You may be a creative genius without even realizing it.
Do you consider yourself creative? The right answer is: yes, duh! To me, creativity isn’t a gift bestowed upon a select few. It’s a frame of mind that can help you work through complex problems, be more productive and even finish a New York Times crossword.
This idea struck me during an MPR event called, “Conversations on the Creative Economy.” Duluth is fortunate to have a wealth of creative, craft businesses, as evidenced by the panel of professionals from Bent Paddle, Frost River and the Duluth Grill. But early into the conversation, it became clear that for these businesses, creativity isn’t just part of creating unique products. It’s a way of thinking and running a business. And it seemed clear that every business could learn a thing or two from their examples.
Whether you’re selling delicious beer or the industrial adhesive that holds the beer case together, you have to be creative. As someone who has written copy for clients in both industries, I can attest to this firsthand. You have to find a new way to reach and relate to people, get your message across and be compelling enough to make someone not only want to buy, but want to be part of what you’re all about. That takes creativity. Even if you’ve invented a brand new game like the wildly popular Exploding Kittens, chances are, you’re still going to have competition in your category, such as Ratatat Cat or Cards Against Humanity or…you get it.
So if you work in a business, let this be your creative call-to-action. Find what makes you different and unique and live it. Don’t let it stop with a logo. Your tone-of-voice, your website copy, even your invoices are an opportunity to get creative.
Here are a few places to start:
- Do your social media accounts reflect what makes your business unique?
- Do your marketing materials present an accurate representation of the quality you offer?
- When you have an event coming up, do you spend time thinking of an interesting name or concept?
These are all ways to be creative while running a business, which can help you stand out and create a loyal following. Just take a note from some of our clients.