Patent Applications to Be Reviewed Outside Washington for First Time in History |  |
- Patent Applications to Be Reviewed Outside Washington for First Time in History
- 13 Tips to Starting Up in a Brand New Region
- Dealing With “I Just Can’t Afford You”
- Change of Pace and A Little Pressure: Innovation and Execution
- Starbucks Pushes Mobile Payments Ahead of New Business Trend
| Patent Applications to Be Reviewed Outside Washington for First Time in History Posted: 12 Jul 2012 01:00 PM PDT Innovative American businesses and entrepreneurs may no longer have to send their ideas off to Washington D.C. and wait years for patent approval. The US Commerce Department has announced plans to open four regional patent offices in order to clear out the backlog of patent applications and to help spur innovation and growth among American businesses.
Some critics may not agree with the added expense of the satellite offices, but lawmakers from both sides of the aisle backed the idea of adding satellite offices last year because of the overwhelming amount of patent applications currently awaiting approval. With the new offices, the US Patent and Trademark Office hopes to work through the applications more quickly and get the nation's innovative companies and individuals back on track. They also hope the extra offices will help businesses to protect their intellectual property and hopefully to create some jobs in the process. Currently, those waiting for approval on patent applications may have to wait up to three years, and more and more are filed each day. The four satellite offices will be located in Detroit, Dallas, Denver, and Silicon Valley. According to the USPTO's official announcement, the site selection for the new offices was based on public input, meetings with state and local officials, and factors such as geographical diversity, regional economic impact, and ability to recruit and obtain employees. This is the first time in the USPTO's more than 200-year history that patents will be examined outside of the Washington metropolitan area. The first satellite office in Detroit will open on July 13. The USPTO plans to create a timeline for the additional three offices within the next few months. And this may not be the last big change American innovators can expect from the USPTO. The satellite offices are being established as part of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act of 2011, which includes a larger effort to modernize the US patent system over the next several years. Image of U.S. Patent Office Interior courtesy of Library of Congress. From Small Business Trends |
| 13 Tips to Starting Up in a Brand New Region Posted: 12 Jul 2012 11:00 AM PDT Entrepreneurs usually sprout ideas from what they know best—current occupations, lifetime hobbies, subjects they've unknowingly studied for so long before starting up. Most of the time, they know who their target audience is. Which is why they feel so comfortable when taking such a big risk in order to serve them with something new.
If that target audience is located nowhere near your current headquarters, the leap into entrepreneurship may require relocation a brand new region. Whether just across town, to other side of the country or onto a different continent, launching or expanding into previously uncharted lands can be daunting. We asked members of the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC), an invitation only nonprofit organization comprised of the country's most promising young entrepreneurs, the following question to find out their advice for exploring foreign territory:
Here's what YEC community members had to say: 1. Lead With Media “I have the honor of doing CEO branding for several CEO’s, and I would advise a CEO to lead with media. Hire a public relations professional that can immediately get you on local TV, newspapers or radio, as this will add to your credibility locally and put you on fertile ground.” ~ Raoul Davis, Ascendant Strategy 2. Are Your Legal Bases Covered? “Check with your attorney to make sure you are not triggering any additional legal requirements. For example, many cities and states require a company to register if they are “doing business” in the jurisdiction. You need to notify your legal counsel so you can determine whether your new business activities trigger any additional legal requirements.” ~ Doug Bend, Bend Law Group, PC 3. Add a Local on Your Team “Most of the time, you don't know enough about another region/country to go it alone. Hire someone who understands the local markets and culture to help you get started. There are enough reasons why you might not succeed, take advantage of local insight and knowledge about the region or market. We’ve seen the benefits of hiring locally in every market we've entered: U.S., Japan, China and Mexico.” ~ Christian Springub, Jimdo 4. Research the Region “I would recommend doing research on the region and on the culture of the region. I would also recommend doing market research on the area. Become knowledgeable about the type of consumers you will encounter and their buying habits, as well as what works from a marketing/advertising/public relations standpoint.” ~ Zach Cutler, Cutler Group 5. Draft a Local Strategy “Go in with a strategy if you're in a new region. If you have a client or group of clients in the area, then have them take you around and show you who they