What to do next?

[cunegonda22]

Hello there, fellow NR wanabes! I am brand new here, and I need some advice. I found a muse - develop a simple electronic product not currently on the market, I figured my target customers, and determined where I could get a prototype made (elance, anyone?). Now I am stuck, I don't know what to do next. Pay to have the prototype built? Get a simple website for testing the product online? Buy the domain? File for an LLC? It seems that everything depends on everything else, and I would really appreciate some guidance as to what to do first, second, third, etc.

[Sven]

Seems like you have no plan, just a collection of ideas.

I'd say, get freemind (software), learn to use it, jot down everything you think of that you know needs doing and soon you will find yourself organising everything in to a plan.

[cunegonda22]

Thank you for the great advice; Freemind is just what I needed, an excellent brainstorming tool. Out of everything that needs to be done, I figured that filing for an LLC would be the first step, so that I can introduce myself to potential manufacturers, sellers, etc. as Jane from XYZ, LLC, as opposed to plain Jane.

[clanshrapnel]

Sven: I hadn't given Freemind much of a look before, but now that I've checked it out, I realize what a great tool it is! I used to use ActionOutline before, but the idea of bubbles and 'mind charting' is much better for thinking and visualizing than standard outlines.

Thanks for the recommendations (you've mentioned it many times). I'm still getting used to the Format shortcuts that seem to be critical, but slowly it's coming along.

[kamakiri]

Brainstorming is great, but you aren't on the right track to having a successful muse. Ideas are the easy part. You don't need a prototype, LLC, supplier, or anything like that. You aren't even to phase one.

Your first step should always be to test your product. A web site should cost about $300, and then plan to spend $200 or so on testing the concept. Everyone thinks their idea will sell, but the numbers and facts don't always support that. Your future success is also dependent on how well you test muses/ads/copy.

Here is a sample I set up a year ago that didn't test well. GameBRAIN. (http://gamebrain.us) I left it up and get a few hits a month, but nothing that would even support the hosting fees.

Just a side note on an LLC, you have no assets to protect, so no reason at all to form a company. Not that having one is bad, but it is an unnecessary thing at the present time and will only take your focus away from the real goal. And besides, it looks like you are a greenhorn. Tim never said BrainQUICKEN LLC, you don't see MacDonald's LLC, or 3M LLC.