[Innovation… the process of bringing about new ideas, methods, products, services, or solutions that have a significant positive impact and value. ]
With saturated markets, evolving customer expectations and the exponential rise of AI, our world is changing FAST and our need to innovate is more vital than ever to not just keep pace, but stand out and flourish.
“Innovation is not merely a tactic for success; but the lifeblood of growing, ambitious disruptor businesses…” Kate Curry, Director at CUDOS Creative
So, how can you increase your impact by bringing more innovation into the many elements of your business? Here are our top recommendations:
Innovation in branding
At its core, branding is about storytelling and connection. For disruptor businesses, innovation lies in how you leverage this to truly stand out and make deeper connections with the right-fit people you want to attract.
We recommend resisting the urge to follow the crowd, presenting your business in the traditional manner for your sector – be bold and embrace your uniqueness! Use stand-out, eye-catching visuals to grab attention, bring them to life with digital enhancements like animation or augmented reality, and be proud to showcase the innovation which drives your business.
Innovation in marketing
It’s increasingly critical that growing, disruptor businesses employ innovative marketing strategies. This ensures your business captures your ideal audiences’ attention but also engages them in all the right ways.
Be innovative in the way you communicate directly with your audience, through social media platforms and online communities. Ideas could include hosting virtual events, webinars, social media groups or live Q&A sessions to drive a sense of connection and belonging amongst your audience. Remember, it’s how you make people FEEL that they will remember the most and by building a community with a cause, you will have long term customers that believe, and buy in to, your mission.
Connecting with other innovators
Collaboration can be a powerful catalyst for innovation. Building connections with other innovators can accelerate growth by sharing ideas, resources, and best practices.
We are huge advocates of attending industry conferences, workshops, talks and network events to establish relationships with like-minded entrepreneurs. These connections often yield partnerships and alliances that can be really beneficial to all and help you continue to bring more innovative ideas and practices to your business.
Innovative Financing
Raising finance and capital is a crucial aspect of scaling an ambitious business. Traditional funding methods may not always align with the innovative spirit that disruptor businesses embody.
We recommend exploring grant funding, which provides many different pots of money with the express purpose of supporting innovation in start ups and more established enterprises. By providing financial support without requiring repayment, these funds enable businesses to explore new technologies and enhance their competitiveness in the market.
Leveraging Your Unique Selling Proposition (USP)
In a world overloaded with information and choices, clearly defining and communicating your USP is essential for standing out. Innovation can play a key role in refining and showcasing your USP.
Craft innovative campaigns with compelling messaging that articulate your USP, not just through words, but also through engaging multimedia experiences. This approach helps ensure your message cuts through the noise and your distinct message is seen, heard and ultimately… remembered.
Innovation is crucial for the sustained success of growing, ambitious disruptor businesses, we can use innovative thinking in every aspect of our business operations from marketing and brand to finance and connections. Embracing innovation not as an isolated goal but as an integral part of your business ethos will absolutely establish your business as a resilient and forward-thinking brand.
If you’d love to learn more about leveraging innovation to grow your business, these topics and more will be discussed in our upcoming event on Thursday 27th March, 9.30-11.30, in Birmingham.