You know the feeling. You sit down to work on a creative project and your brain just goes blank. When creative inspiration is stubbornly elusive, most of us turn to the internet for distraction... only to come back to our project three hours later just as stuck as we were before.
But the internet can be your creative ally, not your foe — if you know where to look, that is. These inspiring websites, videos, podcasts, and other resources are sure to rekindle your creative spark.
Browse These Websites for Creative Inspiration
1. Language Is A Virus
A site to cure writer’s block. Daily writing prompts, interactive creative writing games, experiments and exercises, a character name generator, articles on the creativity techniques of famous authors, and more resources to pull you out of a creative rut.
2. Writing Prompts Subreddit
A steady stream of wildly creative, user-submitted writing prompts. Click through to the comments to read other peoples' responses, or just pick your favorite prompt, grab a pen and paper, and start scribbling.
3. Selfless Portraits
Strangers across the world draw each other's portraits. Doodling has been shown to stimulate creativity, so activate a new part of your brain, break through that creative block, and get a cool new Facebook profile photo to boot.
4. The Acoustic Guitar Project
Are you a musician stuck on a set of lyrics or struggling to find your next melody? Plug in to The Acoustic Guitar Project. You’ll get a guitar, a handheld recorder, and one week to record an original song. Use the deadline as motivation, and when you’re done, sign the guitar. It’ll be forwarded to the next musician for inspiration.
If you’re not musically inclined, listen to the soundtrack of previously recorded songs to get in a creative mood as you write, illustrate, edit, etc.
5. Damn Interesting
Fascinating true stories from history, science, and technology to stuff your brain with interesting tidbits. Learn about the furious race between two scientists to achieve absolute zero, the mysterious tragedy of a 1930s ocean cruiser that caught fire after the suspicious death of its paranoid captain, and more strange-but-true stories. Read longform articles (with optional sound effects!) or listen to the podcast versions — either way, you'll pick up some creative ammunition.
6. BrainPickings' Literary Jukebox
A side project of Maria Popova of BrainPickings.org, famous quotes from classic books are thematically paired with a song. Find inspiration and an accompanying soundtrack to fuel your creativity in one beautifully-designed spot.
7. Times Haikus
This site is home to a computer algorithm that periodically checks the New York Times home page, scanning sentences to create spontaneous haikus. Human curators then select the best results to post on the blog. Browse the surprisingly poignant results to get in a reflective or inventive mood, then get your creative juices flowing by picking up a nearby newspaper or magazine (or opening one in a new browser tab) and trying it out for yourself.
8. Do Nothing for Two Minutes
Exactly what it sounds like. This site will force you to take a short break to reset your brain. Don't touch your keyboard or your mouse, or the timer will reset. Just sit back, listen to the wave sounds, and come back to your project refreshed and focused.
Watch These Videos for New Creative Ideas
9. TED Talk: Play This Game to Come Up With Original Ideas
Toy designer Shimpei Takahashi's game shiritori is his foolproof way to come up with new solutions and original ideas. Learn how to play, then see how it can help you tap into greater creativity.
10. How to Boost Your Creativity
Did you know that listening to your favorite music at work can actually make you less productive? This short video is full of quick things you can do in a matter of minutes to boost your creativity.
11. Watch Whose Line Is It, Anyway? clips
Use the zany skits and prompts to get in the right mindset for generating a bunch of new, off-the-wall ideas. Plus you're sure to laugh, which will put you in a good mood and make you more productive.
12. TED Talk: How to Get Out of the Box and Generate Ideas
When someone tells you to "just think outside of the box," do you get the urge to punch something? Easier said than done! Giovanni Corazza steps in with techniques for actually getting outside that proverbial box to promote innovative thinking.
Listen to These Podcasts for New Creative Habits
13. The Accidental Creative
Author and host Todd Henry interviews artists, authors, and other creative professionals for tips on how to succeed in life and work. Each short podcast is 20 minutes or less and features well-known leaders in the creative community, including Seth Godin, David Allen, Gretchen Rubin, Steven Pressfield, and more.
