are of being seen.

    * Business Newsletter: Newsletters are often used by people who utilize auto-responders. A monthly newsletter helps remind people about your website and allows you the opportunity to invite them back. Remember, don’t spam! One newsletter per week or even per month is just right.

    John Meatte brings a dignified and professional approach to network marketing. He is a top recruiter and network marketing expert who is willing to share his knowledge even with those not on his team. Learn more about Permission Marketing at : johnmeatte.com/; or call him at 520-744-6786/520-744-4924

     

  • How to Integrate Your Network Marketing Business to the Internet

    Partner 12:00 am on December 30, 2008 | 1 Permalink | Reply

    Everyone who’s anyone has a website these days. Your network marketing business could benefit greatly from online exposure. After all, network marketing is based on networks of people with the ability to buy and sell products.

    What is the ultimate network marketing tool? The Internet! Many people have found successful ways to market their mlm online. Some have gone the extra mile to set up free online training workshops to help their downline or others succeed as well.

    Don’t let the Internet intimidate you. Free online marketing workshops are available from entrepreneurs who have really achieved success and know how to guide you in the direction you need to go.

    Online businesses help make you relatively anonymous. No awkward business presentations and no sales pitches to practice on your friends or family.

    All you need is a great website, an equally great marketing plan and the time and effort required to succeed. Chances are if you’re already into network marketing, you have what it takes to be a success; you simply have to find your niche.

    The actual website is a major part of the success of your business. But don’t worry, you don’t have to be a web designer to effectively operate a great website.

    Marketing tools and site design tools are abundant with most hosting services. Website design has become such a mainstream part of life for many people. Due to freelancers trying to break into website design, inexpensive web designers can often be found at a relatively low cost.

    Your Own Network Marketing Website

    Taking your business to the Internet opens your business up to international growth. If your business includes building teams of people who sell products or services, networking online allows the opportunity for unlimited exponential growth.

    More than one-billion potential customers and partners log onto the Internet every single day. With millions of websites visited on a daily basis, yours needs to be exceptional!

    Building an exceptional website to promote your network marketing business shouldn’t cost a fortune. Free online marketing workshops will be a significant help in building a marketing plan for your mlm business.

    Be prepared to invest at least a minimal amount of money in your website if you expect it to succeed. Your website must be professional; not full of flashy or annoying ads. The more professional your website is in appearance, the more return traffic you will receive. Return traffic easily converts to paying customers.

    Professional E-mail

    The number of free e-mail providers is astounding. Free e-mail is great for Internet users, students and personal use; not quite so great for business use. When you own your own business and have your own website address, you also have your own domain name.

    Owning your own domain name for your business means much more than a catchy name for your website; it also means the ability to have a truly unique e-mail address. Using an e-mail address specific to your website name is much more professional than simply registering with the latest free e-mail website.

    Showcase Your Products or Services

    Your network marketing business deserves the best domain name and website design you can possibly give it. After all, it’s your online real estate. It’s the place in which you will showcase your products and services.

    The Internet opens up great opportunities for “window shoppers” so to speak. Shoppers love to browse goods online. Effective product placement helps ensure more sales, often better than cheaper prices. An attractive website receives more traffic and ultimately more sales.

    Amazing Customer Service

    Online shoppers have a wide variety of shopping areas on the Internet. Your website has the potential to attract customers. How do you plan to ensure customer satisfaction? Just like offline brick and mortar companies, your business will get a lot of word of mouth advertising.

    Your customer service and leadership skills will be tested time and time again. The ability to provide outstanding customer service and training may mean the difference between success and failure. Great shopping opportunities abound online and implementing your network marketing business with the Internet opens those opportunities up to you.

    John Meatte brings a dignified and professional approach to network marketing. He is a top recruiter and network marketing expert who is willing to share his knowledge even with those not on his team. Learn more about Permission Marketing at : johnmeatte.com/; or call him at 520-744-6786/520-744-4924

     

  • Network Marketing- Third Party Call Effectiveness

    Partner 12:00 am on December 27, 2008 | 0 Permalink | Reply

    There are two circles in network marketing- those who like the third party calls and those who think they are a flat waste of time. Today we are going to look at both sides of the coin and then you can decide which stance to take.

