Four tips to get your creative juices flowing and boost your brand

I must start by emphasizing that creativity isn’t just for creatives, just as it isn’t just for individuals that work in Marketing or Advertising.

Creativity is a necessity for all entrepreneurs and business owners who wish to grow their brand. However, before you encourage creativity or take the necessary steps to get your creative juices flowing, you must first believe that it matters to your brand.

Contrary to what some may think, creativity isn’t just about being different, it’s about being meaningful. A creative approach can build a memorable brand, solve problems in innovative ways, differentiate your brand from your competitors and build a strong connection with your audience. Be that as it may, at times, it is easier said than done- sometimes our creative well runs dry. Here are a few tips to get you going:
Step away from the desk (or your work area) – Forcing yourself to brainstorm seldom yields good results, sometimes the best ideas come when you are doing something totally unrelated. I can personally attest to this; sometimes if I have writers block or I am stuck, I just stop what I am doing and walk away or start browsing on my phone or go outdoors. You will be amazed how effective some fresh air can be. I challenge you to break from the monotony – leave that desk, that corner, that room! Heard of walking meetings? Steve Jobs was known for his walking meetings which helped him think clearly and creatively. New or different surroundings offer fresh perspectives and can stimulate creativity in unexpected ways.

Shareable Tip: Schedule about 15 minutes daily to step away from work and engage in an activity that relaxes your mind. It could be during your morning break or during your lunch hour. Consider leaving the work cafeteria and having lunch outside the office. I always find the Botanical Gardens to be quite stimulating.

Embrace limitations – I would be the first to admit that I am not a fan of limitations: limited resources, limited budgets or the like, but I will also admit that at times limitations can spark creativity. A few years ago, I led a session where a small business owner stated, “necessity is the mother of invention”. Her invention was that she used her talented hands and launched two small businesses in the creative sector, whilst awaiting a job related to her degree; today she has that job plus a successful small business (she fused both businesses). When you have fewer resources, you are forced to think outside the box or better yet, throw the entire box away!

Shareable Tip: Challenge yourself to work within certain boundaries and watch your creativity grow! E.g. identify one constraint in your brand/business – let’s say you have limited resources in terms of manpower – a small team, or maybe you are the ‘chief cook and bottle washer’ as we say. How can you get creative and turn this into an opportunity? How about focusing on efficiency and authenticity – an opportunity to build stronger customer relationships through personalization, which means you can focus on offering excellent customer service at every customer touchpoint e.g. personalized thank you emails or custom solutions for loyal customers. This in turn becomes a key differentiator for your business.

Embrace different perspectives – No man is an island and as resourceful or as creative as you may be, surround yourself with people who think differently than you. A diverse team brings fresh perspectives and ideas you may not have considered.

Shareable Tip: Host a brainstorming session with team members from different departments, or bring in a consultant for a fresh perspective. No idea is too crazy – just let thoughts flow freely without judgement. The energy from bouncing ideas off others can lead to breakthroughs!

Consume Inspiring Content – Inspiration comes from many places, including listening to a podcast and following brands that inspire you. A few years ago, I was working on an ad concept, and I was stuck! I took a break and started reading a news article on an American news site, and within minutes of reading the article as well as browsing their website, I created a concept which was well received by all. I don’t know how it came together but it was an aha moment.

Everyone is the not the same but ponder on this: you can fuel your creativity by surrounding yourself with inspiration. Read books outside your usual genre, follow creative influencers on social media, watch documentaries. Exposing yourself to different creative outputs will be the launchpad for new ideas.

Shareable tip: Dedicate at least 30 minutes to an hour each week to consuming content outside your industry. Take note of what resonates with you and how you can adapt those ideas to your brand.

Candice Sealey is the Founder & Principal Consultant at Ignite! a Full-service Marketing & PR Consultancy that helps businesses/brands to stand out and communicate the right message to the right people at the right time through Strategy, Marketing, Media services and Design solutions. She is also a freelance content writer, advertising copywriter, voice-over talent, media personality. Follow us on FB & IG @igniteresults Phone:784-432-2223. Email: igniteresults@gmail.com