President Obama’s slogan for his reelection effort is “Forward” while Republican Mitt Romney has chosen “Believe in America.” Taking all the politics out of it (there are people representing both sides at Slogan Slingers) let’s examine how the slogan creator for each camp did creating their marketing slogans. Here’s our dissection as if these lines were company slogans, advertising slogans, or taglines for any typical business.

Obama’s Battle Cry: Forward

Forward, as history buffs probably realize, is actually an old battle cry. When soldiers advanced to meet the enemy, the word used to direct them was “forward.” In fact, “forward” has been used by political groups from all over the world over many in different eras. That’s because it has been proven effective. Who doesn’t want to make progress? It’s uplifting but still vague enough that it can mean different things to a lot of people. It’s also action oriented.

On the downside, it’s almost too ambiguous for an incumbent. In an election where many voters are looking for specifics, this slogan might not say enough. Political pundits from both sides will tell you that Obama’s 2008 slogan “Hope” was one of the most effective in presidential history. It resonated with people who were looking to be inspired. Many feel that this election cycle has a different dynamic though. Obviously the Obama camp is hoping to repeat the magic of “Hope” with another one-word slogan. We’re not sure they’re achieving it.

“Forward” is meant to serve as a rallying cry. The Obama campaign is saying we’ve moved things forward and we need to continue making progress. It’s probably also meant as a warning that a vote for Romney is a vote to return “backwards” to the Bush era, which (right or wrong) many voters credit as the start of our economic troubles. The danger is that some voters might see this as a message that Obama doesn’t want to run on his record over the last four years. He wants voters just to look forward. (Again, we’re not saying his record is good or bad, we’re just looking at how the slogan could be interpreted.)

All in all though, clearly the Obama team knew what they were doing when they made words like “Hope” and “Change” the talk of 2008. “Forward” is memorable and snappy. We’ll see how the American voter adopt it going “forward” into election season.

“Forward” Slogan-meter

ORIGINALITY: C

EFFECTIVENESS: B-

MEMORABILITY: A-

OVERALL: B

Romney’s Message of Inspiration: Believe In America

Much like “Forward”, “Believing” is nothing amazingly groundbreaking as a concept. Nearly every year in sports, an underdog team makes an improbable run backed by fans holding signs that say, “Believe” or “We Believe.” It’s been used and it’s been successful.

Romney does win points for context though. Obviously, the slogan suggests that people have stopped believing in America. And that, if you vote for Romney, you’re showing that you support a country that is still capable of great things.

It’s patriotic, inspirational and like “Forward” is a call to action.

Romney has been knocked for his lack of charisma. It will be interesting to see how that plays into the public’s adoption or lack of adoption of the catchphrase. Will an emotional slogan crafted by a slogan creator other than Romney match up with the man? Or will having a slogan that might over-promise the passion Romney can actually deliver come back to haunt him?

If nothing else, it puts Romney far ahead of the previous Republican nominee, John McCain, who never could muster a slogan that caught on with voters. They didn’t get inspired and he lost. “Believe in America” has a real chance of making voters believe in Romney.

“Forward” Slogan-meter

ORIGINALITY: B-

EFFECTIVENESS: B+

MEMORABILITY: C+

OVERALL: B

So if you judge the race purely on the slogan-meter, we’re looking at a tight race! One thing there’s no debating: It is obvious that both Mr. Obama and Mr. Romney understand the power and importance of slogans. They know that a really good slogan can help your cause and win votes. They also understand that a really bad slogan can drive people away.

Business Owners Be Careful

Much like presidential slogans, business slogans and advertising slogans can and do influence people and steer their decisions. You need to make sure you get a slogan that works. The big difference is that presidential candidates need to have the widest appeal possible, which is why they often have more ambiguous slogans.

With many businesses, success often comes by appealing to a more specific target audience, not anyone with a voting card and a pulse. It’s okay if not everyone likes your tagline. Just make sure it resonates with your key audiences.

Most importantly, if you need a business slogan, advertising slogans, or company tagline, why not elect the slogan creator services at Slogan Slingers? We can’t promise to lower your taxes or change foreign policy but we can provide you with great writers who will compete to create your game-changing slogan today. Fill out a contest brief for free here.

