We all saw the world more clearly when we saw it for the first time, before a lifetime of experiences. For example, when you commute every morning, do you still notice the flowers on the sidewalk or the birds on the trees like you used to? Probably not. For most people, it’s not necessary and certainly not convenient to focus on these details. 

However, as a digital marketer, it’s your job to be attentive because observation and creativity go hand in hand. You need to observe things with fresh eyes, with a sense of newness, and draw inspiration from your surroundings to generate new ideas. 

If you’re having trouble developing observation skills, don’t worry! Here are a few other great ways to nurture creativity:

Find Inspirations

No matter what type of content you’re creating, you have to draw on inspiration to grow as a digital marketer. Inspiration motivates you to get up every day and work. It makes you excited to take on a new project. 

Finding inspiration is easy. Just think about who or what gets you moving. Perhaps you’re already actively seeking inspiration without realizing it. If you follow entrepreneurial leaders on socials, you’ve got it. Learn about their passion projects to feel inspired to start your own. 

Create Freely

Deadlines, do’s, and don’ts. There are so many distractions that can limit your creativity. In order to create freely, release the pressure to rush and finish the project. Take your time and let ideas come to you. 

Allowing yourself complete freedom in the creative process changes how you approach work. You’ll find heightened motivation from the sense of ownership, knowing you are controlling the limits of the project. It’s okay to take a little longer writing that web copy. Nowadays, as the criteria for quality content grows increasingly difficult to meet, a section of web copy can take up to four hours to write. To make the most of your expertise and creativity, approach the task with creative freedom.

Brainstorm for Quantity

One of the basic principles of design thinking is brainstorming for quantity rather than quality. Give yourself space to brainstorm freely, without fear of judgment, and you’ll find this process works. Generating a large number of ideas in a short amount of time encourages more innovative ideas. Because you have a pool of ideas, you can refine and merge them to create the most ideal solution. 

As you practice drawing on inspirations, creating freely, and brainstorming for quantity, keep in mind that digital marketing is a mix of verbal and visual language. Represent both parts in your content, and match the quality of your visual design to that of your content writing. Now go get creative!