14. Radiolab: Me, Myself, and Muse
Staring at your creative project and drawing a big, fat, blank? Talk to it, out loud, as though it were a person. Ask it what it wants. Tell it to meet you halfway. If a new idea comes to you while you're stuck in traffic, no pen in sight, tell it to buzz off and come back later. This is the technique embraced by famous creatives like Elizabeth Gilbert, Tom Waits, and Oliver Sacks. Learn why it works in this short, 15-minute podcast.
The Best Techniques for Better Creativity
What are your go-to methods for fighting creative blocks? Share your favorites in the comments!
Emily is a former Content Marketer of Wrike. She specializes in leadership, collaboration, and productivity. Her brain is stuffed with obscure grammar rules, an embarrassing amount of Star Wars trivia, and her grandmother’s pie recipes.
Waste Not: Becoming a Lean Team Means Cutting These Wastes (Video)
Lean methodology started out as a way to make manufacturing more efficient by finding and getting rid of waste, reducing costs, and delivering products faster. Its main focus is on value, which is essentially anything the customer would want enough to pay for. Value is always defined by the customer. So that means no guessing what the customer wants or making blind assumptions. Lean projects need open conversations with customers and stakeholders.
Begin your lean processes by hitting 'play' on the video below. You'll learn 3 simple tips for eliminating the biggest source of waste: rework. Then keep reading for easy fixes to the 7 other most common forms of waste for knowledge workers:
How to Eliminate the Most Common Wastes for Knowledge Workers
1. Failure to share knowledge. Too often knowledge and experience is wasted because it isn't captured or shared. Other people can't learn from what stays trapped in your head. So start a knowledge base that everyone can access and contribute to. Common questions will get answered, and your team will be able to find the answers they need as soon as they need them.
2. Duplicate efforts. Nothing is more frustrating — or more wasteful — than realizing you've spent time and effort doing the same work as a colleague. Make your teamwork transparent with a task board, or a quick weekly standup where everyone shares what they're working on. When everyone knows exactly what they're responsible for — and what their teammates are doing — these types of mistakes don't happen.
3. Unproductive meetings. For most knowledge workers, meetings equal wasted time. You follow an agenda, but don't actually accomplish anything. Skip the status updates, and only hold meetings when there's a specific goal or task your team needs to complete together.
4. Flawed Processes. When was the last time you asked "Why?" Why are we doing this? Why are we going about it this way? Most teams just keep doing the things the way they've been done, simply because they've always been done that way. Hold a retrospective after each project to discuss what went well, what you ultimately achieved, and how the process could be improved.
5. Ineffective communication. Vague expectations, fuzzy deadlines, and unclear responsibilities lead to mistakes, wasted efforts, and missed goals. Improve communications by learning to listen. Pay attention to what the other person means, not just the words they're using, and always confirm you're on the same page.
6. Delays. Knowledge workers are pretty familiar with waiting: waiting for approval, waiting through rounds of revisions, waiting for documents to be shuttled back and forth, or for the information they need to proceed. Standardize processes wherever possible, and trim where you can. Every step in the process should add value. If it doesn't, cut it.
7. Errors. Mistakes happen, it's just a basic fact of life. But mistakes can be costly, and as customers have more options and the field of competition grows, expectations get higher and higher. Eliminate common errors by taking some simple steps. Automate where you can by using spell check or a bug tracker. Make sure everything gets at least two sets of eyes during revisions. Or release to an internal sandbox or staging server to catch errors before you deliver to the customer.
Best Tools for Workplace Efficiency
Now that you've got the right mindsets and processes in place, discover a few new tools to help your team up their game. Check out this list of 25 online tools to help you run your business.
Project Management
7 min read
The Comprehensive Guide to Successfully Nurturing and Converting Warm Leads
In the world of sales and marketing, warm leads play a crucial role in driving conversions and revenue. Understanding the concept of warm leads, implementing strategies to nurture them, and employing techniques to convert them are all essential steps in achieving success. Additionally, utilizing tools and software can greatly enhance your conversion efforts. Let's explore these aspects in detail and equip you with the knowledge and tools necessary to effectively nurture and convert warm leads.
Understanding the Concept of Warm Leads
Warm leads are potential customers or clients who have already shown some level of interest in your product or service. Unlike cold leads, warm leads have engaged with your brand in some way, demonstrating their inclination towards making a purchase.