    First off, what is a third party call?

    A third party call is when you are talking to your prospect and you bring in a third person (hence the name) to talk to that person. The purpose of bringing in the third party is to introduce them as an expert in your business, one who knows the answer to all of the questions. It is also to give you and your business validation in hopes to bridge the gap and create trust sooner.

    The good points.

    The newbie. Let’s face it, everyone at some point is making their first phone call in their network marketing business. Shaking like a leaf, not knowing what to say, they miraculously get a person qualified and on to the website and more information. But now it is time for the questions about the pay plan and the system. Here is where most newbies drop the ball because they either don’t know enough or think they don’t know enough.

    Enter the expert. By introducing the expert at this point, it is enabling even a day one network marketer to move forward in their business. That third party can come in, answer the questions, close the sale, and edify the new team member.

    The validator. With the number of network marketing businesses out there, many people are hesitant to either believe that a caller is in a real business and that the business is not a scam. They have been to a million websites and have heard pitch after pitch. Introducing a third person into the mix after your prospect has shown a significant interest gives the business more validation.

    The believer. One of the main things that pushes people over the edge when making a decision on whether to join a business is their belief that they too can make it work. The third party call helps them to see that there is a unified front, the there is teamwork in place, and that they are not going to thrown to the wolves after they spend their money. That may be the deciding factor for some.

    The bad points.

    The crutch. Sometimes when people know that they have the third party call to fall back on they do not ever develop the skills that they need to close the sale themselves. They know that there is someone there to get the job done for them so they shy away from learning the important tool of closing. This in turn makes them an ineffective leader as they then cannot assist their team members by being the third party expert.

    The time waster. When first starting out in network marketing it never fails that the first ten or twenty people that a newbie talks to who shows the slightest bit of interest is going to be “the next big one.” It takes a learning to understand what people are really saying. So leaders who make themselves available for third party calls end up wasting a lot of time on calls for people who they know are tire kickers from the first five seconds. This then takes productive time away from them.

    The interrupter. The whole purpose of the third party call is to bring in an “expert” making the prospects feel important and more comfortable with what they are hearing. The interrupter negates that by cutting off the expert, disqualifying their answers, and stepping all over the top of them. In the end the expert looks like a fool and the whole call is a waste of time.

    It has to be done correctly.

    The bottom line is that in choosing whether or not to do third party calls you have to decide how involved you want to be. Your team is going to emulate how you do things, therefore if you bring them into your network marketing business by way of a third party call it will be expected for you to do that for them.

    Third party calls when done correctly can be very powerful. It does take a certain amount of training and explaining with your team members for it to work the way that it should. Here are a few tips to follow if you decide that you want to include third party calls in your business.

    Create a strong expectation management with your team
    Have a protocol to follow when doing a third party call
    Make sure your team knows whats edification is and how to use it
    Head off the crutches, the time wasters, and the interrupter before the even start
    Know a little about the prospect that you are talking to- it helps build a connection

    If you don’t decide to do third party calls make sure you have other tools in place to validate yourself and your network marketing business. Many successful networkers have never done a third party call- you have to follow what is comfortable for you.

    To comment on the article above or to read others by Jen Patton go to her blog Tips From A Network Marketer. This article was originally published at http://tipsfromanetworkmarketer.com/2008/12/10/network-marketing-third-party-call-effectiveness

    You can also sign up Jen’s newsletter by going to PowerfulMarketingStrategies.com

     

  • Holding On to Customers During Tough Times

    Partner 12:00 am on December 27, 2008 | 0 Permalink | Reply

    In the current economy, there is a very real and growing concern about how to gain and to keep customers. This was apparent at the 2008 North American Conference on Customer Management (NACCM) this year, with attendance lower than it has been in some time. The irony is that much of what was presented provided insight on how to reach out and hold on to customers during tough times.

