Preparing for Market
Manuals and Documentation
Another important part of total product packaging is the manual, or explanation of how the product works. No doubt should be left to the customer how something works. If they can't figure something out, users might think it is broken or may want to send it back for a refund. Many problems can be avoided by having simple, easy to read documentation for the product.
In order to make sure the manual will not leave anything to the customer's imagination, it's a good idea to have friends, partners, or test subjects try out the product while reading the manual. It is easy for inventors to understand their own product because they invented it! So a mind untrained with the invention will help catch anything that is confusing or might cause the customer any trouble with using it.
A link to the product web site in the manual is a good idea. This way, if new problems are found with how to use the product, the user can look to the web site for any problems not addressed in the manual. The web site should also have a discussion board, or at least a frequently asked questions page, where customers with problems can ask for help. The inventor might not have thought of these problems and can address them on the web site.
Paper outline
- Protecting inventions
- Manufacturing the product
- Getting resources and financing
- Testing the market
- Preparing products for market
- Closing thoughts
- Download the entire paper
Check out the Silent Timer Web site to see the product Erik took to market. Contact him with any questions.
