7 Taglines That Make an Instant Impact

What is a tagline or slogan?

A tagline is "a catchphrase or small group of words that are combined in a special way to identify a product or company," according to Entrepreneur.com's small business dictionary.

What makes a great tagline?

Easily memorable

If a person only takes a second or two to recognize it, it’s memorable! Being succinct is an art.

Differentiable

What is the unique selling point of your brand vis-à-vis the competition? Do you own any of your potential customer’s mind space? Although differentiation may not always be possible, it is most definitely desirable.

Includes a key benefit

Great slogans make a products benefits clear to their audience. As the saying goes “Sell the benefits NOT the features”. 

Feel good factor

The use of more positive words in a tagline makes a brand’s image upbeat and leaves its audience happy. Although fear is also used to boost sales of certain types of goods and services, it has limited utility.

Here are a few powerful slogans that I’d never forget:

“Just do it”

Simple, catchy yet inspiring, Nike goes perfectly with the average millennial’s thought process. Nike’s tagline isn’t just catchy, it actually embodies a state of mind. It encourages everyone, athletes and non-athletes to take up all sporty/outdoor challenges and conquer all that’s in the way. If you want it, just do it!           

“Belong anywhere”

This recent tagline truly embodies what Airbnb stands for- helping connect travelers to a plethora of hosts and thereby creating that warm feeling of community at a global level. 

"There are some things money can't buy. For everything else, there's MasterCard."

Many will remember the classy Mastercard ad campaign that triggered different memories and feelings in us by using real life situations. The word priceless became associated with Mastercard. The campaign reminds one and all of the power of nostalgia in marketing. 

“Think different”

Apple’s now retired tagline does something that Apple has always embodied, “being different”. Apple’s always been about challenging the status quo and the classy tagline. Incidentally, Apple stock prices tripled in the year the tagline was used in ad campaigns, according to Forbes.

“I’m lovin’ it”

Launched way back in 2003, the “I’m lovin’ it” campaign’s still going strong. A McDonalds offering rarely promises to be healthy and nutritious, but McDonald’s promises you that you’ll love the taste. 

“Open happiness”

Coca Cola makes the simple promise of happiness to its drinkers. The “Open happiness” campaign encouraged soda consumers to refresh themselves with a Coke and continue to enjoy the simple pleasures in life during the weakened economy of 2009. 

“The ultimate driving machine”

Probably the best recognized slogan among car manufacturers globally. The tagline is crisp, descriptive and sticks well with a brand that promises it’s customers cars which are thrilling to drive.

Here’s a link to a more exhaustive link of successful advertising slogans used by brands through the years.

Bootstrap Your Way To Startup Success

If you're thinking of starting a business from your garage, then here's a concept you really need to mull over before you move forward. That is bootstrapping.  

According to Investopedia, bootstrapping is “a situation in which an entrepreneur starts a company with little capital. An individual is said to be boot strapping when he or she attempts to found and build a company from personal finances or from the operating revenues of the new company.”

Is this the ideal way to start out?

Any startup founder may find that the answers to the following questions may help him or her determine whether his or her startup is fit to run the bootstrapped way:

 1. Is your product/service offering well defined?

Bootstrapping works best when a startup’s founding team has a clear idea of what their product or service will look like in its finished form. Startups that require long periods of R&D or trial and error testing may be best suited to a bigger and more structured funding model.

2. What level of capital expenditure is required?

Be wary of bootstrapping a business that requires or may require a large infusion of capital soon after starting out, even if your budgeting just about allows you to do so. Any escalation in costs may lead to you being stuck for funds and having to rework your plan or shut shop.

3. How long is your sales cycle?

The shorter your sales cycle, the more ideal your startup is to the bootstrapped approach. A company with long sales cycles may need to generate cash flow from other sources in order to bootstrap.

4. Is your startup labor intensive?

Higher labor needs means greater payroll expenses. If you have the option of hiring people as and when your startup needs them, as in case of a digital marketing agency, then bootstrapping may be ideal for you

5. What is the size of your founding team?

Since the very essence of bootstrapping is finding the funds from whatever source possible, tracking and attributing cash expenses, time costs and resources used on the business with a large founding team is often difficult and cumbersome. Here’s an example of the complications involved in the bootstrapping process: If A and B are working together on a bootstrapped startup, how does 200 hours of A’s time this month equate to the fact that the business operates from B’s garage? Therefore, the smaller your founding team the easier for you to smoothly run a bootstrapped startup.

Here are some widely acknowledged tips to make bootstrapping your startup a success:

1. Be picky about who you work with.
2. Keep an eagle eye on where money is being spent.
3. Choose a business model that generates cash quickly.
4. Only outsource those jobs you or your team cannot do.
5. Be thrifty, stick to your limited budget and cut personal expenditures.
6. Don’t cut corners when it comes to incorporation and legal services.
7. Chase the right revenue streams.
8. Sell, sell, sell and don’t take “no” for an answer!

Bootstrapping a business may seem hard at first, but with the right amount of passion, hard work and hustle it could all be worth it in the end. In the words of Kevin Hale, co-founder at Wufoo, “successful bootstrapping is all about discipline and stamina.”