    In stressful times such as these, many companies tend to pull away from their customers, and may even cut back on satisfaction and loyalty programs to try and improve their bottom line. This, unfortunately, is a mistake because it cuts at the very heart of what we all need to be doing during this time engaging customers to the point that they are willing to ride out tough economic times with us, rather than viewing us as yet another business that really doesn’t care about its customers and is willing to drop them or cut out the programs and products they care about most as soon as times get tough.

    This was part of the overarching message at NACCM, including a conference speech I gave on engagement-that it’s important to continue to invest in improving customer engagement. However, one must be smart about how one goes about it. And the five most important take aways from this years conference were:

    Engaging your customers (moving beyond ’satisfaction’ and ‘loyalty’) will create a relationship between your customers and your company and/or its product that will help you weather the economic storm or even any mistakes your company may make engaged customers really do stick with you and spend more money!

    Use tools that are as effective as possible with the least expense (web-based tools are ideal for this) tools that will not only provide you with data, but will help point you toward what is really going on with your customers

    Don’t just ’survey’ your customers use tools that will provide you with leading indicators that will allow you to predict how a much larger group of customers will react based on the responses of a smaller group.

    Don’t forget your employees! Engaged employees have a positive effect (a ’spillover effect’) on the engagement of your customers.

    Engaging your customers means taking action. Even small improvements can mean an increase in your customer’s share of wallet, positive word of mouth and referrals and increased retention and productivity from employees

    The key in all of this is to overcome the reactionary fear that comes with a downturn in the economy and to look beyond. By spending smarter and in the right areas (what area is more important than those people who allow us all to be paid?) we can do more than survive-we can continue to thrive.

    Terence Fugazzi is the VP of Demand Marketing at Allegiance (allegiance.com). His company provides Customer Engagement Software that helps organizations grow and increase profitability through improved customer loyalty and engagement.

     

  • MLM Success: Why Knowing Your "Why" Is So Important

    Partner 12:00 am on December 26, 2008 | 0 Permalink | Reply

    The biggest key to success in MLM is your mindset. If you believe you’re going to be successful and you have a positive attitude there’s nothing you can’t do.

    If you don’t know “why” you are in MLM stop! Don’t do anything else, don’t make another call, don’t send another email. Because if you don’t know your “why” I can almost guarantee you that you’re not going to be successful in your business.

    That’s a pretty bold statement, but it’s true. You will never win if you don’t know what you’re fighting for.

    What do I mean when I say your “why”? Why are you doing the business? Why do you want to make money from home? Why do you want the amazing lifestyle that a successful MLM business offers you? Why?

    When we ask people why they are interested in starting an MLM business most people will say “money”. Your why is never money. You might think you are motivated by money but the truth is nobody really is. What you are motivated by is what the money can do for you.

    When you’re attempting to discover your why you’ll want to think about things that cause you to become emotional. Your husband or wife, your kids, your parents, your childhood dreams, things that really hit you right in the heart.

    We would never attempt to tell you what your why is, but let me give you a few examples why members of our MLM business are working their business.

    Being able to take care of your parents.

    Being able to give your children a better life than you had.

    Allowing your spouse to quit his or her job. Living in the house of your dreams or the ability to give more money to your church or favorite charity.

    Perhaps you want to wake up every morning and do exactly what you want to do. Maybe you want to save money for your children’s college fund.

    It’s also important to have more than one why. You should have at least 10 or 20.

    Now that you know why you’re working your MLM business you need to focus on your why every single day. When you come home from a hard day on your job and don’t feel like working on your MLM business take a look at your “why” and if it’s strong enough it will push you to work a little harder even when you don’t want to.

    There is nothing that will motivate someone to become successful in MLM more than their “why”. Make sure you have a why and your chance for a successful MLM business grows dramatically.

