Low Cost Strategies To Learn Sales And Marketing Tactics That Might Work For Your Invention
by Don Debelak, New Product Marketing Specialist/Entrepreneur Magazine Columnist
1. Talk to other inventors. They are by far your best source of help because they have learned the hard way and are usually willing to help other inventors. You can find those inventors in new product news in trade magazines, at trade shows and by looking in the Patent Gazette.
Trade magazines are one of the best sources for any industry and they often carry press releases about inventor products. Trade magazines are not for consumers but for retailers and manufacturers. You can find trade magazines either by asking people in the industry or by looking in Gale's Source of Publication and Broadcast Media, which you can find in larger libraries. Look in the new product sections of trade magazines and call up any company that appears to be small. Explain that you are an inventor and ask if there is someone you can talk to who might be able to offer you some marketing advice.
2. Talk to manufacturers' sales agents in your product area. These agents are well versed in the products that have been introduced in their fields. You can start your search for a nearby manufacturer's sales agent by asking for their names from retailers in the same industry as your new product. The representatives will be more helpful if they know you were referred by one of their customers.
Another way to locate representatives is through industry associations. They typically have an affiliate membership category for representatives and often make their address available on their web site or membership directory. You can find the names of associations in trade magazines, or by using Gale's Book of Associations, which can be found in reference sections of larger libraries. You can also look into web sites that promote reps, the best one being MANA (Manufacturer's Agents National Association) at www.manaonline.org. Other rep sites are www.mrpusa.com, www.findasalesagent.com, www.replocate.com and www.rephunter.com.
3. Ask contacts for just three introduction steps. Most people will be turned off if you ask them broad questions. They won't have the time to give you an entire product introduction lesson. My experience is that three steps seems to be just the right number, enough to get the person talking but not so many that they feel you are imposing on them.
Don Debelak is a columnist for Entrepreneur Magazine, author of several invention marketing books and the host of the inventor help site www.dondebelak.com. Don has been involved with inventors and inventions for more than 20 years.
Mr. Debelak is contributing to Inventors Community as an industry expert, but is not employed by or otherwise compensated by INPEX, InventHelp or its affiliates. His participation at INPEX does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of InventHelp or its affiliate companies.
