You’re struggling to come up with new marketing ideas. How can you break out of your creative rut?

Here are some add on thoughts on specifying the source of your rut: Keep a creative journal: Track your thoughts, feelings, and activities around times when you feel stuck. This can help you identify patterns and triggers. Talk to someone you trust: Sharing your struggles with a supportive friend, colleague, or mentor can offer valuable insights and perspectives. Ask yourself questions: Is your workload overwhelming? Are your goals unclear or uninspiring? Do you feel burnt out on a specific project or task? Analyze your current workflow and environment for potential roadblocks. Reflect on your past successes: What worked well for you in the past when you overcame creative hurdles? Revisiting past solutions might spark new ideas.

Crear es jugar. Tienes que pensarlo como una diversión. Sí, es un desafío, hay estrés, deadlines, competencia... pero la esencia es el juego. Si hay bloqueo, pienso para atrás, voy a la esencia de por qué hago esto y no estoy en una sucursal bancaria. Y es porque me gusta crear, me divierte, me parece fascinante cobrar por ello. Trato de recuperar esa ilusión casi infantil. Vuelvo al juego, y todo es más fácil. Dicho esto, dos tips prácticos: -no sacas sin meter. Aliméntate con ideas, lee, ve películas, mira series, cómics, busca inspiración a conciencia. Pasa la mitad del tiempo así y la otra mitad irá mucho más fácil. -walk the think. Camina y piensa. Funciona, está demostrado. Y lleva algo para anotar.

This is a little trick a great boss taught me: Either alone or in a group come up with the STUPIDEST MOST IRRESPONSIBLE idea or strategy and play out the game to its logical horrific conclusion. This allows you to "run as fast as you can with your eyes shut"... then use that attitude to look at the problem again

To break out of a creative rut in marketing, try diversifying your sources of inspiration. Engage in activities outside your usual routine, explore different industries, and seek insights from diverse perspectives. Collaborate with team members for brainstorming sessions, fostering a collaborative environment where everyone's ideas are valued. Embrace experimentation, test new approaches, and be open to learning from both successes and failures. Attend industry events, read widely, and stay updated on emerging trends. Sometimes, stepping back and gaining a fresh perspective can ignite innovative ideas and revive creativity.

Breaking out of a creative rut involves exploring new perspectives. Attend industry events, brainstorm with colleagues, or seek inspiration from diverse sources. Take breaks to clear your mind, try mind mapping, and embrace experimentation. Collaborate with others and consider cross-industry insights to spark innovative marketing ideas.

There is solution when you know what exactly is the problem . But in some cases if you are not able to identify what is causing the block , just get up from your chair , go outside in nature and observe. It helps destress as well help generate ideas.

Take time to reflect on what's holding you back creatively. Are you stuck in habitual thinking patterns? Do you need more diverse inputs and perspectives? As Steve Jobs said, "Creativity is just connecting things".

You should always start from the basics. After all, that is your goal. You have a product, but why do you have that product? What does the product do that makes people's lives easier and better? Once you have identified that, you can start looking further.

Creo que lo primero es "desacralizar" el término para perderle miedo. Detrás de la creatividad hay un proceso "básicamente" neural (sinapsis), la conexión entre neuronas que produce lo que se conoce, acertadamente, diría yo, como "iluminación". Lo único que podemos hacer es facilitarle al cerebro la tarea, primero descargándolo de preocupaciones conscientes dejando de, por decirlo de alguna manera, darle vueltas al problema, y, segundo, estimulándolo. Y eso lo conseguimos a través de las Técnicas Creativas, que son muchas más, y algunas más útiles que el clásico brainstorming.

TL;DR - Stop thinking about it! Stop thinking about your rut. Stop thinking about marketing. Stop thinking about “your” brand. Stop thinking about consumers, target markets, segmentation and TLAs. Start thinking about people - better, start talking with people. Start engaging with culture. Start looking up, not down. Start going wide and getting weird.

