“Your business plan is a document that needs to be accurate and realistic, because it will detail everything that your business does, where it stands now, what you hope to achieve with your business, your target market, your unique selling point, and all of your financial forecasts for your business,” notes Helen Cox, webmaster of Angel Start-ups. Business plans are decision-making tools; there is no fixed content for a business plan, Cox notes. “Rather the content and format of the business plan is determined by the goals and the audience,” she explains. “A business plan should contain whatever information is needed to decide whether or not to pursue a business goal.”

You also need to ensure that your business plan is updated on a regular basis as it is a living document, adds Cox. “You need to make sure that when something changes within your business that it is documented within your business plan,” she advises. “This will allow you to keep track of your businesses development and will ensure that you know what is happening in your business from start to finish.”

Preparing a business plan draws on a wide range of knowledge including finance, human resource management, intellectual property management, supply chain management, operations management, and marketing, Cox continues. “It can be helpful to view the business plan as a collection of sub-plans, one for each of the main business disciplines,” she says. “Within your business plan you should define your business position and your market. You need to outline your competitors and include any market research that you have conducted. You should be fully aware of your marketplace and understand the trends that happen within it. It is also a good idea to know what your competitors’ advantages and disadvantages are and then compare these to your own.”

Finally, says Cox, “once you have written your plan you should get at least two people to read through it to make sure that they understand it, while checking the grammar and spelling.”

Source: EzineArticles.com

Posted August 24th, 2010 under Intellectual Property Marketing. [ Comments: none ]

Under a new partnership agreement, 2Market Information Inc., parent company of IP Marketing E-News, is offering subscriptions to RoyaltyStat, a research and benchmarking database containing nearly 10,000 easily searchable license agreements from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Every license agreement in RoyaltyStat contains at least one numerical royalty rate or license fee, and the database is continuously updated every business day. The comprehensive database also features a quick search engine and powerful analytical tools to help in analyzing licensing deals and valuing intangible assets. The online tool eliminates hundreds of research hours you would otherwise spend combing countless sources to get the specific industry data you need. Instead, you’ll have 24/7 anytime access to specialized royalty rate data and can access market comparables and benchmarks in a matter of minutes. For complete details and to see a Powerpoint demonstration, CLICK HERE >>>

Posted August 24th, 2010 under Intellectual Property Marketing. [ Comments: none ]

In a recent column for “American Express Open Forum” Ivana Taylor, CEO of Third Force, offered a number of small business marketing tips, including an exhortation to “speak your mind.” By spreading the message that is most important to their businesses, she explains, entrepreneurs can bring their biggest issues to the forefront. She also suggests making sure that the company’s website is updated to reflect the most current deals and events in your marketplace. Here are some other tips Taylor offered:

Start taking social media seriously: “It’s time to stop experimenting and start managing your social media strategy,” she writes. “Create a policy around social media, even if you’re only a one-person operation. Your social media policy should include your objectives for each site and any rules you have around posts, articles, pictures, and so on.”

Get all your customer lists in a single place: By creating a master list, says Taylor, a small business owner can divide customers into categories and figure out the best way to market to each segment.

Create a brand: Even a simple car repair shop needs a name customers are more likely to remember in times of need. After establishing a brand, says Taylor, it may be useful to produce a video to help promote it.

Start a mobile marketing program: Taylor stresses that mobile marketing is one of the fastest growing channels worldwide. “Globally, twice as many people use text messaging as e-mail. Chances are your customers interact more with their PDA than they do with their computer,” she says.

Create a referral system: “Run a referral program that includes regular meetings with people who agree to enthusiastically refer you,” Taylor suggests. “Start by creating a referral guideline that outlines what sets your business apart, profiles your ideal customer, and describes what they might say that should trigger a referral to you.”

Focus on what the customer wants and try to market the product or service to them: Small businesses should have an idea of who their ideal clients are, and do everything in their power to attract them, says Taylor. By profiling the ‘perfect customer’ in detail, she notes, it may become easier to target marketing messages they’re most likely to respond to.

