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Have you ever had one of those lightbulb moments sparked by something completely unrelated to your field? Maybe a café’s reward system gave you an idea for keeping clients engaged, or a podcast on a totally different topic triggered a clever improvement in your business.
That’s the beauty of creative cross-pollination, the practice of taking inspiration from other industries and adapting it to your own. It’s one of my favourite strategies because it keeps ideas fresh, opens up new ways of thinking, and proves that innovation often begins with a single curious question: What if I tried that here?
Let’s explore how you can take inspiration from unexpected places and turn it into practical marketing strategies that create real momentum in your business.
How to Borrow Brilliance from Other Industries
See Inspiration Everywhere
If you want to think differently, you have to look differently. Staying in your own lane limits your perspective, while stepping outside it helps you spot the ideas hiding in plain sight. Look at how other industries approach their challenges:
- Hospitality creates experiences that customers remember long after they leave.
- Technology thrives on seamless, user-friendly interactions.
- Retail builds lasting loyalty through storytelling and emotion.
Each of these approaches offers something worth adapting. Once you start observing how others connect, sell, and serve, you’ll begin to see possibilities everywhere.
Borrow, Don’t Clone
Cross-pollination isn’t about copying what others do. It’s about translating the concept to suit your audience and brand.
Take fitness apps, for instance. Their progress streaks and milestone badges keep users motivated. You can apply the same idea in your business by creating visual progress tools, such as Progress Tracking Trees, which help your clients see and celebrate their wins.
Or consider how subscription boxes create excitement with unexpected bonuses. That same sense of anticipation could enhance your memberships or programs through quarterly surprises or themed updates.
The goal isn’t to mimic the surface-level tactic; it’s to understand the psychology behind why it works and make it your own.
A Lesson from the Loyalty Card
A business owner I once worked with was struggling to maintain consistent workshop attendance. Together, we borrowed an idea straight from the café world: the loyalty card.
Participants earned a “stamp” for each session they attended, with a bonus session after a certain number were completed. Attendance rose significantly because the approach felt fun, familiar, and rewarding.
It worked because it played to a universal principle: people love progress and recognition.
Build Your Ideas Garden
Great ideas show up when you’re open to noticing them. Create your own Ideas Garden, a collection of concepts, visuals, and marketing tactics that catch your attention. Jot them down in a notebook, on an app, or on a whiteboard.
Then, when you’re planning new campaigns, revisit your garden and ask:
- What emotion does this idea tap into?
- What problem does it solve cleverly?
- How might I adapt it for my audience?
Over time, you’ll grow a living library of inspiration that’s uniquely yours and ready to feed your creativity when you need it most.
Key Takeaway
Creativity isn’t about reinventing everything from scratch. It’s about paying attention, analysing what works, and reimagining it in your own world. The smartest ideas often come from outside your industry, if you stay curious enough to notice them.
Action Steps to Take
This week, pick a business in a completely different industry and study it with fresh eyes.
- How do they create loyalty or engagement?
- What emotions are they sparking?
- Which of their approaches could you adapt to your own work?
Experiment, refine, and see what resonates. When you borrow brilliance thoughtfully, innovation becomes second nature.
Your Creative Cross Pollination Toolkit
Progress Tracking Trees
Progress Tracking Trees help you measure achievements, stay motivated, and see how far you’ve come, whether you’re tracking goals, clients, or marketing milestones.
The Ideas, Impact & Marketing Circle
Your all-in-one space for guided marketing strategy, content creation resources, and creative accountability.
Get It Done Together
Join my monthly co-working and accountability sessions designed to help you beat the loneliness of business and actually get things done.
Join the Business Business Business Community
Inside Business Business Business, you’ll find thousands of fellow entrepreneurs sharing advice, resources, and inspiration to help you grow your business with confidence.
Book a 1:1 Discovery Call
Want to explore how cross pollination could work in your business? Let’s chat. We’ll uncover opportunities, brainstorm strategies, and map out how to bring a fresh, creative edge to your marketing.
Enjoyed this episode? Share it with another business owner who’s craving fresh marketing inspiration. And if you borrow an idea or implement one of these strategies, reach out on social media, I’d genuinely love to hear how it goes.
The most powerful ideas often come from the work you’re already doing and the world you’re already observing. You have so much brilliance to share, so get out there, get curious, and start cross-pollinating.
Highlights
- 00:00 Introduction to Creative Cross Pollination
- 01:00 Finding Inspiration Outside Your Industry
- 02:12 Examples of Cross Pollination in Action
- 03:07 Real-World Success Stories
- 04:00 Implementing Cross Pollination in Your Business
- 05:38 Action Step to Take
