7 Ways for Marketers to Get Out of a Creativity Rut If you feel like you're falling into a marketing rut, use your competitors, friends, and even people you don't know for inspiration.

These days boring and generic formulas for success seem to be the standard (looking at you, Fast and The Furious, Part 37). Commoditization is everywhere, especially in many industries where marketers are essential, such as restaurants and home services.

We tend to see the same marketing strategies and formats over and over again when watching competitors. It can be hard not to fall into the same trap. But, as long as you're willing to be bold, you can stand out.

Related: 7 Ways to Tweak Your Marketing & Sales Strategies for the New Economy