Source: NEBS

Posted August 24th, 2010 under Intellectual Property Marketing. [ Comments: none ]

The office of Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) at the University of Maryland has launched a YouTube channel to increase interest in its inventors and inventions. “It really grew out of one technology I love to talk about,” says Stephen Kinsey, a CVIP technology licensing officer. Kinsey says that technology was developed by researcher Stuart Martin, PhD, who found that when cancer cells break off from a solid tumor they lose their normal, “happy” shape — similar to that of a fried egg. “When they break off, they get rounded up into a ball and form long processes (dubbed ‘microtentacles’) and try to get back onto the epithelial layer,” says Kinsey. “These processes are sticky. If it does not happen, they either go through the bloodstream and are sheared by the pressure of the blood, or produce apoptosis.” The microtentacles last longer in the bloodstream, and when they are stuck in the capillary bed they remain dormant, but perhaps five or 10 years later come up as a secondary tumor through their ability to attach to tissues. Martin “is looking at compounds to block the formation of these processes,” Kinsey explains, which in turn might serve to prevent metastasis.

The technology was a logical candidate for a YouTube video, Kinsey continues. “It’s really amazing and the inventor has beautiful pictures and films of this cell, but in order to ‘get it’ you have to see it. So, the obvious thing is to shoot a little movie.” The “microtentacles” video includes not only comments from Stuart, but colorful images of the cells moving around. “We did not want to write out a script for him to memorize or read; we wanted it to be natural,” says Kinsey. “We wanted the passion of the inventor to get through; a lot of times we’ve found that when you sign a license what really does it is the personality of the inventor. When they are very passionate it really helps to sell the invention and it’s often why licensees want a relationship with the university.” (The microtentacles video can be accessed here.)

It was very simple to create the channel, he adds. “You go to YouTube, create an account, and they take you through it pretty much step by step — they give you a place where you can edit, determine what the background will look like, what video you want to play first, and so on,” says Kinsey. “It’s very self-explanatory.” The video has already grabbed media attention; there’s a report on the technology on the “Global Medical News” YouTube channel, featuring Stuart’s images. A detailed article on CVIP’s channel appears in the August 2010 issue of Intellectual Property Marketing Advisor. For subscription information, CLICK HERE.

Posted August 17th, 2010 under Intellectual Property Marketing. [ Comments: none ]

The newly released reference Royalty Rates in Copyright Agreements: A Guide to Full-Text Copyright Agreements contains over 1,000 pages of executed license agreements filled with critical real-world data. Specific contract details and market comparables are hard to come by, and the research required to gather specific, detailed data is time-consuming and costly, making this a valuable resource for IP professionals. Every agreement is summarized, provided in full text, and includes non-redacted variable royalty rates. All of the agreements featured in the guide are organized by type including music, charter/personas, scientific/technological information, radio, publishing, software, video games and more. Royalty Rates in Copyright Agreements is a must-have valuation and benchmarking tool filled with real-deal information and comprehensive transaction details. For complete details, CLICK HERE.

Posted August 17th, 2010 under Intellectual Property Marketing. [ Comments: none ]

Some observers pooh-pooh Facebook as a business marketing vehicle, saying that its use should be limited to what it was originally designed for — social networking.  But Villie Farah, a media professional and editorial manager of her own company, says that you can use Facebook to successfully market to other businesses. Here are some of her suggestions:

Create unique content: “You need to show that you are the best in your sector,” says Farah. “The only way to prove that online is by publishing expert advice, unique articles, and competent accounts.” She also suggests you turn your Facebook page into a business catalog.

Causes and events: Supporting Facebook causes of relevance is another way to get your name known and recognized, Farah notes. “Get involved in charities, seminars, and professional events,” she suggests. “Spread the news about the events you are about to attend or support.”

Optimize for search engines: “Your content has to be rich in keywords that are relevant to you professional sector,” Farah advises. “In this way your page will be one of the first ones that people will see when searching for a specialized phrase of interest.”

Interact: “Once people discover your page and start asking questions, make sure that you respond quickly and knowledgeably,” says Farah. This will allow you to increase brand recognition and to get in touch with new potential clients, she explains.

