Creativity seems to come naturally to some of us. Whenever I create new promotional event or marketing materials I sometimes hear people tell me “I wish I was as creative as you are.” See, I think everyone can be creative in their own little way… exercising creativity daily can actually prepare you when the duty calls. Just like Maya Angelou said you don’t run out of creativity, the more you use, the more you have.
So the big question is, how do you practice creativity? Here are my 3 easy ways on how you can increase creativity:
1. Pay Attention – Paying attention to ads, promos, events, commercials, radio ads means that when you see or hear a great ad, you take notes on how you can emulate it and make it your own. If you attend a great event, tale notes on elements and strategies that could work for you.
2. Know your Box – We are advised to think outside of the box. We all have restrictions on why we can’t do certain things. Often times, money is the culprit of that. It’s important to know what your limitations are so you are fully aware of what hurdles you are trying to overcome. Being fully aware of your box means it is always top of your mind. When you are networking, you have a great idea of what partnerships you should be looking for. What isn’t there makes what’s there even stronger, so don’t be discouraged by your limitations.
3. Challenge the Rules – When it comes to marketing, so many of our predecessors have established rules that could be crippling your creativity. Direct mail, print advertising, printed coupons, and more. These strategies don’t necessarily have to be outdated but certain styles or designs might be. If you take coupon graphics from 2010 and compare it to coupons you see nowadays, there’s a big difference in font, image, colors, and the over all design choices.
Your ultimate goal is to keep your eyes on whatever your prize is. If someone or something is deterring you from getting to your prize then it is your right to challenge it, think outside of your box, and pay attention to how others have done it in the past or are doing it now.
Mae Day Marketing 