What do you do when you're stuck for ideas?

efeezy

efeezy

Well-known member
Oct 5, 2007
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I'm having a bit of IM block at the moment. I can't get inspired to create anything new or exciting. My SEO & EPN efforts are pretty much on autopilot right now, earning me several hundred per day, so I'm making money. My PPC campaigns on Facebook are not doing much and are wearing me out and I haven't regained the guts to try and get shit going on Adwords since the last slapfest. I just need to get some ideas for a fresh project, but I just can't find anything. I want to get something in gear and bump my earnings up a few hundred a day. I'm motivated, just not inspired I guess. What do you do to get the "juices flowing".
 


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^^ How did I know the first post would be weed related. If I want to get tired and accomplish even less, I'll probably smoke a fattie.
 
Rinse and repeat. You have a few hundy a day and you wanta few more.... no need to reinvent the wheel, you just need a shove.

Perhaps a passionate niche to replicate in? Helps if you're the least bit interested. ;)

New collaboration or your successes with seo and epn?

= macro site that Eli was mentioning... combine your ebay stuff with a few new twists into a giant power house.
 
efeezy said:
^^ How did I know the first post would be weed related. If I want to get tired and accomplish even less, I'll probably smoke a fattie.
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Yes, you might get tired and not do much... but your just looking for the idea correct?

Everyone gets there best ideas when they're high. This is pretty much a known fact. The key is to write that shit down, so when you wake up from passing out, you then follow through with the idea.

If that makes any sense... lol
 
I always put the travel channel on for a bit....somehow I always come away with something to work with :1bluewinky:
 
Yeah I'm just looking for some inspiration to get a new idea or two that I can put together. Doing the work isn't an issue...it's getting the idea to work on right now. Honestly, I'd rather go for a surf or to the golf course than sit at a desk the past few days.
 
efeezy said:
Honestly, I'd rather go for a surf or to the golf course than sit at a desk the past few days.
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Came in here to suggest physical activity. Some new research (which will probably be refuted in a few years, but who cares) shows that regular exercise stimulates new pathways in the brain.

Speaking highly unscientifically, that's what you need: a couple of neurons who've never met to shake hands and connect some things in your head.

My recommendation: take a run, hit the golf course, have a scotch and read a book or magazine about something you like (non-business or internet related) to take your mind off AM. This almost always leads to an idea.

Drugs, alcohol, exercise or reading all tend to take you out of your normal pathways of thinking and let your brain put together new ideas.

My two pennies.

PS Keep a moleskine, iphone, or blackberry on you to jot down the idea when it hits. Not sure how to surf with any of those but that's your prob, not mine.
 
When I get stuck, I sometimes go to sites like this Classic TV Ads: Free Classic Television Commercials, As Seen On TV Infomercial Products Store - Official As Seen On TV Guys Online Store., and I pick up a few hard copies of http://www.nationalenquirer.com/ and http://www.globemagazine.com/

I spend time going over the stuff to see what seems to be selling or what might be up & coming.

The older TV ADs sometimes give me an idea for a presentation that works, but it's a technique or idea that is no longer commonly seen. (Which I like.)

I look for anything that gets me to thinking about creating and presenting.

I actually enjoy reading ADs to see what the style of the pitch is. Tabloids are great for finding new things. Both products & trends and pitch ideas.

I also have been keeping Direct Mail Sales copy that I have gotten over the years and go back through it from time to time.

If you are really looking for something new, I'd suggest finding some trade shows to attend. Even if you don't find anything that appeals to you there, your mind will have been exposed to new things and ideas to help it continue down that path on it's own afterwards. (Who knows, you might find a good new product though, then partner up with the owner to market it to the world and be the next big thing.)

Any place that gets me to think of new things and in different ways is always helpful for me.

Then again, getting away from the computer & marketing stuff all together helps as well. I like going to an amusement park and riding the thrill rides. It gets the adrenaline pumping and seems to flush the system out. I then seem to be able to come to the table fresh and uncluttered.


For me, the Stoned and Buzzed thing works while in those states of mind, but later after sobering up and reading what I wrote down, I have NO IDEA how in the world I could have thought those ideas had any merit. Lulz
 
before you go to bed at night, ask your self a question. wake up in the morning with an answer. or, drop some lsd. i generate tons of ideas on a daily basis, so this really isn't a problem for me. it's more the workload.
 
Its a hard slump to get out of. My personality seems to lead me to lots and lots of IM block. Ive yet to find the best way to get back in gear.

But some advice is be careful of taking to much time off work. It starts with a day then a weekend then weeks. Its pretty fun doing whatever you want all day but once you get trapped in the idea its a bitch to get back behind the desk.
 
BeerNuts said:
But some advice is be careful of taking to much time off work. It starts with a day then a weekend then weeks. Its pretty fun doing whatever you want all day but once you get trapped in the idea its a bitch to get back behind the desk.
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Very true. I ended up taking a month off last year around the holidays (with a couple of workdays sprinkled in) and I regretted it when I came back in '09 and everything was at a standstill. Snowboarding led into hanging out with friends, led into time with the family, led into a couple trips... boom one whole month, gone.

Goddamn internet keeps moving without you.
 
Come hang out in #serious on freenode. Or #mafia on irc.krono.net It's pretty much constant idea bouncing between really capable people. The ideas that flourish do so with great vigor. There is nothing better than sitting around with other people that are capable and figuring out why something wont work, fixing it, and making the idea better.

Whenever I feel uninspired I come hangout for an hour. Or I go dickroll people in #cakes.
 
Thanks for the responses...It sounds like I should get stoned and go surf with my blackberry, then come home and watch the Travel channel after taking a few days off.

Seriously though, some good ideas. Thanks. You guys are the bestest ever.
 
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