How to Brainstorm New Ideas

Having a great business depends on a great business idea—which means you’ll need to find the best ways to brainstorm new ideas.

However, that’s often easier said than done. This is because it can usually be very difficult to concentrate or to get in the right mental space to allow for a great brainstorm. This can be quite difficult with both modern and traditional distractions—smartphones and people.

On the other hand, brainstorming can also be accomplished with other people, which is especially necessary when you’re working on a business idea with your partners.

So let’s look at the best ways you can brainstorm new ideas successfully.

Solve your own problems

When you are starting a business, you are essentially solving a problem that people have. For B2C’s, it’s for consumers; for B2B’s it’s for other businesses, and for B2G’s, it’s governments and related institutions.

While trying to figure out what problems you want to solve, why not start with yourself. Essentially, ask yourself: what problems do I have? If there’s a solution for that problems, try to see if you can present the solution more efficiently and for a better price.

Be aware of the trends

What will be the next big thing for 2017 and beyond? What are the most important emerging trends . If you can get ahead of these trends, you can spot business opportunities before they become big. And when they become big, you’ll have great business.

In order to spot that, you need to know what the current trends are. You also need to know analyst and industry leader opinions on what is soon to come.

Keeping your ear on the business ground will be important when you try to brainstorm new ideas for your business.

What kinds of trends are you seeing? What gaps will it create. From that trend, what are the products or services that will be necessary, and how can you fill that need?

Switch fields

While you probably have most of your comfort, experience and skills in one field, you don’t have to just stick with that. Why not think of business ideas outside of your current field?

Sometimes if you’re too comfortable and familiar with your industry, it can act as a limitation and kill your creativity. What skills do you have, and what industries besides your own can they work in?

For example, if you are a scientist, you don’t have to just stick with research centers and academics. You can go work for L’Oreal, Bose, Nestle, and many other businesses where your talents are needed. With that, you can also start your own company by selling one product (makeup, for example), but using your science experience and skills to make the best makeup products.

Don’t be original, just be better

One thing that many new entrepreneurs do is to try to be original when they come up with new ideas for their businesses. However, you don’t need to reinvent the wheel.

All you need to do is to be faster, cheaper, and more efficient.

For example, IKEA did not in fact create furniture or collapsible furniture for that matter. It only found a way to do it better. Nor did Apple invent the smartphone.

Do it better and you may just have a great business idea on your hands.

Ask around

If you’re still stuck for great brainstorming fuel, why don’t you go and ask your target audience on social media? You may not know exactly what you want to sell or what service you want to provide, but you might know who you want it to be for.

If you do, or if you have even the tiniest of ideas, ask those people.

If you want to sell electronic services or products, ask people who regularly buy electronics. Sometimes the only way to get great brainstorming ideas is to ask other people.

Mix it up

Lastly, you can do something which can be quite a fun activity: mix and match things that are seemingly different.

Essentially, you are combining disparate things and putting them together in a practical way. You can do this in many ways.

One is to put ideas into a hat and choosing two words at random. Another is to go to the local supermarket and matching products that are across from each other in the aisles.

While you may come up with a lot of crazy ideas—actually, mostly crazy ideas—you might find some gold. Even if you don’t, those ideas could lead you to some ideas that are much more practical.

With these steps, you can come up with some fantastic new ideas. With a great brainstorming session, who knows, you could be the next Airbnb, IKEA or Dollar Shave Club.

Source: B2C