interact with. Join them – they have a local view into the community.” ~ Jordan Guernsey, Molding Box 6. Market Makers Make Good Friends “Make friends with the market makers — the people who know and influence everyone. They set the tone for a product or service and can make or break your business. Make fans of them, and they’ll do much of the work for you.” ~ Brent Beshore, AdVentures 7. Join Startup America! “The best all-around resource for startup founders is Startup America. Sign up online, connect to startups in your new region, and attend local Startup America events. It just works — I met my top mentors and co-founders this way.” ~ Neil Thanedar, LabDoor 8. Build Your Personal Brand “As a leader, you need to build your personal brand so you can effectively launch your new business. You will need new relationships, partnerships and clients to build your company. A solid brand will attract more of these than anything else.” ~ John Hall, Digital Talent Agents 9. Speak at Local Events “Early on, find a conference or event you can speak at to create fans, customers, and a following of your product or service. Seeing someone out-of-state coming to speak about their expertise bolsters credibility at events.” ~ Kenny Nguyen, Big Fish Presentations 10. Go on a Listening Tour “Too often, an upstart company enters a new region with too much bravado. You’re entering somebody else’s community, so get to know the people — key business leaders, industry reps, and potential customers in the region. Don’t go in trying to sell, but work on listening. Set a tone that shows how you want to become part of their community. Build the relationships and the money will follow.” ~ Michael Margolis, Get Storied 11. Call In the Experts “Expanding to a new region is never as simple as “take what we did before and repeat.” Find experts in the region who can help you translate your product to the new environment. The smartest move is to find those who know the local customer sentiment, regulatory environment, real estate market, and have insights into the local talent pool.” ~ Aaron Schwartz, Modify Watches 12. Keep Uncompromising Focus “Stick to your core competency and do what you do best. It’s usually a mistake to vary your formula for success when moving into a new market. Build your brand on what you’re known for, using the killer skills that made you successful to begin with.” ~ Nick Reese, Microbrand Media 13. Be Prepared to Test “After making sure your new regional website is catered toward your new demographic, it’s important to quickly figure out what works for you in that particular market. Split-testing is priceless, since there can be culture and/or language differences that you and your team don’t completely comprehend first-hand. Move things around, try different language tones, swap out images, etc.” ~ Logan Lenz, Endagon Explore Photo via Shutterstock From Small Business Trends |
| Dealing With “I Just Can’t Afford You” Posted: 12 Jul 2012 08:00 AM PDT Regardless of what you're selling, most everyone in business has heard it:
No one likes hearing that. In some cases it might be true. In most, however, it's not. What makes me say that? Just look around. Every day thousands of people will pay $5.00 for a coffee, $15,000 for an attorney, or $50,000 for a car. Because, whatever the cost, they're convinced it's worth it. Why will a woman pay $300 for a handbag when she could find tons for a fraction of the price? Because, she's convinced that the $300 bag is worth it. Even in the cases where the excuse is true, not being able to afford something hasn't stopped 80% of Americans from buying it. So, whenever a person says they can't afford it, it usually means they just aren't convinced of the value. Which means you have 3 options: 1.) Accept it. 2.) Try to convince them otherwise. 3.) Lower your price. None are good options. The best option is to get some professional help to figure out what can be done (now) to more effectively communicate the value and benefit of the product or service you offer. Take the Macintosh computer for example. There was a time when it didn't exist. Steve Jobs and his advertising team had to figure out what they needed to say to convince people that the Mac was worth the money. The rest, as they say, is history. The fact is, that having a great product is only part of the equation. You then have to make sure you've done what's necessary to communicate those product benefits in a way that resonates with your target audience. It's not an easy thing to do, which is why savvy people like Steve Jobs sought out the best people to help them. Even with all his marketing talents Steve was the first to admit that he was no marketing expert. It's why he brought in marketing expert, Mike Markkula, while Apple was still making computers out of his garage. It's a good lesson for every small business owner who thinks they: 1.) Don't need marketing help. 2.) Don't see the value of paying for the right help. So, before you react to prospects who say, "I just can't afford it," be sure you're not saying the same thing. Too Expensive Photo via Shutterstock From Small Business Trends |
| Change of Pace and A Little Pressure: Innovation and Execution Posted: 12 Jul 2012 05:00 AM PDT How many times has pressure worked in your favor? Or is it the calmer moments that serve you better? Creativity tends to show up when you make room for it.
