Creating customers is the main goal of any business because they are the one who makes the business itself. Sometimes, providing time, money and effort in improving your products and services is important, but what counts a lot are the customers. They determine your success whether you are just a small business owner.  Therefore, many companies are providing excellent customer service to ensure their continued patronage.

Keeping the old ones is very vital because they spend more of their money buying your products. Because they are more likely t refer you to their family, officemates and friends.  The loyalty of the customers to the company is developed. But as a company expands and grow into larger one, new customers are coming in.

New customers are another challenge for entrepreneurs. Some are just “window shoppers” who are just looking around and trying to figure what is new with your product. Some are “doubters” who tend to look that they want to buy but having second thoughts.  The goal of the company now is to lure them into the fold and make them their patrons.

There are so many tested tips to attract more buyers. Many corporations had adopted the procedures and were successful. But as time changes, innovative methods in attracting more clients are now being used. Here are some of those:

To increase the potential of gaining more clients, join social networks. To publicize your product, think of signing up in any social network sites. This is where people go to connect to one another. Promoting your product in these sites would probably generate more sales since people are here to chat and talk about what is in.



Follow up letters and e-mails would help. Usually, customers would ask inquiries about your product; take time in answering those questions by replying to them. Give them all the details of your product. Your response would be a clear sign that you are interested making a deal with them.



Offer your clients with some freebies. Consumers don’t purchase the product unless they have tried it themselves. By putting the product in client’s hands, this gives them a first-hand experience and sees the results for themselves.  You may be giving a lot of free samples, but in return, you would have more sales more than you have spent.



Try direct response marketing. This one works like as if you are just getting to know a certain person. You call your clients and befriend them. Your new acquaintances would earn you new customers. Then slowly  introduce your product to them provide them an irresistible offer plus a gift to make them buy your product

Do direct selling. The salesperson comes in direct contact with the client. These include demonstrations, free delivery, and satisfaction guarantees. The client doesn’t need to go out anymore in order to get something, therefore minimizing the hassle in purchasing.



The traditional way of customers going to the mall to buy is slowly fading away. The trend today is bringing the product to customer’s right in to their doorsteps. The Internet has also revolutionized the system by simply directing their needs in just press of their keypad.

That is why an entrepreneur, in order for him to gain more profits, should switch now to modern methods of attracting more clients into his company.



By: Donna Price

About the Author:

“I have thought through and worked out the innovative concept in my mind. Can I patent it at this stage?” The inventor is typically in a dilemma as to when he/she should proceed to start the patenting process. The life cycle of converting an innovative idea into a product typically runs into many years. During which of these stages should one file for patent protection – when the inventive concept is firmed up, at a first level prototype, mature prototype, early product phase or in the maturity stage of the product lifecycle? Surprise of surprises, the timing for patenting is not determined by the stage of the product life cycle. It is dependent on when you plan to publicly disclose the innovative idea, or market the new product. With intense competitive product development occurring in some of the hot and well funded areas like software, electronics, nanotechnology and biotechnology, it is prudent to protect your idea at the earliest stage, possibly at the point when the innovative or inventive idea is conceptualized.

“Hitting is timing, pitching is upsetting timing,” said Warren Spahn, a famous American baseball pitcher. In every country of the world except the United States, the patent is awarded to the first to file. The US is the only country that grants a patent to the person who was the first to invent and this rule is scheduled to be changed shortly to bring the US in line with the first to file rule.

In many countries, the inventor loses the right to file a patent if the invention is publicly disclosed before the patent application is filed. Therefore, prudence dictates that an invention not be disclosed before an application for it has been filed in the patent office. Developed countries are exposed to developing technologies at an early stage of the technology. They can envision new applications of these technologies ahead of their counterparts from developing countries. Hence, it is to their advantage to patent an innovative idea, at the concept level, before their counterparts in developing countries.

