Creating the next big thing is like capturing lightning in a bottle or sunshine in a jar (whichever cliché you prefer). While inventors have an uphill battle getting their products on the market en masse, you shouldn’t let that stop you from trying to create the next great invention. After all, where would we be if Bill Gates had packed it up because someone had already invented computers and programming languages? What if Thomas Edison had given up on lightbulbs because it took him a while to develop the filament?
The point is that if you have an idea for an invention, you owe it to yourself to see if your idea has legs and try to get it to the market. In this brief article, we’ll cover some resources you’ll need to begin mass-producing your world-changing innovation. If you’re an aspiring inventor, we built this piece of open-source intellectual property just for you.
1. Patent Attorney
Of course, the main thing inventors have to worry about is patent or trademark infringement. Indeed, you don’t want to be the infringer, nor do you want to be the subject of infringement, and that’s why it’s critical to find a patent attorney to assist you in getting your product to the market. Indeed, patent law is complex, which is why it’s critical to go with a law firm that has years of experience handling patent matters.
You can find registered patent attorneys online by researching the patent bar. They can help you with everything from filing a patent application to launching a startup to sell your invention. They can also represent you before the appeal board and help you win patentability opinions. Of course, you should do your due diligence to find a patent lawyer with the experience and qualifications to provide the necessary legal services during the patent application process.
2. Manufacturing Partner
Once you’ve constructed your intellectual property team, it’s time to find a manufacturer to build a prototype of your invention. Your patent practitioner can help you find a company to mass-produce your product affordably and provide prototype testing. Many manufacturers provide online configure, price, quote (CPQ) software that enables customers to input design specs and get a quote quickly.
If you plan to build your own prototype, you’ll need space and the right equipment for your building operations. It’s also a good idea to look online for a pallet jack for sale to make transporting your prototype easier. The last thing you want is to break your prototype while moving it from one location to the next.
3. Marketing
Finally, once you start producing your product, it’s time to get the word out to the masses. Social media marketing is both affordable and effective for startup companies. However, social media marketing is an art form, so it’s a good idea to outsource to a digital marketing firm that specializes in creating social media content.
It takes a lot of work to get an invention from the space in your mind to the production line, but you can do it with the right resources and strategy. The first thing you’ll need before you begin production on your new product is to hire a patent agent to protect your intellectual property and trademark your design. From there, you must find a manufacturing partner to make your product to your design specs. Finally, you need marketing to create brand awareness and get your products into consumers’ hands.
The journey from idea to product is a long one fraught with technicalities and red tape, but it’s worth it when you have an invention you believe in. With the right strategy, dogged persistence, and tenacity, your intellectual property could become a fixture in homes and businesses across the United States and even the world. Every invention was once merely an idea, so why shouldn’t yours be the next great thing?