Warm leads can come in various forms. They may have visited your website and explored different pages, indicating their curiosity about what you offer. They may have filled out a contact form, showing their willingness to engage in further conversation. Warm leads can also be individuals who have interacted with your brand on social media platforms, such as liking or commenting on your posts. In all these cases, warm leads have taken a step beyond mere curiosity and have shown genuine interest in what you have to offer.
The Importance of Warm Leads in Sales
When it comes to warm leads, timing is crucial. The fact that they have shown interest means that they are more receptive to your message and more likely to take action. By reaching out to warm leads at the right moment, you can strike while the iron is hot and guide them towards making a purchase. These leads can also serve as brand advocates. When someone has already engaged with your brand and had a positive experience, they are more likely to recommend your product or service to others. Word-of-mouth recommendations are powerful and can significantly boost your credibility and customer base.
Strategies for Nurturing Warm Leads
Now that we understand the significance of warm leads, let's explore some effective strategies for nurturing these leads:
Personalized Communication
Tailor your messages to address the specific needs and pain points of each lead. Utilize data, such as their previous interactions or preferences, to deliver personalized and relevant content. This will show your leads that you value their individuality and understand their unique challenges. For example, if a warm lead has shown interest in a particular product or service, send them a personalized email highlighting how that specific offering can address their needs.
Consistent Follow-ups
Develop a structured follow-up system to ensure that no lead falls through the cracks. Regularly communicate with your leads, providing updates, answering questions, and offering additional support. Try scheduling regular check-ins, via phone calls, emails, or even personalized video messages. By proactively reaching out to your leads, you show them that you are committed to their success and are available to address any concerns they may have.
Providing Valuable Content
Create informative blog posts, e-books, or guides that address their pain points and offer solutions. You can even offer exclusive resources or discounts as an incentive. For instance, film a series of educational videos that walk your warm leads through common challenges they may face in their industry. These videos can provide step-by-step solutions and offer insights that showcase your expertise.
Techniques for Converting Warm Leads
Once you have nurtured your warm leads, it's time to focus on converting them into paying customers. Here are some techniques to help you achieve this:
Effective Sales Pitch Techniques
Craft a compelling and persuasive pitch that highlights the unique value of your product or service. Clearly demonstrate how your offering can solve your leads' problems or fulfill their needs. Use storytelling and real-life examples to engage your leads and make a lasting impression.
Leveraging Social Proof
Social proof is a powerful tool for influencing decisions. To convert warm leads, leverage social proof by showcasing testimonials, case studies, and reviews from satisfied customers. Highlight the positive experiences others have had with your product or service to instill confidence and trust in your leads. Remember, people are more likely to trust a business that has been recommended by others.
Urgency and Scarcity Tactics
Creating a sense of urgency and scarcity can motivate warm leads to take action. Offer limited-time promotions, exclusive discounts, or limited-quantity deals to create a fear of missing out. By instilling a sense of urgency, you encourage your leads to make a decision sooner rather than later. This can push them to make a purchase or take the desired action before the opportunity slips away.
Tools and Software for Lead Nurturing and Conversion
To streamline your lead nurturing and conversion efforts, consider utilizing the following tools and software:
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Tools
CRM tools help you manage and track your leads efficiently. These tools allow you to store lead information, track interactions, and automate follow-ups. One of the key benefits is the ability to centralize all lead information in one place. This makes it easy to access and update lead data, ensuring that your team has the most up-to-date information at their fingertips.
Additionally, CRM tools often provide advanced analytics and reporting features, allowing you to gain insights into your lead nurturing and conversion efforts. Likewise, this can help you streamline your sales process by automating repetitive tasks. For example, you can set up automated email sequences to nurture leads, send reminders for follow-ups, and even trigger notifications when a lead reaches a certain stage in the sales pipeline.
Email Marketing Software
Email marketing software enables you to automate and personalize your email campaigns. These tools offer features such as segmentation, autoresponders, and email templates, allowing you to send targeted and engaging content to your warm leads.