“Can a patent application be filed for a prophetic invention, i.e., for an invention based only on an idea that has not been tried, tested, perfected, prototyped or reduced to practice?” The answer is: Yes. “Does the patent office require one to have a fully working or marketed product before filing a patent application?” The answer is: No. A new concept is patentable provided the concept is workable and the inventor discloses in the patent application how to make and use the invention. An invention comprises an inventive concept plus a reduction to practice of the inventive concept. The courts have held that filing a patent application based only on a workable, inventive idea is the equivalent of a reduction to practice. However, if the invention, on its face, is impossible or unworkable, the patent application will be rejected. When Thomas Edison invented and filed a patent application for the light bulb, he was nowhere close to a robust working light bulb!

In the United States a patent application can be filed within 1 year of a public disclosure of the invention. Under US patent laws there is also a provision to protect your idea by filing a provisional application. The provisional application must be followed up by the filing of a non-provisional application within one year from the date of filing the provisional application. Failure to do so will result in the applicant losing the claim to priority date of the earlier filed provisional application. The period of priority is limited to six months in case of industry design and trademarks. If the non-provisional application cannot be filed within 1 year of filing of the provisional application, the applicant may file for another provisional and get another priority span. However, in this case the original priority date no longer holds.

The time tested and safest route for a company that wishes to protect its innovative idea is to withhold commercialization or publishing details of the invention until a provisional or a non-provisional application is filed and a “patent pending” status is obtained for the innovative idea.



By: Ash Tankha

About the Author:

Banners are intended to advertise or promote a product or services.Though advertising can be done through various means but custom banners are one of the simplest and easily accessible means to publicize your products, services, goods or any cause. It is the target of any business

that the advertisement must reach every person. Custom banners are those banners that are customized to suit your advertisement demands. You can choose any medium to advertise your product but the advantage of custom banners is that these are long lasting and perfect for both indoor and outdoor purposes. Mostly, banner stands are found in large exhibitions, trade shows, charity shows and also at retail stores.

Custom banners are light in weight and can be carried anywhere to your desired place for advertisement. You can place the custom banners to the arena where you think the product will get more advertised but at the end of the day you can pack it without any hassle and can carry it. It helps you to build the perfect logo and design for your event. You can make it more graphical and impressive by the help of a designer. The custom banners are an exclusive way to promote your products or services .Its smooth and remarkable design leaves an ever lasting impression on the spectators. Well, it’s up to the business owner to choose the medium of advertising since it can be done through either print media or electronic media. You have to choose any one medium that best suits your requirement. If you choose the custom banners as the medium then you can also hire the services of those companies who provide the banner advertising services.

You just have to tell the service provider, the kind of service you are looking for. The professionals are experienced enough to handle the design and style format of your banner. They can make different kind of custom banners furnished with different shape, size, design and style along with the logo of your company. You can use some attractive bylines and pictures that gives a message related to your business promotion. Without a clear message in your custom banner, a person will not be able to get the clear meaning of your advertisement. The most important aspect of advertising is that the banner must be kept at an appropriate place where you can get maximum audience. The use of custom banners is not restricted to business use only, you can also use it for personal work as well.

In a custom banner you should not only look for the design, shape and styling, but also the message that you will use in the banner for the promotion.Usually, the images do more than half of the work for you if you happen to choose the right image and message for the advertisement.Hence, it is very essential to choose the perfect image that suits suit’s your requirement. The images you chose should also be graphical to give a clear picture of your product or services. The banner also reflects your views and innovative ideas that you use in the promotion and further it will help you to make a successful promotion. There are different modes of advertisement through through banner. Some of them are horizontal banner display, double sided banner display, scrolling banners, retractable banner stands etc.You can opt for any medium of advertising your products or services.

 



By: rajthakur

About the Author:

Business concepts are all well and fine, but what do these business model innovation concepts potentially do for you? I want to share some questions designed to help you apply what you have been reading to your existing business.

