Meanderings
By Dave Mercier

Unleashing the Magic of Creative Thinking in Marketing Strategy: Because Boring Is Not an Option!

We last blogged about the power of big ideas, and while those may capture the limelight in the marketing world, let’s not forget the unsung hero that turns those big ideas into reality: creative thinking! Every jaw-dropping ad, captivating content piece, and genius marketing strategy owes its existence to those who possess a knack for thinking outside the box. Sure, skill and strategy contribute mightily, but it’s creativity that sprinkles the fairy dust and makes the magic happen.

An Amazon search for Creativity yields 70,000 results. Now, we haven’t read all 70,000 of those books (Bartley is currently perusing #31,604), but we do think we have a thing or two or seven to say about the subject. So here goes.


Creativity and Marketing

Creativity, by definition, is the process of generating something fresh and valuable. It’s like wrangling unicorns and rainbows to join forces to create pure magic. It’s something special to behold.

In a world where marketing can sometimes feel intangible, creativity swoops in like a superhero in a cape. It can take your advertising campaigns to new heights, reaching the masses in ways that traditional methods can only dream of. Marketing departments that embrace the awesomeness of creativity often emerge as the shining stars. And companies that infuse creativity into their corporate culture? Well, according to the academic journals, they tend to slay the competition on multiple business metrics.

 

“Nobody reads advertising. People read what interests them; and sometimes it’s an ad.”
Howard Gossage

 

We all know the marketing world is a wild, ever-changing beast – just look at what generative A.I. is doing to our industry (WSJ link may require subscription). Keeping up with trends and staying ahead of the curve is extremely challenging, but vitally important. That’s where creative superheroes (sans spandex) must be unleashed to do their “fresh ideas” stuff. It helps individuals and businesses discover exciting new ways to reach consumers and keep boredom locked away. Innovation is the name of the game, and creativity is the key that unlocks a world of possibilities.

Creativity can have a monumental impact on businesses. A stroke of genius might launch a revolutionary marketing technique that shakes an entire industry to its core. Think of how a well-conceived Super Bowl ad gets people talking the next day; while that’s a once a year occurrence, it is possible to get consumers to chat about your memorably creative campaign without the need for a tragically expensive Super Bowl ad. That’s the power of creativity.

Now, on the flip side, a not-so-genius ad campaign might fall flat on its face like a clumsy penguin on an icy slope. It’s a high-risk, high-reward game. Businesses that dare to take risks, hire imaginative minds like ours, and give them the freedom to work their magic often find themselves flying high. Hey, even Batman needed Alfred’s guidance, right? Striking the right balance between creativity and management is the secret sauce for success.

Alfred and Batman

Even Batman needs Alfred to keep things on track.

 

Creativity is a Necessity

Remember, embracing creativity is not just a choice; it’s a necessity for businesses to thrive in an ever-evolving landscape. So, be bold, be daring, and let your creative geniuses roam free. Because let’s face it, in a world where attention spans are shorter than a TikTok video, you need that magical touch to capture hearts, minds, and ultimately, customers.

Armed with the power of creativity and a sprinkling of humor, unleash your imagination, create marketing masterpieces that make heads turn. And remember to have a laugh along the way. After all, no one’s ever said that marketing can’t be as fun as a Clearwater Festival, as innovative as CISCO, as adventurous as Travel Week, as exciting as TopGear, and as captivating as ION Television. Care much about Next Generation Tapioca? You will when you watch this video we made for Ingredion.

Oh, one more thing: we love creativity. But we’re not talking about creativity for creativity’s sake. That can often come across as gimmicky. You’ve got to infuse creativity in the right way, and we are really, really, really good at that. Really.

The stage is set, the spotlight is yours—go dazzle the world with your marketing strategy and creative prowess!  And, reach out to Bartley & Dick if you need a few extra unicorns and rainbows.

Let's put the magic of creative thinking to work for you

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