Whether you work in marketing or not, chances are you’ve encountered a cognitive or creative block. When you hit a wall, it’s helpful to take a brain break and channel the words of some of the most creative minds. Here are a few of our favorites to help you battle any block and restart your creativity.
“Do what you do so well that they will want to see it again and bring their friends.” -Walt Disney
Why we like it: Nielsen reported that 92% of consumers trust suggestions from friends and family more than advertising. This simple principle keeps us purposeful and enables us to prioritize brand advocacy and loyalty over ineffective marketing trends.
“Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort.” -Paul J. Meyer
Why we like it: Sometimes budgets are tight. Sometimes they are not. Regardless, it’s essential to maximize our time by approaching any marketing plan or project with thorough planning and unmissable execution. Mapping our marketing efforts with defined business goals allows us to be intentional and impactful.
“Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing about.” – Benjamin Franklin
Why we like it: We live in a digital age. Business and product competition remain high due to increased digital visibility and targeted marketing efforts. The key is to keep Mr. Franklin’s wisdom top-of-mind and aim to captivate your target audience and never dismiss out of the box thinking. This applies to both content development and public relations.
“Curiosity about life in all of its aspects, I think, is still the secret of great creative people.” – Leo Burnett
Why we like it: We have found that taking the time to investigate, explore and constantly ask questions leads results in measurable client success. We never stop challenging and we never do something just because that’s the way it’s always been done. Staying agile in a competitive market means staying curious, proactive and multiple steps ahead of everyone else.
“The best ideas come as jokes. Make your thinking as funny as possible.” – David Ogilvy
Why we like it: We’ve all been there. Those long brainstorm and think tank sessions that sometimes lead to brain fog and burn out. However, when working with a trusted group it’s important to encourage creativity and embrace wild ideas and unique perspectives. We found that never quieting our creative minds due to fear of rejection, oftentimes leads to the most memorable campaigns.
“I strive for two things in design: simplicity and clarity. Great design is born of those two things.” – Lindon Leader
Why we like it: In a world where we consume advertising across every touchpoint it’s important to ensure your audience can absorb the main message and purpose. In both design and communications, we aim to remove any piece of information not relevant to the main message. While there are instances for a more complex framework, you don’t want to add complication when you can communicate the same message with a simple, straightforward approach.
“If your stories are all about your products and services, that’s not storytelling. It’s a brochure. Give yourself permission to make the story bigger.” – Jay Baer
Why we like it: Creating an impactful narrative through storytelling allows us to form a deeper connection among an audience. Instead of selling a service or a product the most effective marketing comes from conveying a brand’s purpose and adding that human element that builds trust and community.
“Build something 100 people love, not something 1 million people kind of like.” – Brian Chesky
Why we like it: As marketers, we know the importance of narrowing a target market to a more distinct group of people. If we target everyone, we are targeting no one. By breaking your audience into more defined, relevant segments, it allows us to speak to them directly and also identify the most effective channels to reach them.
“Nobody counts the number of ads you run; they just remember the impression you make.” – Bill Bernbach
Why we like it: It’s true. Prospective customers and business leads will judge your brand before they ever do business with you. Businesses can invest a great deal of their budget to bring in customers and leads, but if they don’t connect with your brand or get further than your homepage, that investment is null. We are advocates for building an unbreakable foundation. From research and discovery to strategy and execution, we make it our goal to attract customers, retain them and encourage them to tell others by creating a comprehensive brand experience.
