Here's an overview of how the process works. 

• You have to be ready to respond to any query you send out with more information on your game or toy, such as with rules and a photograph or a prototype.

• The next step is to write your query or we can write it for you.  (About half our clients have us write it).  

  • If you write your query, you will get a link to a page with guidelines to follow.  Then, you send us your letter for a review, which includes suggestions for improving your letter, adding information, and a light editorial polish.  Should your letter need major changes or a rewrite, we'll suggest that.  This letter is extremely important, especially the subject line, because this is what will get the game or toy company or agent to want to know more about your project.  Think of this query as a marketing letter, so even if you have done other types of writing, you may need help writing a good one. 

  • If you want us to write the query, send us 2-3 pages of information, such as a copy of your game rules or a photo of your toy and instructions about how it works.  Also, include your bio information, especially as related to this project, any previous games or toys produced, and how you can help with any promotion.  You will get a draft of the query letter to review and make any additions and changes.  Then, your letter gets a final editorial polish, and if there are any major changes, you get to do a final review before the letter goes out.

• Once your query letter is finalized, we send your query by e-mail to the game or toy companies, targeted based on your type of product.  Or if it's a postal query, we send you a file with the merged names and addresses, so your letter is ready for you to print it out on your stationery; then you mail out your letter with any additional supporting material.

• We regularly update our databases through various means, including reports of changes in personnel in industry publications, test e-mails, and returns forwarded to us by many clients.  This regular updating is necessary, since each week there are industry changes, as people change jobs, companies move or go out of business, or people change e-mails or add spam filters.  

• If you want to exclude particular individuals or companies from getting your e-mail, we can do this based on the names or e-mails you provide (though sometimes people use other names or e-mail addresses). 

• We use a special software program to send out your e-mail under your own name and e-mail address, so all replies will come directly to you.   You will also receive a copy of your e-mail that has gone out (it's forwarded to you from our AOL or Yahoo account), along with a report listing the names and companies sent your query.  This will help you keep track and follow-up with your responses.

• After your e-mail query goes out (generally on a Sunday night through Thursday morning to avoid sending queries on the weekends), you will usually get a very quick response, sometimes within an hour or two, though most contacts respond within the first or second day.   The level of response depends on your project.   Commonly, clients average about 10-15 positive responses, plus many additional responses saying thanks but not for us.

• Once you get responses, be ready to respond with additional information, such as a rules, drawings and photos, or a protoype, so take some time before you send your query to be sure you have what you need to respond in a day or two.  In some cases, you can send this information by e-mail, such as if rules, drawings, and photos, but many will want you to send your material by regular mail.  Ask about preferences, and only send attachments if the person is willing for you to do so.   Many people will give you their address when they want more information by mail; otherwise, ask where to send your material.

• You will often be asked to sign a confidential disclosure document, which basically indicates that you understand that the company may be looking at or developing similar material, and you are submitting this without any obligation on the part of the company for information already known to the company.   If you want your material considered, you need to sign these and rely on your copyright protection and the good faith of the companies reviewing your material.  (Generally, you don't have to worry about companies ripping off your ideas -- the problem is getting your material considered).

• Another question which often comes up is whether you need an agent and whether to send queries to both manufacturers and agents.   While many companies are open to submissions by independent inventors, others will prefer to or only deal with agents.  (Typically agents will take 40-50% in this industry). Generally, it works well to send it to both manufacturers and agents at the same time, which is what most clients do. 

• After you send off your material, expect to wait a month or two for a decision.  It can take a few weeks for the person requesting your material to read it, and then even if they like it, they will want feedback from others, which may include play testing.

• In short, the Game and Toy Connection can open the door for you.  But after this, your success depends on the strength of your game or toy, along with other factors, such as current trends in the marketplace.