La verdad es que cada vez leo/veo menos publicidad. Me interesa eso que en Herederos de Rowan llamamos "lo que nos alimenta": cine, música, libros, viajes, paseos, personas... la creatividad, las ideas, siempre parten de algo para llegar a un sitio diferente. Quizás es lo que la diferencia de la creación pura, pero también dudo de que eso exista, porque siempre nos apoyamos en lo anterior, sea para cogerlo o para desecharlo. Lo "único" que hay que hacer es quedarse con lo bueno y desechar lo malo.

I have used music and art as inspiration-- I get away entirely from the problem to be solved and immerse myself into creating a painting ... or by playing an Instrument. I actually start each day that way - even if it's only 15 min... it's a great way to spark creativity and ignite the R side of your brain.

Creative outputs require creative inputs. The best creative minds are intensely curious and always learning new things. Not just about advertising or marketing, but lots of things. If you're stuck for ideas, don't just stare at the ceiling, or at your smartphone. Take in the world.

No sacas sin meter. O: para cocinar, requieres ingredientes. Resulta muy difícil hacer brotar algo de la nada, todo nace de una inspiración. De hecho: las ideas son réplicas al gusto personal de cada uno. Así que haz mucho por ver, mirar, leer, y atender a otras ideas. Los grandes no son buenos pensando, son buenos mirando. Más que fábricas de ideas son enciclopedias de referencias. Aprovecha el talento ajeno para construir sobre lo tuyo. Y márcatelo como parte de tu trabajo: tu curro TAMBIÉN es mirar youtube, escuchar música, leer comics, ir al cine, viajar, analizar otras culturas, ir a monólogos. Tómate el ocio en serio. El ocio es trabajo, porque tener ideas incluye saber las ideas de los demás.

To inspire, I want to be inspired. Go beyond looking at your competitors or industry for inspiration; you can explore things you have never explored before to open and free your mind. Understand where you are in your 'flow.' Through exercise, outdoor adventures, the ocean, reading something brand new, visiting somewhere new, music or talking to a stranger.

Step away from the screen! Sometimes the best ideas come at the least expected time. Do anything except focus on the problem you are trying to solve.

Before jumping on any campaign, start with comprehensive research first. It not only sparks inspiration but also stimulates a more creative mindset. Always remember to stay authentic and leverage your own creativity.

Inspiration = Everything, hard to get by! To overcome a creative block in marketing, seek fresh inspiration by exploring new trends, engaging in brainstorming sessions, and looking at successful campaigns outside your industry. Experimenting with various mediums or channels and stepping away to engage in different activities can also spark new ideas. This approach rejuvenates your creative process, leading to innovative marketing strategies.

Immerse yourself in fresh influences - art, culture, travel, new collaborators. Experiment with creative prompts and exercises outside your comfort zone.

I find it helpful to jot down ideas whenever they come to mind - even if I don’t need to use them right then. This way when you hit a blank - you can always use those ‘stored ideas’ 🙂

I use a system that focuses on Avatar(s), and assesses their pain points, aspirations, purchasing drivers and transformative goals. This contributes roughly half of my content, but I usually create enough content for 3-4 months at a time using this strategy. Just have a system is my answer. Regardless of what your system is, hone it, tweak it, but have a system. The worst thing you can do is to jump from one system or idea to the next every time you draw a blank.

Keep a digital (or paper, if you prefer) vault of your ideas, adding to it each time you think of something. You may not use it immediately, but when feeling challenged, you can refer back to it for inspiration and ideas. It is often great to brainstorm, including people not close to the topic or problem. They will come with wider thoughts and fewer blind spots.

There are many brainstorming methods, here are my top four: 1. Classical Brainstorming: A free form of idea generation where participants contribute unlimited ideas without criticism or assessment. 2. Brainwriting: Participants write their ideas on paper and then fit them around, allowing others to build on or add new ideas. 3. Mind Mapping: A visual technique where ideas are organised around a central theme in a diagram, with branches representing different aspects or sub-themes. 4. SWOT Analysis: Identifies Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats related to a specific topic or project.