Source: Helium

Posted August 17th, 2010 under Intellectual Property Marketing. [ Comments: none ]

A new program instituted by an education team from the University of Bristol’s industry specialists, RED (Research & Enterprise Development), held its first event for research postgraduates on July 5th and 6th exploring ideas around enterprise, innovation, and entrepreneurial business. Thirty-five participants were put through their paces in a program in which they were asked to develop a technology start-up business plan in just 24 hours. They were exposed to a variety of experts working in technology spin-outs within the university, local intellectual property lawyers, venture capitalists, and people working along the interface between academic research and commercial and social enterprise.

“The premise of the course is to plant the notion that having a good idea is not enough to change the world; you need to be able to do something with it — that might be a licensed discovery, a venture-capital-backed spin-out company, a grant-funded social enterprise, or simply being better at advocating for good new ideas in big organizations weighed down by inertia,” says course director Dave Jarman. “We have basically hot-housed the process over two days and enabled the researchers to meet some really interesting, inspiring, and useful people who might advance their careers in research.”

The program was attended by postgraduates drawn from the Advanced Composites Centre for Innovation and Science, the Bristol Centre for Functional Nanomaterials, the Bristol Chemical Synthesis Doctoral Training Centre, the Bristol Centre for Complexity Sciences, and the Industrial Doctorate Centre in Systems. The course is the first of its kind at the University and RED hopes to provide follow-up programs in future years for this cohort and to widen the program to involve more researchers from more disciplines.

Source: Bristol University

Posted August 17th, 2010 under Intellectual Property Marketing. [ Comments: none ]

2Market Information Inc., publisher of IP Marketing E-News, has scheduled three practical distance learning seminars for September, each one filled with how-to guidance in a critical area for tech transfer and IP professionals. Here’s the September line-up – for more information, click on any of the individual titles:

• TTOs: Fast-Track Your Innovations — Wednesday, September 15, 2010
• Get Your Student Body on the Innovation Team — Thursday, September 23, 2010
• Ensure Effective Leadership for University Start-Ups: Best Practice Mentorships and Executive-In-Residence Programs — Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Also, don’t miss the key legal advice from an expert panel coming August 26th in The Future of Patenting in Biomedicine: An In-Depth Look at The Effect of the Myriad Case on Gene Patenting and Genetic Diagnostics. CLICK HERE for details and to register.

Posted August 17th, 2010 under Audioconferences, Intellectual Property Marketing. [ Comments: none ]

The Prince Sultan Research Chair for Environment and Wildlife (PSRCEW) and Intellectual Property and Technology Licensing (IPTL) office at King Saud University have jointly launched a program called Biomed Silco, whose main objective is to develop and provide simple and user-friendly software tools for specific biomedical applications. Dr. Khalid Saad Al-Saleh, director of IPTL, says his group has started marketing the university’s software product through Biomed Silico. The software is used for statistical analysis of research data in genetics to determine the appropriate dose of drug or radiation therapy.

In addition, he notes, a company by the same name has been established to facilitate branding; product design; design & development of a website to market the products; preparation of informational materials necessary for the software license on the site; and preparation of business cards and publication of corporate identity to facilitate the marketing process. The company’s software can be acquired with one- or two-year license rights depending upon the specific requirement of an organization, and can be used without any limitations.

Source: King Saud University

Posted August 17th, 2010 under Intellectual Property Marketing. [ Comments: none ]

While she admits there is no magic formula for dealing with complaints in social media, Megan Berry, a marketing manager for Klout and blogger for the “Huffington Post,” says these tips have helped her in the past:

1. A Quick response goes a long way. “I can’t tell you how many complaints I’ve seen turned around with a quick reply,” says Berry. “If someone has an issue with your product or misunderstood your point of view, reach out and explain it to them. Most of the time when they realize that you’re actually paying attention and care, and that makes all the difference.”

2. You may have to respond as you, not your company. “When someone has a legitimate complaint, I’ve found one of the most effective things to do is reach out from your personal account,” Berry shares. “In my experience, when they realize they’re dealing with a real person who’s trying to help, people are more open and willing to listen.”

3. Give yourself more than 140 characters to respond. At times, notes Berry, it’s just impossible to help someone in 140 characters. “Instead, ask them how to connect off Twitter,” she suggests. “Shoot the complainant an e-mail or even give them a call and you’ll be surprised how far a little outreach goes.”