    If you’d like to achieve life changing success in network marketing visit our website, Massive Network Marketing Success, or Zurvita Blog today.

     

  • Cash Gifting Or Network Marketing?

    Partner 12:00 am on December 26, 2008 | 0 Permalink | Reply

    There is a lot of buzz about cash gifting. You’ll find information about cash gifting everywhere you look on the internet.

    There are articles about cash gifting, plenty of videos, they’re on Craigslist, forums, cash gifting is everywhere! Many people may not know the difference between a network marketing business and a cash gifting program.

    I will be the first to admit that if you’re searching for a way to make some fast money from home, cash gifting does sound like a good idea. Let me be perfectly clear that network marketing businesses and cash gifting are very, very different.

    Let me start with the obvious, cash gifting is illegal. It is the definition of a pyramid scheme. If you have a business and there is no product or no service, it’s not legal and you do not want to be a part of it. I have had plenty of cash gifters tell me that it’s legal but it isn’t.

    For any business to be legit there must be a product or service that they provide to their customers. No product? Don’t do it, it’s as simple as that.

    There are numerous examples of cash gifters who have been prosecuted. In 2003, more than twenty women belonging to the Sacramento California based cash gifting club “Women Helping Women” were arrested and charged. Rather than face imprisonment, all pled guilty and were sentenced to a significant amount of community service and fines, in some instances up to $150,000.

    Of course these women all claimed that what they were doing was legal. That’s the same argument made by cash gifting programs that are in operation today but they do not offer a product and therefore they are not legal.

    Cash gifting is not a way to make any kind of real income. Sure you might make a little bit in the beginning (money that you may be forced to pay back when the attorney general comes knocking on your door) but when you can’t find more people to get started in the “business” the money dries up and a lot of people will lose hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

    When you are a part of a legitimate network marketing business you build an income based on selling products and the product sales of people that join your business. The income you create is much more stable and while your income may fluctuate it won’t disappear.

    The biggest reason most people are looking for a legitimate network marketing business opportunity is the residual income that a legit network marketing business can provide. There is nothing like getting paid month after month and year after year for doing something one time!

    There is no comparison between cash gifting and an honest, legal and ethical network marketing business.

    If you’d like to achieve life changing success in network marketing visit our website, Massive Network Marketing Success, or Zurvita Blog today.

     

  • 'Unplugfests' Push New Advancements for Wireless Bluetooth Professionals

    Partner 12:00 am on December 23, 2008 | 0 Permalink | Reply

    Bluetooth Wireless phones: they’re most often known as those little ear pieces that you see people sporting like a bad prop on some random Star Trek extra. Those Blue Tooth headpieces are a staple among the common telecom consumer. Whether you think them tacky or uber convenient, Bluetooth tools like these are quite varied and usefull. And wireless equipment manufacturers keep churning out new uses for the short-range transmitter every year.

    What keeps new Bluetooth products being released to the market is a lot of standing on the back’s of other developers and working through the paperwork to having a final product made by the wireless equipment manufacturer. The trade organization that works to keep everyone in the industry on the same page and pushing forward is the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (more commonly known as Bluetooth SIG). And the meetings they hold to do this are, quite cleverly called, “unplugfests.”

    For a little background, Bluetooth is a trade name that stands for a type of data transmission that is done through wireless wavelengths. It’s unique to most wireless signal because it specializes that data transmission in a short diameter. It gives people their little bubble of private network communications between computer peripherals or wireless capable devices. It’s different from the, ever so popular wi-fi, in that it requires much less power thereby requiring less expensive equipment for manufacturers.

    Bluetooth SIG has a vested interest in making sure that all companies, manufacturer and developers can make Bluetooth products that work well between each other. Many times a user of new products will blame the brand, Bluetooth in this case, if one buggy wireless item does not communicate or communicate well with another. And of course, since the technology is open for anyone to use (under certain pretexts), there are vast amounts of businesses that are using Bluetooth wireless, which are often made to be working in symphony together . So Bluetooth SIG announces periodically, a gathering of minds in many disclosed international locations.

