When walking into a bookstore you are immediately greeted with a vast array of books strategically positioned on the bookshelves with their spines pointing out at you saying “come closer and have a look at me”!
As a way of encouraging you to clasp your eyes upon them, each book is ordained with its own distinct marketing appeal that is a complex blend of colours and words to entice the potential book buyer. I must admit, I am one those people who does judge a book by its cover so first impressions in this instance do indeed count.
Once tempted by a specific book, you gently slide the chosen article from the shelves and study the outer cover and artwork more closely to further justify your initial selection. At this stage, you have not yet opened the book and do not know what the story could be about, but you are already speculating in your mind various story permutations and plot combinations. If all goes to plan from the publisher’s perspective, you will eventually be seduced into reading the blurb and may then personally commit to purchasing the book for a greater analysis of the numerous pages to justify your expenditure.
This process of judging a book by its cover got me thinking about with the generation of ideas in the corporate office.
What if each employee was given a book with the same title (which represented a work problem to be solved), colours, design and branding on the outer cover of the book? The inside of each book would contain blank pages.
Each employee would then be asked to scribe inside their book the thoughts and ideas that came to them on initially viewing the exterior of the book. These thoughts would only be derived from the title and the complementary artwork (just like in the bookstore). The books would then be collected and the contents accumulated into a combined narrative.
The results I’m sure would be most interesting and I suspect would vary greatly in content. But, what a rich and extensive source of innovative ideas this process would generate! Let’s call the process “bookovation” (short for innovation derived from books).
So next time you are in need for some creativity in your business, may I suggest you give “bookovation” a go, I’m sure that the process would generate a lot of intrigue and enjoyment for your employees along the way. It would also make for the establishment of an impressive corporate library of thought!
Thoughts that might just be useful in the future 
Oldest Daughter Redheaded Sister
/ October 24, 2013Oh I couldn’t agree more! Great post!
I posted about a recent trip to the library this past summer. I find myself on the floor with books a lot whether it’s at the library or the book store. I figure I have the right to sit and smell, touch and look through as many books as I’d like. I always leave with more than I’d planned. 🙂
Steven Cramer
/ October 25, 2013Now that’s a thought…..book marketing via a distinctive aroma!
celestedimilla
/ October 25, 2013What a fab idea Steven! I love the name too, it’s fun and clever. I also think this could be used in other ways, like with students to spark thought and creativity. Celeste 🙂 PS – I’m guilty of judging a book by it’s cover too;)
Steven Cramer
/ October 25, 2013Thanks Celeste, yes as I was writing it I was also thinking that this could be a fun idea for students….if there are any teachers out there reading this, I would welcome the feedback!? Cheers, Steve
Liz
/ October 25, 2013Funny how conventional wisdom is to not judge a book by its cover, but we all do! What else do you have to go on when you’re blindly looking over books in the library?
Totally agree that people should not be judged by appearance. And also that we all bring different visions that should be appreciated and valued.
Steven Cramer
/ October 25, 2013Thanks Liz, I know what you mean. I wouldn’t be surprised if the next stage in marketing books is for there to be a motion sensor strategically placed in them….when it senses a potential shopper, the book launches into a pre-recorded sales pitch that discusses the virtues of that book! Just imagine….rows of bookshelves permeating verbal marketing woft? I hope it doesn’t happen….if it does, I will be shopping with ear-plugs! However, with my marketing hat on….it could be an “interesting” concept? Cheers, Steve
Nancy Loderick
/ October 25, 2013Neat idea! I think creativity is always sparked by trying something completely different.
Nancy
Steven Cramer
/ October 25, 2013Thanks Nancy
Dry, Peter
/ October 25, 2013I think I’m going to do this!!!!!
Steven Cramer
/ October 25, 2013Great, I would be interested to hear how it goes!
Forest So Green
/ November 9, 2013Great idea, I hope someone gives it a try, Annie
Steven Cramer
/ November 9, 2013Thanks Annie, yes, it will be interesting to see how it goes! Cheers, Steve