What is your current business model?

If you offer many products and services, you may have more than one. Understanding how you operate now will make it easier to think about how you can improve upon the present.

In thinking about this question, you will find it helpful to focus first on what benefits customers get from what you provide. Also, consider what benefits the customers’ customers get through to the end user of the product or service. In thinking about benefits, remember that customers always want more and at a lower price. How does your business model accomplish that for them?

As an example, let’s consider the Folger’s coffee business at Procter & Gamble. That business is an industry leader in providing coffee-based products to allow consumers to have a tasty, comforting beverage at home that may or may not stimulate them with caffeine. The products are sold primarily through supermarkets, discounters, and warehouse clubs.

Compare that with the Starbucks coffee business. Starbucks primarily provides high-quality coffee and tea products through a service in complex prepared forms in coffee bars to also provide an enjoyable experience. The company further offers roasted coffee beans as a product for tasty experiences at other coffee bars and eat-away-from home locales as well as for consumers to brew at home, so that customers can always have the good-tasting products they prefer.

The companies have two different business models that provide different products, differing amounts of experience, in different ways, and mostly in different locations. Notice that Folger’s could have innovated with the Starbucks business model before Starbucks even existed as a company. The model already existed in Europe, which is what helped stimulate the Starbucks model.

Had Folger’s taken this path, there would probably be only one business model now in the industry. Interestingly, the two businesses have started to compete directly with each other’s business models by offering prepackaged coffee-based beverages that are manufactured and distributed by others into normal beverage outlets.

What were the last five business models before the current one?

Understanding how you got to where you are today often provides valuable insights into what new business models would be most attractive in the future. The forces that made those innovations work may still be around today, or may have only been slightly changed.

Has your company had a process aimed at developing improved business models?

New business processes almost always emerge from a deliberate process of innovation. If your company has yet to establish such a process, chances are higher that you have a substantial backlog of opportunities for desirable new business models.

If you have such a process, does it look at business model innovation separately from product and technological innovation?

Many companies see new products and technologies as the only potential ways to provide increased benefits to customers and end users. As the coffee discussion suggested, it can be easier to add more value by turning a product into a service than it is to focus only on improving the product itself.

For example, General Food’s Maxwell House division had introduced flavored coffees conceptually like what you get in a coffee bar in the early 1970s. Few would argue that the taste and experience of these canned items are a match for what is offered at a Starbucks or a coffee bar using Starbucks products. Without a separate focus on designing and implementing new and better business models (that may include new products and technologies), you are probably missing most of your opportunities.

When was the last time your company changed its business model?

If the answer is more than two years ago, the odds favor there being a current opportunity to implement an improved business model.

How many times has the business model changed in your industry in the last ten years?

If the answer is less than three times, there is probably untapped potential for a new business model now.

How expensive is it for you to develop and test a new business model?

The answer differs a lot from industry to industry. If the costs are low, then you have very high potential to develop an improved business model. You will face few internal hurdles to doing the necessary early experimentation. Conversely, if the costs are high, you will probably need to create an improved way to develop business models that is less expensive.

How risky is it for you to develop a test a new business model?

For some companies, reputation is so important, for example, that it is difficult to even test new things until they are almost perfect. In other industries, working with crude prototypes is the expectation.

What do you lose if your business model experiment fails in all of the predictable ways that it could? If not very much, what are you waiting for?

If much is at stake, consider ways to reduce the amount at risk or the visibility of your flops. Early experiments should be expected to create “learning” rather than solutions, so you need to have a way to get your learning on the cheap.

Copyright 2008 Donald W. Mitchell, All Rights Reserved



By: Donald Mitchell

About the Author:

Ability of any firm to realize the value of new, and assimilate it to its existing propositions to meet commercial ends reflects to its customers its innovative capabilities. Innovations and inventions in economic, social, political or in any field of activity, which promise to increase the productivity and contribute towards the development have always been appreciated and encouraged by the government of America.