Segmentation is a powerful feature offered by email marketing software. It allows you to divide your leads into different groups based on criteria such as demographics, behavior, or engagement level. By segmenting your leads, you can tailor your email content to specific audiences, increasing the chances of conversion. For example, you can send personalized product recommendations to leads who have shown interest in a particular category.
Another advantage of using email marketing software is the ability to set up autoresponders. Autoresponders are pre-written email sequences that are triggered by specific actions or events. For example, you can set up an autoresponder to send a welcome email to new leads or a series of follow-up emails to nurture leads who have downloaded a whitepaper. These automated sequences ensure that your leads receive timely and relevant communication, even when you're not actively sending emails.
Social Media Platforms
Social media platforms provide a powerful channel for engaging and nurturing warm leads. Utilize platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to share valuable content, interact with your leads, and build relationships. Social media platforms also offer advertising options, allowing you to reach a wider audience and drive conversions. Remember to create a content strategy that resonates with your target audience. This involves sharing informative and engaging content that addresses their pain points and provides solutions.
In addition to organic content, social media platforms also offer paid advertising options. These advertising features allow you to target specific demographics, interests, and behaviors, ensuring that your ads are seen by the right people. You can use social media ads to promote lead magnets, drive traffic to landing pages, or retarget warm leads who have already shown interest in your products or services.
Overall, successfully nurturing and converting warm leads requires an understanding of the concept, implementing effective strategies, employing persuasive techniques, and utilizing appropriate tools and software. By focusing your efforts on warm leads and providing personalized communication, valuable content, and consistent follow-ups, you can increase your conversion rates and drive business growth. Remember to leverage effective sales pitch techniques, social proof, and urgency tactics to convert warm leads into paying customers. Finally, make use of CRM tools, email marketing software, and social media platforms to streamline and enhance your lead nurturing and conversion efforts.
Nurture and convert warm leads successfully with the help of Wrike. Begin your free trial now and turn prospects into satisfied customers.
Note: This article was created with the assistance of an AI engine. It has been reviewed and revised by our team of experts to ensure accuracy and quality.
Project Management
7 min read
Sparking Innovation: Tackling Common Hurdles in Devising a Creative Strategy
Innovation has become a key driver for success and growth. Companies that can consistently come up with fresh ideas and solutions have a competitive edge in their industries. However, many businesses struggle to spark innovation and devise a creative strategy. In this article, we will explore the importance of innovation in business, identify common hurdles that hinder creativity, discuss strategies to overcome these challenges, and look at how to sustain innovation in the long run.
Understanding the Importance of Innovation in Business
Innovation is not just about coming up with new products or services; it is about finding new ways to solve problems, improve processes, and meet the changing needs of customers. Successful companies understand that innovation is a critical component of staying relevant and staying ahead of the competition. They recognize that in today's rapidly evolving world, standing still means falling behind.
The Role of Innovation in Growth and Success
For businesses, innovation is a catalyst for growth. By constantly pushing boundaries and introducing new ideas, companies can capture new market opportunities and expand their customer base. Innovation allows businesses to differentiate themselves from competitors, create unique value propositions, and build strong brand identities.
Why Businesses Struggle with Innovation
While the benefits of innovation are clear, many businesses find it challenging to foster a culture of creativity and implement an effective strategy. There are several common hurdles that hinder innovation:
Lack of Clear Vision and Strategy
Without a clear vision and strategy, innovation becomes a vague and aimless pursuit. To spark creativity, businesses need a well-defined direction and a framework that aligns innovation efforts with overall business objectives. Leaders must communicate a compelling vision for the future that inspires and motivates employees to think innovatively. They need to set clear goals, define success metrics, and establish a roadmap for innovation initiatives.
Resistance to Change
Change is often met with resistance, especially in established organizations. People naturally gravitate towards what they are comfortable with, and innovation disrupts the status quo. Overcoming resistance to change requires effective communication, stakeholder involvement, and a supportive organizational culture that embraces experimentation. Leaders must foster a safe and inclusive environment where employees feel empowered to share their ideas and take calculated risks. They should encourage collaboration, reward innovative thinking, and provide resources and support to turn ideas into reality.