For a very limited time, we’re lowering the minimum contest prize from $200 down to $50.  This means you can start a contest for 1/4 of the normal price and still get lots of slogan and tagline submissions from outstanding writers competing to win your business slogan contest.  This is the first time we’ve ever done this.  We’ve also lowered the contest entry fee that goes towards maintaining our site from $35 to $25 saving you $10.  We’ve been overwhelmed by the success we’ve had in just a relatively short time in business.  Contests for new slogans and taglines have been opened from every English speaking nation in the world.  Hopefully, this special limited time lower pricing will allow even more people to get an amazing new slogans and tagline using Slogan Slingers – where writers compete to create your slogan for one set contest prize amount.  Start your contest now!

sense of what really is or is not a good business slogan.  (It’s why so many of our users are able to pick just the right slogan for their own slogan contest on Slogan Slingers.)  Yet, we still get requests from users to post the basics about what makes for a good business slogan.  Here are some tips to get you started.

QUESTION 1: Does everyone need a company slogan?

ANSWER:  Of course we’re biased but we sure think so.  A catchy business slogan can single handedly define who you are,what you s

tand for and what your value proposition is.  This is true for both your internal and external audience.

QUESTION: Should my company slogan be as descriptive as possible?

ANSWER: No.  Keep it simple.  You’ve heard the saying, “A little bit goes a long way.”   That’s definitely true with business slogans and company taglines.  Your catchphrase should be all about emotion while connoting a point of differentiation.  Most of all though, it  needs to be memorable and relevant.  The longer your slogan gets, the less “sticky” it becomes.  Usually under 10 words works best though there are some exceptions.  Keep it two prases or less as well, though depending on the length of each phrase you might be able to get in a third.  (Example: Dane’s Hot Sauce – It’s hot. It’s really hot. It’s just not too hot.)

QUESTION: Can I do something a little “different?”

ANSWER: We wish you would!  Far too many slogans sound like they could work for anything.  Muffler repair, insurance, dog grooming.   “Great service since (year goes here)” is not a slogan.  It readable sleep medicine.  Talking in generic terms about quality, service, experience, caring or similar words is just wasting space and not going to add value to your marketing.  Give people something to talk about…you don’t have to be controversial, just clever.

QUESTION: How do I know if my company slogan is working?

ANSWER: Get feedback.  But do it the right way.  Don’t ask customers, “Did my slogan convince you to come in?”  Nobody will admit that marketing convinced them to do anything.  (Even though it does ALL THE TIME!) Instead, ask if they remember your slogan, if they like it and what it connotes to them.  If you get good feedback, keep it.  If not, ditch it.

Hope that helps and if you need any guidance related to your specific business, we’re always happy to work with you.  Contact us here.  Thanks and good luck with your contest.

Developing  a new branding campaign takes months and can cost tens of thousands of dollars.  Same goes for redoing the company website and putting together an impressive mailer.  So if you’re looking for something that creates an instant sense of momentum and gets immediate results, getting a slogan on Slogan Slingers is the ideal solution.  Here are three reasons a new slogan should be part of your corporate New Year’s Resolution.

1)      Business slogans can convey the entire tone of your organization in just a few words.  Along with your logo, no other marketing element can express so much about you in such a short time.  Are you a company that’s bold and innovative or traditional?  Your slogan will tell them right away.  We all like to think that customers or clients are as obsessed with our company as we are and will read every last page of the company website but the truth is people have busy schedules and are want to make decisions as quickly as possible.  If a great slogan speaks to them, those few words can make all the difference in the world.

2)      Getting a catchy slogan is in your budget…no matter what it is. With Slogan Slingers, you’re not paying for a single freelance slogan writer who will give you a few options.  You’re also not paying for expensive ad agencies that can charge up to $250 an hour.   With Slogan Slingers you simply put up a cash prize you determine in advance and you’re on your way.

3)       The best slogans are an internal rallying cry. Most people only think of slogans in terms of what they say to an external audience.   We hear all the time that what companies love most about their new slogan from Slogan Slingers is the impact it has on the internal staff.  A great slogan can inspire, motivate and give you a sense of focus.  It’s like a mission statement with character.  Employees and other key personnel often roll their eyes at bland mission statements.  Slogans on the other hand they want to wear on T-shirts.  Mission statements are dry and often cliché.  Great slogans are cherished for years.