This is the world of change and only with the change can there be a possibility of further growth and prosperity. Whether any firm, individual, or any group or any section of society has any idea or proposal for any new invention or innovation in their existing work process is always regarded in high esteem and is entitled to apply for grant from the government.

Different departments of government have special provisions to provide grants for those who are willing to show their innovative, scientific and creative spree that would create an everlasting impact on the generations to come and would emerge as the most useful product for the whole humanity for e.g. U.S. Department of Energy I&I supports with grants to all small businessmen who promise to adopt in their work area energy saving concepts and technologies. Those technological devices, inventories and machines using very limited energy are entitled for the Grant of I&I.

Aspiring businesses have to be always alert on funding schemes being announced by I&I twice a year. This announcement is awakening call for the businessmen to immediately avail of this opportunity by registering themselves with the Interactive Procurement System (IIPS) and then later submit their prepared proposal.

Only those proposals which respond themselves to the open announcement will be accepted by I&I. Hereby only those proposals which meet criteria of the government announced scheme and appear to be more productive and conducive than the others would be granted this privilege.

In the same way, the National Institute of Standards and Technology also fund the program called Advanced Technology Program ATP to motivate businessmen for investing the money, time and their energy for the high-risk technology development, which in turn can be utilized for increasing productivity and product development.

There is also Small Business Technology Transfer Program (STTR) regulated and administered by the Office of Technology at SBA with an intention to give boost to the start up firms or companies for bringing in technological innovations in their produced products and services. Non-profit research institutions can also be a part of the grant program by becoming an aspiring applicant for the same.

Grants not just solve the funding problem but also become a source of inspiration for the people to give their ideas and valuable propositions a good sense of deliverance, a good taste and are further able to appease the appetite of the masses.  

 



By: John Goldman

About the Author:

Every individual who loves their pet wants to give the best care for him. This can be with regard to dressing up, medical help, and cute dog toys. There are lots of innovative toys for your pet dog to play with. A range of collection of toys is introduced year after year, to suit the needs of your pets. These toys are a product of new innovative concepts and ideas. They come in attractive colours and shapes. The sizes are also small and cute so that they can be well played by your pet dog. These toys are replicated from the original pieces in colour as well as designs. This makes dog toys all the more interesting and cool as well as fun to play with.

All of the toys are made up of good material and cosy texture so that your pets can feel comfortable to its touch. Plush dog toys are stylish pieces of toys and are shaped as a cream filled pastry, a dummy credit card, a glass of juice, a bone piece, etc. All these are made up of soft cloth and filled up with cotton to give the shape of a soft toy. These are liked very much by all pets but it goes without saying that it is always the bone shaped toys that are the most sellable ones. Plush toys can be easily washed as pets often use their mouth to pick up the toys. Dog toys surely will get dirty, so a regular washing is necessary to have them always neat and tidy. There are several other types of toys like a set of glass and a jug or a pot, a pair of high heeled shoes, a Christmas house set, etc. These toys are available in fun theme toy sets so that your pet can learn to play in an organised form. This also brings awareness to your pet that shoes are worn or kept in pairs and a jug is used to pour water in the glass, etc. In this way you can take the help of dog toys to teach them healthy lessons and you can train your pet to use them appropriately.

There are other toys which are meant for chewing purposes. The chewable dog toys are for pets that have an itching tooth and love to tear off things. These toys when chewed squeeze in the mouth and spread out a wild squeak when released or left by the pet. Pet dogs find these chewable toys very interesting and they love to play with it. These dog chew toys are manufactured, with great emphasis upon the quality and hygiene hence they are absolutely fine for your pets. They can also be used by small pups as the toys are very colourful. Also the attractive sizes of the toys, which match the size of the pets make it dearer to them. Dog toys do get worn and torn out; throw them out and its time to buy new ones.

By: Jane Molano

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