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What is the core element that The Mona Lisa and The Last Supper have in common?  Both famous paintings portray an individual’s unique form of creativity.  I posses creativity, you posses creativity, everyone does to an extent.  But what exactly is creativity and how do we truly define it?  Well, to some it can be a beautiful piece of art or an enticing song that grabs attention.  Yet creativity is not simply defined by amazing art; creativity is defined as our essence and it differentiates one person from another.   We all have the ability to be creative, but it is how we use it in our daily lives that determine just how creative we are.  

When brought to a business level, creativity can make or break a company.  It is common sense that a client or an individual will favor a company with more creative and diverse ideas than a company that seems dull and stale.  Unusual ideas and attention grabbers are factors that help a company attract new customers and keep existing ones.  Why fit in when you can stand out from the competition?

Business is about working with other people and incorporating many ideas and concepts together.  In order to be successfully creative in the work place, an individual must be willing to view all perspectives and not solely his or her own point of view.  The more ideas, thoughts and perceptions brought to the table the better.  No one individual’s creative sense is similar to another’s.   By incorporating multiple creative ideas, your business can soar.  

Every day we are consumed with a multitude of thoughts and ideas.  What do we call it when we turn our ideas into a reality?  This process is creativity. Why keep amazing ideas bottled up inside our minds when we can use them to our benefit?

Since it’s vital to your business to stimulate creativity and then carry out your ideas, I have listed below three useful steps that can help you successfully channel your creativity. 

1. Listen to music and read anywhere and everywhere you can.  Music and reading are key to exploration and the discovery of new concepts.   
2. Free write and brainstorm. Take 5 or 10 minutes out of your day and just write about anything and everything that you are feeling at the moment.  Most importantly, do not lift the pen off of the paper until the time is up; this allows your brain to avoid interruptions.
3. Ask peers and family members for advice. Other people’s ideas can help boost your own creativity.

Use these steps when you feel as if you are in a creative rut.  And just remember, anyone can be creative!

By Stefanie Neckameyer, Account Assistant

In today’s world of constantly evolving technology it is vital for a business to keep up with these advances.  Technology can help to promote and run businesses in many ways. One of the best ways to demonstrate your business’s modern capabilities and in your business in general, is in your company’s website. Your website can help maintain and grow your business.  It is one of the most important aspects of your business for a many reasons.

• Your website is your customer’s first impression. 
  When a potential customer is referred to or stumbles upon your website it is their first glimpse of your business.  It will either entice them to read more, or repel them and force them to move onto the next website or company.  The average web user takes 2.5 seconds to decide if they should keep reading or close your web page. The customer will judge your capability as a company by how effective, informational, up to date and especially how user friendly your website is.  So it is important to maintain and update your website to have a modern and clean look.

• Your website is your customer’s main source of information. 
  Until a customer comes into direct contact with a representative from your company, their only source of information about you is your website. If your website is vague and has little information it won’t give the customer the confidence they need to contact your company and consider your services or product. Customers need to be provided with information about your location and services in order to make an informed decision. 
• Your website helps you reel in customers.

 If a customer hears about your company and is interested in your services but doesn’t have a card or a phone number, the first thing they will do is Google you.  Having a website allows this customer to contact you.  You may also have a client that came into your office or used your services but forgot or lost your phone number.  Having a website is insurance for those kinds of mishaps and one of the many ways to gain and maintain clients and customers.

In short making your website one of your business’s priorities will greatly improve your business. It’s important to realize that your website can be a customer’s first impression, their main source of information and a way for you to reel in and maintain customers. Therefore it must be clean, modern, up to date, effective, informational and user friendly.

By Elaine Valvezan, Account Assistant

Dreams. Goals. Success

Are you a freelancer looking to expand your business, and transform your dreams into achievable goals and real success?  Here are a few pointers:

• The general idea: What type of business? There are so many possibilities: Restaurant, Public Relations Firm, and Clothing Store, just to name a few.  Choose a focus for your business and make sure that you can answer a few questions before you move onto specifics.  For example, what is your business’ mission?  Direction—where do you see your business if five years?  Ten?  Even fifty?
• The specifics: Create solid, realistic goals, set your sights high, but not too high (don’t set yourself up for disappointment).  Ask yourself, whom, if anyone, you would like to go into business with.  Do they have the same dreams and goals as you do?  Good relationships with your coworkers are extremely important for any business, especially if you will be working directly with customers.
• Get creative: Every company needs an attention-getting logo along with a catchy phrase.  This creates brand recognition, and tells the potential customer something about your business.  Brainstorm, bounce some ideas around with a friend, and then narrow it down.  You may be biased, so don’t be afraid to ask others for advice!
• Contacts: your contacts and clients basically make your business!  You have to have a solid list of contacts, and maintain good relationships with them.  Note: maintaining good relationships, and understanding conflict management are extremely important for any business! 
• Organization is key:  Keeping track of payment, clients, and products can be hard without a good system.  Keep neat files of payments that you give and receive.  Most businesses use QuickBooks.  You can even download a free copy here.
• Set yourself apart: Why should someone give you business over your competitors?  What do you have to offer that no one else does?  This may be very difficult, but also crucial for success.

Good luck

By Becky Wool, Account Assistant