From all of us at Slogan Slingers, here’s hoping you have a wonderful 2012 and thanks for making us the world’s #1 site for company slogans, taglines, advertising headlines and more!  Why not open a contest now?

Ok, maybe a slogan can’t bring an entire nation out of the doldrums but you can’t blame our country for trying.

Our new national slogan is “The United States of Awesome Possibilities.” It’s too bad they didn’t use Slogan Slingers since our country is a little cash strapped at the moment, but either way, we hope the slogan is a big success.  It proves yet again that slogans are as critical as ever for promoting your product, service, business and yes, even your nation.

We’re fortunate to have had slogan contests opened from Egypt to Australia.  We have writers contributing from almost every English speaking country in the world.  So we’re fans of many nations.  But we truly believe America, where Slogan Slingers is based and where our staff calls home, is indeed a place where awesome things are possible.  If you want to read more on the debut of America’s national slogan click here for the full story.

For fun, we’d love to hear your slogan ideas for America or any other nation.  Email us and we’ll post any that are especially witty or creative.

The first thing to consider is your organization’s name itself.  If it’s short, sweet, somewhat memorable and relatively easy to spell, it might be wise to stick with that.  You certainly want to include your slogan on your website in a prominent way, just maybe not as the domain itself.   There are a lot of companies out there, however, that unfortunately have pretty generic names.  Ohio Plumbing Solutions.  Philadelphia Medical Associates.  Parker Auto Repair.  Other business names might be spelled in a way that’s difficult to determine.  (Maeriolos Cafe, for example) In those cases, a great advertising slogan could go along way in helping you stand outand be found easily on the web.

Another reason to consider using slogans for domain names is if your name is already been taken.  Instead of going with a .biz, .cc or .whatever, an original slogan can get you the more respected “.com” domain.

Finally, companies who use their catchy slogans effectively often find their company slogan is the most memorable thing about their brand.  So if you use Slogan Slingers as a slogan generator and get an outstanding marketing slogan, it could serve you well for years.  Just make sure you mention that you plan to use your slogan in your domain name in you contest brief.   That will steer the entries towards shorter, snappier slogans.  Best of luck and you can start your slogan contest here and have professional writers compete to create your slogan for a price you determine.

Lowe’s just introduced its new company slogan, “Never Stop Improving.”  It’s short.  It’s crisp.  It’s catchy. It’s inspirational.  We really like it.  What we like just as much is the way they introduced it.

CHECK OUT THE NEW TV SPOT HERE.

There are no graphics or dialogue in the spot until the very end.  That’s when those three words, the new company slogan, appears on screen and ties the whole message together.  It shows you the power great marketing slogans can have.  If the words are right and spot is clever, you truly can move the needle.  Lowe’s first company slogan, “Improving Home Improvement” was a big hit but admittedly pretty straight forward.  Their second major slogan was a big step up.  Their new one is the best yet.  In our books, it has the clear edge over The Home Depot whose long-time advertising slogan, “You Can Do It.  We Can Help.” was replaced by the more recent “More Saving. More Doing.”

What do you think?  Email us or post a comment on our Facebook page.

The Super Bowl brought football season to an end on Sunday. (Yes, we’re depressed.) The game was extremely entertaining. And as expected, many of the commercials were as well. While the spots featured everything from beer serving dogs to severed thumbs on robots, no matter what the storyline, nearly all the advertisers ended their commercials the traditional way, with the logo and the company slogan at the end. That’s what they wanted you to remember most of all.

For many of the advertisers, those catchy ad slogans and marketing taglines are the most critical part of their three million dollar investment. The commercial’s story is designed to suck you in and the advertising slogan serves to redirect that excitement back to the product or service at the conclusion. It’s the oldest trick in the book…because it still works.

