Selling Invention Ideas: How to Sell Your Invention Ideas

What do you do after you actually succeed in implementing your own amazing idea? You would definitely want to obtain a patent for your idea and commercialize your invention. Here's some advice on how to sell your ideas.
Selling Invention Ideas: How to Sell Your Invention Ideas
Creative minds are always overflowing with new ideas. Often, these ideas are brushed aside, since nobody has the patience to take pains and materialize them. But there are a few people who actually succeed in practically implementing their ideas. If you are one of those few people, you might think about commercializing your revolutionary invention. Selling your idea might seem to be a daunting task at the beginning, because you may not know how to proceed further, whom to approach and so on. But by applying a few marketing tactics, you can easily set the market buzzing about your brainchild before it is launched.

How to Sell Your Invention Ideas

Firstly, you need to identify if your new product stands a chance of surviving in the market. Your invention is of no use if it is an expensive replica of an existing product or technology. Potential seller companies will check a few facts about your product before approving it, such as:
  • Does your invention reduce the manufacturing cost or manufacturing duration?
  • Is there any existing product in the same product line in the market that excels in all the areas when compared to your product?
  • What are the prospects of return for the company?
If your invention complies at least one of the above conditions, you can seriously think about commercializing your invention idea. Following are the steps to guide you as to how to sell your invention ideas.

Maintain Secrecy
Do not spread a word about your idea before you have obtained a patent for it. Chances are that somebody might steal your idea and sell it in his or her name. You obviously do not want someone else filing a patent for your idea before you do. Hence, discuss your idea only with the people you trust, and that too in strict confidence.

File for a Patent
Patent your idea as soon as you seriously think about commercializing your product. Obtain a patent before you approach potential sellers of your product. If you are wary of doing the legal formalities yourself, hire an attorney who can do the paperwork on your behalf. Your product needs to be registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Build a Prototype
After you have obtained a patent, it is time to build a prototype model. Potential sellers are likely to be interested in your model, if you have something concrete to show them. Your product's prototype model gives the potential sellers an idea about how your finished product will look like. It is anytime better than a hi-fi multimedia presentation without actual demonstration of the working of a product.

Press Releases
Press releases is a great option to create a buzz about your new product in the market. You can explain your product profile in the press releases. You can publish it in a local newspaper as well as in the trade magazines. Press releases can assure a wider exposure to your new invention.

Business Networking
Business networking is yet another option of creating awareness about your product. You can attend the chamber of commerce meetings or other business seminars in your area. This will give you an opportunity to meet potential sellers and discuss your ideas with them.

If you plan your sales strategy smartly, you can easily have your product flying off the shelves in no time. Selling invention ideas can be beneficial, both in terms of money as well as for creating your own brand name.

By Ashwini Kulkarni
Published: 7/11/2009
 
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