Limited Resources and Budget Constraints
Innovation requires investment, both in terms of time and resources. However, budget constraints and limited resources can create barriers to exploring new ideas and implementing innovative solutions. Finding creative ways to allocate resources and secure buy-in from key stakeholders is essential to overcoming this hurdle. Businesses can leverage partnerships, seek external funding, or reallocate existing resources to support innovation initiatives. They can also establish cross-functional teams or innovation labs to foster collaboration and ensure efficient resource allocation.
Fear of Failure
Many organizations are risk-averse and are hesitant to take chances or try new approaches. This fear can stifle creativity and prevent innovative ideas from being explored. To address this hurdle, businesses can create a safe and supportive environment where failure is seen as a learning opportunity rather than a setback. Encouraging a mindset of experimentation and providing employees with the freedom to take calculated risks can help overcome this obstacle.
Guidelines to Spark Innovation
Here are several suggestions on how companies can spark innovation.
Fostering an Innovative Culture
An innovative culture starts with leadership buy-in and a commitment to promoting creativity at all levels of the organization. It involves encouraging employees to think outside the box, experiment with new ideas, and take calculated risks.
In addition to leadership support, fostering an innovative culture also requires providing employees with the necessary tools and resources to be creative. This includes access to technology, training programs, and opportunities for professional development. What's more, fostering an innovative culture involves recognizing and celebrating creativity. This can be done through various means such as employee recognition programs, innovation awards, or showcasing successful creative projects.
Encouraging Collaboration and Diversity
Collaboration and diversity play a fundamental role in sparking innovation. By bringing together individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, companies can tap into a wealth of ideas and insights.
One way to encourage collaboration is by implementing effective communication channels and platforms. This can include online collaboration tools, project management software, or regular team meetings. Another tactic is to embrace diverse in all its forms - including gender, race, age, and cultural background. Doing so gives rise to a wide range of benefits, as companies can learn and get inspired by a myriad of perspectives and ideas. Aim to include inclusive hiring practices and diversity training programs within your organization.
Implementing Effective Problem-Solving Techniques
Creative problem-solving techniques, such as design thinking or brainstorming sessions, can help overcome obstacles and generate innovative ideas. These techniques provide a structured framework for identifying and solving complex problems, enabling teams to think creatively and come up with novel solutions.
Design thinking, for example, involves a human-centered approach to problem-solving. It emphasizes empathy, experimentation, and iteration to arrive at innovative solutions. On the other hand, brainstorming sessions require bringing together a diverse group of individuals to generate a large number of ideas in a short amount of time. This technique encourages free thinking, open discussion, and the exploration of unconventional ideas.
Moving Forward: Sustaining Innovation in Your Business
While overcoming hurdles to spark innovation is important, sustaining creativity in the long term is equally crucial. Consistent innovation requires ongoing effort and a commitment to continual learning and adaptation.
Continual Learning and Adaptation
Innovative companies prioritize learning and continuous improvement. They invest in employee development, provide opportunities for training and skill-building, and encourage a growth mindset. Moreover, they actively seek feedback from customers and take market trends into account, allowing them to adapt their strategies and stay ahead of the curve.
Measuring and Rewarding Innovation
What gets measured gets managed. To sustain innovation, businesses need to establish metrics and mechanisms to track progress and evaluate the success of their creative initiatives. Additionally, implementing a system to reward and recognize innovative ideas and contributions reinforces the importance of innovation and motivates employees to actively participate in the process.
The Future of Innovation: Trends to Watch
As technology continues to evolve and shape our world, several trends are likely to impact the future of innovation. Artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), and sustainable business practices are just a few examples. By staying informed about emerging trends and anticipating future challenges and opportunities, businesses can position themselves as leaders in their industries.
Overall, sparking innovation and devising a creative strategy is a vital endeavor for businesses that aim to thrive in today's dynamic marketplace. By understanding the importance of innovation, identifying common hurdles, implementing effective strategies, and sustaining creativity over time, companies can unlock their full potential and establish themselves as innovation leaders.
Spark innovation within your team by tackling common hurdles in devising a creative strategy with Wrike. Try it for free and invigorate your team's creativity.
Note: This article was created with the assistance of an AI engine. It has been reviewed and revised by our team of experts to ensure accuracy and quality.
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