Imagine you’re an entrepreneur looking to start a business. You may have a couple of vague concepts in your mind, but no solid ideas you can work with. That’s where business brainstorming enters the scene, allowing you to get your head in the game and generate a whole lot of ideas in just a few minutes.
All it takes is one productive brainstorming session and your business will be a large step closer to lift-off. The next thing you know, profits are already rolling in.
This article covers all you need to know about how to brainstorm business ideas, including tips, techniques, and more. But first, let’s start with the definition of brainstorming.
What Does It Mean to Brainstorm Business Ideas?
To understand what it means to brainstorm business ideas, it’s worth defining brainstorming in general. It is a creative process where someone or a team comes up with solutions for a plan or a problem. Brainstorming often involves making a list of ideas, typically at the initial stages of a project.
In this case, the aim is to explore opportunities for starting a business—or enhancing an existing one. This means generating a number of ideas that can potentially translate into tangible outcomes.
A key part of business brainstorming is divergent thinking, a type of non-linear thinking where one idea leads to another. It allows the person or group to generate a large number of ideas without initially assessing or filtering them. The point is to come up with as many ideas at first and then evaluate them later.
The Importance of Brainstorming Business Ideas
Market Relevance
The business landscape is in a constant state of evolution, and staying relevant is vital. Brainstorming allows businesses and entrepreneurs to stay on top of market trends by thinking of ideas for new products and services. They will be able to identify opportunities and capitalize on them before competitors do.
Innovation and Creativity
Brainstorming business ideas lets you think out of the box and pushes you to explore innovative and unconventional ideas. It sets the stage for free-flowing ideation while nurturing innovation. In a team environment, it encourages diverse perspectives, which ultimately results in the birth of a game-changing product or a service.
Competitive Advantage
The unique business ideas that you get while brainstorming can give you a competitive edge. Those who keep innovating are more likely to stand out in dynamic markets. This also means adapting to new trends and navigating any challenges along the way. By taking a proactive approach, you can pinpoint emerging trends and seamlessly adapt to them.
Opportunity Identification
Business ideation helps you find those untapped opportunities in the market. You’ll be exploring new niches, demographic segments, and even potential collaborations that might not be apparent at first. Discovering these opportunities will give you the upper hand, leading to business expansion opening up revenue streams.
Continuous Improvement
In many cases, brainstorming is more of an ongoing process rather than a one-time gig. It fosters a culture of continuous development where you’re always finding ways to improve products or services. When you brainstorm business ideas on a regular basis, it gives you a mindset of adaptability and dedication for coming up with new ways of doing things.
Tips for Brainstorming Business Ideas
Quantity Over Quality
When it comes to brainstorming business ideas, it’s quantity over quality—rather than the other way around. This doesn’t mean that quality is not important. But worrying about quality during the brainstorming stage will keep you from generating new ideas. Take that pressure off by focusing on writing down as many ideas as possible. The best ideas will be obvious later on.
Silly Ideas Are Welcome
To open the way for true ingenuity and creativity, you’ll want to avoid controlling the process. Brainstorming requires a free-form way of thinking. This means giving silly ideas a voice and expanding your cognitive process. Sometimes, the best business ideas are the silly ones you tend to underestimate.
Think Now, Judge Later
There’s no such thing as a bad idea in a brainstorming session. Remember that finding the right business idea is a process, and you’ll have to trust the process. Thinking of a concept that may not work is part of finding one that will.
Forcing only the best ideas to come forward will get you nowhere and you’ll find yourself at a dead end. That’s why you should think freely now and keep the judgment for later.
Two Minds Are Better Than One
If possible, consider brainstorming with at least one other person. Needless to say, people’s minds differ from one another. So bring in a few teammates to provide their ideas from different points of view. This is a great way to explore concepts that you wouldn’t come across while brainstorming on your own.
Common Brainstorming Methods
S.C.A.M.P.E.R. Technique
S.C.A.M.P.E.R is when you expand and enhance ideas by testing them in various ways. The acronym stands for substitute, combine, adapt, modify, put to another use, eliminate, and reverse. Here’s what you’ll be asking yourself for each letter:
- Substitute: What happens if I replace X with Y?
- Combine: What happens if I combine X and Y?
- Adapt: What should I change to adapt the plan to a different context?
- Modify: What can I modify to create more value on this plan?
- Put to another use: What other uses can the project have?
- Eliminate: What can I remove from the project to make it more simple?
- Reverse: How can I reimagine the plan to make it more effective?
This business idea generation technique lets you approach your plan in ways you wouldn’t expect. Each question will have you digging deeper into the problem and considering new possibilities.
For example, let’s say one of your ideas is developing a state-of-the-art hiking compass. You may start by asking yourself “What if I substitute the materials with eco-friendly alternatives?”
Reverse Brainstorming
In many corporations and government agencies, data security is vital. That is why these organizations often hire hackers to hack their systems and pinpoint any weaknesses. This unconventional approach to security is the idea behind reverse brainstorming. When you reverse brainstorm, you basically create problems instead of solutions. Doing so teaches you what to avoid from the get-go.
Suppose you want to spread awareness about a new product or service. As a marketer, you’ll have a range of promotional channels you can use. But you may not be quite sure where to start. In reverse brainstorming, you may decide to avoid adding links to the landing page of the product or service, refrain from posting about it on social media, and criticize its features.
You’ll then do the opposite of these ideas, creating effective starting points for a promotional campaign. This means linking to the product or service in a number of blog posts, launching an Instagram campaign about it, and highlighting the most interesting features.
S.W.O.T. Analysis
If you’re familiar with the S.W.O.T analysis, chances are you’ll know how to come up with a business idea. It is common among many entrepreneurs and business leaders. Short for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, this technique also applies as a brainstorming technique.
You’ll see it in just about every business school textbook. Brainstormers can use it as a diagram to sort out their ideas. What’s best is that it can be incredibly simple. All you need is four columns on a whiteboard or notebook.
The process automatically accounts for advantages and disadvantages. It also puts you in a problem-solving mode before you face any problems, giving you a complete view of what you can improve. Let’s say, for instance, you’re thinking of a small ecommerce business where you’ll sell hiking gear. Your S.W.O.T. analysis may look something like this:
- Strengths: Diverse range of products, efficient order fulfillment, and a strong online presence.
- Weaknesses: Dependence on suppliers and limited marketing budget
- Opportunities: Partnerships with influencers and growth of online shopping
- Threats: Strong competition and cybersecurity risks
Zero Draft
The Zero Draft is an ideation method typically used by writers. You can think of it as a form of focused free-writing as it involves establishing what you know and writing everything down. In a business scenario, it serves as a starting point, allowing you to visualize a basic foundation that you can work with.
Besides writing everything you know about the subject matter, it’s also a good idea to write down what you want to find out. And make sure to add any other thoughts that come to mind, including why you think the idea is important.
Don’t worry if the draft looks messy and all over the place. The goal is to break through the creative block that often hinders the initial stages of a project.
Storyboarding
When you’re designing a process, storyboarding will show you where your understanding of the issue supports or clashes with the solution in mind. It also tells you in which aspects you need more thought or research. By composing a visual story to look at the issue as a narrative, you’ll be able to see how your ideas link to create a solution.
This is where you’ll need sticky notes. Take your time to write down your ideas separately. Once you have enough notes, organize them on a board in a sequence—one after the other. You can then fill in the blanks. Arranging your ideas this way will reveal new connections and will help you get rid of any additional material that doesn’t benefit your goal.
Word Banking
Word banking is essentially the same as word association. The only difference is that what you do with the terms you think of is more sophisticated.
With word association, you typically focus on pairing words. Word banking, on the other hand, involves forming large groups of terms that describe a few subjects. In a business setting, it can help you break down a project into simple parts like a mind map—but more on that later.
Once your word bank is ready, you can make connections with the terms you wrote down. You can then use those connections to come up with rich concepts. This method of generating business ideas is especially helpful during the initial stages of ideation.
Mind Mapping
Probably the most common brainstorming technique is mind mapping. As a matter of fact, many software programs offer mind-mapping templates that you can use to organize your data. It’s also an excellent way to organize your ideas.
To create a mind map, start by writing down the solution you’re trying to create—or the problem you’re trying to solve—at the center of your whiteboard or sheet of paper. Next, expand on the subject by surrounding it with words or terms that explain what you need.
Let’s say your goal is to create a high-traffic website. A few terms you can write around the central idea can include “SEO,” “visual content,” and “organic traffic.”
Once the first layer of the mind map is complete, you can move on to the next. Add a second layer to each of the needs, explaining how you can address the individual challenges. Around SEO, for example, you can write “topic clusters” and maybe “SEO strategist.”
Keep building on the mind map until you dismantle the issue enough that you can start working on a solution. It is a great way to find creative solutions to subjects that might not be very inspiring.
Generating Business Ideas in 6 Steps
1. Self-Reflect
The fundamental step in brainstorming ideas for a business is self-reflection. What are your skills? What’s your area of expertise? What are you passionate about? Keep in mind that starting a business requires dedication and enthusiasm. Identify your qualities, background, and experiences, and figure out how these unique aspects can contribute to a business idea that stands out.