A Little Pressure For Your PlansIt's funny how deadlines tend to heat things up and you create and finish what you've been putting off for days or months. Let me put it this way: if you have forever to complete a task, it will probably take you forever to get it done. But add a deadline that you respect to that and things will start moving. You could finish that book in a year or six months if you had to. If it's the right kind of pressure, chances are you will rise to the occasion, and create all kinds of unique solutions along the way. So let's set that deadline — in fact, every project needs one. Since you're the boss and can change your mind, then you need a little accountability and reward to make it stick. AccountabilityYou can make the deadline concrete by bringing your team in as well as sharing it with your trusted and respected mentor. When you add others to the mix, it tends to make an idea more real. But you can do one more thing. Two days after the deadline, schedule a trip. Pay for that airline ticket, book the hotel room and the rental car. It can be business or pleasure — the point is you have to leave town. That adds to the pressure. The right kind of pressure is good for planning and execution. Quick Tip: To be effective the deadline has to be doable, so make it realistic and have a little fun with that trip. A Pace Change for Your IdeasFor the always mobile, traditionally type A personality, it may be time for a change of pace. In Use This Summer To Boost Creativity, Anita Campbell, Founder of Small Business Trends, suggests that you take advantage of the season by getting into the summer flow. She says in the summer "things slow down" and "we take vacations." So back to our trip — it can pay for it self in terms of this:
When you get back to it, you just may solve some of the problems that have had you stuck. We can stress and overwhelm ourselves until the best ideas die. Or we can switch it up, and give creativity a little room to breathe. Deadline Photo via Shutterstock From Small Business Trends |
| Starbucks Pushes Mobile Payments Ahead of New Business Trend Posted: 12 Jul 2012 02:30 AM PDT Mobile marketing for business is exploding these days, but there’s another side to the mobile revolution that you’ll want to consider, especially if your company takes customer payments regularly. Here are a few new developments and what you need to understand about the mobile payment trend. Starbucks MobileThe fastest way to pay. The hugely successful coffee chain offers a way to pay for beverages and other products using your smartphone in a move many say could be the payment of choice for the future. Here are the details on the Starbucks app, in all its glory. Perhaps providing your own payment option might be in the cards for your business, too. Starbucks for Android Wake up and smell the coffee. Starbucks is introducing the Android app already available in its US store to customers in Canada and the UK. Currently the company boasts 55 million transactions from mobile devices in the US. Imagine the mobile sales your business may be missing. The Verge Here comes big foot. With the new apps, Starbucks expands its mobile payment footprint globally. The company’s efforts will help boost customer acceptance and demand for a new way of paying for products and services, creating the opportunity for other business to experiment with mobile payment programs too. Chain Store Age Startup ServicesMobile moving to your town. While mobile payments may not yet be an option for many brick and mortar businesses, it could be soon. GoPago, a startup offering its own smartphone payment app for merchants and backed by an investment from JP Morgan Chase, is testing the app in San Francisco and soon other major cities. Technology Review Paydiant dials for dollars. And now the Maryland-based company has raised $12 million in investment from Stage 1 Ventures, amounting to a total of $20 million in investment to date. Experts say mobile payments have been waiting to take off, and it seems many companies are preparing to provide services, making it easier for businesses to take those payments. Xconomy Mobile TrendsSmartphone users call for mobile option. Lest any business owner question whether a demand for mobile payment truly exists, take a look at results from a survey by the International Data Corporation. According to the survey, one third of Americans have already made mobile payments. BizReport Putting mobile payments on speed dial. Plenty of data suggests mobile payments are an option customers want to use now and in the future, and one that could mean additional revenue for businesses. But more effort and customer education is needed to jump start mainstream adoption. Ad Age Digital Mobile moves up. The trend toward mobile payments is part of an overall increase in the use of mobile devices, not just for purchasing, but for accessing bank accounts, credit card, and other financial information in the US, says the US Federal Reserve. The increase in use of mobile devices for all of these daily activities should give business owners a good idea of where they should be headed to connect with customers. Daily Deal Media Other Ways to PayBeing where you’re not. For some, mobile payments might involve paying for something, perhaps your daily cup of coffee, while physically at your local coffee shop. But research indicates an even greater number of customers buy on their mobile devices whether at a physical location or not, for example buying tickets for your favorite concert or sports event on your smartphone. The Third Screen Apple doesn’t move on mobile payments. While Google already offers a payment system on its Android platform and Microsoft is preparing a mobile payment option of its own, one major company is dragging its feet on mobile payments citing security concerns. The delay might be a hurdle for businesses seeking to offer mobile payment options. PC World From Small Business Trends |
| You are subscribed to email updates from Small Business News, Tips, Advice - Small Business Trends To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
No comments:
Post a Comment