    Developers, wireless equipment manufacturers and retailers come from around the globe to find the latest updates with these Unplugfests and, most often, test their applications there with other companies to see how it can be best implemented and released to the purchasing masses.

    There are some concerns about sharing secrets with unreleased products. These worries are often justified simply by know that success by collaborating and testing together will show success in the market as well.

    “If my worst rival performs good on the market, it will be good for me also,” said Victor Zhodzishky, a chief engineer at a renowned mobile wireless company. “If my phone doesn’t work with your headset we all lose,” he said during a taped interview at Unplugfest 28 in Brussels.

    How clear is your wireless network? Renasis (renasis.com) is a wireless equipment manufacturer that specializes in tools to amplify wireless signal with little noise disturbance. The author, Art Gib, is a freelance writer.

     

  • Educating Engineering Consultants

    Partner 12:00 am on December 23, 2008 | 1 Permalink | Reply

    In recent years there has been a shortage of highly qualified engineers available to fill positions in expanding companies, and an even bigger lack in qualified consultants in the industry. This has prompted a rise in courses on offer from Universities to applicants who have successfully worked their way through college and want to enter the world of engineering consultancy. Before such a position can be attained however, the studious individual will have to gain specialist knowledge in a chosen area, and experience the relevant working environment to fully appreciate the intricacies involved in such a discipline.

    The role of an engineering consultant is many and varied and offers an opportunity to work in just about any sector that is of interest. Deciding to undertake a degree in engineering is the first step towards becoming an engineering consultant, and as the course progresses you will become more attuned to a discipline within engineering to which you are suited. Typically, university courses offer progression within mechanical, aeronautical, construction, chemical, automotive, electrical, environmental, naval and nuclear engineering programmes.

    As can be expected, many of these disciplines cross over, which only adds to the wealth of information that could be called upon once a qualification has been attained. The working world of the engineering consultant can involve working independently for a consulting company, research department within an educational environment or being a consultant in a specialist department within a company. Becoming a chartered engineer will enable an engineering consultant to work on some of the world’s most famed engineering projects.

    Being a consultant requires excellent communication skills as well as outstanding technical skills. The job often requires a large proportion of project management, which means liaising with many people from different companies and within many departments. Managerial skills are essential as each job will require appointing teams to work on the project and managing contractors. The key feature of the job is to amalgamate a wide variety of skills successfully and demonstrate the ability to differentiate between vital and trivial aspects of the job and prioritise accordingly.

    A career in Engineering Consultancy can be a rewarding and challenging experience, and can involve travelling around the world to work on international projects. The successful consultant will find that their skills are in demand worldwide, and that there are no limits to the type of work on offer. Some projects for example could involve designing, testing and constructing a geothermal power plant.

    Although many years of study go into becoming qualified as an engineering consultant, it cannot be ignored that experience on the job is priceless. With each new contract, the consultant learns from successes as well as failings to build up practical experience that cannot be superseded by textbook knowledge. After a few years working in the engineering industry, a consultant could expect to see a salary hike from around 20000 GBP to 50000 GBP if they have attained a Chartership through further study with combined work experience.

    The consultant will be expected to be able to advise on the correct procedure from start to finish, and problem solve from beginning to end too. Being able to perceive the bigger picture enables the consultant to coordinate the tasks that need completing to get a project finished on time. Ultimately, choosing to embark on a career as an Engineering consultant takes dedication and a focused attitude as well as a good education.

    Dominic Donaldson is an expert in the engineering industry.
    Find out more about Engineering Consultants and engineering projects at URS Corp.

     

  • Resources Ideas for Inventors

    Partner 12:00 am on December 23, 2008 | 0 Permalink | Reply

    The life of an inventor can sometimes feel like a lonely struggle. Thankfully, there are a number of resources that exist to help them! Ranging from tutorials to tips to strategies to even money and grants, these resources help make the inventor’s road a little easier to travel. And when it comes to information, there is enough out there to save any inventor from lots of unnecessary headaches and frustration. So let’s dive in and explore some of the resources for inventors.