4. Let someone else respond for you. If there’s no way you can respond in a helpful way — e.g., if it would make you seem self-serving or maybe you’ve already tried and failed — it can be helpful to have someone else speak up for you, Berry advises. “If you have haters, you probably also have fans, and they’re probably very willing to spring to your defense,” she says. Consider bringing the issue to the attention of a few of your fans, Berry offers, but do so carefully and cautiously. “Only do it with people you have actual relationships with and only in a lightweight, non-pushy way,” Berry suggests. “I find the best way is actually to just privately ask for feedback on a complaint.”

5. Know when to let it go. “The truth is, you simply won’t be able to turn everyone around; the trick (I’m still working on it) is to not let it get to you,” says Berry. “No business or person is going to make it without having a few haters — so if you have some, you might just be doing something right. Just don’t take that line of thinking too far!”

Source: Mashable

Posted August 17th, 2010 under Intellectual Property Marketing. [ Comments: none ]

“The customer is always right.” It sounds a bit trite and shop-worn, and it can certainly be taken to the extreme, but there’s no doubt that addressing customers’ concerns holds the key to success for any sales or marketing venture. It’s also true that some TTOs still have a lot to learn when it comes to speaking the language of business. But that’s apparently not the case with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, which recently worked hand in glove with its client, Sigma-Aldrich (the world’s largest supplier of research biochemical and organic chemicals), to create a new licensing model that not only addresses that company’s unique concerns but may also open the door to additional business with similar organizations.

“In general, there is a ‘Catch 22′ with early-stage technologies, in that you have something you want to license, enable, or encourage broad adoption of, but there are some technologies where there’s a risk the users will be reluctant or fearful to incorporate proprietary technology because there may be downstream issues,” explains Lisa Dhar, PhD, senior technology manager in the Office of Technology Management (OTM) at Urbana-Champaign. “They wonder: ‘Will the university try to reach through to my end product?’”

“Most of our pharma/industry customers are engaged in significant research activities prior to their commercializing a product,” adds Nate Wallock, PhD, technology transfer manager-chemistry with Sigma-Aldrich. “From their vantage point, they can be hesitant to adopt a new patented chemical technology in the research environment if there is uncertainty about the financial licensing model should they reach a commercial phase.” The solution to this problem was an innovative “IP-included, label license” strategy to encourage broad adoption of the university’s technologies.  These label licenses, Dhar explains, allow the licensees to grant their customers royalty-free access to Illinois’ IP in the use of the purchased materials.

“With the model we developed with the university, customers who purchase MIDA boronates (a class of very powerful building blocks used in carbon-carbon coupling reactions) from Sigma-Aldrich are assured, through the broad and non-limiting label license, that they can use the MIDA boronates under the university IP to manufacture downstream, high-value products (e.g., a pharmaceutical ingredient, an OLED for electronic displays) without fear of reach through royalties,” says Wallock. “By removing the question of reach through on the commercial side, our customers are more likely to adopt the technology in their research activities since they know that the technology can ‘travel’ through their entire research, development, scale-up, and commercialization value creation chain.” A detailed article on this new licensing model appears in the August 2010 issue of Intellectual Property Marketing Advisor. For subscription information, CLICK HERE.

Posted August 3rd, 2010 under Intellectual Property Marketing. [ Comments: none ]

Mark Grinstaff, a professor who teaches both Biomedical Engineering in the College of Engineering and chemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences at Boston University, is the recipient of the first annual ‘Innovator of the Year’ award, which was presented at the inaugural “Tech, Drugs & Rock ‘n Roll!” — created as a way to help members of the entrepreneurial ecosystem network with one another and learn about what Boston University is doing to enhance its brand as a top player in research and commercialization efforts.

Grinstaff has co-founded three companies that have now commercialized his ideas: Hyperbranch Medical Technology, Flex Biomedical, and Acuity Bio, which is commercializing a new drug delivery device for the prevention of tumor recurrence after surgical resection.

BU Technology Development had been sitting on the idea for such an event for at least two years, but was waiting for “the right time” to finally unveil it. BU wants to change the way people view the school. The new motto for the technology department is to “maximize collision and minimize friction.” The goal is to get people to meet each other, creating “collisions” that may result in the formation of new ventures.

Source: Bostinnovation

Posted August 3rd, 2010 under Intellectual Property Marketing. [ Comments: none ]

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