Steps For Inventors

With the success of the new show, American Inventor, I was curious about the ways a novice inventor would go about getting their invention out in the public eye. A lot of self-employed individuals are self-employed because of a skill they possess or a product they've created that not many people, if any, can duplicate.

It all starts with an idea

First you have to have your million dollar idea. I've seen this process take place for someone many years ago. This person had several ideas for the next big role playing game. This guy had passion and I admired his drive and motivation. He was a big game freak himself so his game ideas were on point and very creative. I honestly don't know what became of his ideas but he had all of the potential and drive. If you don't have the passion or the motivation, you're setting yourself up for failure before you even try. Document your ideas by keeping a journal. Write everything down so that you won't forget things you may want to include down the line.

Do Your Research

Is your invention already out on the market? You may think you've come up with the best idea ever only to realize it's already been done. The key here is to research patents and make sure someone hasn't already beat you to the punch. You'll also want to research your target market. Will there be a demand for your product? Researching the market will also benefit you because you'll see what you'll have to compete with and what your competition is currently selling their product for.

Creating a Prototype

This is your initial design come to life. Creating your prototype is critical before you even begin filing for a patent. You want to be sure your prototype is working to the standards you've set so that later on down the road, you won't be regretting not including key features in your patent application. Not only that, but your prototype is what you'll be using to sell your idea to manufacturers and investors. You want it to be in the best working order possible. It won't mean it's perfect, but get it as close to your final product as possible.

Filing a Patent

You'll want to seek professional help in this area. Filling out the patent paperwork can be handled by you, but seek the services of a lawyer and patent professional to review your paperwork. You'll want to do your research on these experts as well. Just because they provide the service you need, just like in any industry, you want to deal with people that are on the up and up. Ask around for referrals or interview different lawyers and patent specialists to be sure they can handle all of your needs.

These steps are just the tip of the iceberg. There are a lot of places where you can find good information on where to begin in bringing your invention to life. The ebook below is a great how-to guide. The author is an inventor himself and knows the ins and outs to getting your ideas off the ground.