As a marketer, sometimes it's hard to come up with a creative idea right off the top of your head. You're expected to come up with the new "Hillside" ad but something just isn't clicking and your mind goes completely blank. This is a normal day in the role of a marketer but you have to change your routine so that you can start developing new and unique ideas in an efficient manner. Creativity doesn't just come naturally. There's a spark behind every idea that leads to a "how did I not think of that?!" exclamation. How do you spark creativity though? Here are a few tricks to help inspire you to create that new and innovative idea:
1. Start an Ideation Book
The Ideation Book is a tool to help develop new and fun ideas. The book leads you through steps to help turn simple objects, thoughts, places, and more into a unique idea that you would've never thought of. This book contains word puzzles, outside-the-box questions, ideas that need to be further developed, and more. Writing down your thoughts and potential ideas can help further develop them out and lead to creating something special.
2. Use mind maps
Mind maps are a creative tool used to visually connect thoughts, ideas, and facts around a central idea. Mind maps allow for visual connectivity which can help stimulate unique ideas. With every idea, you have to allow yourself to map everything and anything you think of, no matter how crazy it might be. Mind maps help to organize parts of an idea and allow for you to fit the pieces together to see how the idea is structured.
3. Design a creative workspace
Just a desk with some plain white walls won't help you spark that idea that you need. You need to be in a fun, creative surrounding that allows you to think out of the box. Design a space that allows you to think differently whether that be a floating chair, an intricate desk , or some desktop decorations. Even if you're stuck in a cubicle, make that cubicle the most creative place it can be. Your work area is an expression of yourself.
4. Drink some beer
Beer has proven to be the most effective drink of choice when trying to spur creative minds. When you just can't get ahold of that brilliant idea, drink a few beers to help open your imagination. Many ad agencies have beer carts and access to alcohol in order to allow for some creative thinking. Just think of all those funny stories you tell when you've been drinking turning into the next big ad.
5. Develop truisms
Truisms can help take a simple word and turn it into endless ideas. For example, take the word "mattress" and write down everything that a mattress can be associated with such as "It's where nightmares exist." This path of creative ideation helps develop intricate ideas out of a simple word or phrase.