Tu idea no eres tú. El mayor obstáculo en pensamiento conjunto es el prejuicio que suponemos, mucha gente no dice lo que piensa por miedo a ser juzgado. Repito: tú idea no eres tú, una idea mala no te hace mala persona o mal pensador. He escuchado ideas terribles a gente brillante. El 95% de las ideas que se tienen no valen, y por eso este trabajo cuesta, porque encontrar la idea adecuada es como buscar oro. Libérate, diviértete y comparte, las grandes ideas se construyen entre varios y la suma de sus puntos de vista. Nadie levanta una catedral solo. Los mejores apuntes de mis mejores ideas vinieron de otras personas porque desde fuera se ofrecen ángulos que tú no eres capaz de ver.

Investing in a round table of experts is one of the best things you can do. It may cost a few grand, but you're going to have access to a multitude of ideas (good and bad) that give you certainty behind the direction of your brand. The corporate world does this all the time with new hires. While they may not consideration everything communicated, it gives them a look at things from a fresh set of eyes. If your business is struggling to stand out, why wouldn't you want to invest in a group of creative, outside the box thinkers to kickstart your facelift?? Thought leaders will have no ties to your brand. You won't be stuck in a 6-12 month consulting contract. You get to decide! Spend a day airing everything out. Take criticism and go!

O brainstorm de ideias traz um potencial exponencial a qualquer processo de criação ou desenvolvimento. Pensar sem amarras pode levar a ideias realmente novas ou até a ideias antigas e simples, mas que resolvem uma questão com máxima eficiência, e que não seriam pensadas caso não fosse tirado um tempo específico para pensar. O brainstorm em grupo é ainda mais impactante, pois cada pessoa traz suas próprias personalidades, referências e vivências; um bom brainstorm em grupo não faz só uma soma de ideias, mas sim uma "multiplicação", pois o que um fala pode levar outro a ter mais ideias e, também, duas ou mais ideias podem ser combinadas em algo totalmente novo. É importante ter a mente aberta e é bom seguir algum método, como o Mapa Mental.

Just let your thoughts wander . Best way , works for me all the time. But don't forget to jot down the light n details or ideas. I wake up in the middle of the night to jot the ideas down. :)

Nadie sabe nada. Todos andamos buscando las grandes fórmulas pero el mundo cambia cada día y lo que funcionó ayer quizá hoy no. La actualización es permanente y necesaria. Y, por tanto, también la prueba y error lo es. Probar, fallar, optimizar. Una y otra vez. Pon a prueba tus ideas, llévalas de tu cabeza a la acción y deja que hablen. Nunca sabes dónde está el oro. Aparca el ego creativo, el miedo al fracaso y establece mentalidad de laboratorio. Sé un científico de las ideas que busca el mejor resultado experimentando. No tengas miedo, sí curiosidad.

En Incomplete Manifesto for Growth, Bruce Mau defiende que el proceso es más importante que el resultado. Si estás pensando en que tienes, DEBES, producir algo creativo, la presión no te dejará relajarte. Céntrate en el proceso. ¿Sueles inspirarte mirando Pinterest? Prueba a dar un paseo consciente, come algo distinto, ábrete a nuevas experiencias. Vuelve a un libro que te enamoró. Échate una siesta, o deja respirar el briefing que te está dando quebraderos de cabeza durante unos días. No siempre se puede, para los que trabajamos en creatividad, los ritmos de producción devoran nuestros procesos. En esos casos: paciencia, paciencia, paciencia. La creatividad nunca se fue, solo hay que reencontrarse con ella.

Experimentation and testing is the most important phase. Not necessarily through the experiments you try, but especially the feedback you gather through them. By collecting the feedback in the right way, you ensure that you can use the new data to get back to work on improving your product.

Experimenting with different content formats on various digital platforms can reveal what captures your audience's attention. Trying out video, image, or interactive content on platforms like Instagram, Tiktok, or YouTube, and analyzing engagement metrics, can help you identify the most impactful format for your message.

Have the courage to move forward with your best idea. Track results, learn, and refine. As Jeff Bezos said, “What we need to do is always lean into the future; when the world changes around you and when it changes against you - what used to be a tail wind is now a head wind - you have to lean into that and figure out what to do because complaining isn’t a strategy.”

