Great marketing ideas don’t come out of Zoom calls and team meetings.
They come from moments of “scrappiness” when your mind is rushing, when you’re exploring different pieces of information and creating connections.
And there are at least 4 ways you can capitalize on that creative chaos.
Let’s boogie…
How to Find the Best Marketing Ideas
1) Make a Twitter List for inspiration and include
- 20 people you admire in your niche.
- 10 people in your target audience.
- 5 people you can see yourself mentoring.
This will make your Twitter feed inspirational and actionable, and help ideas to flow naturally.
2) Create a “Customer Advisory Board”
Befriend customers you get along with and ask them what challenges they’re facing.
Brainstorm solutions and ideas together.
3) Read support tickets and customers’ replies to your emails and social media accounts
This can be a great source of inspiration for improving your product and the perception people have of your brand.
You can also ask your sales team for the most common objections and questions they get.
4) Think out loud
Record yourself discussing a problem, or a solution. Rant about everything.
Then transcript the audio.
Here are some prompts that Amanda suggests to help you get into the flow quickly:
- Most people get this wrong…
- Right now, this is bugging me…
- I wish more people knew about…
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.
6) 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.
7) Join the next demo cal
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.
8) 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?
9) 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.
10) 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.
11) 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.
12) 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.
13) Collect and repackage content
Take all the content you’ve ever created on a given topic, and bundle it into an ebook:
- 19 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.
14) 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.
15) Look at your own replies on Twitter
Use Twitter Advanced Search, plugging in your handle below: from:
