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Finding Marketing Inspiration

On Madison Avenue, they search out the best and the brightest creative minds to work in advertising agencies. They look for people with a knack for finding a new or different way of looking at the world and products.

They hire specially-trained professionals who keep one finger on the pulse of the nation while the other hand churns out compelling storyboards for a television spot.

If you are like most small business owners, you are not a Madison Avenue-caliber sales expert. The geniuses at the big ad firms might be able to close their eyes and visualize something perfect, but you might tend to get stuck when trying to find inspiration for a particular piece of copy, overall campaign direction, or some other creative project.

Marketing is located at the intersection of art and business. That creative flair is needed to make marketing successful. If you think you are just too dull to make it work, you'll need to bite the bullet and pay hand over foot for an expert. Or, you can use some of these handy ways to get the juices flowing…

Work from your USP. Always start with your USP. That is, after all, what makes you and your product distinct. Look for ways to integrate it with new directions. Think about ways to showcase it. Do whatever you need to do, but never ever forget your USP and why it is a key to your branding and advertising.

Carry a pad. Carry a notepad with you. A pen would be handy, too, of course. You never know when an idea is going to strike and you would probably be surprised at how many great thoughts you've had and forgotten. Track them and some of those stray ideas may turn into something big.

Read more. Reading inspires the mind to new creative heights. Yes, we know, you are reading this article right now. That is a great start. When you finish, move on to something else that might be thought provoking.

Watch the others. No, we are not advocating any sort of copycatting. However, by watching what others in your industry are doing you may find yourself inspired or so turned off by their approach that in leads you invent an alternative.