Words and Meaning - What makes Company Slogans Powerful?
Company slogans are one of the most elemental parts of any modern business plan. Little sentences that often have just a few words go a long way into establishing a client base for their company as well as a brand. Great slogans have the power to be remembered, captivate audiences and continue to bring home the purpose and reason for the company.
The difference between a good slogan and a bad one can mean the difference between the Fortune 500 and bankruptcy. With so much riding on a slogan, its important to look at the things that good slogans all seem to have.
1. Good company slogans are memorable - A slogan that you forget 15 minutes after hearing it is not going to do your business any good. You might as well throw your advertising budget out the window if your slogan has no staying power. Many slogans use rhymes or have a singsong quality about them that makes people remember them or say them over and over. Those kind of things allow people to put the slogan in their long-term memory and recall it when then need arises. “It’s the real thing” - the slogan of Coca-Cola - almost has music to it as you say it. That is what makes it so powerful.
2. Good company slogans create mind pictures - People are not necessarily auditory learners. The way most people learn, grow and experience their world is through their eyes. Visuals and graphics (like company logos) help people connect to the tings around them. Since a slogan is made of words and not pictures -a good slogan can help you by creating a visual picture out of words that you can see with your mind. Prudential Insurance’s age-old slogan “Get a piece of the rock” is a great example. When you hear it you can picture the huge mountainous rock from their advertising and it helps you both remember and respond to the image. Visual your business is, the higher the need for a word picture slogan.
3. Good company slogans are unique - One of the things you want your slogan to do is distinguish your business from other businesses that may be like it. If you company comes out sounding like every other company on the block then there is no reason that a customer will think of yours as the place it needs to go. Create a slogan that does not just reflect your business but also tells people why it has to be you. It does not help if people confuse your slogan with someone else’s. For example, if you were running and travel agency and your slogan were “Get a piece of the map” (mirroring Prudential’s slogan from above) people may get you confused with the insurance company and not remember you distinctly. “Where you want to go” is a much better slogan that has people remembering the nature of your business and your company?
4. Good company slogans invite people to participate - One of the ways slogans can be useful is to encourage people to use the product or company they are representing. The best example of a short, memorable and award winning slogan is the milk counsel’s “Got Milk?” Not only does it let you know what it wants you to think of (milk), but it makes you want to go get milk and be involved in the process. Another great slogan to illustrate that point is the Crime Prevention’s slogan for McGruff the crime dog. “Take a bite out of crime” - this encourages people to be a part of the community and work to prevent crimes. Slogans that encourage participation have a great chance of boosting business.
5. Good company slogans mention company advantages - If you want people to use your service, you need to give them a quantifiable reason why they should. Slogans that tell the consumer what is good about their company are slogans that keep people coming back. GE’s famous “We bring good things to life” helps people recognize the benefit of the company and give them a reason to want to choose their products.
Overall, good company slogans seem very complex ways to put out simple ideas for consumers. However, when you realize the potential for one simple sentence to bring in a ton of business, careful exploration of ideas is always worth it.
Fresh Bread Creative is a group of [http://www.freshbreadcreative.com ]Company Slogan Developers
Visit [http://companyslogans.weebly.com ]Company Slogans for more information
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Todd_Hemme http://EzineArticles.com/?Words-and-Meaning—What-makes-Company-Slogans-Powerful?&id=803026
8 Secrets To Boost Your Brand - And Your Sales
As children, we learned the adage, “It’s what’s on the inside that counts.” While that theory teaches a valuable lesson to youngsters, it doesn’t tell the whole story. As far as your business goes, there’s something else that matters just as much as your service or the quality of your product. It’s your image: how customers view your company.