To break out of a creative rut in marketing, diversify your sources of inspiration by exploring different industries, trends, and consumer behavior studies. Engage in brainstorming sessions with a diverse team for a wider range of ideas. Stepping away from the routine and engaging in unrelated activities can also spark creativity. Experimenting with new marketing channels and tools might offer fresh perspectives. Analyzing past successful campaigns and customer feedback can provide insights into what resonates with your audience. This multifaceted approach can rejuvenate your creative thinking and lead to innovative marketing strategies.

Implementa la idea mejor, no la que más te guste. Tendemos al ego y a la búsqueda de reconocimiento, y eso nos empuja a pelear por ideas de mayor visibilidad y aplauso aunque vaya en detrimento de la eficacia. Es una mala decisión a largo plazo. Brillar y ser premiado es importante pero más importante es que clientes tranquilos y satisfechos te respalden. El brillo desaparece, la confianza perdura. Nada te asegura una carrera sólida y a largo plazo que gente con poder de decisión diciendo cosas buenas de ti. Y si al implementar fallas, no pasa nada, asúmelo como un aprendizaje y trata de mejorar la siguiente vez. Todos (o casi) los fallos son perdonables excepto el de no reconocer que se ha fallado.

Go outside. Take a walk. Talk to people. Push yourself out of your comfort zone. Go to an area of town you don't usually visit. Feed your mind with "life" outside of your normal routine. A 30 - 45 minute walk can work wonders.

Sometimes, the best way to break out of a creative rut is to stop trying so hard. When you force creativity, it can feel elusive. Take a step back, let go of the pressure to be innovative, and engage in a different, relaxing activity. I find that when I allow my mind to wander without expectations, I almost always stumble upon unexpected inspiration or a thread that leads me back to that creative “flow state”. Creativity often thrives when you least expect it, so give your brain a breather, and let ideas flow naturally when they're ready.

(Literally) walk away. Sometimes the best ideas come when you're not trying to force them. Go for a walk, make a sandwich, watch cat videos – give your brain a break. It's like letting the fields of your mind lay fallow so they can be more fertile later.

Add some constraints to what you are trying to create. Give it parameters. I can't ever unhear a talk that I heard Stefan Mumaw (look him up here on LI) gave on this that absolutely changed my perspective. When it comes to client work, get research for directional help, manifest creative around core ideas that work and then test.

Make sure you make it a repeated process that fits into your system. Because if you don't pick this up properly, for example, monthly, you will find that the quality of your inspiration sessions slumps.

Breaking out of a creative rut in marketing requires stepping out of your comfort zone and seeking fresh perspectives. Start by exploring new trends and technologies in the industry for inspiration. Collaborate with others, as brainstorming sessions can spark innovative ideas. Look at successful campaigns from other industries for a different viewpoint. Experimenting with different mediums or channels can also open up new creative possibilities. Taking a break or engaging in unrelated activities can refresh your mindset, often leading to unexpected bursts of creativity. This multi-faceted approach can invigorate your marketing strategy with new, exciting concepts.

Breaking out of a creative rut in marketing? Try these tactics: Draw inspiration from other industries, like how education uses storytelling. Engage customers directly for fresh perspectives. Harness your team's diverse backgrounds for unique ideas. Invest in continuous learning to expand your creative horizons. Embrace variety and ongoing education for innovative breakthroughs.

Feeling creatively stuck is frustrating, but there are strategies to break free. First, identify what's causing the block—whether it's stress, boredom, fatigue, or fear. Then, seek inspiration from diverse sources, brainstorm without judgment, experiment, and test your ideas. Implement and evaluate them, celebrating successes and learning from failures. This iterative process not only overcomes creative stagnation but also fuels continuous growth and innovation in your marketing efforts.

Work, work and also work. Just keep stubbornly plugging at it. I always let inspiration know that I'm working so inspiration can find me.

Make creativity a habit, not just when you're stuck. Always keep exploring and nourishing your imagination. Follow creators outside your field to spark new connections. Lastly, remember Picasso's words: "Inspiration exists but it has to find you working."