Creativity.   Some people have it, some people don’t.  Does it matter?  Is it necessary?

Like with many questions the answer is a solid… It Depends.

If you’re a businessman, creativity doesn’t matter.

If you’re an athlete, it doesn’t matter.

If you’re a marketer, it doesn’t matter.

Or does it?

If you’re a businessman – you will argue that your bread and butter is how well you run your business.  How successful a business is.  The numbers are proof of everything.

And that is entirely true.

But do you do it alone?   No.  You have a team of people including a few creatives as well.

And odds are, how you became successful had a fair amount of creativity in it as well.  Did you do something that was ahead of its time?  Did you involve a certain department or technique that others thought was crazy?  You were clever and you used creativity to make your business just that much better.

Same goes for marketers and athletes as well.  IF you do everything by the book, if you pay attention to every rule, and every guideline for how you’re supposed to do something you are only as good as the person telling you.

You have to believe that you can be and do more.  Boundaries must be pushed. Limits have to be surpassed. Ideas need to be created and followed up on. Creativity is in every breath you take if you have a dream and a goal in mind. Devising a plan to get where you want to be is nothing less than integral and you won’t get there by going with the status quo.  Be different, do things differently, don’t follow the herd.

Your business will be that much more successful.

You’re races/contests/games/matches/etc will be that much more fulfilling.

Your marketing campaigns will be fresh and pop and receive the recognition they deserve.  All because you took a few minutes to explore your creative side.

Go ahead – develop that fun website, interesting blog, unique project.  What do you have to lose?  And what is there to gain all because you took a step in a direction that most don’t.  Isnt that what sets apart the winners from the losers?  Hard work, determination, and creativity?  I’d think so.

Since the 50s, with the image of the modern day house wife, women have been seen at the forefront of major shopping decisions in consumer spending, particularly with groceries, beauty products, and clothing. They balance the household income, pay the bills, and influence their husbands on what to purchase. Considering their purchasing power, targeting women in your marketing plan is a smart idea that could provide monetary rewards!

Mommy Bloggers

Times have changed since the 50s, but women are still spending. Enter: Mommy Bloggers. Typically a stay at home mom, this vast genre of blogging has a wide reaching community of women who help provide for their family. Many mommy bloggers host giveaways sponsored by companies for readers to win free products. It’s also a great way to promote an Etsy shop if you have one.

Career-driven Women

More women attend college than men and are starting up business ventures. Even mommy bloggers are thinking outside the box by looking for ways to earn money at home. Entrepreneurial women are everywhere, and they have a lot of clout. Women like relationships and connections. They like dialogue and conversations. Use this to your advantage by getting your small business, brand, or product in sponsorship programs. Get involved with the community or donate to specific causes. This involvement will be more valuable to women and differentiate you from the competition.

Women are not a minority. They make up at least half of the world’s population and thinking of ways to market to them will give small business owners a smart advantage.

It’s that time of the year to review our successes and missteps in business – and what a humdinger of a year it was. While post-holiday slump sets in and everyone settles into 2009, take a few minutes and list your business resolutions – your own road map to a successful new year.

Ask yourself:

• Did my marketing plan get me where I wanted to be in 2008? Evaluate your tactical marketing plan for hits and misses. Use the hits as a jumping off point for creating a new, evolved 2009 plan. In a year where competition for consumers’ attention will be fiercer than ever, your plan should include new and updated creative to ensure you rise above the fray. Don’t back away from your goals of growth in a recession economy, but do take cautious measures to be sure your messaging is exactly on target – you can’t afford misses.

• What challenges are my clients going to meet? Few industries are immune to today’s economic struggle. Anticipate what your customers are going to find most valuable from you and focus on building that aspect of your business. It’s a perfect time to introduce new timely and relevant offers on your web site.

• Where can I trim my budget and where should I maintain? It’s more important that ever to win and keep your clients’ trust. You don’t have to undergo an entire redesign of your web presence to reassure your consumers that your business is healthy and thriving. The simple addition of personalized communications, such as a weekly blog, gives you a vehicle to speak directly and with authority to your target market about topics that have immediate impact in their organizations. Likewise, a Virtual Spokesperson — full-motion video representative whom you designate to deliver a spoken message — adds a personal touch without demanding a complete site overhaul.

Trends in online business, Internet marketing and email marketing are constantly shifting. Stay alert to the latest and you’ll be keyed in on how the competition is spending their marketing dollars. Those businesses that maintain their integrity and poise will emerge as leaders in 2009.