Look at a few of today’s top corporations: Starbucks, Nordstrom and GE. Companies with stellar images illustrate that it’s not enough to be the best. Your customers must also see you as the best. Before buying from you, clients must view your company as one that:
Understands their problem or needIs competent to help themSpeaks their languageDeserves to be trusted
You may fit that mold, but do your customers think so? If not, it doesn’t matter what the truth is. That’s because, to reach your potential, clients must hold the same opinion of your company that you do. But here’s the good news - you can significantly improve your image in 8 simple steps:
1. Assess your current image.
You may also use the terms “brand” or “reputation.” In any case, compare how customers see you right now with how you want them to see you. Find out their honest opinions by conducting a survey or asking clients directly.
2. Put yourself in your customers’ shoes.
What do your clients really need or want, and how can you give it to them?
3. Speak your clients’ language.
In today’s world, you must stand out - or you won’t get noticed. The average person is exposed to 300 to 5,000 marketing messages per day. You have less than 3 seconds to catch their attention. Take yourself as an example: How many direct mail pieces do you actually open? How many newspaper articles do you read from beginning to end? People pay attention to what interests them, so make yourself interesting.Get rid of acronyms and jargon unless you know your audience understands them. Just because you comprehend it doesn’t mean they will.Talk in terms of problem/solution. Remind customers of their problem or need. Then show how your company is the solution.
4. Toot your horn loudly!
Go ahead, it’s okay to brag. Tell customers about awards you won, notable accomplishments and testimonials from satisfied clients. Let them know about promotional offers, and give them advice in your field of expertise. Constantly communicate what sets your company apart. The more good your customers hear, the quicker they will forgive a rare bad experience.
5. Tell them until you’re blue in the face.
It’s a hard truth - you are usually more interested in what you have to say than your customers are. Most clients won’t read, hear or understand your message the first time around. So emphasize your main points on multiple occasions. As a rule of thumb, if you’re tired of your message, it’s probably just starting to sink in with your customers!
6. Be consistent.
Confirm facts. (You would be surprised how many people skip this step.)Use spell-checker, but don’t depend on it! Or you may end up with sentences like these (taken from actual communications):”Our massage treatments help relive your pain.”"I know judo, karate, jujitsu and other forms of marital arts.”"We proudly feature some-day shipping.”Typos can cause customers to question your credibility, so proof your materials carefully.Make sure the image your clients see in one vehicle (e.g., your Web site) coincides with what they see in another (e.g., direct mail). Notice the font, logo and colors. Most collateral should keep the same general look-and-feel.Remember, a beautiful home is not built in a day, and neither is your image. You must invest years of hard work to develop an admirable brand, so keep it up.
7. Give your customers a reason to interact.
Communication is a two-way street, and clients who feel involved are more likely to be loyal.
Reality TV typifies this concept. Have you (or your teenager) ever posted a comment on a TV show message board? You would be amazed at how invested viewers become in a weekly reality program. And interactive tools only enhance that loyalty. Another example: Many e-commerce Web sites now offer customer reviews. How could you incorporate interaction into your communications? Perhaps you should answer a “question of the month” on your Web site, or include a coupon with your direct mail piece. Use your imagination, and add “customer-to-company” communication to your plan.
8. Live up to your promises.
Image is (almost) everything, but your service still matters. Don’t get so caught up in promoting what a remarkable company you are that you stop doing what made you that way.
Remember, your brand will make or break you. The opinions of your customers can mean the difference between failure and topping your revenue targets. Which will you choose? If you implement the steps shown here - while still offering your clients impeccable products and service - nothing can stop you. You’ll have customers for life!
Jessica Satterfield is president of The Satterfield Agency, where she helps small- to mid-sized businesses improve their public relations, advertising, marketing, copywriting and employee communications. Jessica offers her clients an expert blend of strategy and creativity. The result — deliciously clear communications that stand out from the crowd. Visit The Satterfield Agency at http://www.TheSatterfieldAgency.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jessica_Satterfield http://EzineArticles.com/?8-Secrets-To-Boost-Your-Brand—And-Your-Sales&id=79597
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