Free Your Mind #atozchallenge

Man thinking on a train journey. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

         Some of the most successful promotional campaigns have been the result of out-of-the-box thinking.  We can get so restricted to traditional advertising methods that our efforts become tired and stale, lacking in effectiveness.   People tend to eventually ignore what they've seen over and over, but surprise them with something totally unexpected then you've got their attention again.

         This is not to say that we should give up on all media efforts.  There is something to be said for that persistent media campaign if you can afford it.  But media can be very expensive and often we may not have the resources to maintain a media push that is effective.

         Use your noggin to think up other angles for attention getting.  Blogging and social media campaigns are fine to attain an initial outreach on a limited scale, but you are mostly restricted by the size of the community that you've built or have become a part of.   Distribute your time and resources through a number of outlets.

          No idea is necessarily too crazy to think about, though you do want to carefully think through particularly wild ideas before executing them.   Wild ideas can be toned down to make them work for who you are. Attention getting is what you want so long as it is good attention.  Bounce your ideas off of others you trust to get feedback.  

           Don't be afraid to use your imagination when planning promotional strategy.  Decide on how you want to portray yourself or your product to the marketplace and then let your mind run free.

           Are you willing to take chances?    What are the best free or low cost options you can think of in promotions?    What is the craziest thing you've ever done for the sake of promotion?

Ideas

Mind Mapping Benefits (Photo credit: Emilie Ogez)

       
          One of my favorite activities with a group of friends--or alone for that matter-- is bantering ideas back and forth.  It's fun to come up with ideas as they hit you and take them as far as you can.

          The primary concept of my blog is to toss out ideas to readers and see what they can toss back to me.  That's why the blog is called Tossing It Out.

        We are all filled with ideas that are waiting to burst free of the confinement of our heads, but sometimes we're afraid to say them out loud.   We might be afraid that someone will think that our idea is stupid.  I assure you that many great ideas were first thought of as being stupid by some.

         Marketing is all about ideas.  Don't be afraid of bringing ideas out into the open and working through them.  If you don't have a group to brainstorm with, try things like making lists of ideas as they come to you.  There are visual idea development aids such as mind maps or fishbone diagrams.  Do an internet search for idea development aids and you can find a wealth of things you can do on your own.  There are even software programs for those who want to get technical about it.

        In marketing, ingenuity helps. Ideas don't even have to be original.  You can use ideas that have worked for others--that's probably a wise idea.  Think.  And then think some more.  One idea usually leads to another and sometimes when you get on a roll it's hard to stop.

          Do you have a book to sell?   Would you like to open your own business?   Are you searching for that perfect life partner?   Start making lists.  Pros and cons.   Hows and wheres.   Whys and why nots.  If you come up with enough ideas you will find some workable methods to use.   You may even think of ideas that may surprise you.

For the letter "I":

Susan Flett Swederski is full of ideas at her blog I Think; Therefore, I Yam.  In her profile she says, " if, at my (ahem) "advanced age", I DO find success, I'm telling you right now ... SO CAN YOU! Never, never, ever ... NEVER give up! It's never too late to reach for the stars. Isn't it worth the effort? I sure think so."  I think she's got the right idea.