2. Ask Yourself Questions
Think about the problems that you see in your community or industry. What issues bother you and others? Are there any unmet needs? It’s a simple matter of demand and supply: there’s a demand for a solution in a certain domain, and you’ll be supplying that solution. You’ll also want to ask yourself what motivates you.
A business idea that matches your values and personal interests is more likely to keep you committed down the line.
3. Explore Different Perspectives
Take into account different perspectives and demographics. How might people from various backgrounds or age groups, for example, perceive the issue at hand.
A solution that caters to a wider range of viewpoints tends to have a broader market appeal. Consider looking beyond your immediate horizons. By exploring unfamiliar business environments, you can discover opportunities that pack a lot of potential.
4. Look for Market Gaps
Evaluate existing products and services in a specific industry. Are there any gaps where the current market falls short? You can gather valuable insights for this matter from customer reviews and feedback on existing solutions. It also helps to stay informed about emerging trends and technologies.
The evolution of consumer needs can often reveal a gap in the market. By addressing these overlooked gaps, you can lead your business to success.
5. Make a List
Write down every idea that comes to mind, even if they seem unrealistic. This encourages divergent thinking, which can result in even more creative concepts. Your list can then be the foundation for further exploring. You can use diagrams or mind maps to visually organize related ideas and draw connections between different concepts.
Sometimes, the most innovative ideas come from places you least expect.
6. Prioritize Promising Ideas
Once you have a list, evaluate each idea according to how practical it is and how much potential it holds. Account for factors like required resources, possible challenges, as well as time commitment.
You’ll also want to measure demand by doing some market research. Do you have any competitors? How big is the target market and is it growing or shrinking? Prioritize business ideas that are most likely to succeed in the market.
Creating a New Product
Look at Emerging Trends
Keeping an eye on emerging trends is important when trying to create a new product. By getting to know trends in technology and consumer behavior, you can make sure that your product aligns with current and future market demands. This involves doing your research and keeping up with innovations in the industry.
Remember that you’ll want your product to stay relevant and meet the evolving needs of the target audience.
Analyze the Market
Performing a market analysis helps you determine how viable your product is. You’ll need to understand the size, dynamics, and demographics of your audience.
- Who will buy from you?
- Is your target market big enough?
- Can your potential customers afford your product?
These are all questions you should consider in your research. You can then make informed decisions and build your business around a solid analysis.
Review the Competition
Once you guarantee that there’s a strong market for your product, you’ll need to find out who else may be contending for your audience’s money and attention. Chances are, you’ll have some competition. If so,
- What share of the market do your competitors control?
- Does your business offer unique value?
- What market share do you need to sustain your business?
It also helps to assess the strengths and weaknesses of existing products in the market. This helps in figuring out how your product will stand out.
Conduct a Financial Analysis
A financial analysis will help you evaluate whether you can afford to develop your product and determine if it’s profitable.
- How much will it cost to launch the product and run the business?
- Can you get enough sales to cover your costs and make a profit?
- How long will it take for those profits to come in?
You may also want to see if you can get financial backing, like a microloan, crowdfunding, or a business credit account. By understanding the financial aspects, you’ll be able to assess how practical your business idea is and set realistic goals accordingly.
Make a Prototype and Test It
Creating a prototype allows you to represent your product physically or conceptually. This step is essential for refining the design, functionality, and user experience.
You can test your prototype with a group of users or through focus groups to gain valuable insights into usability, durability, and customer satisfaction. It can also be a good idea to validate your concept on platforms like Prelaunch. This guarantees a successful launch and ensures that your final product meets customer expectations.
Enhancing an Existing Product
In some cases, you can work on enhancing a product that already exists. Much like creating a new product, it starts with a brainstorming stage. This includes identifying areas for improvement or unmet needs within the target market. In other words, it means finding weaknesses in the existing product or figuring out how it can offer more value to your audience.
Consider collaborating with your customer base via the Prelaunch platform, surveys or focus groups to gain insights into their preferences and pain points. You can then work on an upgrade that addresses the feedback. For example, you may improve the product’s performance or maybe incorporate a range of new features. The goal is to meet customer expectations and maintain a competitive edge in the market.
Conclusion
The most random business idea can turn into the most rewarding project. A decent brainstorming session can help you come up with that million-dollar idea. This means getting familiar with different techniques like mind mapping, storyboarding, and word banking—among other tips and steps. By knowing how to brainstorm business ideas, it’s only a matter of time until you find the one that ticks all the boxes.
