Inventors – Establish a User Community Website

{Don Debelak’s new book, Turning Your Invention into Cash is now available on Amazon for $3.49. Go to Amazon.com and enter inventions Don Debelak to purchase. From the author of Entrepreneur Magazine’s Bringing Your Product to Market.}

Inventor Story: Chris Grenner

Chris Grenner’s woods were being invaded by an invasive plant called the bush honeysuckle.  He tried traditional methods of removing the plants, but all methods were deficient.

As a tool-maker by trade, he thought that he could probably invent a better tool for removing the bushes that can reach 15’ in height and 6’ in diameter.  He began to study the honeysuckle so he could devise the best tool.

After reading and studying the plants that he already removed from the ground, he realized that using a level and fulcrum would be the best way to remove the plant and after making a few prototypes, he had a high quality product that worked wonders.

He now self-manufacturers and the products out of his home and sells them through his website, www.misterhoneysuckle.com.

Grenner has continued to study this problem and has made his website a treasure chest of information about honeysuckles and how to remove them, by all methods, even ones that don’t include his tool, the Honeysuckle Popper.  He has become an expert in honeysuckles and their removal and his website is a genuine service for all who have problems with honeysuckle invasion, which is a problem for the entire Eastern half of theU.S.

While he only has a niche market, he started making a profit after less than two years in business.  He also says if everyone who needed a Honeysuckle Popper bought one, he’d be a millionaire.

I wanted to share this story with you because it is a great example of establishing yourself as an expert.  If you are looking for respect as an inventor, hoping the media will seek you out for interviews on your invention or hoping that people will come to your website, your best chance of all this happening is to establish yourself as an expert.  You, of course, need to become an expert, but there are plenty of experts out there that no one knows about.  Often starting a website with free information, in addition to selling your products, is a great way to become recognized as an expert.  Writing a book is even better.  You can also contact radio shows or write to newspapers about certain topics and be open for interviews.  When you become an expert, people trust you and trust the product you sell them.