    It is usually best to start at the beginning. For that, there is no better place to turn than the Inventors section of the website About dot com. Here, new or inexperienced inventors will find their most pressing questions answered in an in-depth tutorial called “Lessons on Turning a New Idea Into Money.”

    The tutorial assumes that you know nothing on the subject and proceeds to answer your questions in a logical and straightforward way. Helpfully, all topics are covered in the proper hierarchical order that they naturally arise:

    Introduction
    Lesson 1: Understanding Intellectual Property
    Lesson 2: Patents & Inventions
    Lesson 3: How Do I Know if My Idea is Patentable
    Lesson 4: Conducting a Search for Prior Art
    Lesson 5: Is a Patent Worth Spending Money On?
    Lesson 6: How to Apply for a Patent
    Lesson 7: Proving You Were First
    Lesson 8: Making Money
    Lesson 9: Licensing
    Lesson 10: Business Plans
    Lesson 11: Raising Capitol

    If you are new to inventing, you should consider this a must-read. In addition to showing you the ropes, it will also dispel any harmful myths you may have picked up about inventions and being an inventor. By the time you are done you will be considerably wiser on the journey you are about to embark upon.

    Once you are familiar with the ins and outs of inventing, you may have more detailed questions about patents and how to get one. If and when these questions arise, the IP Watch dog website is an excellent resource. From their website: “IPWatchdog is dedicated to providing a free, reliable and easily understandable resource on intellectual property law and related topics. We promise to demystify intellectual property and explain to you what it is, why you would want to consider obtaining intellectual property rights and how to go about obtaining worthwhile intellectual property protection. We also explain various pitfalls to avoid, as well as what you can do to help yourself.”

    IP Watchdog is run by Eugene Quinn, a patent attorney, author, and law professor. This site is where he provides helpful articles, tips, and even full applications for patents, trademarks, and copyrights. If you have ever tried to dig these things up on the US Patent and Trademark Office’s website, you will appreciate what a service IPWatchdog provides! Furthermore, all of the advice, checklists, and forms are completely free of charge.

    If it’s money you’re after, there is plenty of it available. One great place to look is the Community of Science. If your invention is at all scientific or technological, there may be grant money available to you! about.com describes the funding available from this group:

    “Funding and grant opportunities for research and development, this database is huge. They also have access to job postings, career resources, recruiting centers and more. You can also locate bioresearch, drug discovery, and laboratory equipment and supplies online. They currently deliver more than 1.2 million targeted funding matches over the Internet to scientists and scholars each week.”

    Another worthwhile place to check out is the Small Business Administration’s Procurements and Grants Hot List. This will give you access to all the grant money being offered by each agency in a relatively easy-to-read format. If you are thinking about forming a small business around your invention, this could turn out to be a goldmine.

    The National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance is another funding source.

    “The National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance (NCIIA) is seeking proposals that support innovation, invention, and entrepreneurship programs in U.S. colleges and universities. Through June of each grant year, NCIIA will award approximately 50 grants of $1-50,000 each to faculty and students of member institutions.”

    Of course, one of the most helpful resources is the experiences of inventors who have succeeded and failed. You can learn priceless lessons from these warriors of industry using standard web resources like Google and Wikipedia. Often times, the real-life mistakes and triumphs of these people will be more helpful than any theoretical article. Therefore, you would be well-served to brush up on some of them.
    Above all, keep your eyes and ears open. In most cases there are plenty of resources out there to fill whatever inventing needs you may have!

    Eric Corl is the President of Idea Buyer LLC, a marketplace for new technology and products that gives inventors the opportunity to showcase their intellectual property to consumer product companies, entrepreneurs, retailers, and manufacturers. You can email him at EricCorl@IdeaBuyer.com. You can visit the site by visiting this address; ideabuyer.com New Technology and Products, Patents for Sale.

     

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