The advertising slogans included car company slogans, beer company slogans, candy bar taglines and more. We compiled a list of just some of the ad slogans and taglines from the big game. On a quick side note, the most popular commercials weren’t created by ad agencies, they were created through open to the public contests just like the crowdsourcing slogan contests we have at Slogan Slingers. More proof that multiple freelancers will beat the expensive ad agencies every time.  (Take note when you’re ready to get a slogan) So without further adieu, here are some of the catchy ad slogans and marketing taglines from Sunday’s game. We listed our three favorite company slogans first.

The Best Slogans:

Sealy – Whatever You Do In Bed, Sealy Supports It.

Chrysler – Imported From Detroit

Chevy – Chevy Runs Deep

Other Noteworthy Advertising Slogans:

Snickers (Tagline: You’re not you when you’re hungry) (Slogan: Snickers Satisfies)

Volkswagen – Das Auto

Bridgestone – It’s Bridgestone or Nothing

Audi – Truth In Engineering

Coca Cola – Open Happiness

Bud Light – Here We Go

Car Max – The Way Car Buying Should Be

E-Trade – Investing Unleashed

Kia – One Epic Ride

Career Builder.com – Start Building

Cars.com – Confidence Comes Standard.

Mercedes Benz – The Best or Nothing

Planters – Naturally Remarkable

We’re already looking forward to next year’s Super Bowl.  The excitement, the food, the friends and of course, the slogans.  If you had a favorite advertising slogan from the big game.  Email us what you thought were the best slogans.  We’d love to hear from you.

Sports slogans are a huge part of marketing big-time athletics. These billion dollar industries realize that the right ad slogan is essential in effectively promoting their game and their brand. Not only do all the pro leagues have catchy slogans but nearly every team has a catchy slogan as well. In fact, you can expect your favorite team to get a tagline every year that promotes the upcoming season. That’s just the regular season. Each league will usually debut a new slogan just to promote the post season.

There’s a lesson to be learned if you’re considering a new company slogan, advertising tagline, catchphrase and more. But before you take the field and get a slogan contest going with Slogan Slingers, check out what’s taking the field. The Slogan Slingers Team has assembled a list of what we believe are the 15 all-time best slogans in sports. Which catchy slogans used in sports are the best of the best? You’re about to find out. Game on!

15. The Greatest Show On Turf (St. Louis Rams)

14. Major League Baseball – I Live For This

13. It’s Showtime (L.A. Lakers)

12. Who Dat Gonna Beat Dem Saints? (New Orleans Saints)

11. The PGA Tour – These Guys Are Good

10. How ‘Bout Them Cowboys? (Dallas Cowboys)

9. The NBA – Where Amazing Happens

8. Play Like A Champion Today (Notre Dame)

7. America’s Team (Dallas Cowboys)

6. Are You Ready For Some Football? (Monday Night Football)

5. Win One For The Gipper. (Notre Dame)

4. Just Win Baby! (Al Davis – Oakland Raiders)

3. NBA Action – It’s Fantastic

2. The Thrill of Victory and the Agony of Defeat (ABC Sports)

1. The NBA – I Love This Game

So Kudos to the NBA. Scoring two of our top three slogans is Faaaaantastic! Clearly they’ve realized that having memorable, effective marketing slogans can make all the difference in creating rabid fans of their brand. Are their any great sports slogans we missed? If so email us. The clock is ticking, your competition is fired up and looking to take you down. You need every advantage you can get. So go out there and get the company slogans or advertising taglines that encapsulate your brand. Just win baby!

Of course, professors aren’t always in touch with the real world.

We recently sat down with 10 CEOs who ran successful small businesses and we found out something quite interesting.  While every CEO new what a slogan was, several of the CEOs weren’t even familiar with the term “tagline.”   Only two of the ten believed there was a difference between a company tagline and an advertising slogan.  And only one of the ten actually articulated the differences in the way a marketing professor probably would.  So if perception is reality then, really there isn’t a difference.

(Yes, marketing purists, send us your hate mail telling us we’ve just said something ignorant, blasphemous or both!)

The point is, it doesn’t really matter what you call it.  If you’re looking for the best taglines or catchy slogans, Slogan Slingers is still a great option to get a line that will engage your target audience.   From advertising slogans to award-winning taglines, get a slogan from Slogan Slingers and figure out what to call it later!  Open a contest with the ultimate slogan generator.