Great taglines immediately call the brand to mind. They remind you of the brand and what it stands for. The phrase I m Lovin It evokes the golden arches and those who love tasty food that is convenient and easy on the pocket.
In this article, we ll address three critical questions:
- What is a tagline?
- Do you need a tagline?
- How do you create a tagline?
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What Is A Tagline?
Before you decide whether a tagline is important for your business, let s talk about what it is. A tagline is a memorable statement that represents your brand. Great ones tell a short story that stands the test of time. They sum up in seven words or less your business.
- Nike: "Just Do It." Connecting with audiences beyond sports, telling them if they wanted to do something, they should just do it. Nothing should stop them.
- Bounty: "The Quicker Picker Upper." Built like no other paper towel. Each sheet is more durable, more absorbent, softer, and thicker than anything else.
- M&M s: "Melts In Your Mouth, Not In Your Hand." Keeps my hands clean vs. other treats which make a mess in my hands. And it melts in my mouth, enticing my taste buds and making me crave it.
- Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority: "What Happens In Vegas Stays In Vegas." The freedom to be someone we couldn t be at home. The freedom from whatever we wanted to leave behind in our daily lives.
A tagline is NOT a slogan. A slogan is a memorable statement that represents a particular product vs. focusing on the brand as a whole like a tagline.
Why Do You Need A Tagline?
When done right, a good tagline has the following major benefits:
- Increases brand awareness
- It differentiates your brand
- It s memorable
- Improves brand recall
- Reinforces your brand identity
Beware! A bad tagline can detract from the memorability of your brand.
How To Create A Tagline
- Your Mission: Be clear, not clever. Start building your tagline based on your purpose. You can see how General Electric s tagline, "Imagination at Work," is based on their mission, to invent the next industrial era, to build, move, power, and cure the world.
- Your Promise: So what? Consumers are swayed by benefits, not features. Tell people what they will receive if they buy your product/service. Dollar Shave does this well with their tagline, Shave Time. Shave Money.
- Your Brand: Reflect your brand image in your tagline. For example, Disney s tagline is the happiest place on earth, tying into their brand focus to entertain, inform, and inspire.
Creating a tagline that packs a punch takes time, strategy, and creativity. It s an essential part of the brand-building process. Start building your leadership brand today. You ve got this!