The best marketing ideas don't happen in that monthly strategy meeting.
They come from moments of scrappiness. Or serendipity.
Here are 16 ways to generate those creative ideas:
They come from moments of scrappiness. Or serendipity.
Here are 16 ways to generate those creative ideas:
1/ Make a Twitter List for inspiration.
• 20 people you admire in your niche.
• 10 people in your target audience.
• 5 people you can see yourself mentoring.
Your feed becomes equally aspirational and actionable.
Better ideas will come to you naturally.
• 20 people you admire in your niche.
• 10 people in your target audience.
• 5 people you can see yourself mentoring.
Your feed becomes equally aspirational and actionable.
Better ideas will come to you naturally.
2/ Create your own personal Customer Advisory Board.
• Get to know 3 of your customers.
• Befriend the ones you easily get along with.
• Ask what challenges they're facing. Brainstorm solutions together. Share your ideas.
• Get to know 3 of your customers.
• Befriend the ones you easily get along with.
• Ask what challenges they're facing. Brainstorm solutions together. Share your ideas.
3/ Look at replies.
LinkedIn, Twitter, your private Slack for customers — wherever your community is most engaged.
What questions did they ask? What was most liked or shared?
LinkedIn, Twitter, your private Slack for customers — wherever your community is most engaged.
What questions did they ask? What was most liked or shared?
4/ Look at your own replies.
Use Twitter Advanced Search, plugging in your handle below:
from:@amandanat min_replies:25
See a question that was asked twice? Flesh out that topic in a blog post or on your podcast.
Use Twitter Advanced Search, plugging in your handle below:
from:@amandanat min_replies:25
See a question that was asked twice? Flesh out that topic in a blog post or on your podcast.
5/ Do a "job swap" with a friend.
1-hour meeting where you trade places:
• 20 min to assess: Read each other's websites, blogs, campaigns, etc.
• 20 min to critique: Ask questions, raise flags, say what you love.
• 20 min to ideate: Be inspired and plan your next steps.
1-hour meeting where you trade places:
• 20 min to assess: Read each other's websites, blogs, campaigns, etc.
• 20 min to critique: Ask questions, raise flags, say what you love.
• 20 min to ideate: Be inspired and plan your next steps.
6/ Read customer support tickets.
Look for common and recent pain points. Write something that guides readers to the solution.
Maybe even bake it into your next marketing campaign.
Look for common and recent pain points. Write something that guides readers to the solution.
Maybe even bake it into your next marketing campaign.
7/ Ask your sales team for FAQs.
Or skim their notes in the CRM. Uncover reasons customers don't sign on.
Let that guide your next playbook or case study.
Or skim their notes in the CRM. Uncover reasons customers don't sign on.
Let that guide your next playbook or case study.
8/ Join the next demo call.
Better yet, join 3 demos. See your product through your customer's POV.
Create content that reduces time for your sales team and customers.
A refreshed deck. A punchy Loom video. A new email sequence.
Better yet, join 3 demos. See your product through your customer's POV.
Create content that reduces time for your sales team and customers.
A refreshed deck. A punchy Loom video. A new email sequence.
9/ Check Google Search Console.
See what readers are searching for when they stumble upon your site.
Pay closer attention to the queries that got impressions but no clicks.
Could that be your next blog post?
See what readers are searching for when they stumble upon your site.
Pay closer attention to the queries that got impressions but no clicks.
Could that be your next blog post?
10/ Think how your audience thinks.
Run a @sparktoro search for a topic that's frequently discussed in your niche.
You'll see the other topics, words and hashtags they frequently use online.
And you might find some new, relevant podcasts and social accounts to follow.
Run a @sparktoro search for a topic that's frequently discussed in your niche.
You'll see the other topics, words and hashtags they frequently use online.
And you might find some new, relevant podcasts and social accounts to follow.
@sparktoro 11/ Think out loud. Literally.
Record audio of yourself ranting or raving. Then generate a transcript in Descript.
Some prompts:
• Most people get this wrong...
• Right now, this is bugging me...
• I wish more people knew about...
Now you have a 1st draft. Edit.
Record audio of yourself ranting or raving. Then generate a transcript in Descript.
Some prompts:
• Most people get this wrong...
• Right now, this is bugging me...
• I wish more people knew about...
Now you have a 1st draft. Edit.
@sparktoro 12/ Tune into a webinar.
Maybe it's a competing brand. Or maybe it's a brand you admire.
Analyze how they structure the content, and stick around for Q&A to see if any of the questions inspire you.
Maybe it's a competing brand. Or maybe it's a brand you admire.
Analyze how they structure the content, and stick around for Q&A to see if any of the questions inspire you.
@sparktoro 13/ Catch up with a co-worker.
If you're still working remotely, you're having fewer hallway convos. That's where unexpected ideas come from.
Try to recreate that serendipity.
Hop on a spontaneous call with a co-worker and just chat. Riff on ideas.
If you're still working remotely, you're having fewer hallway convos. That's where unexpected ideas come from.
Try to recreate that serendipity.
Hop on a spontaneous call with a co-worker and just chat. Riff on ideas.
@sparktoro 14/ Listen to a new podcast... and let your mind wander.
Put in your headphones, and play a relevant podcast while you do chores.
We get our best ideas when we're moving.
Take note of your "Ooh!" and "Aha!" moments.
Put in your headphones, and play a relevant podcast while you do chores.
We get our best ideas when we're moving.
Take note of your "Ooh!" and "Aha!" moments.
@sparktoro 15/ Collect and repackage content.
Take all the content you've ever created on a given topic, and bundle it into an ebook:
• 18 Ways to Do X
• The Definitive Guide to Y
• Everything You Need to Know About Z
If you have a solid SEO strategy, curating this should be easy.
Take all the content you've ever created on a given topic, and bundle it into an ebook:
• 18 Ways to Do X
• The Definitive Guide to Y
• Everything You Need to Know About Z
If you have a solid SEO strategy, curating this should be easy.
@sparktoro 16/ Call your mom, dad, or friend.
Someone who knows you well but doesn't work in your industry.
Tell them about the product you sell. Share a win. Vent about a failure.
Maybe they'll ask inspiring follow-up questions.
Plus, they'll be happy just to hear your voice.
Someone who knows you well but doesn't work in your industry.
Tell them about the product you sell. Share a win. Vent about a failure.
Maybe they'll ask inspiring follow-up questions.
Plus, they'll be happy just to hear your voice.
@sparktoro I think those are all my ideas ever. 😂
You should follow me in case I think of more: @amandanat
Thanks for reading!
You should follow me in case I think of more: @amandanat
Thanks for reading!
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