For Business Success, Be Willing to Get Creative
Creativity is one of the single most important things entrepreneurs need to have. Why? You need original ideas to set your startup apart from competitors. And, you need to develop innovative ideas for basically everything you do.
You often hear that risk-taking makes all the difference in entrepreneurship. But when you think about it, coming up with those risky ideas was the launch pad to success. If you want to learn how thinking outside the box can help you attain business success, read on.
Where to get creative in business
Creativity doesn’t come easily to everyone. And, it doesn’t have to. If you are having trouble coming up with innovative ideas, take a step back and clear your mind. Or, you can collaborate with your employees.
A creative and unique brand will set you apart from other businesses. Each day, you have the opportunity to make creative decisions that will impact your company’s identity. Here are some key areas where a little creativity can go a long way.
1. Business story
To be a good business storyteller, you need to be creative while also remaining honest. Your business’s story describes how your startup began. Stories should engage potential customers and encourage them to trust your business. Without creativity, your story will fall flat and fail to resonate with anyone.
Think about all the business stories of your favorite brands. Most of them are raw and captivating, yet they have a focus. And that focus, as mentioned earlier, is to draw in customers and inspire loyalty.
When you write your story, think about your business’s journey. Then, tell it in a way that customers can picture. Your story should evoke the senses.
For example, Patriot Software’s story started in the basement of a factory with no heat, no air-conditioning, and floors that would flood. Instead of customers, the company had rats, birds, snakes, and flies. The owners ran out of money, maxed out credit cards, and borrowed from relatives.
You don’t have to be an expert storyteller. But, you need to be willing to come up with creative ideas that will make your business story more engaging than “We always wanted to start a business, so we did.”
2. Mission statement
Drafting your business’s mission statement is a necessity. A mission statement is a short blurb that describes a business’s goals, values, and reason for existing. It should be simple, focused, and honest — but above all, it should be original, captivating, and memorable.
The mission statement lets customers know what your business offers. Your mission statement is an important part of your business’s brand. You should display it in a physical storefront, on your business website, and on your social media pages.
Coming up with a mission statement can take time. You need to be willing to get creative to reflect your business’s unique aspects. And, you need to develop something catchy and simple enough for your employees to remember.
When you’re working on your mission statement, write down a few ideas. Read them out loud. Be a creative writer while staying true to what your business represents.
3. Vision statement
Unlike your business’s mission statement, a vision statement is an internal description of your business’s long-term goals. It is not something you broadcast to customers. But, it should still be creative.
Your vision statement should talk about what you want your business to achieve over time. Along with being creative, it needs to resonate with your employees so they can pursue the goal of achieving it.
How does creativity come into play when making your vision statement? Think about where you want your business to go. What are your plans for your business? What do you hope to achieve?
You need to be creative to think about where your business is going. And, you need to be creative to develop business growth strategies to get there.
4. Logo
It goes without saying that your business logo should be creative. A business logo is a design that people associate with your business.
Logos are symbols that represent your business and should therefore be memorable. Without a great logo, you could drive customers away. You need to develop something that both relates to your business and is appealing to the eye.
You don’t need to be the world’s best artist to develop a powerful logo. Many businesses outsource the actual design process to a designer. But, you need to think of colors, shapes, and design ideas you want to be included in your logo.
5. Website
There are millions of websites vying to get attention. If you want to make your website stand out, you need to get creative. In addition to things like a memorable domain name and high search engine rankings, your website design should be creative.
An appealing business website can keep visitors on your page. You can include things like easy-to-navigate pages, photos and videos of your products or services, and other creative ideas to make your company stand out.
Plus, don’t forget to include your business’s story, mission statement, logo, and other important business information on your website. Get creative to make your website stand out from a basic, boring design.
Bio: Rachel Blakely-Gray is a content writer at Patriot Software, LLC, a provider of affordable online accounting and payroll software for small businesses. At Patriot, she enjoys providing actionable, growth-oriented information for small business owners.
