Creativity is key to the success of any marketing campaign, but even the most innovative marketers get stuck in a creative rut from time to time. When you just can’t think of a snappy line, a novel theme, or an eye-catching design for your next marketing initiative, what do you do to get out of the funk? Everyone’s got their strategies for finding inspiration and reawakening their imaginations, and we’re no different. We’ve worked with oodles of businesses and organizations of all kinds to help bring their promo dreams to life, and we’ve picked up some tips and tricks for creative thinking along the way. That’s why we’re bringing you five tried-and-true strategies for kickstarting the creative process and getting those ideas flowing.

1. Take a break. If you can’t think of a good idea, one of the worst things you can do is keep grinding away. Step away from your desk for a while and go for a walk outside, fold some laundry, or make yourself a snack. You may be surprised that your best ideas may come to you while you’re going about the regular tasks of your day, allowing your ideas to marinate in the background. In fact, the "shower effect" is a real term used to describe creative ideas generated during episodes of mind wandering! Tasks that take some of your attention, but not all of it (like taking a shower) are thought to provide a perfect environment to promote creative idea generation.

2. Seek Inspiration in unusual places. Sometimes all we need to get going is a little sliver of inspiration, and it can come from just about anything. From seeing a shape we like in nature, to discovering an attractive color combination on an old DVD case; inspiration is all around us, we’re just not drinking it in! Immerse yourself in art, literature, and history; explore what people are doing in other industries; but also pay attention to the little details of your own day-to-day experiences. It’s amazing the things you will notice when you put conscious effort into fully experiencing the sights, smells, and sounds of your life! Build upon the little things that speak to you from all of these different sources until you land on a campaign theme, design, or slogan that feels right for you and your brand.

3. Call a Friend. There is immense value in getting a fresh set of eyes into the picture, especially when you’re stuck for ideas. It could be a coworker, a classmate, your partner, or your sibling. Give them a brief introduction to your business and your goal for this marketing initiative–just the basics. Then ask them their thoughts. Find out what they might do in your situation, or how they would tackle the project. Take note of what they say, and the way they approach and understand the problem. Doing this can not only provide some fresh ideas, but it can also teach you how to look at your problem from a new point of view! Another great thing to do, especially if you have a friend who fits into your target demographic, is to ask them about the last promo product they received that really stuck in their memory. What was it about that product or experience that made a lasting impact? These answers will give you a hint at what could be impactful for your brand.

It can be frustrating when you feel like you haven’t got any new ideas, but we hope that with these tips, and a little patience and resourcefulness, you’ll find the inspiration you need to create something for your brand that you can truly be proud of!